Sony F3 4:4:4 RGB uncompressed workflow

So I got my Sony PDW-F3 including the paid S-Log/4:4:4 upgrade since August. Since then I was searching for the perfect solution to record the 4:4:4 output of the camera. A few months back the only reasonable solution was the Cinedeck Extreme recorder at about $12.000. I am not quite sure but I can remember having read somewhere that the only way to capture 4:4:4 on the cinedeck is Cineform 8-bit, which is quite a limitation too.

Convergent Design announced „the perfect recorder“ for the S-Log/444 enabled F3 at NAB2011. The Gemini 444 is a hybrid monitor/recorder capable of recording dual-link 4:4:4 in uncompressed onto SSDs. With a price of $8.000 excluding SSDs and a formfactor not much bigger than a smallHD DP6 monitor a very attractive option.

I had several jobs from August to November on my F3 and always used 4:2:2 recording with a KiPro mini while waiting for the Gemini 444 to become available. Only thing I was concerned about was that the Gemini only records in uncompressed which means an enormous amount of data. (about an hour of footage = 512GB) So I knew I would have to bring a DIT-Station with plenty of datastorage to every set to backup and format the Gemini SSDs.

Now, three months later, with the advent of the Ultrastudio 3D from Blackmagic and Thunderbolt RAIDs I don’t see any point in buying a Gemini444 anymore. Here is my current workflow:

Click for larger view.

I am capturing the 4:4:4 output of the F3 into the Ultrastudio 3D connected via Thunderbolt to a 17″ MacBook Pro. The Blackmagic software running on the MacBook Pro is capturing in 10-bit uncompressed RGB and saving the files on a Promise Thunderbolt RAID5. Because the Thunderbolt RAID is so fast I can run an additional task while capturing. Adobe Media Encoder is watching the incoming folder on the RAID and is encoding the uncompressed files to ProRes4444. The finished ProRes files are saved on a 3,5″ SATA HDD docked in an eSATA dock. The dock is connected to the MacBook Pro via an ExpressCard eSATA adapter from Sonnet (that’s why it has to be a 17″ MBP for now until Thunderbolt to eSATA adapters are available).

With this workflow I end up with the original uncompressed file stored on the big RAID and a smaller ProRes (proxy?) file on the 3,5″ HDD. After shoot the HDD is sent to postproduction or given to the client. The uncompressed files are kept for final mastering, CGI and colorgrading.

See how fast the Promise Thunderbolt RAID is.

Compared to the Gemini444 workflow there is one big disadvantage: it’s bulky, big, heavy, and you need external power supply – no batteries. But remember: the Gemini 444 records onto SSDs with a max capacity of 512GB. The Gemini can span over two SSDs which gives you a max capacity of 1024GB and a recording duration of approx. two hours. When you shoot more than two hours of footage on set you have to buy additional SSDs or download the footage into a DIT-station which is practically the same thing as my workflow – a computer with a RAID.

With my described workflow you have several advantages over the Gemini444:

• you record uncompressed and ProRes (or any other codec you choose) simultaneously,
• you get plenty more of diskspace secured in a RAID interface,
• you skip the step of downloading the footage for postproduction,
• you can perform testgrades on set in AE or in Resolve,
• you basically have a very modular system and a fully functional computer,
• in addition to SDI you can record component, HDMI, XLR Audio, etc.,
• and many many more…

So what about the price differences? The Gemini without drives is about $8.000. Fully loaded with two 512GB SSDs it is about $11.000. Let’s see what my setup costs in total:

• Ultrastudio – $995
• SDI to HDMI Converter – $295
• Small HD DP6-SLR – $899
• 17″ MacBook Pro – $2499
• Promise Pegasus R4 4TB – $1149
• eSATA dock – approx. $50
• 1TB 3,5″ SATA drive – approx. $100

So everything you need to basically get the same as you get from the Gemini adds up to approx. $6.000. (I included the SDI to HDMI converter and the SmallHD monitor just because the Gemini can be used as a monitor too. If you don’t need that the sum drops to below $5.000)

Don’t get me wrong: I am sure the Gemini is a wonderful device and definitely has its uses, but for $11.000 it is not cost effective to my eyes.

Here are some pictures of my test-setup: