Sound Devices, LLC - Portable, Professional Audio

When shooting with a Panasonic HDX-900 camera and the PIX 240, two menu items in the HDX-900 must be set to ensure proper Auto Record operation.

• Set VITC UB MODE to FRM RATE, this is in the TC/UB menu under the VTR menu. UB MODE may be set to any setting.

• The second item is in a hidden Option Menu. To access the Option Menu, press/hold the “Light” button near the Timecode display LCD and then press/hold the Menu button.

When the option menu opens, set FRAME RATE UB to MENU.

These menu items are saved in camera configuration files. Change these settings and re-save any existing configuration files for these changes to be persistent.

The following is a compilation of suggestions for improving the audio performance of your computer. The following workarounds may have minimal, drastic, or no effect on your particular computer system. We encourage you to experiment to find which workaround(s) work best for your particular setup. Read the rest of this entry »

The PIX 240 can be triggered to record and stop based on external timecode. This is useful in applications where other forms of triggering might not be available (SDI flags, LANC control, switch closure). Prior to version 1.08 firmware, when Timecode/Sync > Timecode Mode was set to External, it was necessary to stamp files recorded on the PIX 240 with the external timecode value. This behavior was changed in version 1.08 so that it is now possible to trigger recording from external rec-run timecode while stamping files with a different timecode (freerun, for example). This is beneficial in situations where rec-run timecode from a camera is the only available method for triggering the PIX 240 to record, but it is still desired to stamp the files recorded on the PIX 240 with a freerun timecode value. Read the rest of this entry »

A new version of Wave Agent is available for Mac and Windows. Read the rest of this entry »

On February 4, 2012, Sound Devices hosted an in-depth, two-hour presentation on the PIX video recorders at LA Film School. The videos below are excerpts discussing major topics. Paul Isaacs, Technical Development Manager, is the presenter. Read the rest of this entry »

Jesse Parker shows how to both import and AMA link Quicktime files from the PIX recorders into Avid Media Composer. Read the rest of this entry »

Version 1.07 firmware for the PIX 220 and PIX 240 Video Recorder includes many new features and fixes. Download the firmware and follow the update instructions from the download page here. Read the rest of this entry »

The following lists indicate storage devices that are approved by Sound Devices for use with PIX 220 and PIX 240 video recorders. Read the rest of this entry »

Take a brief look at how 3:2 pulldown removal works with the PIX 220 and PIX 240 recorders. This is the process that allows the PIX recorders to extract 24 frame progressive information from a 1080i60 stream. This results in a 23.98 progressive output and recorded file. Read the rest of this entry »

Version 1.05 firmware for the PIX 220 and PIX 240 Video Recorder includes new features and fixes. Download the firmware and follow the update instructions from the download page here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a brief video of demonstrating menu customization in the PIX video recorders. With menu customization, new default values for any option can be set. Menu customization also allows for the removal of menu items to simplify the menu when PIX units are used by less technical users. Menu customization was introduced in firmware revision 1.03. Read the rest of this entry »

The PIX 220 and PIX 240 Video Recorders gain several important new features and fixes with the latest no-charge firmware update, revision 1.03. This new version is available for immediate download and installation. Download the firmware and follow the update instructions from the download page here.

Read the rest of this entry »

The CL-WiFi application (v1.02) for Apple iOS  has been updated to operate properly with iOS version 5. This new revision is available for current users by going into the iOS App Store and searching for updates. Version 1.02 also corrects several other minor bugs. Read the rest of this entry »

Revision 1.4 firmware for the 552 is now available for download. This new revision includes new transport control code and the ability to save and load user settings to internal memory (without the use of an SD card). Firmware updates for the 552 require an SD card and a card reader to transfer the firmware file. Detailed instructions and complete details on features and changes are on the download page.

Avid defines four families of DNxHD video compression. These familes are named for a nominal data rate, 36, 145, 220 and 220x. 220x is a 10-bit codec, the others are 8-bit codecs. Sound Devices PIX 220 and PIX 240 support all four of these DNxHD codec families. Codecs are selected from the Setup Menu (Video/Codec) and labeled in the same manner as Avid defines them. Read the rest of this entry »

Take a look at the latest video from Sound Devices. Matt Mayer briefly describes the settings to transfer Red file name metadata and SDI start/stop flags to the PIX 240 recorder. Read the rest of this entry »

Sound Devices is taking an aggressive, preventative step and recalling select CL-9 Linear Fader Controllers shipped in 2011. The CL-9 units in question may exhibit short-term or long-term failures due to faulty PC boards. If a failure were to occur, controls could activate without input from the user. The units being recalled are within a specific serial number range, CL-9 units with serial numbers between JJ0410349000 and JJ0411123002.* No additional CL-9 units are involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Wave Agent software has been updated to revision 1.16. This new version addresses an iXML change that Wave Agent made to files it updated. The change caused WAV files to be unimportable in certain software applications.

Download the latest revision of Wave Agent from the following link

www.sounddevices.com/download/waveagent.html

Click on the image below to view a brief screencast of how a multi-track WAV file appears in the new Final Cut Pro X.

Version 2.15 firmware for the 788T is available for download. This version introduces CSV sound report features, and improvements to CL-WIFI functionality. Read the rest of this entry »