Sound Devices
SupportTech Notes
Canon’s May 2013 firmware release for the Canon 5D Mark III DSLR camera offers several important video features. Most importantly, this new firmware unlocks a “clean” HDMI live view output, allowing users to record to external, high definition video recorders such as the PIX 220i and PIX 240i. Sound Devices tested the 5D III and PIX combination for compatibility and setup tips. The results are below. (more…)
PIX 260i firmware revision 1.02 and later formats attached drives as exFAT volumes. exFAT has many advantages and is well supported in modern operating systems, including Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS. Sound Devices is evaluating exFAT for other products, including future firmware revisions of the PIX 220i and PIX 240i.
However, support for exFAT volumes in Windows XP requires a separate exFAT file system driver provided for free by Microsoft. (more…)
Firmware revision 1.02 changes the file formatting used by the PIX 260i. Previously, drives formatted by the PIX 260i were formatted as UDF volumes. With revision 1.02 and later, the PIX 260i formats drives as exFAT volumes. Recording and playing back from UDF-formatted drives is still supported. (more…)
The RS-422 port (9-pin) on the PIX 260i is used for remote control of the devices. Sound Devices support for this protocol is based on the EIA RS-422-A signal standard at a 38.4 Kb/s baud rate. Sound Devices PIX 260i implements a subset of this protocol as specified in this document.
The following is a list of approved storage devices for use with the PIX 260i video recorder. The specific mechanisms and devices below have been extensively tested by Sound Devices. This list is regularly updated as new drives are tested.
The following is a list of approved storage devices for use with PIX 220(i), PIX 240(i) video recorders. The specific mechanisms and drives below have been extensively tested by Sound Devices. This list is regularly updated as new drives are tested.
The PIX 240 and PIX 240i recorders are used in a wide range of applications, ranging from run-and-gun camera-mounted environments to cart-based setups. Since its inception, several users and companies have developed their own mounts and carry cases for the PIX recorders. The list below is provided courtesy of these users. Please contact support@sounddevices.com to let us know of additional brackets, power accessories, and carry cases.
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Sound Devices PIX 240i recorder is a great recording companion to the Canon C500. The C500′s has the ability to output 4:4:4 RGB 12-bit video over 3G-SDI. The C500 can be used with the PIX 240i to record ProRes 4444 12-bit video files, files that are visually indistinguishable from source material. These 12-bit ProRes 4444 video files provide superior chroma keying, color grading and multi-generational editing. (more…)
The Nikon D800 has become a popular camera for video production. Its “clean” HDMI video output and FX-sized sensor make it attractive for a wide variety of productions. A Sound Devices PIX 220, PIX 220i, PIX 240, or PIX 240i used as the recorder provides higher data rate, edit-ready files in either Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD. The combination of a Nikon D800 and PIX recorder is a powerful, high-definition camera system. (more…)
Sound Devices is taking an aggressive, preventative step and recalling specific PIX-CADDY and PIX-CADDY 2 units shipped in 2012. (more…)
The PIX 220 and PIX 240 offer numerous choices for connecting audio signals.
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
Jesse Parker shows how to both import and AMA link Quicktime files from the PIX recorders into Avid Media Composer. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
At its recent introduction at the April 2011 NAB show, PIX recorders generated a great deal of interest and questions. Below are a few of the more common questions covering the PIX 220 and PIX 240 Video Recorders. (more…)