As promised, Convergent Design has enabled dual 4K, quad-HD 1080p60, and 4K 60p recording options on its Apollo and Odyssey 7Q+ monitor/recorders. The company said those features are included in the latest firmware, which is slated for release today at the Convergent Design website.
The dual-4K recording option, available only on the Apollo and the Odyssey7Q and 7Q+ with the Apollo option, records two 4K DCI (4096×2160) or UHD (3840×2160) signals simultaneously at frame rates up to 30p. Quad-HD recording means those systems can handle simultaneous monitoring and recording of four 1080p video streams at up to 60p. Without the Apollo option, Odyssey users can monitor but not record in Quad-HD mode.
4K 60p recording to ProRes in both 4K DCI and UHD formats at up to 60p also works without the Apollo option, supporting cameras including Sony's F55, Panasonic's VariCam 35, and IO Industries/ 4KSDI.
Also new in this revision is 6G-SDI support on the Apollo and Odyssey7Q+, specifically for recording 4K 30p footage from Blackmagic Design camera systems including the Ursa, Ursa Mini, and Micro Studio Camera 4K.
In related news, Convergent recently announced a price cut on the Odyssey7Q+, from $2,295 to $1,795. The discount is billed as a limited-time offer, but the company didn't say how long the new pricing is good for.
For more details on the new firmware, see the release notes below.
Release Notes BETA 2016.01.1325 Firmware
Update for Apollo / Odyssey7Q+ / Odyssey7Q / Odyssey7
NEW FEATURES APOLLO & ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q WITH APOLLO OPTION
• Dual-4K
Monitor & Record two 4K/UHD Video Signals
Supports 4K/UHD 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
Record in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
Resolution & framerate must match
4K/UHD video only, no RAW conversion
Input Combinations (Apollo & Odyssey7Q+):
HDMI + 3G-SDI Dual-Link (use SDI C & D inputs)
HDMI + 6G-SDI (SDI B input)
3G-SDI Dual-Link (SDI A & B inputs) + 3G-SDI Dual-Link (SDI C & D inputs)
6G-SDI (SDI A input) + 3G-SDI Dual-Link (SDI C & D input)
6G-SDI (SDI A input) + 6G-SDI (SDI B input) Input Combinations (Odyssey7Q):
3G-SDI Dual-Link (SDI A & B inputs) + 3G-SDI Dual-Link (SDI C & D inputs)
• Quad-HD 1080p 50/60 Support
Monitor & Record up to four 1080p 50p, 59.97p, 60p video signals
No recording of Quad-Split or Live-Switch when inputs are 1080p
50/59.94/60
Both 3G level A and 3G level B supported
Input Combinations (Apollo & Odyssey7Q+):
HDMI + 3x 3G-SDI
4x 3G-SDI
Input Combinations (Odyssey7Q):
4x 3G-SDI
• 4K 50/60p Support
Monitor & Record 4K/UHD 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p, 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Record in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
4x 3G-SDI required for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Dual-4K not supported at 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Supporting Sony F55 & IO Industries 4KSDI
Set F55 to “2SI” output for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Set IO 4KSDI to Quad-Link interleaved output for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
• Additional Apollo Functions
Lower Toolbar full screen switching in Quad-Split or A/B/C/D recording modes
Improved Monitoring Tool usage when not recording
Program-Preview single-tap switching in Live-Switch mode (upon selection of new Program source, previous selection automatically becomes Preview)
Input labeling (display as overlay on OLED and/or outputs)
NEW FEATURES APOLLO / ODYSSEY7Q+ (APOLLO OPTION NOT REQUIRED)
• 6G SDI Support for BlackMagic Design Cameras
Monitor & Record 4K/UHD 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
Record in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
Note: – 6G 75 Ohm SDI cables required
In Odyssey “4K ProRes 422” mode, only SDI A IN is 6G active
NEW FEATURES ODYSSEY7Q+/ODYSSEY7Q (APOLLO OPTION NOT REQUIRED)
• 4K 50/60p Support
Monitor & Record 4K/UHD 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p, 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Record in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
4x 3G-SDI required for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Supporting Sony F55 & IO Industries 4KSDI
Set F55 to “2SI” output for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
Set IO 4KSDI to Quad-Link interleaved output for 4K/UHD 50p, 59.94p, 60p
• Quad-HD Monitoring
o Monitor only mode
FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS
FIXED Rare Canon C500/C300 Mk II RAW->Apple ProRes frame issue
FIXED Rare file corruption issue with Apollo recordings
FIXED DPX Sony F35 Support
FIXED SDI/HDMI Record Trigger from the Panasonic DVX200
FIXED in Apollo Option SDI B Out now carries audio
FIXED HDMI Source -Time of day timecode
IMPROVED Playback without a connected source (all record modes)
IMPROVED Shot Angle info added to metadata
IMPROVED Playback Scrubbing artifacts in 4K
IMPROVED Playback Scrubbing artifacts in all RAW modes
IMPROVED Power saving for inactive ports
SOFTWARE
• CD Apple ProRes Transfer Tool v2 .2
Improved Support for Apollo Apple ProRes files
ADDED Camera Angle
FIXED Timecode Issue with Spanned Apollo Files
Other minor fixes and updates
Windows and Mac versions available
