Convergent Design is releasing a free firmware update today for its Apollo and Odyssey field monitor/recorders in what the company describes as the products' largest feature update so far.

Key among the new features for the Apollo are double master recording, which allows users to capture files to two SSDs simultaneously, A/V align, which keeps audio and video in sync among cameras with different signal latency, and 3:2 pulldown removal capability for mixing 24p camera files recorded in both interlaced and progressive formats.

Features on the Odyssey7Q and 7Q+ include Sony FS5 raw support in CinemaDNG or Apple ProRes formats at up to 4K 60p, or up to 4K 120p in bursts as well as raw 4K 60p CinemaDNG recording support for cameras from IO industries.

All Apollo and Odyssey models, including the Odyssey7, are being upgraded to eight tracks of audio on each SDI input.

The company's Apple ProRes Transfer Tool and LUT Converter software have also been updated to new versions.

The new firmware will be available at the Convergent Design website. Complete release notes from Convergent Design follow below.

NEW FEATURES: APOLLO & APOLLO OPTION (ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q)

Dual-4K/Quad-HD: Multi-Stream Audio Meters
•    Dual-4K: Audio meters are displayed for the first four channels of each input
•    Quad-HD: Audio meters are displayed for the first two channels of each input
•    Expanded controls & descriptions in Audio menu

Dual-4K: PiP Left/Right Selection
•    Dual-4K Picture-in-Picture display can be lower-left or lower-right
•    Select in DUAL menu

Dual-4K: 4K60p Apple ProRes Support (Apollo)
•    Record single channel of 4K60p in Apollo
•    NOTE: Function already available in Odyssey7Q+/7Q Apollo Mode

Quad-HD: Double Master Recording
•    Simultaneously record identical files to both SSDs
•    1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
•    1080i 50, 59.94; 720p 50, 59.94, 60

Quad-HD: A/V Align
•    Individually adjust frame delay to audio and/or video of each input
•    Add up to four frames delay per video track
•    Add up to seven frames delay per audio track
•    Note: Not available when using 3:2 Pulldown Removal

Quad-HD: 3:2 Pulldown Removal Support
•    24p signals embedded within 1080i60 streams recorded as 1080p24
•    Intermix 3:2 Pulldown signals (24p within 60i) with 24p/24psf signals
•    Note: Not available when using A/V Align

Quad-HD: Markers During Record
•    Set Markers while in Record
•    During Record, MARKER button replaces Safe-Eject button

Quad-HD: Improved Focus Assist Access
•    Option to switch HIDE button to FOCUS (Focus Assist) for easier access

Quad-HD Live-Switch: Dissolves
•    Added dissolves (slow/medium/fast) in Live-Switch recording & output
•    CUT/FADE shortcut button replaces * button during recording
•    Dissolve speeds:  Slow = 16 frames, Medium = 8 frames, Fast = 4 frames
•    Select dissolve speed in QUAD menu

Quad HD Live-Switch: Audio-Follows-Video
•    Live-Switch option to also switch audio source along with video source
•    Affects audio source to Live-Switch recording and output
•    Select in Audio menu
•    Audio fade-out/fade-in transition is 21 milliseconds to smooth audio cuts

Quad-HD Live-Switch: OLED Monitor-Only Switching
•    Switch OLED view without affecting Live-Switch recording or output
•    Select OLED view using Lower Toolbar QUAD/A/B/C/D buttons
•    NOTE: Monitor-Only Switching affects SDI A & SDI B outputs unless they are set to Preview (SDI A Out) & Program (SDI B Out)

Quad-HD Live-Switch: Single-Tap/Double-Tap Switching
•    Switch inputs with a single tap or use double-tap Preview/Program mode
•    Select between single-tap/double-tap in QUAD menu

Quad-HD Live-Switch: Expanded SDI Monitor Output Options
•    SDI A Out selectable between Quad-Split view or Preview
•    SDI B Out selectable between Quad-Split view or Program

SDI A Out options in Output menu:
•    LUT OFF (Quad-Split view with no LUT applied)
•    LUT ON (Quad-Split view with LUT applied)
•    MIRROR OLED (Quad-Split view with Preview/Program and other overlays)
•    LIVE-SWITCH PREVIEW (Preview input selection)
 
SDI B Out options in Output menu:
•    LUT OFF (Quad-Split view with no LUT applied)
•    LUT ON (Quad-Split view with LUT applied)
•    MIRROR OLED (Quad-Split view with Preview/Program and other overlays)
•    LIVE-SWITCH PROGRAM (Program input selection)

NOTE:
•    When either output is set to Mirror OLED, LUT application mirrors OLED
•    When SDI A Out is set to Live-Switch Preview, LUT is not applied
•    When SDI B Out is set to Live-Switch Program, LUT application mirrors OLED

Quad-HD Quad-Split: Timecode Burn-In
•    Timecode window is baked into the Quad-Split recorded image

 
NEW FEATURES: ODYSSEY RAW BUNDLE (ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q)

Odyssey RAW Bundle Grant
•    Owners of individual RAW options granted full Odyssey RAW Bundle
•    Log in at account on CD website for Activation code
•    Odyssey7Q+/7Q Rental options are now Odyssey RAW Bundle and Apollo

Dual-HD Recording
•    Record two HD video signals simultaneously in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
•    Two SSDs required (one recording per SSD)
•    Matching timecode (input A, input B, Odyssey-generated or LTC)
•    Resolutions & frame rates must match
•    No Genlock required
•    1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
•    1080i 50, 60
•    720p 50, 60

Sony FS5 RAW Support
•    Record RAW in CinemaDNG from the Sony PXW-FS5
•    Record RAW -> Apple ProRes from the Sony PXW-FS5
•    Note: Set FS5 to Picture Profile S-Log2,  Color Mode S-Gamut/3200 or S-Gamut/5500
 
•    4K FS RAW -> 4K CinemaDNG 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
•    2K FS RAW -> 2K CinemaDNG 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 100, 120, 200, 240
•    4K FS RAW Burst -> 4K CinemaDNG 100, 120
 
•    4K FS RAW -> 4K Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
•    4K FS RAW -> UHD Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
•    4K FS RAW -> 2K Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
•    4K FS RAW -> HD Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
•    2K FS RAW HS -> 2K Apple ProRes 100, 120, 200, 240
•    2K FS RAW HS -> HD Apple ProRes 100, 120, 200, 240
•    4K FS RAW Burst -> 4K/UHD Apple ProRes 100, 120
•    4K FS RAW Burst -> 2K/HD Apple ProRes 100, 120

IO 4K RAW support
•    Record RAW in CinemaDNG from the IO Industries Flare 4K
•    4K RAW -> 4K CinemaDNG 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60

 
NEW FEATURES: ALL MODELS (APOLLO, ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q/7)

8-Channel Audio Support
•    Record 8-channel SDI embedded audio in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT)
•    Up to 32 channels in Apollo Quad-HD (8 channels per video input)
•    Up to 16 channels in Apollo Dual-4K (8 channels per video input)
•    Up to 8 channels in Odyssey 4K/UHD/2K/HD
•    SDI embedded only, HDMI & Analog In limited to 2-Channel audio
•    Audio meters display first two channels per input (first four channels per input in Apollo Dual-4K)
•    Audio Out & HDMI/SDI embedded out use first two channels of video input
•    Note: 8-channel audio not available in RAW, RAW->Apple ProRes, DPX, or Apple ProRes 4444 modes

Focus Assist Noise Reduction
•    Improves legibility of Focus Assist
•    Does not affect recorded signal
NOTE: Enhance mode removed

Embedded SDI Record Trigger Pass Through
•    Passes through SDI record trigger signal from various cameras to SDI outputs
•    Regardless of trigger source, output trigger is ARRI/Canon/Sony standard

In/Out Marker Range Limiting
•    Use In/Out Markers to limit range of playback in unit
•    Starting play from an In marker will automatically stop at Out Marker
•    Select LOOP in Playlist to repeatedly play only the selected In/Out range

 
NEW FEATURES: ODYSSEY7

Overlays Output On/Off
•    Switch on/off OLED overlays to HDMI & SDI outputs
•    Select in Output menu

 
FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS
Apollo
•    FIXED Rare file corruption issue
•    FIXED 1080p60 signal detection issue
•    FIXED Occasional audio delay on SDI & HDMI outputs
•    IMPROVED SDI B output carries embedded audio
•    IMPROVED Source Naming added to  XML file 
Odyssey RAW Bundle
•    FIXED Rare Canon RAW -> Apple ProRes frame issue
•    IMPROVED Sony FS RAW -> Apple ProRes 240p drive spanning enabled
•    IMPROVED Sony FS7 4K FS RAW -> 4K/UHD Apple ProRes debayer color fringing issue (yellow artifact at sharp edges)
•    IMPROVED Playback Scrubbing artifacts of RAW recordings
Odyssey7Q+/7Q
•    FIXED DPX support for Sony F35
•    IMPROVED DPX now supports 1080p60 over HDMI
•    IMPROVED Playback of 4K Apple ProRes
•    IMPROVED Playback scrubbing artifacts in 4K Apple ProRes
•    IMPROVED Reduced display latency in single input HD Apple ProRes
All Devices
•    FIXED Guides interaction with Hide function
•    FIXED HDMI signal detection from computer sources
•    FIXED Timecode issue with HDMI source in Time-of-Day mode
•    IMPROVED Device boot-up time
•    IMPROVED SDI/HDMI Record Trigger from Panasonic DVX200
•    IMPROVED SDI/HDMI Record Trigger from Sony FS5/F5/F55
•    IMPROVED Playback without an input connected
•    IMPROVED Increased power draw efficiency

SOFTWARE

CD Apple ProRes Transfer Tool v2.4
•    For Apollo multitrack recordings, added option to select tracks for offload
•    Fixed Windows issues
•    Windows and Mac versions available

CD LUT Converter 1.3
•    To prevent formatting issues, in the Project and Notes fields these characters are no longer allowed: < > ' " &
•    Windows and Mac versions available