Convergent Design is pushing further into multicamera production with the announcement of the Element series of four-channel video recorders.
Unlike the company’s Apollo and Odyssey devices, the Element recorders do not incorporate a monitor. Instead, they offer ethernet connectivity, keying capabilities, and rows of backlit push-buttons, a jog-shuttle dial and other tactile controls familiar from broadcast switchers.
Convergent Design Element 1
The Element 1 is a multicamera HD recorder with four HDMI inputs for HD recording and a single HDMI output.
Convergent Design Element 2
The Element 2 adds a second HDMI output plus a luma keyer, single M/E engine and physical fader bar.
Convergent Design Element 3
And the top-of-the-line Element 3 has two 4K HDMI inputs and two 4K HDMI outputs alongside four 12G-SDI inputs and two 12G-SDI outputs, supporting four-channel 4Kp60 recording, and adds a second M/E engine and second removable SSD.
Rear view of the Element 3 showing USB, Ethernet, HDMI, and SDI connectivity.
The company promoted the new devices as time-savers in production workflow, allowing up to four cameras to be fed to a single recorder and 2.5-inch SSD. The clips from those inputs are available immediately in edit-ready ProRes files with matching file names and timecode, the company said, noting that a proxy can be recorded to USB media using the program or multiview output.
The Element devices all have Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, allowing clips to be accessed over a network while recording or playback is taking place.
Pricing and availability were not announced.
Convergent Design: convergent-design.com
