Convergent Design Introduces Third Party SSD Support with Firmware Update to Odyssey Monitor/Recorders

Convergent Design has announced a significant firmware update for their Odyssey lineup of monitor/recorders. The update, for the Odyssey7, the Odyssey7Q, and the Odyssey7Q+, includes updated third party SSD support, camera-specific LUTs, fixes, improvements and much more.

Let’s run through the update features, starting with updated third party support.

Third-Party SSD Support

Use qualified third-party SSDs in Odyssey monitor/recorders.  (SSD Handle kits required to mount.)

Qualified third-party SSDs:
Samsung 850 PRO in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB & 1TB (1024GB)
Samsung 850 EVO 1000GB

NOTE:  Samsung SSDs draw more power than Odyssey SSDs.  Convergent Design highly recommends using an AC-powered USB3 adapter or a Thunderbolt adapter when connecting Samsung SSDs to a computer.

As of now, only Samsung and Convergent Design SSDs are supported, but we hope to see expanded support for third party drives in the near future.

Additional Anamorphic De-Squeeze options – Center Extraction

Desqueezes and magnifies center portion of image for common anamorphic formats.  Adjusted image sent to video outputs; recording unaffected.

Center Extraction modes:
1.33x (1.78:1)    Stretches center 4:3 image to cover 16:9 frame
2.0x (2.39:1)     2.0x stretch with image zoom & crop to 2.39:1
2.0x (2.67:1)     2.0x stretch with image zoom to 2.67:1

Hyper Zoom

Additional Pixel Zoom mode. 4,6,8,10, & 12X Hyper Zoom on a selected portion of image, displayed in the lower right corner of OLED display.
Selectable Color reference frame

Exposure Compensation LUTs

Combination S-Log to REC709 and exposure compensation for re-rating FS7 and FS700 cameras to 1000 ISO (1 stop over) or 500 ISO (2 stops over).  Reduces noise and increases apparent bit depth.

Additional Preset LUTs:
Sony FS700 (Exposure Compensation)
SONY_EE_SL2_L709A-1
SONY_EE_SL2_L709A-2

Sony FS7 (Exposure Compensation)
SONY_EE_SL3C_L709A-1
SONY_EE_SL3C_L709A-2

FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS

Fixed:

  •  Histogram with 720p source
  •  Image tearing on PSF inputs in HD Prores
  •  DPX video outputs when PSF output turned on
  •  Appearance of a single pixel in or near the audio meters
  •  LUT Extended/Legal setting saved through a power cycle
  •  Scene and Project setting saved through a power cycle
  •  Audio corruption on DPX and DNG file spanning
  •  Audio playback on Odyssey in all ProRes formats
  •  Pixel Zoom reaches full image in 4K
  •  GH4 Motion Picture Luminance Level under 0-255
  •  FS7 Camera Trigger in HD Apple ProRes
  •  FS7 Camera Trigger in 4K Raw->Apple ProRes
  •  4K RAW->2K/HD Apple ProRes 50p playback
  •  4K RAW->2K/HD Apple ProRes 100/120p live image
  •  Stuttering video in FS700 4K RAW->HD/2K 100/120p burst mode

Improved:

  •  On screen counter during LUT import
  •  Upper Toolbar Setup Menu

SOFTWARE UPDATES
CD Apple ProRes Transfer Utility 1.8 (PC / Mac)
Fixes for installation Issues
Fixes for transfer issues

CD LUT Utility 1.8 (PC / Mac)
Fixes for installation Issues
Fixes with issues due to region settings
Fixes for inverted LUTs

NOTE: Updating firmware on an Odyssey monitor/recorder requires the use of an SSD.  If an Odyssey monitor/recorder is currently running firmware version 5.10.100 (March 2015) or 2015.5 (May 2015) then a qualified Samsung SSD (see list above) as well as an Odyssey SSD can be used to perform the update.  Samsung SSDs require the Convergent Design SSD Handle kit to mount in an Odyssey monitor/recorder. Odyssey monitor/recorders running earlier firmware versions must use an Odyssey SSD to perform the update.

The update is available now from https://www.convergent-design.com/support/firmware-downloads.html

To learn more about Odyssey Monitor/Recorders, check out the videos below:

Russ Fairley
Russ Fairleyhttp://www.productionworld.net
Russ Fairley is a producer, editor and motion graphic designer. He also writes for Videomaker and several other publications.

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