PANAVISION SSR User Manual

PANAVISION

SSR Opera tion Manual

Advanced Digital Imaging 1st Edition Rev 1-0

V1.0

Copyright Information

Copyright © 2008 Panavision Inc. All rights reserved. This document is not
permitted to be distributed by anyone other than the employees of Panavision or
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provided for under normal copyright law.

Disclaimer

Information in this document is provided solely for the user’s information and,
while thought to be accurate, is provided strictly “as is” and without warranty of
any kind, including liability or warranties relating to fitness for a particular
purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent, copyright or other
intellectual property right. Panavision reserves the right to revise this publication
and to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation to
notify any person of such revisions or changes. Specifications are subject to
change without notice.

Panavision’s obligations with respect to the products referenced herein are only
as provided in Panavision’s terms and conditions for rental. In no event shall
Panavision, it’s employees or distributors be liable to you for any damages or
losses, direct or indirect, arising from the use of any information contained in this
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Table of contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ____________________________________ 2

1.1 Comparison of the SSR and SRW-1 _____________________ 3

1.2 Workflow Examples __________________________________ 3

2.0 SSR CONNECTIONS ________________________________ 4

2.1 SSRD Docking Station Connectors ______________________ 5

3.0 CONTROL PANEL __________________________________ 6

4.0 DISPLAY__________________________________________ 7

4.1 Diaplay Rotated for rear docked SSR ____________________ 8

4.2 HOME SCREEN ____________________________________ 9

4.3 HOME SCREEN – Alternate functions __________________ 11

4.4 RECORD MODE ___________________________________ 11

5.0 MENU SYSTEM ___________________________________ 12

5.1 SUB-MENUS ______________________________________ 13

5.2 SYSTEM MENU ___________________________________ 14

5.3 VIDEO MENU _____________________________________ 15

5.4 DISPLAY MENU ___________________________________ 16

5.5 AUDIO MENU _____________________________________ 19

5.6 SSR MENU _______________________________________ 20

6.0 INITIALIZATION ___________________________________ 22

7.0 DIAGNOSTICS ____________________________________ 23

APPENDIX A – SSR Error Messages ______________________ 24

APPENDIX B – Timecode / Userbit Source Matrix ____________ 25

APPENDIX C – Dubbing SSR Footage to Sony SRW-1 ________ 26

APPENDIX D – Connector Pin-outs ________________________ 27

APPENDIX E – SSR Specifications ________________________ 30

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Panavision Solid State Recorder (SSR) is a solid-state recording device based on flash
memory, which is designed to be mounted on to the Panavision Genesis camera system. The
SSR can also be used as a standalone HD recorder when mounted on the SSRD docking station.

The SSR can record either 422 single-link HD-SDI or 444 dual-link HD-SDI at any of the fixed
frame rates provided by the Genesis camera, as well as in Select frame 30 mode (S30) -- a range
of Genesis variable speeds from 1 to 30 frames per second. The SSR does not currently support
the Genesis Select frame 60 mode (S60). The SSR records the video signal as is, without any
form of compression.

The SSR has the same docking mechanism as the Sony SRW-1 video recorder and can be
mounted to either the top or rear docking ports of the Genesis camera. Genesis is able to control
many functions of the SSR so that the two operate as an integrated package.

Before starting to use the SSR, one of two distinct system modes must be chosen (see section 6):

Standard Play (SP) mode allows full functionality, with the option of recording any take in either
the 422 or the 444 format. In this system mode, you will get approximately 21 minutes of
recording time at 24fps.

Long Play (LP) mode doubles the 24fps recording time to approximately 43 minutes, but limits all
recordings to the 422 format only.

Caution: once the SP or LP mode has been chosen it cannot be changed until the SSR is
reinitialized and all memory has been cleared.

The SSR supports two channels of analog audio, which can be assigned to any one of the four
embedded audio groups. The SSR supports timecode from a variety of sources and will embed
TC in the HD-SDI data stream, replacing existing data if required. Metadata and other possible
HANC or VANC ancillary data are also recorded if present in the HD-SDI input stream.

The SSR can be docked on the rear (as shown) or on the top of the Genesis camera

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1.1 Comparison of the SSR and SRW-1

In many ways the Panavision SSR acts like a virtual version of the Sony SRW-1 videotape
recorder. However there are important differences between the SSR and a VTR:

- The SSR is half the size and less than half the weight of the SRW-1

- Recorded takes can be accessed instantly, without shuttling or cueing

- There is no danger of recording over previous takes when you hit record

- There is no need for pre-roll at the beginning of a recording

- There is no concern of playback damaging footage, as there are no moving parts

- The SSR consumes considerably less power than a videotape recorder

- The SSR records everything uncompressed, allowing for seamless transfer to HDCAM
SR, with its mild compression, or to other data formats, with or without compression

- The SSR has a built-in down-converter for NTSC or PAL output even when mounted on
the Genesis. The SRW-1 cannot do so when docked to the camera

- The SSR also provides a HD SDI 422 output for monitoring when mounted on the
Genesis. The SRW-1 has no such output.

1.2 Workflow Examples

The SSR, as a new digital filmmaking tool, brings new workflow possibilities.

One possible workflow is to shoot with two SSR units. While one SSR is mounted on the camera,
the other is put on the docking station and transferred to an HDCAM SR recorder, and then
erased. Once the SSR on the camera is full, it is swapped with the empty one on the SSRD
docking station. This approach would allow productions to integrate the SSR footage with other
HDCAM SR material, in existing HDCAM SR workflows.

Some projects may elect to shoot with the SSR-1 at 4:4:4, and then transfer the footage onto hard
disk or other data storage medium for a “data” workflow, with or without compression. This
approach would also require rotating two or more SSR-1 units between shooting and transferring.

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2.0 SSR CONNECTIONS

When the SSR is docked to the Genesis camera, the HD-SDI signal is input via the multi-pin
connector in the docking mechanism. Other possible connections are shown below.

ACCessory
input and output

NETWORK
at present for use by
Panavision service

technicians only

SD OUT
NTSC or PAL composite video output

GENlock
Tri-Level Sync input
can only be used
when SSR is not

docked on camera

HDSDI

422 monitor output
with optional characters

TC

LTC Timecode input

AUDIO

2 analog line-level
audio inputs

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2.1 SSRD Docking Station Connectors

The SSRD is a small docking station for the SSR.

When the SSR is docked to the SSRD, the HD-SDI inputs and outputs are available on BNC
connectors on the SSRD. The HD-SDI signal contains embedded audio from the SSR.

A 9-pin D connector on the SSRD allows the SSR to be controlled in slave mode by a serial
controller implementing the Sony P2 9 pin protocol, just like a Sony videotape recorder. This Sony
protocol compatibility makes it easy to integrate the SSR into existing post-production facilities
and workflows.

The SSRD is provided 12 Volt power via a 4-pin XLR or a 3-pin LEMO connector, which can also
serve as a loop-through power output.

A & B Link
HDSDI INputs

A & B Link
HDSDI OUTputs

REMOTE

RS422 serial control

Power INput
(11 to 17V)

Power
alternative INput
or loop-through

output

Power Switch

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3.0 CONTROL PANEL

RECORD KEY

Push to start and stop recording. Record is always available, no matter what menu is displayed.

FUNCTION KEYS F1 – F4
Function of each key is indicated by the icon on its left, and changes with context. Pushing ALT
may display other functions.

MENU KEY

Push to enter or exit menu system, when changing a menu item, pushing acts as a cancel
function.

ALT KEY

Changes display to show alternate functions of the function keys. Also used to clear non-fatal
errors.

SELECT ENCODER - THUMBWHEEL WITH PUSH SWITCH

With the home screen, turning encoder will jog single frames forward and reverse, pushing will
select input video at the HD outputs and show the timecode generator time (TCG).

With other screens, turning the encoder is used to select, and pushing to activate, different menu
items.

DISPLAY ROTATE SWITCH
Rotates the display 90 degrees, used when the SSR is docked to the rear port of the camera

BACKLIGHT SWITCH
Select lcd backlight off, low or high intensity.

KEY LOCK SWITCH
Inhibit operation of all keys except record.

F1 F2 F3 F4

Function Keys

Icon on display
indicates

current function
Display Rotate

BackLIGHT
Brightness

Key LOCK

SELECT Encoder

Jog control
Push to see input video

Menu selection
Push to select menu item

RECord Key

Record Indicator

MENU Enter/Cancel

Show ALTernate function
Clear Error message

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4.0 DISPLAY

The SSR uses a 320 by 240 pixel LCD display as a graphical user interface (GUI).

The GUI displays information about SSR status, previously recorded clips, remaining capacity
and offers a menu system for changing user-controlled settings. A “home screen” is displayed
during the normal operating condition when the SSR is used as a recorder while docked to a
camera.

The home screen is divided into the 4 distinct areas shown below: TOP, MIDDLE, BOTTOM and
ICON

TOP and MIDDLE sections are changed by the menu system when activated.
BOTTOM and ICON sections are always displayed.

When the SSR is docked on top of the Genesis camera, use the Display Rotate switch to orient
the screen like this:

BOTTOM section.
The top line shows SSR position and status in small characters.
The big characters below show SSR position, timecode, TC generator or remaining capacity.
Remaining capacity is shown below as a “fuel gauge”, a green bar that decreases as the SSR
memory is recorded into.

TOP section
showing status
and error messages.
(Changes with MENU)

MIDDLE section
showing list of
previous recordings
with their duration and
frame rate.
This is also called the
clip list.
(Changes with MENU)

ICON section
showing the icons
for the 4 function
keys

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4.1 Display Rotated for rear docked SSR

When the SSR is docked on the rear of the Genesis, use the DISPLAY ROTATE switch to
change the orientation, as depicted below.
Note that in this position the ICON section is below the BOTTOM section:

TOP section
STATUS
& error messages
(Changes with MENU)

BOTTOM section
Big timecode display
and capacity gauge

MIDDLE section
CLIP LIST

ICON section
For 4 function keys

F4
Stop

F3
Play

F2
Next

Clip

F1
Previous

Clip