HD Field Recorders for Live Production--UPDATED!

Which External Recorder is the Best?

So which external recorder is the best? I wish I had an answer but the truth is that no one model does everything I want it to. I know the individual manufacturers aren’t going to love me for listing what I feel are their shortcomings, but from one video producer to the next, this is what I don’t like about the following models:

Aja Ki Pro Line

I’ve already mentioned the Ki Pro doesn’t have a video monitor, records in the Mac-only HFS+ file format on proprietary hard drives, and corrupted files have to be sent away for expensive recovery. This line now has four models: the Ki Pro, the Mini, the Quad, and the Rack. They might be popular but being first to market doesn’t mean they are the best.

Atomos Samurai

I’m currently using this model but that doesn’t mean it is perfect. It lacks XLR audio inputs and the HD-SDI input and outputs are mini-sized, requiring a small adapter cable. This is supplied but I’d hate to lose one and, in general, I dislike any proprietary types of cables as they are difficult to replace in a hurry. I can live with these shortcomings but ultimately it lacks full-sized audio level meters. It does allow for way more embedded recording channels that I can ever use, in addition to a stereo mini-plug input, but the audio level indicator is small and even though it is color-coded to indicate the green, yellow, and red audio ranges, I want a larger VU meter.

Atomos Ronin

This soon-to-be-released 1/2-rackmount version of the Samurai adds full-size XLR audio inputs in the place of mini audio inputs but so far hasn’t improved on the tiny audio level indicators. I gave Atomos my feedback on their audio level meters back at NAB 2012 and I imagine adding a larger VU meter overlay option could be possible with a simple firmware upgrade, so here is to hoping, as otherwise this would be the perfect HD recorder for my needs as it also has a headphone jack.

Blackmagic Design Hyperdeck

This line has three models but all lack ProRes LT support and a headphone jack. Sorry, this is a deal killer for me, although I like that the recording media is a standard SSD and the the two rackmount models have a small LCD screen with audio meters on the front. Blackmagic added exFAT file support in addition to its original HFS+ offering.

Blackmagic Design Decklink Studio via ATEM Software Control Panel

I equipped my webcast encoder with a Decklink Studio card and because I use the ATEM 1 M/E video switcher, I can control the recording from the same software interface that I control camera switches from. On the plus side, the Control Panel displays audio levels, but unfortunately there is no mechanism to actually listen to the audio. The recording codec depends on the installed software on your computer. Final Cut offers ProRes, Avid offers DNxHD, and Premiere Pro offers Motion JPEG or DVCPro HD.

Panasonic AG-HMR10

This portable external recorder (Figure 7, below) doesn’t get much coverage but I’m definitely interested in testing it in my own workflow. Unlike the above HD recorders that start with 100Mbps or 240Mbps codecs as their smallest offering, this Panasonic recorder maxes out with the VBR 21Mbps 1920x1080 PH mode AVCHD codec. If you can overlook this “limitation,” which--as I mentioned earlier--I can live with because my video cameras have a very clean and low-noise video ouput, then you will be interested in this feature set: It has a 3.5” LCD video monitor, HD-SDI input and outputs, audio waveform monitor, video vectorscope monitor, and a headphone jack, and it records to inexpensive SDHC cards. It even offers real-time HD-to-SD downconvert on the SDI or HDMI output and an analog headphone jack-size audio input. And if that weren’t enough, it even has an internal signal generator to send bars and tone for testing.

Figure 8. The Panasonic AG-HMR10

In many ways, it reminds me of the Matrox MC100 (covered here) in that it has so many uses that every producer should carry one as it backs up so many other devices. Think about it: In addition to being an HD-SDI recorder, the Panasonic is also a capable HD-SDI to HDMI converter, HD-SDI to SDI or HDMI SD downcoverter, HD-SDI or HDMI signal generator, HD-SDI monitor, and most importantly, another billable rental item you can charge your client.

As you can see, none of the above options are clear standouts for external HD program recording. If I could design one, it would have at least the following:

• HD-SDI video input
• XLR audio input
• ProRes LT recording on 2.5” HDD or SSD
• audio VU meters
• headphone jack
• rackmount compatibility
• AC with DC battery backup
• HD-SDI pass-through
• video screen.

Right now, Atomos’ forthcoming Ronin is the best-positioned to fit these criteria, and a firmware update to add larger VU meters would satisfy me. But until then, I’m going to take a closer look at the Panasonic AG-HMR10.