CONVERGENT DESIGN APOLLO ““ A PORTABLE MULTI CAMERA LIVE SWITCHER/RECORDER2 min read

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Convergent Design has launched a product that will be sure to interest anyone who routinely does multi-camera shoots for reality TV or interviews. Apollo is a portable HD multi-camera recorder/switcher. It can simultaneously record up to four HD video signals in ProRes HQ/422/LT, along with a fifth channel which is either a live-switched output of the four signals, or a quad-split reference view. The four-channel live switched recording means you can quickly output a cut, while still having the four isolated HD video signals to fall back on if you want to re-edit later. According to Convergent Design it is the only portable device of its kind that can both record multiple HD camera feeds as well as live-switch.

Apollo has all the regular PAL and NTSC HD frame rates. It can handle 1080p24/1080p30/1080i60/720p60 and 1080p25/1080i50/720p50. One caveat is that all four cameras do need to be outputting the same frame rate for recording. At launch the Apollo will only be able to record multiple streams of HD, but early next year in a free firmware update you will also be able to record 4K instead of HD. This will be limited to two 4K/UHD streams in ProRes 24p,25p,and 30p at the same time.

For reality TV shows, live events, and any other project where multiple cameras are being used, the Apollo allows all of your cameras to stay in perfect sync with matching timecode. Four SDI signals, or one HDMI and three SDI signals can be used. If you need to use more than one HDMI camera then you could also use some readily available HDMI-to-SDI converter boxes. A safety function is built in so if one camera’s feed goes down the unit will still keep recording all the other signals.

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via: News Shooter

Image Credit: Convergent Design