Blackmagic has significantly improved 5″ Video Assist monitor/recorder with a firmware update.
The 5″ Video Assist monitor/recorder was missing a few important features just after it hit shelves, but the company has been rolling out updates over the last few months. The 1.1 firmware added a bunch of essential features, including HDMI timecode, and the 1.2 update builds off that, and adds a brand new codec, Avid DNxHD.
Here’s everything that’s new in the update:
- Adds DNxHD codec
- Adds extended Zebra range
- Adds SD card record time remaining on status overlays
- Adds clip playback information panel
- Adds HDMI record trigger
With HDMI timecode from firmware 1.1, the recorder could technically trigger from HDMI, but now they’ve actually added HDMI record triggering in 1.2. This means that any camera with the proper flags coming from the HDMI will trigger recording on the Video Assist when you hit the record button. With the new codec just added, you’ll be able to record 1080p in both Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD on the recorder.
The Video Assist continues to improve, and one of the only features left that really needs correcting is the ability to remove the pulldown from Canon cinema cameras, something already do.
