CF-to-SATA hardware interface for RAW recording (fork)

Started by Grunf, May 17, 2013, 03:10:09 PM

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Samuel H

^ You also need some logic to control the process. I.e. a processor, and some programming so it does something meaningful when you press the buttons. It would be cheaper if it was a mass-produced item...

The alternative is to buy a small notebook with loads of HDD space. Much more useful, but it weights a lot more.

arrinkiiii

So...

Arduino = 30$
HDD 2.5" drive 500 GB = 50$
CF INPUT = 20$
Battery = ??

I would love to have this setup. For me a lot more practical that a notebook and could change disks if they are full.

-Insert card, press button.

-Plug & Dump  :D

albert-e


enliten

this is not an impossible project... although it will be highly unlikely that there will be any real increase in speed. the only thing this would offer would be the potential for more storage space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdrive

would it be possible to frankenstein some microdrive hardware?

jose_ugs

Quote from: albert-e on September 21, 2013, 12:26:14 AM
Another reason why I abandon the project. Delkin CF 1050x, UDMA 7 cinema memory card. Check this out.
http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2013/09/new-gear-delkin-cf-1050x-udma-7-cinema-memory-card-ready-4k

I see the point, but how do you deal with the price aspect: $639.95 - 128GB?
When storage prices get close to the price range of glass (in the DSLR world of course) things get a bit, how should i say...

arrinkiiii

At this point, with the large capacity and speed of CF cards im not looking for speed (camera bus limited speed) but looking for alternative solution in price/storage and mobility.

-unfortunately I could never buy a card that costs me 300€ or 500€. If i got the money would buy other priority things (slide, steadicam, etc..)

-But give the money for something that in the field i can pass my 2 x 32gb  card for a 2.5" drive without computer would be very nice. Not only nice but practical. I fill a card and just put in the "ML NEXTO" and press button to dump, use the other 32g card for shooting while the other is passing the info to the 2,5" drive. Hooopsss, in the middle of the day my 2.5" drive of 500GB is full !!! No problem just swap the disk for another that cost me 50$ .

-So, if this exist i can pass all day shooting with 2 cards and one "ML NEXT" , without computer. Battery for sure will be less demanding that a computer and can operate all day.

I think is a simple idea a so pratical. Plug & dump !!! I don't understand nothing about programming (old pascal) but i got one arduino that i can send to some one that want to try. For sure in this threat exist people that have the CF connector that if give  up from the CF-to-SATA hardware interface for RAW recording  project. Also don't mind to gather some money together and buy a 2.5" hard drive and send it.

Maybe albert-e want to embrace this or other developer  ::)

3pointedit

If you are dumping footage to another drive, then you should be mirroring at the same time. A simple RAID I guess. That way no-one can stuff the footage up.

I guess something like this only more simple and way cheaper! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/413447-REG/Panasonic_AJ_PCS060G_AJ_PCS060G_60_GB_P2.html

or with CF reader

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768991-REG/Nexto_DI_NESV_NVS2501_NVS2501_Video_Storage_Pro.html

Still far to expensive. I guess a simple netbook would do all this with a dumb ext HDD.


So you get a netbook
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/914387-REG/acer_lu_sga0d_066_aspire_one_aod270_26dkk_1gb.html
add a CF reader (usb3)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/815153-REG/Transcend_TS_RDF8K_USB_3_0_Multi_Card.html
and an ext HDD (usb3) pref 2 for redundancy
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/itemIncDetails.jsp/sku/841444/is/REG/type/acc/att/cat@__accessory_Essentials%5EDetail%5ELyr@__parent@__ACAOD2701375

$275 + (HDD@ $79 x 2) = $433
As Jason Wingrove of RC podcast says "If the light is green the trap is clean".
550D on ML-roids

albert-e

Quote from: jose_ugs on September 21, 2013, 10:17:57 AM
I see the point, but how do you deal with the price aspect: $639.95 - 128GB?
When storage prices get close to the price range of glass (in the DSLR world of course) things get a bit, how should i say...

Perhaps the most underrated savings tool is simple patience. When a new consumer product hits the shelves -- say, a DVD of a movie that came out recently or a new model of a laptop -- it's generally sold at the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP. After some time has passed, however, that price will start to drop. This happens either because the retailer decides to put it on sale or because the manufacturer itself decides to implement a price cut to boost sales.

So how long do you actually have to wait to start seeing the price decrease? For individual products it will depend a lot on sales figures. The Nintendo 3DS, for instance, saw a price cut of $80 after just five months, a move prompted by sluggish sales. But it's also possible to look at past trends to estimate average wait times for different classes of products.

arrinkiiii

The panasonic is out of order and only 60GB, the nexto cost 1250$ and you can't change drive.  Laptop + 2.5" drive + card reader is to much gear.. and money.

2.5"drive + arduino + cf input = cheap & easy ??

Going investigate  :)

SDX

Arduino? Absolutely not - Datarates are nothing that comes near to useable..

I've been searching for programmable chips for this kind of purpose, did, however, not find anything. Anyone with experience in this field?

arrinkiiii

Quote from: SDX on September 21, 2013, 09:27:50 PM
Arduino? Absolutely not - Datarates are nothing that comes near to useable..

I've been searching for programmable chips for this kind of purpose, did, however, not find anything. Anyone with experience in this field?

Ok, so arduino for making a simple CF to 2.5"  (like nexto) is a NO. Because of transfer rates... but is so slow? How slow?

..and no other possibility's?

SDX

The Arduino isn't in any way designed to deal with this.

I know Altera is producing PLDs that could suit the requirements. It is, however, quite obvious that others do as well :P
The only problem here is that it requires quite some knowledge to implement a solution. That's the actual deal here.

arrinkiiii


Do you know the price for the Altera PLD?

"implement a solution"  In the rest of the hardware or in software, making the code?

SDX

you can very unlikely buy these off the shelve. They are being produced as soon as someone needs them in a product.

And of course, that is only the heart of the design. It requires some work to set up the rest around and especially ages and lots of knowledge to implement the software side of things.
Documentation is close to non-existent, lots of learning is required.

I know, I'm currently wearing a metaphorical black hat. It might be possible to design a solution even when you only do electronics as a hobby, but the required learning is significant.

EDIT: okay, you can actually get some of Alteras (C)PLDs on the internet. The price depends on what you need.

3pointedit

Theres this system but no removable HDD
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Portable-Data-Storage/ci/3369/N/4083163867

And this SD to HDD via smart phone solution
http://www.andreasbank1980.blogspot.de/2012/08/on-go-image-backup-for-10-only.html

Substitute in a CF reader and an old android phone, plus some gaffer tape. You got a all in one solution. But battery power would be a problem?

Found on this similar DPreview forum page.
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3291394
550D on ML-roids

arrinkiiii

Indeed, like that looks a lot more complicated to make something like a nexto. Just to go in the field and transfer my 8gb 60mb/s  card to a 2.5" drive.

Can you see the price for 1 ?! Prototype?


Do you know the transfer velocity that you can achieve with the arduino?

arrinkiiii

Quote from: 3pointedit on September 21, 2013, 11:33:29 PM
Theres this system but no removable HDD
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Portable-Data-Storage/ci/3369/N/4083163867

And this SD to HDD via smart phone solution
http://www.andreasbank1980.blogspot.de/2012/08/on-go-image-backup-for-10-only.html

Found on this similar DPreview forum page.
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3291394

No doubt, more affordable price (still expencive)and read raw files? Photo or video? Must be photo... but with fw upgrade maybe in the future. Yes, should change the disks.

arrinkiiii

http://www.andreasbank1980.blogspot.de/2012/08/on-go-image-backup-for-10-only.html


"Since a cloud based backup is no solution due to the huge amount of data and service availability I was thinking of getting one of these image tanks. But I just could not get myself on spending 300€ for a mobile hard drive with a SD Card slot."

Same here  :D   it's a very pretty solution  =)) Thanks for this. Its far for being perfect but is something =)))


MAYBE THIS IS THE SOLUTION

http://secure.mm5server.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=761T&Category_Code=FlashPac

SDX

In the case of the Arduino: they work with ATmega µCs and in all cases at 20Mhz. I have no math on how much performance it would take to convert between the two protocols. The thing is just: a 20MHz clocking vs. 90Mbs Bandwidth - no matter how smart you implement the protocol, that's far more data/s compared to possible calculations/s. And I'll bet that there are more calculations required here.

I still hope for a chance to get this working via software.

arrinkiiii


jose_ugs

Quote from: arrinkiiii on September 21, 2013, 11:43:25 PM
MAYBE THIS IS THE SOLUTION
http://secure.mm5server.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=761T&Category_Code=FlashPac

The PicPac looks cool, but check this out:
I tested the device with a SanDisk 16GB CF card loaded with just under 4GB of still image files. The device had no problem reading the card, and the transfer took about 12 minutes.

Now think of having a 64/128GB card... :(

arrinkiiii

Yes, for the compact size, transportation and price... I think in feature will be more fast and same price.

Glabu


g3gg0

could be possible when HDDs are working.
but why would you want do that?
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Vlad

I am familiar with group of developers who can make the device that the flow of video was written down on SSD. but in their opinion this device will have a small demand. the cost of development is in limits of 20-30 thousand dollars. May we arrange vote to learn real need for such device?