Re: Sony M25 -> HD-Connect vs. AJA HD10AVA etc.

Hi Bob,
I believe the HD-Connect MI will solve your issues. Answers to your specific questions:

1. I assume the timecode/deck control comes through 1394 in this case. We haven't done much work with FCP 1394 deck control. I can tell you we've had great success with the HD-Connect MI and RS-422 deck control with the M25 deck (we have that deck here and test regularly).

2. We have a video on our website (http://convergent-design.fileburst.com/AvD.wmv) that shows the difference between analog and HDMI capture (using the HD-Connect MI) with a JVC BR-HD50 deck and a popular HD-SDI/analog capture card. The results with a M25 deck will likely be very similar. The reasons that analog capture is not preferred are the following: loss from digital to analog conversion (in deck), loss from cable (voltage shifts, droops over distance), loss from analog to digital conversion. The effect is color shifts and an overall softening of the video (you'll see this in the comparison footage). Also, HDMI carries video and audio so there is no need for separate paths for video/audio.

3. I would recommend the HD-Connect MI. It does RS-422 to 1394 deck control conversion (RS-422 to your Kona card, 1394 from the MI to the deck). We have done a LOT of work on deck control and timecode issues trying to make it as good as possible. HDMI carries only video/audio, while the 1394 takes care of the timecode/deck control.

Let me know if I can answer any further questions.

Regards,

John Schell
Convergent Design Inc.