User Manual Version 1.0 1151 Duryea Avenue Irvine, CA 92614, USA Phone (949) 852-8404 Fax (949) 852-1226 www.ffv.com The design of the sideKick HD and the sideKick HD manual is proprietary. No part of the sideKick HD Manual may be copied or modified without the written consent of Fast Forward Video, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.
Table of Contents Blank Important Notice �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 Overview �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 Quick Start Guide ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6 Drive Installation ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7 Con
The SET-UP Menu �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Video Standard Codec The SET-UP Menu (continued) ����������������������������������������������������������������������������15 Loop Playback Video Input Auto Record Audio Input Audio Output Record Format Date / Time Factory Defaults Firmware Version Serial Number Updating Firmware �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16 Post Productio
Important Notice STATIC PRECAUTIONS: The sideKick HD has been built to meet the demands of a video production environment. However, the hardware is subject to the same dangers from static as any other electronic device. Use care when connecting or disconnecting cables. IMPORTANT: Take care not to introduce any moisture into the unit. CLEANING AND HANDLING: The unit should only require dusting with a soft cloth. Solvents may harm the painted surface and leak to the inside causing severe damage.
Overview Ease your production workflow with a versatile recording solution that the whole production team can agree on. sideKick HD is a camera-mountable High Definition digital video recorder that gives you the freedom and flexibility to: • Capture high quality video from your HD-SDI or HDMI capable camera.
Quick Start Guide 1. Apply Power – Either plug the AC power adapter (transformer) into a 110 VAC wall socket and connect the locking connector (mini XLR) to the POWER port located on the bottom of the unit, or connect a battery power cable (not included) to an acceptable 7-16VDC battery system and its locking connector (mini XLR) to the POWER port located on the bottom of the unit. (Please note special battery mount cables are available as an accessory from www.ffv.com.) 2.
Drive Installation The Solid State Drives (SSD) used by sideKick HD are not proprietary. We do recommend that you use only the drives recommended by Fast Forward Video. See the sideKick HD webpage for a list of recommended drives, their part numbers and vendors. These drives have been tested and proven to have the best performance and reliability. SATA CONNECTION DRIVE LOCK TAB Install a drive into sideKick HD using the following procedure: 1.
Connections 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 Bottom 1. H . D-SDI Output (BNC connector) - Route HD video and embedded audio output signal to a monitor or another external device. Output is hot regardless of input being HD-SDI or HDMI. 2. H . D-SDI Input (BNC connector) - Input HD-SDI uncompressed video with embedded audio and time code from a camera or other source to record and display. 3. S .
Front Panel Controls 10 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1. Rewind / Previous Clip (◄◄)- Press this button to move to the head of the current clip or to the previous clip. 2. Fast Forward / Next Clip (►►) - Press this button to move to the head of the next clip or the end of the very last clip. 3. Play (►) - Press this button to play the current clip. 4. Stop (■) - Press this button to stop recording or playback of the current clip. 5.
The Screen Scheme The Menu Button The MONITOR Screen The CLIP Menu sideKick HD has a few different screens, each with special purposes. The MONITOR Screen is your main operational view. This screen will be used for a few things, such as camera pass-thru, a confidence monitor when recording and basic playback of clips. The SET-UP Menu The CLIP Menu deals with operations involving the clip such as selecting, naming or deleting clips. The SET-UP Menu has a variety of recorder configuration settings.
The Monitor Screen MODE Indicator (LIVE / REC / STOP / PLAY) TIME CODE DRIVE SPACE Icon LED The MONITOR SCREEN has three primary functions: 1. LIVE VIEW also known as Camera Pass-thru is used for monitoring what you are going to shoot. Pressing the LIVE button returns to this view from the RECORD and PLAYBACK modes. 2. In RECORD MODE this view is used as a confidence monitor so the Camera Operator knows what is actually being recorded.
The CLIP Menu Clip Window Clip List Clip Duration When you press the MENU button, this will be the first menu you see. It consists of features and options pertaining to the clips themselves such as Naming and Deleting. Since you can delete individual clips, formatting the drive which removes all clips from the disk media is also included in this menu. Navigating in this menu is done by turning the scroll wheel. CLIP LIST / CLIP WINDOW - Navigate to this field to select or change the clip to be modified.
Formatting the Drive All new drives will need to be formatted before recording can be initiated. Please note that the drive space icon will be red until the new drive is formatted properly. 1. From MONITOR SCREEN, press the menu button once – this will take you to the CLIP Menu. 2. Use the scroll wheel to highlight “FORMAT DISK”. 3. Press the center black selection button on the scroll wheel to initiate the command. CLIP Menu 4.
The SET-UP Menu This SET-UP MENU is accessed by pressing the MENU button once from the the CLIP MENU or twice from the MONITOR SCREEN. This menu contains all of sideKick HD's configuration settings. Navigation in this menu works the same as the previous menu; move through the fields with the scroll wheel and select the item to be modified by pressing the black center button on the wheel.
The SET-UP Menu (continued) LOOP PLAYBACK - The choices here are ON or OFF depending on whether or not you want your list of clips to continue playing again once it gets to the end of the list. VIDEO INPUT - Is the signal to be recorded coming through the HD-SDI or the HDMI input. AUDIO INPUT - EMBEDDED or ANALOG. If you choose ANALOG you must have your analog audio input connected to the AUDIO / LINE In port on the left side of the unit. It is an unbalanced analog connection.
Updating Firmware Firmware maintenance releases and upgrades are posted to our website as they become available. Customers have access to maintenance releases at no charge for the lifetime of the product. Upgrades are available for a fee. Please check our website regularly to keep your sideKick up to date. New firmware files are located at http://www.ffv.com/page/support.htm. 1. Locate the latest revision of sideKick HD firmware on www.ffv.com. 2.
Post Production Please note that, out of the box, sideKick HD produces a QuickTime .MOV file using Apple's ProRes 422 codec and is compatible with any MAC or PC editing software (NLE) that supports that codec. The video files have been tested with: - Apple Final Cut Pro 7.0 - Adobe Premiere CS5 for the Mac Moving Clips to NLE System 1. Connect the Solid State Drive (SSD) to a computer (NLE) using either the provided USB to SATA cable or insert the SSD into an already hooked up SATA drive dock. 2.
Specifications VIDEO INPUT / OUTPUT POWER Digital Input / Output HD-SDI, HDMI Power Supply 12 VDC Standards SMPTE 274 M Power Connector Mini XLR SMPTE 296 M Power Requirement 7-16 VDC Power Consumption 3-21 W Power Options Battery or AC Power adapter DISPLAY 4.
Limited Warranty Warranty 12 Month Limited Warranty Fast Forward Video, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser that the product (hardware and components) shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase, If a defect covered by this warranty occurs during this 1 year period, Fast Forward Video, Inc. will repair or replace the defective product or component, at its option, free of charge. If customers register their sideKick HD by mail or on www.ffv.
