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Mozegear TIG Q28 on a job, in a sync test


Philip Perkins

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I finally had a chance to use one of the new TIG Q28 TC mini-boxes from Mozegear on a job this week, and can report that everything went very well with it.  The job involved a potpourri of camera types (5 different kinds from ENG types to a Mac iSight camera recorded on a Pix240 and so on) and we had several sync boxes working.  Every camera dept. member was instantly in love with the Q28's light weight and tiny size, and were further impressed when told of the audio+TC passthrough feature.  The Q28 passed my "can I figure this thing out without the manual" test--the case is very clearly marked including the pin assignments of the connectors.  ( I love gear that "just works". )  We had two soundies on this job, and the other guy took one look at the Q28 and said "I'm buying two of those."  The pix below is from the usual sync test vs. my SBT, and pretty clearly shows that the Q28's clock is very steady.   The standard BNC-BNC TC cables used with almost all other TC boxes won't work with the Q28--the choices are Lemo 5 pin (TC in and out, standard config) and mini (TC out as tip-sleeve, TC + audio pass-through as tip-ring-sleeve).  The TC jam input is also a tip-sleeve mini for TC only, and tip-ring sleeve for audio+TC.  So far I've used the mini output for TC, with an idea that I might make some cables with screw-on locking mini connectors for this box (like those used with mics on Senn G2/3 wireless).   We ran all through long days on one set of AAA batteries per day.

 

My only issues with the Q28 had to do with the switch that chooses the frame rate and the trim pot that sets the TC output level.  They both use types that have an arrow-head at the "indicating" end of the slot (to be turned with a small flathead screwdriver), but on mine the holes in the case over these controls are just enough too small to be able to easily see where the arrowhead is--perhaps Mozegear could consider machining those holes out a touch.  The only other issue is where velcro might go and not cover up important info--so far the only spot I see is over the Mozegear logo and model name.

 

I should reiterate how universal the praise was among the professionals I've shown the Q28 to--they are really very happy about its tiny size and nearly zero weight.  Pretty cool box, esp for those working with dinky-cams.

 

philp

 

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fieldmixer:

''introductory price'' (439.00)

They did the same with the TIG too and if memory serves (I'd have to find the older thread for the TIG) , it went 100.00 more after that period. It may be less than a 100.00 bargain this time though, we'll know when they go with full price (?)

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philip: " my "can I figure this thing out without the manual" test-- "

Denecke was, and remains known for this!

Denecke is big and heavy.

 

 

I finally had a chance to use one of the new TIG Q28 TC mini-boxes from Mozegear on a job this week, and can report that everything went very well with it.  The job involved a potpourri of camera types (5 different kinds from ENG types to a Mac iSight camera recorded on a Pix240 and so on) and we had several sync boxes working.  Every camera dept. member was instantly in love with the Q28's light weight and tiny size, and were further impressed when told of the audio+TC passthrough feature.  The Q28 passed my "can I figure this thing out without the manual" test--the case is very clearly marked including the pin assignments of the connectors.  ( I love gear that "just works". )  We had two soundies on this job, and the other guy took one look at the Q28 and said "I'm buying two of those."  The pix below is from the usual sync test vs. my SBT, and pretty clearly shows that the Q28's clock is very steady.   The standard BNC-BNC TC cables used with almost all other TC boxes won't work with the Q28--the choices are Lemo 5 pin (TC in and out, standard config) and mini (TC out as tip-sleeve, TC + audio pass-through as tip-ring-sleeve).  The TC jam input is also a tip-sleeve mini for TC only, and tip-ring sleeve for audio+TC.  So far I've used the mini output for TC, with an idea that I might make some cables with screw-on locking mini connectors for this box (like those used with mics on Senn G2/3 wireless).   We ran all through long days on one set of AAA batteries per day.

 

My only issues with the Q28 had to do with the switch that chooses the frame rate and the trim pot that sets the TC output level.  They both use types that have an arrow-head at the "indicating" end of the slot (to be turned with a small flathead screwdriver), but on mine the holes in the case over these controls are just enough too small to be able to easily see where the arrowhead is--perhaps Mozegear could consider machining those holes out a touch.  The only other issue is where velcro might go and not cover up important info--so far the only spot I see is over the Mozegear logo and model name.

 

I should reiterate how universal the praise was among the professionals I've shown the Q28 to--they are really very happy about its tiny size and nearly zero weight.  Pretty cool box, esp for those working with dinky-cams.

 

philp

 

Phillip,

So in your opinion MozeGear is very acurate when used alongside Denecke?

I am testing the Q28 at the moment and am very impresed with the size.

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Yeah, so far both Moze boxes (TIG and Q28) have been dead-on to my SBT @ 8hrs+ elapsed time from jam.  Pretty impressive.

 

Yes--Mike D was a master at designing tools that could be used by soundies when their brains were fried and under Big Pressure.   The SBT (and my Ambient stuff) inspires confidence and supplies TriLevel sync in addition to TC, a great thing.  But meanwhile cameras have both proliferated (it seems like all shoots are multicamera in some way now) and shrunk in size, or at least many models have, and they may or may not be able to take ext sync and/or ext sync may not be relevant in that situation (there being many ways to skin that cat now).  Smaller TC boxes sometimes make the diff between getting a camera onto solid TC synced to audio or not, ie shooters appreciate the smaller size and weight to the degree that they will be more cooperative about ext TC, I'm finding.

 

philp

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Yeah, so far both Moze boxes (TIG and Q28) have been dead-on to my SBT @ 8hrs+ elapsed time from jam. Pretty impressive.

philp

This great news. I am doing my own test right now. The Q28 will be a great addition to my zaxcom recorders and will take over as a master. This way I will not have to always use wireless tc and can JAM.

Also I hope Q28 works with Red Dragon.

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I have a Q28 and I'm putting it through the paces (no extended testing as Philip Perkins has done, and thank you, Philip for that) and I think it is a pretty amazing TC box. I do have one question (and I don't want to be guilty of using JWSOUND in place of formal support), I'm not sure Mozegear has set up support yet. My question: turning the unit on, it does just what you would expect --- free run TC at the selected frame rate, starting at hour 1:00:00. LED flashes once per second it looks like. Jamming the Q28 from an external source (Denecke GR-2 in my case), LED displays longer flashes (dashes?) which according to instructions means it is being jammed. After jamming and disconnecting GR-2, the Q28 continues to flash as dashes, rather than the customary once per second flashes we are accustomed to. The Q28 after jamming is outputting proper TC at the proper rate (jammed a slate to confirm). Is this normal behavior of the LED?

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Thanks, Philip. Reassuring that it is the way it works --- I hope I won't miss the heartbeat (which we often compared to the pulse on the slate --- not really any degree of accuracy but it seemed to be something we do).

Only be worried if it starts flashing like a machine gun. That means your battery is dying or something got cross jammed. I have the Origional TIG and I love it.

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Thanks Phil,

 

We really appreciate taking the time to do a review!

 

RE: size of the holes for the front switches

We are looking into this and will adjust the size

 

RE: Velcro space

The advantages of the Q28 (small size) also has some challenges (velcro space vs instructions). We are rethinking the labels.

 

Thanks again

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The original idea behind the LED blinking design was to give you an idea if the tc generator is free running or locked to something else.

 

free running - it blinks for 1 frame at the beginning of every second

jammed - 1 second on and 1 second off

cross jammed - 2 seconds on and 2 seconds off

 

blinking like a machine gun (thanks Will) - your battery is dying

solid - your battery is dead and you have no timecode

 

Note:  when it is jammed and cross jammed the transitions are always at frame 0

 

Basically we were attempting to reduce timecode errors.

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Thanks Phil,

 

We really appreciate taking the time to do a review!

 

RE: size of the holes for the front switches

We are looking into this and will adjust the size

 

RE: Velcro space

The advantages of the Q28 (small size) also has some challenges (velcro space vs instructions). We are rethinking the labels.

 

Thanks again

"RE: size of the holes for the front switches

We are looking into this and will adjust the size"
 
Not so sure that adjusting the size of the hole is thew best idea. Possibly some mark, like a red dot or something, on the point of the arrow --- something that could be seen even through the existing hole. Ryan at Trew Audio looked at mine and we determined that it was set on "3" --- then I just studied what the setting pot looked like when pointing at "3" and I was able to set it properly (though not with complete confidence or clarity).
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Locking connector is such an easy thing --- not really any bigger physically, but what a difference those few threads make! I think the only downside, if you can even call it that, is you have to find locking connectors to make up all the interconnect cables.

Jeff, the locking connectors are very cheap and easy to work with.

http://www.redco.com/Redco-SM-LK.html

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