J-Box Manual

PackageContents

360DesignscustommadeJ-Box7-PinDINconnectorflylead

1xPowerInlockingDCconnectorThismanual

INTRODUCTIONTheBlackmagicJ-Box,availableexclusivelyfrom360Designs,istheworld’sfirstcommerciallyavailablebreakoutboxfortheBlackmagicMicroCinemaCameraandBlackmagicMicroStudio4kCameras.Withthebreakoutboxyoucanreadilytakeadvantageofthemanyexpansioncapabilitiesofthesepro-grademicrocameras,inaconvenientandaccessibleway,tocontrolandsynchronizeupto4camerasfromasinglebox.TheboxmakesuseoftheDB-HD15(DE-15)expansionconnectorsontheBlackmagiccameras,whichuseaproprietarypinout,tobreakoutallthekeyconnectors–Power,Genlock,Audio,Timecode,LANCandFutabaS-BUS(viaterminalblock)andcombinetheminasingledistributionorjunctionboxfor4cameras.

BlackmagicMicroCinemaCameraConnectors

Theboxisprimarilyintendedfor3D,360videoandtimeslicing(akaBulletTime)effects,wheremultipleBlackmagiccamerasneedtobeconvenientlycontrolledandsynchronized.TheunitincludesanonboardDC/DCconverter,allowingtheuseofmuchhighercapacityLiPobatteries,upto10S(37v),topowermultiplecamerasfromasinglebattery.A12vaccessoryport(PowerOut)isalsoprovided.WhileitispossibletosolderyourowncablesfortheBlackmagiccameras,theconnectorsarehardtotrackdownandspec,andarequitetrickytosolder.EachJ-Boxincludesalmost100connections,arehandbuilt,andtaketwodaystomake.OurproductisdesignedtomakeconnectingtotheseusefuloptionsontheBlackmagicMicrocamerasupereasyandfun.WithabitofcreativityyoucanusetakeadvantageofourcustomJ-BoxestorapidlyprototypeaLiPopowered360videorig,ortimeslicing(BulletTime)rig,usingtheBlackmagicmicrocameras.

INPUTS

TheJ-Boxtakesthefollowinginputs(LEFTSIDEOFBOX):

• 18-37vPowerIn(any18vto37vpowersource)• GenlockAIn(optional)• GenlockBIn(optional)• Timecode+AudioIn(optional/optional)• LANCIn(optional)

Thesearedistributedto4camerasviathefollowingoutputs:

• Cam1D-Sub+Cam1AudioFlyLead• Cam2D-Sub+Cam2AudioFlyLead• Cam3D-Sub+Cam3AudioFlyLead• Cam4D-Sub+Cam4AudioFlyLead

Therearealsothefollowingpoweroutputs(RIGHTSIDEOFBOX):

• 18-37vOut(fordaisychaining)• 12vOut(topoweranaccessorybox)

**DONOTACCIDENTALLYCONNECT37vTOTHE12vCONNECTOR.THISWILLDAMAGETHEDC/DCCONVERTER****DONOTREVERSEPOLARITYONTHEDCCONNECTORS**

TYPICALCONFIGURATIONInatypicalconfigurationyouwouldconnectatimecodegenerator,syncgenerator,LANCcontroller(orS-Buscontroller)anda5-10SLiPobatterytotheJ-Box,alongwith4cameras.

SCHEMATIC/WIRINGDIAGRAMThisdiagramshowstheconnectionsinsidethebox.NotetheS-Busconnectionsarenotreplicatedexternally,butareavailableinternallyviaaterminalstrip.

PINOUTThesearethepinoutsfortheJ-Box

BLACKMAGICJ-BOXTECHNICALSPECSBY360DESIGNS

• 4xExpansionPort(DB-HD15/DE-15)connectors(ontheendof4xvariable6-12″lengthcables),todirectlyconnectupto4camerastoeachbox.Themaximumdistancebetweenany2‘furthestapart’camerasisapprox.22″.Astrainreliefconnectorisincludedoneachmulti-corecable.

• 2x‘Genlock’BNCinputsoneachbox(eachBNCinputissplitto2cameras).Nowyoucanusepro-gradetimecodegenerators,withBNCconnectors,suchastheBlackmagicSyncGeneratororAJAGEN10,anddistributetiming/synchronizationsignalsto4Blackmagiccamerasatoncefromasinglegenerator.Sinceeachoftheabovesuggestedgeneratorshave6BNCoutputs,youcansynchronizeupto12cameras(using3J-Boxes)fromasinglesyncgenerator,withouttheneedforadistributionamplifier.

• 1xSingleLANCinputusinga6-pinDINplug.Eachofthe4camera’sLANCpinsisbrokenout(replicated)toapinonthis6-pinDINsocket,alongwithcommonLANCPowerandGround.LANCisatwo-wayserialprotocolandwillrequireseparatelogicalcontrollersforeachcamera.(We’reworkingonaLANCaccessorysolutionhere–comingsoon).

• 1xSingleAudio/Timecodeinputviaa7-pinDINplug.4channelsofmonoaudiocanbefedintotheboxanddistributedtothe4leftchannelsonthecameras.Asingletimecodeinputcanbefedinanddistributedtotherightchannelofeachcamera,foreaseofpost-productionworkflowwhendealingwithmultiplecamerasina360ormulti-camerarig.Weusea7-pinDINplugtoavoiduserconfusionwiththe6-pinLANCplug.(1pinisunused).

• 1xIncludedrobustDC/DCconverter(seedatasheet–weusemodelVHB200W-Q48-S12)offersthecapabilityforasingle18-37vpowersourceforall4cameras.ThisallowsuseofhighercapacityLiPo’supto37v(10S).Thepowerinputconnectorisastandardlarger2.5mmbarrelconnector,withlockingringoption.Usethis2.5mmplugforlockingcapability.(Notethefull75vinputrangeofourincludedDC/DCconverterisnotrecommendedduetoconnectorspecificationvoltagelimits)

• 1xSingle18v-37vpoweroutputusingthesame2.5mmconnectorasabove,fordaisychainingpowertoupto3additionalJ-Boxes,foratotalof4J-Boxes.Morethanthisisnotrecommendedduetotheconnector’sspecifiedpowerlimitof150w.EachBMMCCpullsaround8watts.

• 1xSingle12vregulatedaccessoryoutputusingastandard2.1mm12vconnector(max.power60w)withlockingringcapability.Usethis2.1mmplugforlockingcapability.

• Formoredetailspleaserefertotheschematics

• TotalDC/DCconverterratingperbox:200watts

• Dimensionsofbox:4.6″x4.6″x2.25″

• Weight:2.5lbs(inc.expansioncables)

• ModelNumber:360-JBOX