Equipment Rentals
High definition and standard definition equipment is available for rent. Our video editing suites are available for rent to producers and editors who want to work with their customers downtown in a comfortable, well-equipped post production environment.
Proof of insurance is required for all rentals. A copy of your Certificate of Liability Insurance naming Chicago HD as a Loss Payee can be faxed to (312) 943-1125. Better yet, send us a PDF or similar file of your proof of insurance: click here to email.
See an example of a Certificate of Liability Insurance.
We accept payment via cash, check or PayPal. An additional 6% Chicago rental tax will be added to all Chicago equipment rentals. Paying via PayPal incurs a 3% surcharge on total rental charges, including tax.
The rental terms and rates stated in this website are subject to change.
See our Rental Terms and Conditions.
High Definition Video Player/Recorders
Sony SRW-5500
HDCAM SR/HDCAM Dual Format Player/Recorder
Full-Bandwidth, Multi-Frame Rate, High Definition Mastering VTR
Rent me for $1,500/day
The SRW-5500 is Sony's first dual format recorder, switchable between Sony's HDCAM and HDCAM SR record formats. Capable of recording 23.98/24/25/29.97/ 30PsF, 1080/50i/59.94/60i, and 720/59.94P, the SRW-5500 was created to meet all common worldwide delivery requirements. The HDCAM SR format is capable of recording the gamut of HD frame/line rates in both 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 formats using the highly efficient MPEG-4 Studio Profile compression scheme. The SRW-5500 records HDCAM SR format video at 440 Mbps, 10 bit Log or linear, at 2.7:1 compression ratio in 4:2:2, and 4.2:1 compression ratio for 4:4:4. It can also record 12 channels of audio at 24-bit per sample resolution. HDCAM format recording offers the standard 4 channels of uncompressed audio. Includes the HKSR-5001 and HKSR-5003 option boards.
Download the Sony SRW-5500 specs or manual here.
Panasonic AJ-HD3700B
D-5 Multi-Format Player/Recorder
Rent me for $1,250/day
The AJ-HD3700B meets all high quality HD and SD production requirements in one VTR. Quality is assured by full bandwidth (1920x1080) and 4:2:2 digital 10-bit component video in HD plus standard definition non-compressed 525i (NTSC) and 625i (PAL). Formats supported: D-5 HD (1080/59.94i, 1080/50i, 1080/25PsF, 1080/25P, 1080/24PsF, 1080/24P, 1080/23.98PsF, 1080/23.98P, 720/59.94P), D-5 (576i/50i, 480i/59.94i). Audio: 4/8 channels selectable. This model does not support 1080i to 720p conversion.
Download the Panasonic AJ-HD3700B specs or manual here.
Sony HDW-F500
HDCAM High Definition Player/Recorder
Rent me for $950/day
High-Definition editing recorder utilizing HDCAM compression and 4 channels of audio. 1920x1080 switchable 23.976p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p, 50i, 59.94i, 60i. Includes HDKV-501a downconverter board and HKDV-507 pulldown board.
Download the HDW-F500 manual here.
Panasonic AJ-HD1700
DVCProHD Player/Recorder
Rent me for $850/day!
The AJ-HD1700 records three types of HD images - 1080/60i, 720/60p, and 1080/50i - and it comes equipped with eight digital audio channels for 5.1-channel surround sound. It plays all DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO P, DVCPRO, DV, and DVCAM tapes. The AJ-HD1700 has an advanced HD-SD conversion function that provides parallel output of HD/SD signals from a wide variety of sources. It can even output a 1080/24p signal from a 720/24p over 60 VARICAM source tape for convenient editing in 1080/24p. Featuring the DVCPRO HD-LP format (9-recording track), the AJ-HD1700 records and plays up to 126 minutes with an XL cassette, offering twice the recording density of DVCPRO HD. Also known as the Varicam format.
Download the AJ-HD1700 specs here.
Standard Definition Video Player/Recorders
Sony DVW-A500
Digital Betacam Player/Recorder
Rent me for $750/day
The digital workhorse of the industry. Plays and records Digital Betacam and plays analog Beta SP. SDI, component and composite inputs and outputs.
No specs or manual available.
Sony DSR-1500
DVCAM
Player/Recorder
Rent me for $250/day
The DSR-1500 employs the DVCAM format, the professional extension of the worldwide standard DV format. The DVCAM format uses 8-bit digital component recording with a 5:1 compression ratio and a sampling rate of 4:1:1 for NTSC. SDI input, SDI, component and composite out. 2 channels 48k audio, 4 channels 32k audio.
Download the Sony DSR-1500 specs or DSR-1500 manual here.
Sony BVW-70
Beta SP
Player/Recorder
Rent me for $350/day
The analog workhorse of the industry. Component and composite inputs and outputs, 4 channels of audio.
No specs or manual available.
Sony GV-D300
Mini DV Player/Recorder
Rent me for $70/day
Small, lightweight, battery and AC operated mini DV deck also plays back mini DVCAM tapes. Firewire, S-Video and composite inputs and outputs.
No specs or manual available.
High Definition Monitors
Sony BVM-D14H5U
14" Digital and Analog HD CRT Monitor with built in CCU
Rent me for $300/day
14" Multi-scan monitor with two HD-SDI inputs and one component analog input.
Download the Sony BVM-D14H5U specs here.
Miscellaneous Hardware
Teranex Mini UDCS Up/Down/Cross-Converter
Rent me for $275/day
The Teranex Mini is a DTV format converter that can convert SD video to and from HD in real time with exceptional quality. This new form factor enables applications such as HD field monitoring and conversion of SD camera and graphics sources to HD.
Of importance, the Teranex Mini becomes a useful tool for the independent producer. In its most basic form, the Mini enables SD/DV productions to be presented in HD, with resolution and clarity approaching that of native HD/HDV. For the producer that is mixing DV and HDV content into the editing timeline, the Mini enables upconversion of the DV source to HD in real time at high enough quality levels to effectively match the HDV content. The final product may then be delivered in both SD and HD simultaneously by routing the SDI output back through the Mini on playout. This real-time process not only saves time but also provides quality levels much higher than is currently available within the editing applications.
The Teranex Mini has SD/HD SDI inputs and outputs, analog component, and HDMI outputs. It may be used equally well to feed a VTR, display, or video projector. Control is via front panel, OSD, or RS-232.
Mini Features:
- 486, 720p, 1080i lines capable
- PixelMotion™ De-interlacing
- Multi-direction Diagonal Filter (MDDF™) eliminates "jaggies"
- 2-Frame/4-Frame Delay Mode
- Per-Pixel Temporal Recursive Noise Reduction
- Aspect Ratio Conversion
- Flexview - Non Linear Anamorphic Aspect Ratio
- Per-Pixel Video/Film detection & processing
- Film mode detection including 3:2, 2:2, 2:3:3:2, 3:2:3:2:2, 5:5, 6:4, 8:7. etc.
- Scene Change Detection
- Detail Enhancement
- Embedded Audio Handling
Miranda HDV Bridge HDV to HD-SDI Decoder/Cross-Converter
Rent me for $225/day
Miranda's HD-Bridge is a neat and affordable desktop interface that addresses multiple HDV interfacing tasks. It provides high quality HDV to HD-SDI 1080i/720p conversion with embedded audio and Time Code along with multiple digital and analog video/audio outputs.
The interface accepts HDV via an IEEE-1394 (iLink FireWire) connection and outputs HD-SDI at 1080i/720p with embedded audio and Time Code. Dual HD-SDI outputs provide one clean feed and one feed with Time Code and Graticule Markers. The interface also provides HD component video plus time code, AES and Analog audio outputs. The HD-Bridge DEC has an internal cross converter allowing the conversion of 1080i HDV material to 720p and 720p material to 1080i. The interface can be used for broadcast distribution and playout with edited HDV material converted into HD-SDI for direct playout into an HD-SDI infrastructure. HD-Bridge DEC can also be used to convert compressed HDV into uncompressed HD-SDI for lossless editing.
Payment Types Accepted
Chicago HD accepts payment with cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and PayPal.
