Of course, it wouldn't be NAB without a bunch of announcements from Blackmagic Design. There new products supporting Optical Fiber connections; new router software and a new Ultrascope package for converting a cheap PC to a high capability HD (or SD) scope. Blackmagic also dropped the price of several existing products so it's never been cheaper to produce high quality video. Other announcements include a new player application, Linux support, updates to their mini-converter line and a new DVI extender.
Optical Fiber Products
Blackmagic Design have released the new DeckLink Optical Fiber card and added Optical Fiber support to the HDLink product with a new product, HDLink Optical Fiber.
The DeckLink Optical Fiber card allows direct capture of incoming video instead of first needing to convert the signal to HD-SDI. The DeckLink Optical Fiber card supports both HD-SDI and Optical Fiber in to uncompressed capture (or ProRes via CPU encode during capture).
DeckLink Optical Fiber Key Features:
• SDI in and out plus optical fiber SDI in and out.
• 10 bit SDI capture and playback with full HD and SD compatibility.
• SDI switches between SD and HD.
• Built in internal SD keying of RGBA graphics over live video input.
• 8 channels of SDI audio capture and playback in HD and SD.
• Genlock/Tri-Sync reference input for locking card to large systems.
• RS-422 remote control for broadcast decks.
• PCI Express plug in card at 2.5 Gb/s speeds for maximum real time effects.
• Real time effects in Apple Final Cut Pro™ and Adobe Premiere™ Pro.
All this for US $495.
The HDLink monitoring converter has been upgraded to HDLink Optical Fiber. All previous features are maintained but Optical Fiber support is added, allowing the HDLink to be used to view HD-SDI or Optical Fiber direct to DVI or HDMI displays.
The new HDLink Optical Fiber sells for US$795, while the original HDLink Pro drops to $495.
Videohub Routers
Videohub version 4 software adds support for a “button view” control screen that is designed to be easy to use on touch screen computers. Button view allows users tochoose from a number of icons of popular video equipment. The button layout is fully customizable.
Videohub 4.0 will be shipping in May 2009 and free to download for all Videohub router customers.
UltraScope Waveform Monitoring
UltraScope software and you have an SD/HD Waveform Monitor for US$695 plus the PC and display. It should be possible to build a full HD Waveform Monitor for around $1500.
The 24 inch monitor allows simultaneous display of 6 waveform views including: RGB/YUV parade display, composite waveform, vector, histogram, 8 channel audio meters, stereo audio scope and picture view. According to Blackmagic Design, the Blackmagic UltraScope is technically accurate, which is perfect for master monitoring and quality control tasks.
The 6 scopes all update at the same time and are grouped within a user interface that creative professionals likely will enjoy using. Blackmagic Ultrascope is like having 6 independent waveform monitors combined into the one product.
The Ultrascope is the only way to monitor Fiber Channel video.
Blackmagic UltraScope auto detects between SD, HD and 3 Gb/s HD-SDI video standards. UltraScope also automatically selects between regular SDI and optical fiber SDI inputs.
DVI Extender
The DVI Extender is a small DVI to SDI converter that allows computer monitors to be placed long distances away from computers using SDI video cabling to Blackmagic Design’s HDLink Pro monitoring converter. The new converter will be shipping in May for US$395.
Mini Converter Updates and new lower prices
The new Converter Utility 1.0 software for Blackmagic's mini converters includes Converter Utility for Windows and Mac OS X platforms and new firmware with increased features for current Mini Converter models.
Converter Utility 1.0 takes advantage of the built in USB connection on all models of Mini Converters to allow adjustments and settings to be changed. This means all adjustments of video and audio levels can be completed via a simple and easy to use software interface.
Some converters gain new features. Check the press release for more details.
Blackmagic Design also dropped the price of some existing products. As noted above the HDLink drops from $795 to $495, while HDLink SDI drops from $395 to $295. Intensity Pro drops from $349 to $199 and presumably replaces the Intensity.
A special report by Philip Hodgetts. For analysis and commentary see my blog post