By Elina Shatkin, December 18, 2003
Blackmagic Design announced the immediate availability of DeckLink v4.2 public beta, which is a major software update for the entire DeckLink product range with major enhancements to HDTV capabilities.
New features in DeckLink v4.2 include a real time HDTV to standard definition down conversion and the worlds first HDTV real time effects on a HD QuickTime video card. In addition, all standard definition DeckLink models are compatible with the new HDTV down converter, and can now play back HDTV video out to NTSC or PAL standard definition video in real time. This presents amazing value to customers who are running standard definition DeckLink cards which start from a low US$695.
This new HD down converter will greatly ease the transition to HDTV for all DeckLink users.
The new HD down conversion is an incredibly powerful feature, and allows any HD edit to be mastered out to standard definition instantly. For example a 1080i/50 HD edit can now be down converted in real time to PAL, or a 1080i/59.94 edit can be playback back in NTSC. The DeckLink cards will then resize the HD image down to standard definition, and they also keep the the correct field order, and translate them correctly.
This matches perfectly with DeckLink HD's unique ability to instantly switch between HDTV SDI and standard definition PAL and NTSC SDI video. During down conversion processing video color space is correctly translated from HD to SD. Unlike external converters solutions, there are no AV sync issues because DeckLink processes the HD down conversion internally, so retains solid audio to video sync.
Users running the standard definition only DeckLink, DeckLink 2, DeckLink Pro or DeckLink SP with DeckLink v4.2 software now also have this new HD down conversion feature when running on the latest Apple Power Macintosh G5 based systems
. The 66 MHz PCI interface on the DeckLink cards operates incredibly fast on these new G5 systems.
DeckLink family features include:
- Fully digital SMPTE-259M 10 bit SDI video. HD-SDI/SD-SDI switched DeckLink HD.
- Uncompressed true 10 bit and uncompressed 8 bit capture and playback modes.
- Built in DV Bridge in SD. Real time playback from DV edits to video output.
- Compressed full resolution high quality JPEG
- Sony? compatible RS-422 serial deck control port.
- Real time effects in SD, with support for Final Cut Pro? 4 RT Extreme.
- Internal keying on all DeckLink models, fill and key output on DeckLink Pro.
- Real time HDTV to NTSC or PAL down conversion on all DeckLink models.
- RT effects in full resolution HD, including 3 way color correction on DeckLink HD.
- Video Desktop. Realtime output for Adobe Photoshop? to SDI video.
- Standard definition video support. Instantly switch between NTSC and PAL.
- Super high quality 64 Bit RGB codec rendering at trillions of colors.
- Adobe After Effects? RGB output in for previewing compositions and renders.
- YUV native rendering in supported applications such as Final Cut Pro? 4.
- Second SD-SDI video monitoring output, with SPDIF digital audio monitor output.
- Fully compatible with Mac OS X? 10.2.7, and new Mac OS X? Panther 10.3.
- Universal free software codec for Mac OS X?, Mac OS 9?, and Windows?.
- Low Cost, DeckLink SDI solution from $695, DeckLink HD HDTV solution only $1,995.
.
|