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High Definition Video for Independent Filmmakers
A How To Guide for Digital Filmmakers
Welcome all! This is my blog to share my latest research,
thoughts, etc. on utilizing HD for independent filmmaking.
YES, I am available for consulting
Contact me at mike@hdforindies.com
All content copyright 2004-2007 Mike Curtis.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
FINALLY! BlackMagic announces PCIe HD card - 4:4:4 dual link for $1195
We've been waiting forever, but FINALLY Blackmagic has their PCIe HD card ready - and it's 4:4:4 and it's $1195.
It's called the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe
Key features:
-basically, just the same as the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link that previously existed, but with PCIe for the new Mac G5s
-12 bit (although no software or deck supports this)
-4:4:4 and 4:2:2, HD & SD
-4 lane PCIe - will work in ANY of the new G5s
-Mac or PC compatibility (works with Premiere & Vegas I'd presume)
-up/downconversion capabilities
Basically, it's the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe at a lower price than before. Rock.
So if you're on a PCIe Mac, you now have four HD card choices, 2 from AJA and two from BMD:
Just in order of price, here they are:
1.) This one - the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe - is $1195, HD/SD digital in/out, analog out SD/HD, update - NO downconversion apparently. Woops, this could be a serious hassle. And the cards never had upconversion which I stated earlier, that was incorrect. Thanks Barak for pointing that out!
PROS: Lots of features, low cost
CONS: no analog input in SD or HD
2.) AJA Kona LH3 - $1800 list - SD/HD, analog/digital in & out. Lacks upconversion is only bummer
3.) Blackmagic Multibridge Extreme - $2600 - analog, digital, in, out, SD/HD, pretty much everything to everything. Oh, and it can act as a freestanding converter. It basically is a breakout box with an interface to the computer. I like these enough I bought one for myself.
4.) AJA Kona3 - $2900 list - Similar to the BMD DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link - 4:4:4/4:2:2, SD/HD, digital I/O, analog out, but with some extra "hidden features" that haven't been announced yet (probably at NAB? Just a guess.)UPDATED - that's not true - it also does 1080p50 and 1080p60. Note I'm not saying 1080i, I'm saying 1080p, as in progressive, as in SRW-1 and that new high end Sony HDCAM SR camera. PLUS whatever else they might unwrap. I have guesses, but it wouldn't be fair to say.
Feature sets are pretty close between all of these with the exception of 4:4:4 support and upconversion and breakout boxes.
It's called the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe
Key features:
-basically, just the same as the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link that previously existed, but with PCIe for the new Mac G5s
-12 bit (although no software or deck supports this)
-4:4:4 and 4:2:2, HD & SD
-4 lane PCIe - will work in ANY of the new G5s
-Mac or PC compatibility (works with Premiere & Vegas I'd presume)
-up/downconversion capabilities
Basically, it's the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe at a lower price than before. Rock.
So if you're on a PCIe Mac, you now have four HD card choices, 2 from AJA and two from BMD:
Just in order of price, here they are:
1.) This one - the DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link with PCIe - is $1195, HD/SD digital in/out, analog out SD/HD, update - NO downconversion apparently. Woops, this could be a serious hassle. And the cards never had upconversion which I stated earlier, that was incorrect. Thanks Barak for pointing that out!
PROS: Lots of features, low cost
CONS: no analog input in SD or HD
2.) AJA Kona LH3 - $1800 list - SD/HD, analog/digital in & out. Lacks upconversion is only bummer
3.) Blackmagic Multibridge Extreme - $2600 - analog, digital, in, out, SD/HD, pretty much everything to everything. Oh, and it can act as a freestanding converter. It basically is a breakout box with an interface to the computer. I like these enough I bought one for myself.
4.) AJA Kona3 - $2900 list - Similar to the BMD DeckLink HD Pro Dual Link - 4:4:4/4:2:2, SD/HD, digital I/O, analog out, but with some extra "hidden features" that haven't been announced yet (probably at NAB? Just a guess.)UPDATED - that's not true - it also does 1080p50 and 1080p60. Note I'm not saying 1080i, I'm saying 1080p, as in progressive, as in SRW-1 and that new high end Sony HDCAM SR camera. PLUS whatever else they might unwrap. I have guesses, but it wouldn't be fair to say.
Feature sets are pretty close between all of these with the exception of 4:4:4 support and upconversion and breakout boxes.
Comments:
How fast of a RAID is required for this 4:4:4 uncompressed HD editing, and which is the recommended RAID to achieve this? It looks like the SATA RAIDs can only do compressed HD, 4:2:2 8 bit...
Thanks, and it's always good to see the Blackmagic price drops that happen every two years, or so!
Thanks, and it's always good to see the Blackmagic price drops that happen every two years, or so!
# posted by 
: Thu Feb 16, 06:13:00 PM CST
: Thu Feb 16, 06:13:00 PM CST
"-12 bit (although no software or deck supports this)"
While there is probably not many sources for this to capture at 12 bit, software-wise Combustion and After Effects can work at this depth.
Regards,
Richard
While there is probably not many sources for this to capture at 12 bit, software-wise Combustion and After Effects can work at this depth.
Regards,
Richard
# posted by : Thu Feb 16, 07:21:00 PM CST
: Thu Feb 16, 07:21:00 PM CST
ANSWERS:
Keith - I'm so fast on it, they don't have a link up yet. But from what I've heard, it is a straight port - should have identical features as compared to the PCI-X version. Check their website for the driver, download it and read for further clues (and let me know if you find anything interesting)
Mugwump - 1920x1080 10 bit RGB 4:4:4 is 190 MB/sec for 24p, 237 MB/sec for 30p. So LOTS. Big honkin' SATA RAID, and I'm not happy with any currently shipping SATA RAID I know of (don't like the Highpoint stuff, never did). Apple XServe RAID works for 24p, 30p probably not.
Richard - AE and combustion can do 16 bit (and now floating point) work, but there is no video out in anything higher than 10 bit, and no deck I'm aware of supports anything higher than 10 bit, if that. 10 bit output of the card is as good as the driver gets right now. 12 bit is an empty promise for multiple reasons.
-mike
Keith - I'm so fast on it, they don't have a link up yet. But from what I've heard, it is a straight port - should have identical features as compared to the PCI-X version. Check their website for the driver, download it and read for further clues (and let me know if you find anything interesting)
Mugwump - 1920x1080 10 bit RGB 4:4:4 is 190 MB/sec for 24p, 237 MB/sec for 30p. So LOTS. Big honkin' SATA RAID, and I'm not happy with any currently shipping SATA RAID I know of (don't like the Highpoint stuff, never did). Apple XServe RAID works for 24p, 30p probably not.
Richard - AE and combustion can do 16 bit (and now floating point) work, but there is no video out in anything higher than 10 bit, and no deck I'm aware of supports anything higher than 10 bit, if that. 10 bit output of the card is as good as the driver gets right now. 12 bit is an empty promise for multiple reasons.
-mike
> AE and combustion can do 16 bit (and now floating point) work, but there
> is no video out in anything higher than 10 bit, and no deck I'm aware of
> supports anything higher than 10 bit, if that. 10 bit output of the card
> is as good as the driver gets right now. 12 bit is an empty promise for
> multiple reasons.
That's not true. 12 bit linear RGB (4096 color levels) is used for instance in the Viper Filmstream format. The signal from the CCDs is converted in the camera into 10 bit logarithmic RGB to fit it in a dual-link HD-SDI signal. If you want to color grade this it has to be reconverted to 12 bit linear before grading. This conversion can for instance be done in Shake (and also in After Effects and Combustion I guess, but not in FinalTouch HD, as far as I know).
Most FilmStream grading on Macs is probably done on 10 bit linear RGB Quicktimes captured using a LUT, but in this way you lose 3/4 of the original color levels from the Viper CCDs before grading...
> is no video out in anything higher than 10 bit, and no deck I'm aware of
> supports anything higher than 10 bit, if that. 10 bit output of the card
> is as good as the driver gets right now. 12 bit is an empty promise for
> multiple reasons.
That's not true. 12 bit linear RGB (4096 color levels) is used for instance in the Viper Filmstream format. The signal from the CCDs is converted in the camera into 10 bit logarithmic RGB to fit it in a dual-link HD-SDI signal. If you want to color grade this it has to be reconverted to 12 bit linear before grading. This conversion can for instance be done in Shake (and also in After Effects and Combustion I guess, but not in FinalTouch HD, as far as I know).
Most FilmStream grading on Macs is probably done on 10 bit linear RGB Quicktimes captured using a LUT, but in this way you lose 3/4 of the original color levels from the Viper CCDs before grading...
# posted by : Sat Apr 08, 05:33:00 AM CST
: Sat Apr 08, 05:33:00 AM CST
Mark Dols -
thanks for the correction, and I'd only geekily (and good naturedly) quibble about depth on that stuff - 10 bit log is a form of compression in itself, and it's still 10 bits travelling down the wire, so I'm SORTA, but certainly not entirely, right still.
: )
I'm looking forward to playing with a Viper and capturing in a bunch of modes in the next coupla months, and playing with a bunch of these options.
-mike
thanks for the correction, and I'd only geekily (and good naturedly) quibble about depth on that stuff - 10 bit log is a form of compression in itself, and it's still 10 bits travelling down the wire, so I'm SORTA, but certainly not entirely, right still.
: )
I'm looking forward to playing with a Viper and capturing in a bunch of modes in the next coupla months, and playing with a bunch of these options.
-mike
I just bought the black magic HD Link box. I'm using it with the Panavision Genesis camera for on-set monitoring. Does anyone know if there is a standard LUT out there that will de-log the Panalog to a linear 10 bit?
Justin Wells
onejustinwells@gmail.com
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Justin Wells
onejustinwells@gmail.com
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