The Blackmagic DeckLink HD Pro (Dual-Link) is the world's first PCI-X 133 MHz 4:4:4 HDTV Card featuring 14-bit RGB/YUV analog monitoring, yet it is priced lower than many cards with fewer functions. With built-in real-time effects and filters, RS-422 serial control, Genlock and SPDIF audio outputs, this card will supercharge any editing suite by providing excellent low-cost monitoring and off-deck work options. Pristine 12-bit 4:4:4 HDTV color resolution is achieved via the "Dual Link" which incorporates 2 SDI channels to carry the extra color information. The DeckLink HD Pro SDI channels switch automatically between HD and SD modes and is fully compatible with the new Sony SR-based decks.
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This versatile and powerful card will improve the work flow in any post-production environment, and is ideally suited for detailed color and compositing work on feature film and long-form television projects.
Hardware
Connect to HD-SDI or SD-SDI
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card makes the move to high definition affordable while still retaining compatibility with your current standard definition equipment. DeckLink HD Pro is dual rate, so you can switch between HD-SDI and SD-SDI instantly. That's great for connecting to standard definition SDI decks such as Digital Betacam or the latest HDCAM or HD D-5 decks. DeckLink HD Pro features the highest quality 10-bit SDI, so your video capture retains all the subtle detail in your images, even during multi generation rendering and video processing. DeckLink HD Pro includes 14-bit analog video monitoring which switches automatically between standard definition and high definition, which is great for CRT monitoring.
Built-In Professional Quality Audio
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card features unbalanced AES digital audio out for incredible quality and sample accurate AV sync. DeckLink HD Pro's unbalanced AES audio output is also compatible with S/PDIF consumer audio, so you can use inexpensive HiFi equipment for audio monitoring. DeckLink HD Pro includes AES input and word clock output locked to video reference. DeckLink HD Pro includes SDI embedded audio support with a massive 12 channels of audio when switched to HD-SDI and 8 channels when switched to SD-SDI.
Choose Windows XP or Mac OS X
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card can be plugged into either Windows XP or Mac OS X systems. You can move the DeckLink card between operating systems allowing you to constantly reconfigure your facility as your needs change.
On Windows XP, DeckLink supports DirectShow for compatibility with most video software. For editing, DeckLink includes a full suite of plug-ins for Adobe Premiere Pro including deck control.
DeckLink is a world leader on Apple Mac OS X with QuickTime support for full compatibility with all video software such as Apple Final Cut Pro HD, Adobe After Effects, Shake, DVD Studio Pro, iDVD, Combustion and many more.
Highest Quality Analog Monitoring
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link includes high quality analog monitoring output, great when using CRT monitors. Unlike the built-in SDI inputs on CRT monitors, DeckLink HD Pro's analog output switches automatically between HD or SD so you can change standards without changing cables on your system. DeckLink HD Pro's analog output quality is the highest available with 14-bit digital to analog converter and active electronic video filtering. This means you get increased digital to analog conversion precision combined with a flatter frequency response, so your video will retain the clarity of all your fine picture detail.
High Definition or Standard Definition
The DeckLink HD Dual-Link card features dual rate SDI so you can switch between high definition or standard definition easily and instantly. You can now connect to 270 Mbps standard definition SDI equipment such as Digital Betacam, as well as 1.485 Gbps high definition SDI equipment such as HDCAM or HD-D5 all using the same card. You can edit in standard definition now and switch to high definition whenever you need it. Only DeckLink HD cards allow you to move between standards this easily.
Full 4:4:4 Color Detail
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card features dual SDI inputs and outputs for high quality Dual Link 4:4:4 support. Dual-Link is compatible with the new Sony HDCAM SR series decks as well as HDLink and Multibridge from Blackmagic Design for unprecedented full color resolution quality. That's great for seamless keys and critical multi-layer compositing for feature film work. DeckLink HD Pro 4:4:4 even features hardware color space conversion so 4:4:4 clips can be played to 4:2:2 SDI decks, and 4:2:2 clips can be played out to 4:4:4 decks such as the new Sony HDCAM SR.
Workflow
Design & Effects
High quality effects and design work has never been easier. The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card is fully compatible with the standard software tools for broadcast designers, such as Adobe After Effects, Apple Shake, Apple Motion, Combustion and Photoshop. For a complete solution for inputting and outputting media, Blackmagic Deck Control is included free and allows time code accurate remote capture and output to broadcast decks. DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link also includes an RGB QuickTime preview output for After Effects and Combustion. And, you can always preview on the DeckLink video-out interactively as you work, and then play pre-renders using real-time ram preview. When rendering your work, processing quality using the Blackmagic codec is full 16-bit, so you always get the advantage of 10-bit SDI video.
Broadcast Paint & Graphics
Broadcast graphics-work demands absolute quality and seamless integration with software for speed. Adobe Photoshop has become the tool of choice for broadcast designers worldwide because of its industry standard interface and powerful tool set. DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link includes Photoshop plug-ins so you can capture still frames from the video input, and output graphics to the video-output with a simple menu click. Photoshop documents can use 16-bit rendering to 10-bit SDI for the highest quality video. Blackmagic Deck Control can also be used to control your broadcast deck remotely. And, when used in live environments, DeckLink can even key graphics with an alpha channel over live input video.
HD to SD Down Conversion
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card supports capture and playback, software, down conversion from HDTV1080 and HDTV720 to SDTV. Software down conversion can be enabled or disabled with a software switch in the System Preferences>Blackmagic DeckLink on a Mac G5 system. A hard drive array must be used when performing down conversion of uncompressed HD video, with the DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card.
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HD to SD Down Conversion supported on Mac OS X ONLY.
Streaming Video
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link card is ideal for streaming as you get a clean uncompressed video source for your streaming files. Uncompressed source video also means you don't waste CPU time de-compressing video, so you get faster rendering of your streaming files. DeckLink HD Pro is compatible with popular streaming software on both Mac OS X and Windows XP.
DVD Authoring
With DVD's replacing VHS tapes as the most popular consumer format, creating DVDs from your work has become important. DVDs from uncompressed media are much higher quality, and as all media files used on the DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link are QuickTime or AVI, you get full compatibility with DVD authoring software. Use DVD Studio Pro or even iDVD on Mac OS X or Adobe Encore DVD software on Windows XP for powerful DVD creation.
Dual Standard Monitoring
The DeckLink HD Pro Dual-Link makes a great combination for monitoring in your edit suite, whether it's in high definition or standard definition. Most high definition capable CRT monitors will switch between high definition and standard with ease, however the built-in SDI inputs generally only work in high definition or standard definition. With DeckLink HD Pro's high quality analog monitoring output, you can connect component video that changes automatically as you change standards. CRT monitors then instantly change without needing reconnections, and you can even see 4:4:4 quality when working with dual-link 4:4:4 10-bit RGB work.
Live Broadcast Graphics Presentation
Use the built-in keyer for overlaying graphics live over the video input. Even if you're only adding station indents, internal keying makes it easy. Use the Blackmagic LiveKey application for controlling key levels, and even adjusting the opacity of keys. Blackmagic LiveKey will also automatically fade graphics on and off for specific times.