BlueFish444 Create 3D Ultra Video Card

No matter how you quantify it—whether it's dollars, hours, blood, sweat or tears—filmmaking is an expensive business. Filmmakers go to great pains to create the best images possible, and each step in the workflow is crucial. However, if you are a “filmmaker” who actually shoots “films” on film, the digital intermediary process is an especially critical link in the chain.

Traditional analog film-capture processes will always have a place in motion-picture production. Film is still the unparalleled standard for image quality, and even as digital capture matches—and eventually surpasses—certain characteristics of film, it seems that film’s true appeal lies in a unique and not so easily defined aesthetic that is thoroughly entrenched in the hearts and minds of cinemagoers.

Despite huge advances in digital-capture systems, many contemporary filmmakers will likely never embrace digital cameras. Nevertheless, even the most hardened skeptics of digital capture have almost universally recognized the advantages of a digital intermediate, and most films today include a DI in their post-production workflow. Not surprisingly, after going to all the trouble of shooting their movie on film, no filmmaker relishes the idea of compromising their images during the DI process.

That’s where BlueFish444’s Create|3D Ultra video card comes in. Create|3D Ultra is a PCI Express card designed to ingest and/or output 2048 x 1080 24 Hz Cineon or DPX files. The card essentially eliminates “the weakest link” by enabling a 4:4:4, 12-bit workflow. Create|3D Ultra builds on the capabilities of Create|HD and Create|3D, adding dual link and 3D input.

With a 12-bit workflow, all RGB/YUV color space conversions and 4:4:4/4:2:2 sampling changes take advantage of 4,096 levels of red, blue and green per pixel. Most other cards of this type are limited to 10-bit processing, which utilizes only 1,096 levels of red, blue and green per pixel. In addition, BlueFish444 cards feature a hardware-based, video interpolation algorithm with 25 x 25 TAPS, which means that each individual pixel is scaled with data from 625 pixels for a 1/128 sub-pixel accuracy.

The hardware-based scaler intuitively accelerates real-time effects within supported NLE and compositing software. The BlueFish444 driver set is compatible with most popular applications, including the Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, AVID and more. In addition, Create|3D Ultra cards include Symmetry, BlueFish444’s own software for 3D and DI capture and playback. However, BlueFish444’s Fluid software takes perhaps best advantage of Create cards, by unlocking powerful features that are not exposed via plug ins. These features include multi-channel I/O, virtual VTR, third-party codec encode/decode, hardware de-bayered capture and timed capture.

For more information, please visit the B&H SuperStore in New York City, call us at 1-800-606-6969 or contact our sales professionals via Live Chat.

Video Modes	720x486i @ 59.94 Hz NTSC, 720x576i @ 50.00 Hz PAL 1280x720p @ 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 Hz 1920x1080i @ 47.96, 48, 50, 59.94, 60 1920x1080PsF @ 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30 Hz 1920x1080p @ 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.96, 48, 50, 59.94, 60 Hz 2048X1080p @ 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.96, 48, 50,59.94, 60 Hz 2048X1080i @ 47.96, 48, 50, 59.94, 60 Hz 2048x1556PsF @ 14.98, 15, 18.98, 19 Hz
Digital Video	Input Signal Formats: 3G-SDI capable, 12 bit Input, 1 x 2K/HD/SD 4:2:2 SDI, 2 x 2K/HD/SD 4:2:2 SDI, 2K/HD/SD 4:4:4, 4:4:4:4 (RGBA/YUVA), HD/SD 4:2:2:4 Video and Key (YUVA) Output Signal Formats: 3G-SDI capable, 12 bit Output, 2 x 2K/HD/SD 4:2:2 SDI, 2K/HD/SD 4:4:4, 4:4:4:4 (RGBA/YUVA), HD/SD 4:2:2:4 Video and Key (YUVA)
I/O	Analog Video and DVI/HDMI I/O - SD Composite, SD Component HD Component, DVI/HDMI
Ancillary	HANC - RP188 timecode In, RP188 timecode Out, Embedded Audio VANC - Closed Captioning
Digital Audio Format	Input Signal Format - 6 channels of AES/EBU (Balanced, XLR), 8 Channels of AES ID3 (Unbalanced, BNC), 16 Channels of embedded audio per SDI Output Signal Format - 6 channels of AES/EBU (Balanced, XLR), 8 Channels of AES ID3 (Unbalanced, BNC), 16 Channels of embedded audio per SDI signal
Analog Audio	2 channels -10 dBu (Unbalanced, RCA)
Hardware	Input: Audio sample rate converters, Genlock Bi, Tri and Cross Lock Output: Real time hardware overlay for internal keying, 3x 1D LUTs on all SDI Outputs, Built-in safe area, safe title and letterbox generator
Scaling	Hardware Scaling (up, down & 2K/HD/SD cross conversion) 12 bit scale processing Sinc(x) video interpolation algorithm using 25 X 25 TAPS 1/128th sub pixel accuracy Frame store for frame rate conversion Hardware deinterlacing 3:2 Pulldown
Preview	DVI/HDMI Preview via built-in Hardware Scaling Module 2K/HD/SD previewed as DVI (up to 1920 x 1200p 60Hz 4:4:4) 2K/HD/SD previewed as HDMI (up to 1920 x 1200p 60Hz 4:2:2/4:4:4 with 8 Channels of 24bit embedded audio) 3x 1D LUTs for color calibrating preview and log/linear conversion
Supported APIs	DirectShow Filters API, Mac OS X QuickTime API
Compatibility	BlueFish444 Symmetry, BlueFish444 Fluid, Adobe Creative Suite, Autodesk Combustion, Autodesk 3D Studio Max, AVID Media Composer, AVID Newscutter, AVID Symphony, Eyeon Digital Fusion, Final Cut Studio