uncompressed 10 bit capture cards

I have to get to the bottom of this HD issue. Can a G5 have Blackmagic 8 bit for digi beta and 10 bit for HD running in tandem. We have an 8 bit card that has many HD settings in the preferneces. A technition told me that a Balckmagic uncompressed 8 bit card has limited 10 bit capability. All terrestrial TV is going digital here, the BBC is going fully digital, they have installed FCP as the new inhouse editing system. What is the way forward? I ask after reading Wayne Granzins HD querie with trepidation.

The BlackMagic HD Pro single link card - listed at $999.00 retail will do both SDI DigiBeta 10 bit and 4:2:2 HD 10 bit capture.

Their $1499.00 card goes full 4:4:4 dual link 12 bit HD plus SDI SD at 10 bit.

Even their $599.00 card does most of this except the additional audio features.

Check out their specs at [www.decklink.com]



Post Edited (10-14-05 07:36)

Thanks John...Well, the debate rages on - a highly rated company I deal with here in the UK does not recommend Blackmagic cards - he says they are not mac compatible which is wierd because I'm using one right now with no problem. He recommends the AJA Kona LH card for uncompressed 8/10 bit.

Did you ask them to explain WHY they do not recommend Decklink cards? Perhaps it is that they don't make as much money off the sale of a Decklink card as the AJA Kona, or perhaps they are not a Decklink reseller? They work great in MAC computers.

I would like to know why as well!

Hi John, the place is called Jigsaw, they are a decklink reseller and I did ask because as I said - I use a Blackmagic decklink and it works just fine for 8 bit...and all he said was "they're cheap" and "we have had so many returned"...it is a bit like the Avid/Final Cut Pro debate...here Avid use brute force in the market place and follow FCP movement the way the US intelligence service follows Al Quada...regards Phil in London

Never heard of any issues with Decklink cards and macs. They work great. IMHO, they're better engineered than the Kona cards. Try A K2 and Kbox and a long run to your machine room - oh, you can't because the SDI is out of spec.... Oops.

Graeme



[www.nattress.com] - Plugins for FCP-X