Aurora Video Systems Inc. has introduced rebranded their Igniter line as IgniterX. Video editing hardware designed exclusively for Mac OS X, the IgniterX products leverage Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere and other QuickTime applications. The rebranding coincides with new features available thanks to upgraded firmware and drivers.
IgniterX cards support multiple codecs, and now work with uncompressed video files produced by all major solutions, according to Aurora. A 10-bit “eXtreme” codec is now available that uses proprietary algorithms to provide maximum accuracy. IgniterX products can support multiple uncompressed formats in a single timeline without the need to render, and can add real time graphic overlays with alpha and gain. Other features include keyframing support with as much nesting as is required.
The IgniterX line includes IgniterX Lite, a card designed for offline editors, with 720 x 486 CCIR 601 resolution and variable MJPEG-A compression; IgniterX, a card capable of handling real time effects and 24 fps timeline editing with S-video decks; IgniterX Pro, a more upscale version with a rack-mountable breakout box that adds component YUV video I/O, balanced XLR audio, external LTC timecode I/O, and external genlock; IgniterX SDI, a premium version capable of AES/EBU digital audio capture and playback designed to work with digital decks capable of producing broadcast-quality output; and IgniterX Studio, the flagship system which combines all the features of IgniterX, IgniterX Pro and IgniterX SDI.
If you’re an existing IgniterRT user, you can download the latest drivers and firmware from Aurora’s Web site to gain these new features. Other Igniter board users may have to send their cards back to Aurora for an update.
Prices range from US$999 for the low-end IgniterX Lite product to $6,999 for IgniterX Studio. Look for Aurora Video Systems Inc. at this week’s NAB 2003 conference in booth SL2044. NAB2003 runs through April 10, 2003 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.