In addition to its new DeckLink HD Extreme video capture card, Blackmagic Design on Monday also introduced its new Video Recorder device and Broadcast Videohub. The Video Recorder retails for $119, while the Broadcast Videohub costs $14,995.
The consumer-grade Video Recorder features analog component, NTSC, PAL and S-Video input. The device is about the size of a USB thumbdrive, and includes Blackmagic software to help manage the capture of video, scaling it to the target output device and cropping of video edges to help get rid of analog blanking, VHS switching marks and timecode artifacts.
The Serial Digital Interface (SDI) version is designed for video pros interested in ingesting standard definition video in H.264 format. It includes an RS-422 interface to manage broadcast deck control. Users with this version of the device can also use the software to enter in and out points for the deck they are capturing from.
The device is designed to replace manual patch cables that can degrade SDI video signals and limit cable length. By re-clocking signals, the Videohub “cleans up” the signal so you can run longer cable length with less image degradation. All connections are grouped together to include an SDI input, SDI output, deck control port and SDI monitor output for each user.