NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM BLACKMAGIC DESIGN AT THE NAB 2005 SHOW IN LAS VEGAS, U.S.A.

LAS VEGAS , U.S.A. , 18 th APRIL 2005 - Blackmagic Design Product Announcements

Introducing Multibridge Extreme

One of our new hardware products for NAB 2005 is called Multibridge Extreme. This is very exciting, because we have taken our Multibridge, which is a bi-directional converter, and added DVI-D as well as PCI Express to it.

What this creates is a bi-directional converter that's great for connecting analog equipment to SDI in either high definition, or standard definition. However when you connect the built in PCI Express connection to a computer, it instantly turns into a capture playback device with support for standard definition, high definition, dual link 4:4:4 high definition or 2K feature film quality.

The PCI Express connection is high speed at 10 Gbps, so we easily have enough speed for the highest quality feature film resolution, while also being very low cost because it's already built into most new PCI motherboards. We supply a plug in PCI Express adapter card and 7 foot/2 meter cable to connect the Multibridge Extreme into the computer's motherboard, and because it's a direct bus connection there is no latency.

If you're using a PowerMac G5, we have also developed a PCI Express Bridge that plugs into the G5 PCI-X 133 MHz slot, and has PCI Express on the back panel.

With the built in Dual Link DVI-D connection, we can connect a low cost LCD display directly to Multibridge Extreme for local monitoring. This DVI connection is dual link, so you can connect larger 30 inch displays, and we will use the high speed of PCI Express and the extra resolution of dual link DVI to display real time 2K images played back via Multibridge. That means we are now actually higher resolution than the HD television system, which is cool, but you can also use smaller, single link DVI-D displays.

Blackmagic Design thinks this is really exciting, and you could use Multibridge simply as an independent converter, and if you need an extra editing system, just grab it and connect it to a computer. If you don't need the editing system any longer, you can still use it as a converter. Because all the electronics are external to the computer, we have plenty of room for connectors.

Multibridge Extreme has 2 channels of analog audio in and out, component video in and out, and composite video in and out. Genlock input, RCA low level audio output, DVI-D dual link, RS-422 remote, 8 channels of AES in and out, with each input featuring a sample rate converter, dual link SDI in and out and USB. Amazingly it all fits into exactly the same size as our current Multibridge so that means it's small enough to hide when space is tight.

Introducing Multibridge Studio

Multibridge Studio is a larger 2 rack unit version, that has extra connections. It has all the connections of the 1 rack unit Multibridge Extreme, however has 12 channels of AES audio in and out, 4 extra composite video outputs, and 6 RCA audio outputs. It also has a sync generator built in, and generates black burst or TriSync output for locking equipment in your facility.

Multibridge Extreme is A$3760.00 and Multibridge Studio is A$5065. We expect Multibridge Extreme to ship first, in about a July timeframe.

We are excited by these new models, and they are really different to just plugging in a card. Even though the current Multibridge models have been held up with a delay in getting a component for them, our engineers have not wasted time while they wait for the components to arrive, and have continued to develop Multibridge with models incorporating new ideas. Incidentally the current Multibridge models should ship any day now, as we received the component we have been waiting for.

There is a lot more info on our Australian and New Zealand distributor’s updated web site at www.intraware.com.au. Please check it out.

Introducing FrameLink

 We have a new software utility we are showing at NAB 2005 that will be included free with all DeckLink cards, and it allows DPX file format compatibility for Digital Intermediate (DI) feature film work.

One of the big problems, with using QuickTime and DirectShow compatible capture cards for film work, is their use of QuickTime and AVI file formats. These files are not compatible with most network rendering software, and don't allow single frames to be opened and saved back into the movie, which makes dirt and scratch removal hard. Lots of software use the DPX file format, and FrameLink allows DPX compatibility while retaining the speed and flexibility of QuickTime and AVI files.

FrameLink actually mounts a QuickTime or AVI file as a disk volume, and the disk volume appears as a numbered image sequence. It's all handled in real time so mounting is instant, and you can immediately open a frame. When you save, the frame is written back into the movie, and you can then play the file immediately. You don't need to wait for heaps of DPX files to be rendered into a movie as with a file format conversion utility. FrameLink does it all in real time.

So you can just mount the movie file, open a frame in Photoshop, paint it, and select save. Instantly play back, and you can see the effects of your painted frame inserted right back into the movie file. The movie file can even be open in a NLE application and you can work on it and play any time.

It's very exciting...

FrameLink uses frame numbers to work out where frames go in the movie, so you can network render and as numbered frames are written into the volume, they are automatically ordered in the correct position into the movie. You can create empty movies and just render or copy to the volume to build the movie. The length of the movie becomes the highest frame count, and as each frame is saved, the QuickTime or AVI header is saved so you don't loose the movie file if there is some kind of crash. That's one of the biggest reasons many people like rendering in DPX files, and we get that benefit.

We had considered writing software to capture and play DPX files, however it's very hard on disk systems, and SAN's because you need to open 24 files per second when doing real time capture, and you cannot edit folders of frames very easily in NLE software. Media management is also a mess. This method is much better and has the advantage of single file QuickTime and AVI files, with the flexibility of DPX whenever you need to work in that format.

FrameLink will be included in DeckLink V5 software for Mac OS X and Windows XP. This will be released in a few weeks.

 DeckLink for Macintosh v5

We have a new version of DeckLink software for full compatibility with the wonderful new features in Final Cut Pro 5. We have support for all features such as HDV playback via DeckLink, uncompressed HD real time effects, 12 channels of audio capture and playback in HD, and many more. It's a wonderful update, and it's also compatible with the upcoming Tiger OS release.

We will include FrameLink with this update as well as a new feature allowing HDLink custom gamma tables to be loaded into the capture side of DeckLink HD Pro. You can apply custom gamma tables to any captured video, and that's great for feature film work. We have seen a lot of feature film work being competed on DeckLink HD cards such as The Aviator, and these enhancements will help film workflow dramatically.

DeckLink for Macintosh v5 will ship when Final Cut Pro v5 is released, and will be recommended for use with Final Cut Pro v5.

DeckLink for Windows

 We have a new DeckLink for Windows update, and this release builds on the real time effects we added into the last update. We now have real time effects working better in HD, and that really speeds up most HD editing work. We will be adding more effects over time as we release more updates.

Adobe has also just announced that DeckLink is now certified for Premiere Pro, and that's really great news. DeckLink HD Pro is the only solution available for editing with Premiere Pro in 4:4:4 RGB 10 bit, so that's really exciting if you're using Premiere Pro for film editing or other high end work.

Sony Vegas v6 is also supported in this new DeckLink for Windows update, and we know a lot of people have been asking for this. Support is mostly for standard definition currently, however we expect that to expand. We will be showing Sony Vegas on one of our demo stations at NAB playing back to DeckLink.

HDLink v1.7

We have a new HDLink software update, and this includes default gamma tables for Panasonic cameras and Thompson Viper cameras. We have a blue only setting, as well as a field emulator to make field movement look a little better on progressive LCD displays. This update also has a pulldown override mode so you can use monitors that won't automatically configure because they don't provide correct EDID info. Some Plasma displays and projectors suffer from this problem.

HDLink v1.7 is in final testing now, and should ship within a week or two after NAB.

About Intraware
Intraware is the Specialist Distributor of creative digital media tools for Australia and New Zealand .

It’s solution offerings includes a range of the world's best in 2D and 3D animation, film and video compositing, editing, facility management and data management solutions to service nearly all facets of the creative industry. Building on this solution, large customer base and reseller channel network and it's strong industry expertise, Intraware is now expanding it’s business model and intends to become the premier distributor of solutions to the new media and creative markets in Australia.

For more information on the company or it’s range of solution offerings, visit www.intraware.com.au

About Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design (www.blackmagic-design.com) manufactures the world's highest quality video cards for the post production and television broadcast industries. The DeckLink™ family of leading quality video cards has changed the industry and made HDTV more affordable for everyone. Blackmagic Design has quickly moved to an industry leading position with the first uncompressed 10 bit QuickTime™ video card for Mac OS X™, the first uncompressed real time effects on Mac OS X™, the first 10 bit uncompressed video card to also offer compressed video modes, the first film Cinema Tools compatible film editing solution, the first full resolution HDTV real time effects, and the first film quality uncompressed 10 bit HDTV QuickTime™ card.

Blackmagic Design is the only company founded by leading editors and engineering people from the post production industry. This industry knowledge and experience from our Singapore post production operations is constantly fed back into our products allowing us to introduce the most amazing creative tools for the industry.

Blackmagic Design has sales offices in Las Vegas , USA , Amsterdam , The Netherlands, and in Singapore . Blackmagic Design's headquarters, manufacturing, and development facility is located in the post production district of South Melbourne , Victoria , Australia .

Intraware Press Contacts
Brian See
Marketing Manager
Tel: (02) 9439-0244
Email: brian@intraware.com.au