The new DeckLink HD Extreme is the most advanced capture card ever built. The new DeckLink HD Extreme includes all the powerful features of the previous model, but now adds Dual Link and 3 Gb/s SDI for 4:4:4 quality, and a new hardware down converter for simultaneous HD and SD playback. With SD/HD-SDI, HDMI, analog capture and playback, plus new 3 Gb/s SDI support for 2K film, now you get all the power of film and high definition editing at a standard definition price.

Connect to Anything

DeckLink HD Extreme is the only solution that connects to SDI, HDMI, component analog, NTSC/PAL and S-Video equipment for capture and playback, while instantly switching between SD, HD and 2K. DeckLink HD Extreme includes 2 channels of AES/EBU audio in and out with a sample rate converter on the AES/EBU input as well as 2 channels of XLR professional analog audio in and out. Work with the widest range of equipment, such as HDCAM, HD-D5, HDCAM SR, Betacam SP, Digital Betacam, HD receivers, HDV cameras, televisions, mixers and more. DeckLink HD Extreme now supports Dual Link SDI and 3 Gb/s SDI, so you can capture and play back 4:4:4 video when used with decks such as Sony HDCAM SR™, or view real time playback of 2K film resolution at 24 fps with Blackmagic Design's HDLink Pro.

More HD Real Time Effects

DeckLink HD Extreme’s super fast 10 Gb/s connection plugs directly into your editing software’s real time effects processing. Unlike FireWire products, you get all CPU time for real time effects, as only PCI Express lets you upgrade to HD without limiting real time effects. The higher speed of PCI Express also easily handles advanced formats such as full resolution 2K digital film. Only high speed PCI Express ensures that when you upgrade your studio to high definition, you'll get full real time effects.

Built in Down Converter

If you've ever wanted to monitor in both HD and SD while you work, then you'll love the built in high quality down converter. This lets you use the Dual Link SDI outputs as a simultaneous HD and SD output, or you can switch back to Dual Link 4:4:4 when working in the highest quality RGB workflows. If you're working in HD, but have the analog video outputs selected to composite or S-Video, then the built in down converter lets all video outputs remain active in both capture and playback mode, and in all HD video formats! You can instantly select between letterbox, anamorphic 16:9 and even center cut 4:3 down conversion styles!

New 3 Gb/s SDI Connections

The new DeckLink HD Extreme is the first capture card to include high speed 3 Gb/s SDI connections. 3 Gb/s SDI is the latest version of the SDI video standard that allows 4:4:4 RGB and 2K film connection with a single BNC type connection. 3 Gb/s SDI runs twice the data rate of normal HD-SDI video, however it can instantly switch to traditional standard definition and high definition SDI. 3 Gb/s SDI allows 4:4:4 RGB workflow or full resolution 2K feature film quality 24 fps 2048 x 1556 capture and playback. 2K via SDI allows a revolutionary change to feature film workflow as now you can connect film resolution video around your facility using the same familiar workflow as a "normal" video job! Only DeckLink HD Extreme gives you film editing features built in for no extra cost!

Incredible Built In HDMI

You'll love the full resolution HDMI input and output built into DeckLink HD Extreme. Use the HDMI output for connecting to any HDMI television or video projector for full HD resolution monitoring at much lower cost than a dedicated HD broadcast monitor. Imagine presenting your work to your clients using cinema size large screen video projectors or televisions! Use the built in HDMI input for capturing from cameras with HDMI outputs. Unlike FireWire capture, using the HDMI output of consumer cameras means you get the highest quality uncompressed video from the camera, or you can use the native compression of your editing software, such as uncompressed, JPEG, DVCPRO HD, and ProRes. Unlike FireWire compression, using the native compression of your editing software, combined with high speed 10 Gb/s PCI Express gives you all CPU time for maximum real time effects playback direct to large screen displays and broadcast monitors.

World's Highest Quality

Fully compatible with SD-SDI and HD-SDI 4:2:2, new DeckLink HD Extreme also features Dual Link HD-SDI 4:4:4 connections for feature film quality. Dual Link 4:4:4 is used on the latest Sony HDCAM SR decks, and contains additional color detail giving you full RGB color bandwidth and extra precision of up to 10 bit SDI video. When connected via PCI Express to a host computer, this higher quality video can be captured and played back completely uncompressed for amazing feature film quality. DeckLink HD Extreme also takes a new lead in quality with the latest 3 Gb/s SDI technology, so you can connect RGB 4:4:4 and 2K via a single SDI connection. 3 Gb/s SDI technology is the video standard of the future for post production, and allows "beyond HDTV resolutions". DeckLink HD Extreme is ideal for connecting to Digital Betacam™, Panasonic HD-D5™ or the new Sony HDCAM SR decks. Uncompressed 10 bit video is the highest quality possible from the SDI television system, and only uncompressed video will hold up under heavy working conditions demanded by clients today while retaining a delicate film look.

True Professional Quality Audio

DeckLink HD Extreme features unbalanced AES digital audio in and out as well as XLR balanced pro audio for incredible quality while maintaining sample accurate AV sync. DeckLink HD Extreme includes a sample rate converter on the AES/EBU input, so you can connect to any digital audio device, as either synchronized or un-synchronized sources. DeckLink HD Extreme also includes a massive 16 channels of SDI embedded audio support for HD capture and playback, and 8 channels of SDI embedded audio for standard definition capture and playback.

Compatible with Popular Video Software

DeckLink HD Extreme works in Windows XP™, Windows Vista™ and Mac OS X™ systems. Use your favorite video software such as Apple Final Cut Pro™, Adobe Premiere Pro™, Adobe After Effects™, Adobe Photoshop™, eyeon Fusion™ and many more. Instantly switch between 2K, 1080 HD, 720 HD, NTSC and PAL for worldwide compatibility.

Includes Loads of Free Software Utilities

Photoshop™ plug-ins are included for capture and output of still frames. Blackmagic FrameLink™ lets you instantly access QuickTime and AVI media as DPX files. Blackmagic Deck Control™ lets you control a deck remotely via RS-422 for capture and playback of clips with timecode accuracy and Blackmagic Disk Speed Test™ checks your disk array in frames per second.

Workflow

DeckLink is the world's most popular video card because it can be used for almost any job. Check out some of the great tasks you can use a DeckLink for in your facility.

Non Linear Editing
DeckLink cards are the perfect companion for editing software such as Apple’s Final Cut Pro™ on Mac OS X™ and Adobe® Premiere Pro® on Windows™ or Mac OS X™. Blackmagic Design works closely to support all the special features in these software applications, so you get a seamless editing experience. When used with Final Cut Pro™, DeckLink cards supports multistream effects, 10 bit YUV rendering and multi-channel audio and more. DeckLink cards used with Premiere Pro, supports 5.1 surround sound audio, built-in deck control and much more. DeckLink cards on Windows™ supports a full 8 channels of HD-SDI audio or SD-SDI audio (using our ASIO audio playback driver). For fast setup of editing software, "settings" are included so you can start editing immediately.

Design and Effects
High quality effects and design work has never been easier. DeckLink cards are fully compatible with the standard software tools for broadcast designers, such as After Effects®, Shake™, Motion™, Combustion™ and Photoshop®. For a complete solution for inputting and outputting media, Blackmagic Deck Control is included free and allows time code accurate remote capture and output to broadcast decks. DeckLink cards also includes an RGB QuickTime™ preview output for After Effects and Combustion™. And, you can always preview on the DeckLink HD video-out interactively as you work, and then play pre-renders using real time RAM preview. When rendering your work, processing quality using the Blackmagic codec is full 16 bit, so you always get the advantage of 10 bit SDI video.

Broadcast Paint and Graphics
Broadcast graphics work demands absolute quality and seamless integration with software for speed. Adobe Photoshop has become the tool of choice for broadcast designers worldwide because of its industry standard interface and powerful tool set. DeckLink cards include Photoshop plug-ins so you can capture still frames from the video input, and output graphics to the video-output with a simple menu click. Photoshop documents can use 16 bit rendering to 10 bit SDI for the highest quality video. Blackmagic Deck Control can also be used to control your broadcast deck remotely. And, when used in live environments, DeckLink can key graphics with an alpha channel over live input video.

Streaming
DeckLink cards are ideal for streaming as you always get a clean uncompressed video source for your streaming files. Uncompressed source video also means you don’t waste CPU time de-compressing video, so you get faster rendering of your streaming files. DeckLink HD cards are compatible with popular streaming software on Mac OS X™ and Windows™.

DVD Authoring
With DVD’s replacing VHS tapes as the most popular consumer format, creating DVDs from your work has become important. DVDs from uncompressed media are much higher quality, and as all media files used on DeckLink are QuickTime™ or AVI, you get full compatibility with DVD authoring software. Use DVD Studio Pro™ or even iDVD™ on Mac OS X™ or Adobe® Encore® DVD software on Windows™ for powerful DVD creation.

Dual Standard Monitoring
DeckLink cards have built-in support for monitoring in your edit suite, whether it's in high definition or standard definition. Most high definition capable CRT monitors will switch between high definition and standard with ease, however the built-in SDI inputs generally only work in high definition or standard definition. With DeckLink cards featuring high quality analog monitoring output, you can connect component video that changes automatically as you change standards. CRT monitors then instantly change without needing reconnections, and you can even see 4:4:4 quality when working with RGB graphics.

Live Broadcast Graphics Presentation
Use the built-in keyer for overlaying graphics live into production switchers. Even if you're only adding station indents, keying makes it easy when using the two SDI outputs as fill and key. Use the Blackmagic LiveKey application for turning on and off the keying function. Blackmagic LiveKey will also automatically fade graphics on and off for specific times.

DeckLink HD Extreme will work with all available QuickTime™ software tools. DeckLink offers you the highest quality standard definition and high definition video available, combined with an affordable low price, so you can move to HD now!

Technical Specifications