News

Certified SSDs for Blackmagic Production Camera 4K (June 2015)

The following SSDs are recommended for 4K RAW and ProRes captures:

Angelbird AV Pro 250 GB

Angelbird AV Pro 500 GB

Digistor 1TB SSD 4K Professional Video Series (DIG-PVD1000, pre-formatted ExFat)

Kingston HyperX Savage 120 GB (SHSS37A/120G)

Kingston HyperX Savage 240 GB (SHSS37A/240G)

Kingston HyperX Savage 480 GB (SHSS37A/480G)

Kingston HyperX Savage 960 GB (SHSS37A/960G)

Samsung 256 GB 850 Pro (MZ-7KE256BW, spacer required)

Samsung 512 GB 850 Pro (MZ-7KE512BW, spacer required)

Samsung 1 TB 850 Pro (MZ-1T0BW, spacer required)

Sandisk Extreme Pro 240GB (SDSSDXPS-240G-G25)

Sandisk Extreme Pro 480GB (SDSSDXPS-480G-G25)

Sandisk Extreme Pro 960GB (SDSSDXPS-960G-G25)

Wise Cinema CMS-0240 240 GB

The following SSDs are recommended 4K and 1080 Apple ProRes (HQ) 422 captures:

ADATA XPG SX900 256GB (ASX900S3-256GM-C)

Angelbird 240GB AV Pro

Angelbird 480GB AV Pro

Digistor 240GB SSD Professional Video Series (DIG-PVD240S, pre-formatted ExFat)

Digistor 480GB SSD Professional Video Series (DIG-PVD480S, pre-formatted ExFat)

Intel 530 Series 180GB SSD (SSDSC2BW180A401)

Intel 530 Series 240GB SSD (SSDSC2BW240A401)

Kingston 240 GB HyperX 3K (SH103S3/240G)

Kingston 480 GB HyperX 3K (SH103S3/480G)

Kingston 240 GB SSDNow KC300 (SKC300S37A/240G)

Kingston 480 GB SSDNow KC300 (SKC300S37A/480G)

OWC 120 GB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (OWCSSD7P6G120)

OWC 240 GB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (OWCSSD7P6G240)

OWC 480 GB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (OWCSSD7P6G480)

PNY CL4100 240 GB (SSD7SC240GCL4)

PNY CL4100 480 GB (SSD7SC480GCL4)

PNY Prevail 240 GB (SSD9SC240GCDA-PB)

PNY Prevail 480 GB (SSD9SC480GCDA-PB)

PNY XLR8 480GB (SSD9SC480GMDA-RB)

Sandisk Extreme 240GB (SDSSDX-240G-G25)

Sandisk Extreme 480GB (SDSSDX-480G-G25)

Transcend 256 GB SSD370 (TS256GSSD370)

Transcend 512 GB SSD370 (TS512GSSD370)

Transcend 1 TB SSD370 (TS1TSSD370)

Transcend 256 GB SSD720 (TS256GSSD720)

Important Notes About SSD Speed

Some models of SSD can’t save video data at the speed the manufacturer claims. This is due to the disk using hidden data compression to attain higher write speeds. This data compression can only save data at the manufacturer’s claimed speed when storing data such as blank data or simple files. Video data includes video noise and pixels which are more random so compression will not help, therefore revealing the true speed of the disk.

Some SSDs can have up to 50% lower write speed than the manufacturer’s claimed speed. So even though the disk specifications claim an SSD has speeds fast enough to handle video, in reality the disk isn’t fast enough when used to store video data for real time capture. However, this mostly affects HD capture and often these disks can still be used for playback.

Use Blackmagic Disk Speed Test to accurately measure whether your SSD will be able to handle uncompressed video capture and playback. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test uses data to simulate the storage of video so you get results similar to what you’ll see when capturing video to a disk. During Blackmagic testing, we have found newer, larger models of SSD and larger capacity SSDs are generally faster.

When an editor has to wait for technology, creativity suffers. That doesn’t happen with EDIUS Pro 8. EDIUS Pro 8 means more formats and more resolutions in real time for the ability to Edit Anything, Fast. EDIUS Pro 8 is the perfect finishing tool for professional productions, including documentary and 4K theatrical productions.  With more creative options and real-time, no-render editing of all popular SD, HD and even 4K formats, EDIUS Pro 8 is THE most versatile and fastest non-linear editing software available. EDIUS Pro 8 from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, gives you real-time editing of multiple formats and frame-rates all on the same timeline. That means you can edit faster… and make the time to be more creative.

The following CFast 2.0 cards are recommended for 4K ProRes 422 HQ (up to 60 fps)

Lexar Professional 32GB 3400x

Lexar Professional 64GB 3400x

Lexar Professional 128GB 3400x

Lexar Professional 256GB 3400X

Transcend 128GB CFX650

Transcend 256GB CFX650

Wise CFast 2.0 128GB 3400X

The following CFast 2.0 cards are recommended for 4K RAW (up to 30 fps)

Lexar Professional 64GB 3400x

Lexar Professional 128GB 3400x

Lexar Professional 256GB 3400X

Transcend 128GB CFX650

Transcend 256GB CFX650

Wise CFast 2.0 128GB 3400X

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced that Hollywood based VFX company Flash Film Works used Fusion Studio for its compositing work on 20th Century Fox’s comedy hit “Spy.” Fusion Studio was used by Compositing Supervisor Jeremy Nelson and his team for their compositing work, including perfecting car chase scenes, helicopter stunts and intricate fight scenes.

Written and directed by Paul Feig, “Spy” follows unassuming and desk bound CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) who also happened to be the Agency’s unsung hero. She works closely with dashing field agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law) from behind the scenes using high tech equipment and a hidden earpiece. But when Bulgarian arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne) assassinates Bradley and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, it’s up to Susan to help capture Boyanov and prevent a global disaster.

“For ‘Spy,’ we used Fusion for our core compositing work, such as projection and rig and wire removal,” said Jeremy. “Fusion’s workflow is so efficient and flexible, and it’s a snap to import a 3D track into Fusion and paint out what you don't want or project a frame to help develop the scene.”

In one chase sequence, a stolen car is driven through the streets of Paris before skidding to a halt. “The stunt was practiced numerous times, so there were multiple skid marks on the street. Since the cameras were moving, tracking and dollying, it wasn't a case of being able to do an easy paint out. But it was still very easy to get rid of them in Fusion,” explained Jeremy. “We had to 3D track the car and create geometry and multiple projections in Fusion. We had 15 projections in one shot to get a clean slate since the camera was moving so much.”

In another action sequence involving stunt people hanging off of a helicopter, some shots required a standard paint out, but on more complex ones, Jeremy again used the same process in Fusion. “We tracked the helicopter, recreated it in 3D and got rid of the harnesses using Fusion’s rotoscoping tools. Fusion has the best rotoscoping tools I’ve ever used. They are so easy to use,” he said.

According to William Mesa, owner of Flash Film Works, Fusion Studio was also used to finesse an intricate fight scene involving a villain and her high heels. “The actress did all her own stunts in flat shoes for the scene, and we added high heels to the shots,” he said.

“We built the 3D model in LightWave, brought it into Fusion and did all the 3D tracking, placing and lighting, so everything matched in the shots,” William added. “The lighting changes in particular were very intricate as we had to perfect the light on the heels as the scene transitioned through different lighting conditions, from inside lighting to outside lighting and more.”

Key to helping Flash Film Works deliver its work on “Spy” was Fusion’s efficient node based workflow. “Nodes are the way you need to composite,” concluded Jeremy. “When working with a team and taking over a shot, it’s so easy to zoom out in the node view and see what’s going on, errors or where things are breaking. It’s also easier for the branches, for flow and to share information across the flow.”

Press Photography

Product photos of Fusion Studio are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/images.

About Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

Panasonic AW-UE70 is the video industry's first integrated 4K pan/tilt/zoom camera! The AW-UE70 delivers 3840 x 2160 resolution images at 29.97p/25p via HDMI, and is also capable of 4K IP streaming, and in-camera 4K recording.