News

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced that UK-based On Set Tech (O.S.T.) Ltd has implemented an innovative color management workflow for digital dailies, based on DaVinci Resolve 10 during the filming of Mathew Vaughan’s “The Secret Service”, set for release in March 2015.

O.S.T. founder and director Joshua Callis-Smith collaborated with the editorial department to develop a DIT cart workflow capable of maintaining a color accurate pipeline right through the entire post workflow; from on set viewing through to editorial and visual effects (VFX). A major consideration when developing the solution was DaVinci Resolve’s new live grade capabilities, which were used extensively during principle photography to set up shots.

Up to four camera sources were captured via a series of Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K I/O devices straight to a Compact Videohub router, which acted as a switch and allowed the DIT to change which camera sources were fed into DaVinci Resolve. A live input was then graded with preview LUTs and then fed out via a HDLink Pro on to monitors for viewing by DoP George Richmond. The setup also featured several Blackmagic Design SmartScope Duos for monitoring the waveform from DaVinci Resolve or the camera’s log image, while an UltraStudio Mini Monitor was used to monitor back out of Resolve to a series of OLED screens.

The DIT cart also featured a Blackmagic Design MultiDock, which was used for uploading footage, some of which was shot on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, to and from SSDs to DaVinci Resolve via a Thunderbolt RAID. Each day the DIT would process on average two and half terabytes of data 25 minutes after wrapping for the day, including double delivery; ProRes files for Fox and MXF for the editorial delivery.

“DaVinci Resolve 10 has allowed us to apply primary and secondary grades requested by the DoP and taking this right through our on set post workflow up until the point of grade,” says Joshua. “The way we achieved that was to create stills for every slate. Editorial would then re-transcode everything using those stills knowing that they are applying exactly the same thing we had on set. This meant for example that our VFX shots came back to editorial via a VFX pipeline exactly the same way I delivered them. That is far more accurate than any way I’ve previously worked.”

He goes on to add: “The ability to now apply secondaries on set allowed for a collaboration between myself, George and the gaffer to take place when setting up a scene that up until now has been impossible. Now, we can pre-empt the DoP's thoughts for the DI as we are lighting and get a feel for how the entire image will look on completion before we turn over.”

Press Photography

Product photos of the Compact Videohub, DaVinci Resolve 10, MultiDock, SmartScope Duo, UltraStudio 4K and UltraStudio Mini Monitor 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 film restoration software for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability, 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 stereoscopic 3D and 4K workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. For more information, please check www.blackmagicdesign.com.

NewTek, Inc. announced a free 30-day full feature trial version of ChronoSculpt software. It is now available for download at www.chronosculpt.com. Chronosculpt offers an intuitive way for artists using any professional 3D modeling and animation software on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems to create content with custom morph targets or fluidly sculpt animation performances over time. ChronoSculpt can also be used to review and correct cache animation and dynamic simulation errors using timeline-based sculpting tools. The software’s flexible interface supports leading file formats for all professional 3D software programs, including LightWave 3D, Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya and Softimage, The Foundry’s Modo, Maxon Cinema 4D, and more.

Blackmagic Design plans to release updates for Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Production Camera 4K and Pocket Cinema Camera with new and updated features, including:

1. New debayering for shooting directly to ProRes or DNxHD on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and MFT.

2. Improved MFT lens support on the Pocket Cinema Camera.

3. Compressed RAW support on the Production Camera 4K.

4. Autofocus support for EF lenses on Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and Production Camera 4K.

For future updates, Blackmagic Design also plans to add audio level metering and histogram display, formatting of media, and Time Remaining indicator.

The new Sony PXW-X180 camcorder, successor to the popular HVR-Z7E, HXR-NX5E and PMW-150 models, features three 1/3-inch type Exmor CMOS sensors, records HD videos into the XAVC format, as well as AVCHD and DV, features dual SxS memory card slots and an SD slot for proxy recording, and is fitted with a G-Series fixed 25x zoom lens with 26mm wide angle and variable 4-position ND filter. To be available in August 2014.

New 12x12 and 20x20 size SDI routers include 6G-SDI technology for SD, HD and Ultra HD mixed format routing plus built in control panel with LCD for monitoring and new visual routing!

Press Release

April 14, 2014

Blackmagic Design announced Smart Videohub, a family of new mixed format routers with new and unique visual routing user interface and 6G-SDI technology allowing SD, HD and Ultra HD routing all on the same router at the same time. Smart Videohub will be priced at 1045 EUR for the 12 x 12 sized mode and 1475 EUR for the larger 20 x 20-sized model.

The new Smart Videohub family of professional SDI video routers are the world’s first Ultra HD mixed format routers to include built in video monitoring and spin knob router control panel. The Smart Videohub family also include the latest 6G-SDI technology so customers can simultaneously connect and route any combination of SD, HD and Ultra HD video all on the same router at the same time. Even if a customer had 20 different television formats connected to the router inputs, Smart Videohub would route any of these inputs to any combination of the outputs all simultaneously.

Smart Videohub also includes elegant machined metal front panels with full router control as well as built in LCD monitoring. Using the front panel customers can perform direct entry of router crosspoint using buttons, or they can use the spin knob control.

The new visual routing combines the spin knob or button entry with large easy to read custom router labels, or the customer can select to display live video from the video inputs onto the LCD. When any input or output is selected, the video is displayed live on the LCD. This allows customers to see their router connections as video on the LCD as they scroll the knob to select routing. This unique feature means customers can route video simply by looking at the video!

Smart Videohub features advanced 6G-SDI connections that allow high resolution Ultra HD video using a single SDI connection, while retaining full compatibility with all SD and HD-SDI equipment. This means customers get the industrial strength of stable and reliable SDI video connections with the flexibility to work in any television format they like. Even if customers not running in Ultra HD now, they can still take advantage of the innovative design and lower cost of these new models, while working in regular SD or HD today, then know they are ready for Ultra HD the moment they need it.

These new models replace the previous Micro Videohub and Smart Videohub SD/HD routers from Blackmagic Design. These new models have the benefit of being lower cost, feature new 6G-SDI and Ultra HD support and include a built in power supply. Because small routers are often used for local routing, these new models also include the benefit of a built in front control panel so no external control panels are required as all routing can be completed from the front panel itself.

“We really wanted to revamp our compact router family and we are extremely excited to release these new Smart Videohub models”, said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design, “There is so much that’s new in these models, including the latest 6G-SDI technology for SD, HD and Ultra HD mixed format routing, a new design with a beautiful front panel design with built in control panel and a new lower price point. They are so much better than the models they replace and we hope customers love them as much as we do!”

Smart Videohub Key Features

–Available as two models: Smart Videohub 12x12 and Smart Videohub 20x20.
– Features multi rate 6G-SDI that supports auto switching SD, HD and Ultra HD formats.
– Built in control panel allows direct entry and spin knob control.
– Built in LCD monitor allows large labels or for display of live video for visual routing.
– Built in crosspoint buttons on front panel allows direct selection of crosspoint.

– Take and clear buttons allow conformation of selected crosspoint before going live.
– Includes Ethernet port for external router control plus RS422 port for controlling router via serial link.
– Built in menus available from the front panel LCD for selecting Ethernet IP settings for remote control.
– Supports Blackmagic Design router control software for Mac OS X and Windows.
– Supports Blackmagic Smart Control and Master Control hardware router control panels.
– Built in power supply operates from 110V to 240V.
– Compact 1 rack unit design, ideal for large systems as well as mobile use.

Availability and Price

Smart Videohub 12x12 is available now for 1045 EUR and Smart Videohub 20x20 is available now for 1475 EUR.

Press Photography

Product photos of the Smart Videohub, and all other Blackmagic Design products, 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.