NAB: Blackmagic debuts USB Video Recorder, more

Blackmagic Design recently unveiled several new video interfaces at the NAB 2008 conference, the USB-based Video Recorder – available in consumer and professional versions – and a large scale 8U rack-mount SDI router. The Blackmagic Video Recorder offers consumers the ability to capture video directly to H.264 through component or S-Video onto their computer. The consumer USB Video Recorder sells for $120.

The professional version includes an SDI and RS-422 serial connector to attach to any industry-standard broadcast deck, and costs $300. Both versions can capture video to be put directly on an iPod or AppleTV.

Blackmagic's Broadcast Videohub ($15,000) offers companies an 8U rack-mount SDI router with 72 SDI inputs, 144 SDI outputs, and 72 deck control ports. The system also has twin power connections for redundancy. Broadcast Videohub offers SDI re-clocking, and 3Gb per second SDI architecture.

The router is a replacement for using manual patch cables, which can degrade video signals and limit cable length. Re-clocking allows the device to throw the signal farther, and providing a cleaner picture.