SE Timeline output

[tmon]

Let's say I have a nice 46" Sony Bravia LCD to show off the pristine 1080p edit job sitting in the SpeedEdit timeline.

How will I do this? What are my options going to be?

Will my options be different for the standalone SE than they will be for the VT version of SE?

[rbartlett]

Taken from the features listed here (well actually taken from Safe Harbor's listing as they've kindly put it all on their single page bumper sales info):

"SpeedEdit helps you transition smoothly into HD production, editing standard def and HD clips on one timeline. HDV, MPEG-2, AVI, QuickTime and most popular formats are supported. Enjoy responsive on-screen HD previews with FireWire output back to camera or deck. "

So you'd expect to be able to put the Bravia either onto one of the unused VGA ports on your PC. Alternatively you'd use your camcorder to take the HDV-via-firewire feed that is inferred by the last line, then you hook the camcorder to your Bravia using component-HD, or HDMI-HDCP (whichever is supplied by your camcorder). Otherwise if you can't add an extra display adapter and don't have a HDV/DVCProHD camcorder - then perhaps you could use one of the Matrox '2Go adapters - if the additional "head/s" driver is good enough and you have a supported adapter.

Apart from the switcher and possibly the AVIWrapper - I can't contemplate what might possibly be offered extra in the SD VT that ships with a companion version of SE. Good question.

[wvp]

Keep in mind that SE performance is scaled with the output window. So (as I understand it) the larger the output "window" or screen size the more pc "umph" you will need.
With a VT5 system you would also have the option of outputting via the various anaolge and digital outputs (just like in VT4)

[John Perkins]

The HD output options will be the same in VT5.

For 1080p, the DVI connector on a video card out to an HD monitor should look very good.

For interlaced modes you may want to use the HDV 1394 preview through a deck or camera.

[tmon]

So, I guess that AJA Xena card I have will only be useful for ingest and output from/to some kind of HD media.

Both DVI outputs of our Quadro FX 1500 are going to HP2335's via Gefen 4x2 DVI switchers...

Don't have an HDV deck or camcorder handy, and don't plan on getting one.

Hmmm...

[rbartlett]

It is possible to obtain additional PCIexpress 4X and 8X cards that support the recommended DirectX9. Assuming your system is PCIexpress based and that you'd be loathe to use a PCI graphics card. Some physical 4X cards are hard to find, almost like hens teeth. This comes down to knowing more about what slots you have spare and what type they are.

Unfortunately I'm not familiar with dual PCIexpress 16X mainboards. I'm not sure whether or not SLI or Crossfire as to whether that is an easy way to get 4 VGA outputs when you have two PCIexpress 16X physical sockets (with 16-lane or 8-lane working with two cards in situ). All I ever read about is how the games that support them slice the data between buses. I'm unaware what limits you get on the DB15/DVI/HDCP-DVI etc ports that are presented by the cards in the slots.

The Matrox GXM might work for you if you have no remaining "slottage":
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/corpo/products/home.php
I'd check the restocking fee before buying such a compromise device if this isn't a valid thing to do for the SE "video subsystem".

I wouldn't be too worried about the AJA card not being supported in SE. If it was supported it'd be unlikely to be realtime-all-of-the-time as this so rarely happens when video hardware is accessed via an SDK. If you need the output, then you'll have an intermediate step that you'd know more of than I that uses rendered media then your AJA card. Proprietary cards have always been like this. Sometimes an NLE supports them or subsequently adds support for them. But only by NLE companies that have no hardware division. I can understand that.

[rbartlett]

I'd have preferred to have left that last paragraph to say this:

I wouldn't be too worried about the AJA card not being supported in SE. If it was supported it'd be unlikely to be realtime-all-of-the-time as this so rarely happens when video hardware is accessed via an SDK. If you need the output, then you'll have an intermediate step that you'd know more of than I that uses rendered media then your AJA card. Proprietary cards have always been like this. Sometimes an NLE supports them or subsequently adds support for them. But only by NLE companies that have no hardware division. I can understand that.

I certainly wouldn't want to ruffle the feathers of AJA card owners around the world.

[rbartlett]

I should really check my corrections before I post them, shame on me.

I'm wishing to emphasise that by the time SE has done all the breadth and depth it sets out to achieve. Remembering that much of this is based on the talents of VT-Edit and this is a major engine from the VT-suite but now with HD resolution. So it is clear that there isn't a great deal of time left to spend traversing an SDK for a proprietary motherboard. NewTek are best understanding where they want to be with regards to hardware solutions for HD first. They can then hit the metal almost directly. That could save them from having to traverse the well documented and very much more open DirectX (and optionally OpenGL etc) interfaces to the output cards we have to hand for an SE installation.

In a few months NewTek will have decided it's hardware path. There are a number of issues for manufacturers that don't feed the mass market consumer. The environmental responsibilities, especially with electronics manufacturing are being forced down the throats of many companies around the world. The RoHS restrictions in Europe are one example that has closed down many very industrious low or lowish volume workshops. Some big names have reduced the breadth of product as the industrial certification is too unwieldy to do for anything much more than your high volume products.

Ultimately this may result in companies like NewTek, Leitch and even Avid being forced to go to more vanilla product. Perhaps that will be BMD, AJA. Perhaps it will be that this manufacturing will be done in the pacific rim and be limited by whatever is available off the peg from SigmaDesigns, Conexant, C-Cube. I suspect that I/O options for HD will be available through magic boxes connected to firewire, firewire800, gigabit ethernet, infiniband and USB2. If HD cards are prohibitive for worldwide release then we might end up smuggling them into places like Europe. So as that won't suit everyone, the likelihood would be that highly software centric technology will partner with hardware providers who can afford the licensing and regional restrictions. We'll have to wait and see if that means that NewTek will support an AJA Xena someday. I think NewTek will continue to build hardware and just have to pass the additional costs on to us. A lot of the RoHS debacle is based on NewTek having to own what happens to the kit they manufacture (for Europe) after it's working life is over. History suggests that what NewTek build will be around for a decade or two. Will the AJA Xena be around that long? I have no idea on whether it will or not.

[tmon]

I just double-checked the QuadroFX 1500 output options - it has a breakout box with HD component out, so I'll try that first.

BTW, nice to see a discussion board come alive with NewTek's latest product release.

Congrats, NewTek!

[Keith Nealy]

I have a 32" Sony Bravia connected by the DVI-2-HDMI port and it looks great. double click the output window and your output is full screen in blazing color.

Keith