News

Digital Voodoo Introduces SD|Spark for Final Cut Pro HD (6/5/2005)

Videographics card works equally well for boutique and studio video professionals

Digital Voodoo, S. Melbourne, Australia introduced the SD|Spark video card, which is compatible with Panther OSX, Final Cut Pro HD and the G5 series of workstations.

SD|Spark is a multipurpose uncompressed SD SDI / analog QuickTime video card that caters to both the boutique and studio video professional with a unique number of SD SDI and analog video and audio I/O connections and options.

For the boutique video professional on a tight budget who wants to work with the benefits of uncompressed video, SD|Spark offers 10/12 bit SD SDI I/O, 12 bit analog component, composite, s-video I/O, a built in A/D and D/A converter, DV, DVC Pro, DVC Pro 50, Photo JPEG I/O, 2 channels of balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analog audio, embedded audio I/O and 8 channels of SP/DIF audio I/O for monitoring 5.1 surround sound from inexpensive consumer digital audio devices.

For the seasoned studio video professional SD|Spark offers 10 bit RGB I/O and 10/12 bit single / dual link SD SDI I/O - the highest quality SD SDI video available. For the broadcast designer, fill and key outputs and an internal keyer for logo insertion are included features. Final Cut Pro compression codecs including DV, DVC Pro, DVC Pro 50 and Photo JPEG I/O are supported for low bit rate projects.

Embedded audio and 6 channels of AES/EBU XLR digital audio connections I/O with built in sample rate converters for 5.1 surround sound monitoring from professional audio devices are standard audio features on the SD|Spark.

The SD|Spark supports Final Cut Pro HD's RT Extreme architecture, enabling seamless real-time playback of effects such as 3 way color correction, additive dissolves and cross dissolves eliminating the need to render.

The SD|Spark is compatible with Panther OSX, QuickTime 6.5.2 and the latest range of G5 workstations from Apple. The SD|Spark will support any Apple QuickTime compatible application such as Shake, Combustion, Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. Digital Voodoo is committed to supporting future operating system releases, QuickTime releases, Final Cut Pro releases and workstation releases from Apple as free driver upgrades for the SD|Spark.

The SD|Spark supports desktop preview allowing the SD-SDI monitor to function as a second desktop enabling digital artists to view content on a broadcast monitor. SD|Spark comes with a stable, broadcast quality genlocking circuit design, ensuring an output which meets the most stringent of broadcast jitter requirements.

Craige Mott, Managing Director of Digital Voodoo says, "SD|Spark is a multipurpose dedicated Apple QuickTime video card deliberately targeted towards the growing number of boutique video professionals who want to work with uncompressed SDI video, and have the option to simply change connections and upgrade to studio professional equipment. Digital Voodoo made its name with studio professional compatible products. Now we have provided video and audio connections to inexpensive equipment whilst continuing to provide connections to professional video and audio devices, all in a single video card catering for a wider range of video professional."

SD|Spark is available from Digital Voodoo resellers worldwide and retail for $US2,495.

www.digitalvoodoo.net