Blackmagic SMPTE 2110 IP Converter and DeckLink IP cards
[13:21 Mon,17.April 2023 by Rudi Schmidts]
For a long time it looked like Blackmagic would ignore Video over IP. After all, SDI has been the "official" and reliable standard for professional video networking in studios and other environments for decades, which in turn is supported by almost all Blackmagic Studio hardware.
Video over IP, or more specifically the now established SMPTE 2110 standard, on the other hand, allows conventional PC Ethernet hardware to be used for the same purpose. The advantages for the user lie primarily in the costs: Inexpensive PC routers and existing IT networks can be used to bypass the usually relatively expensive networking of SDI components.
It is precisely these low costs of SMPTE 2110 networking that have quickly established the relatively young standard as an SDI alternative, which is probably why Blackmagic can no longer ignore this form of networking in its latest products. And so, at NAB 2023, SMPTE 2110 IP products were also introduced for the first time. First of all, a converter that acts as a bridge between SDI and SMPTE 2110, as well as some Decklink PCIe cards.
Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G
The Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G can convert three separate 3G SDI devices into 2110 IP video systems. Three separate video channels can be processed at the same time via its 10G Ethernet connection.
Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G
Since each channel has independent SDI inputs and SDI outputs,even 6 different SDI devices can be connected. All 3G SDI inputs have loop outputs, so the converter can easily branch off its signal in existing SDI systems without changing the original connection.
For frame-accurate applications, there is also a reference output clocked at the 2110 PTP clock. Monitoring, menus and diagnostic tools are available via the front panel. For 699 euros, the Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G should be available soon.
Blackmagic 2110 IP Converter 3x3G Connectors
Blackmagic DeckLink IP Cards
The new DeckLink IP cards offer the usual Decklink features of capturing and playing back video streams as a PCIe card for PC systems. The new DeckLink IP cards support multiple video channels that can be recorded and played back simultaneously. This could be used, for example, to set up servers that generate broadcast graphics and virtual sets or to use GPU-based AI image processing. Using the new DeckLink cards, such systems can be seamlessly integrated into a 2110 IP broadcast infrastructure.
The DeckLink IP HD has "only" a simple "copper" RJ45 Ethernet interface, while the DeckLink IP HD Optical has an SFP-based fiber-optic Ethernet connection. Both cards cost 389 Euros and have three record and playback channels.
Blackmagic DeckLink IP Cards
For 449 euros, the DeckLink IP/SDI HD "only" offers two record and playback channels for 2110-IP integration via RJ45 Ethernet, but it also has 3G-SDI and reference outputs.
By the way, all Blackmagic 2110IP products currently only support the equivalent of 3G SDI. This means a maximum of 1080p60 transmission with 10 bits. For 4K networking, Blackmagic products must therefore continue to rely completely on 12G SDI.
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