DNxIO vs BMD Ultrastudio 4K Extreme

[Bill Ravens]

DNxHD/DNxHR are native DI’s for Avid.BMD is not. Like it or not, that’s a fact.

[Michael Phillips]

The non-Avid version has ProRes and H.265 encoders on board whereas the DNxIO has DNxHR. There is no mention of on-board DNxHD encoding. The DNxHR will be an update in Q4/2015. Although not explicitly mentioned, I do not know if the DNxIO also includes H.265 but will assume (for now) that it does. The one advantage of DNxHR over ProRes is that it works cross platform on OS X or Win whereas encoding for ProRes is OS X only.

Other than that and the logo, it is hard to tell what other differences that exist. We will have to wait till Q3 to see what it really ends up being. The big question (amongst others) for me is whether the IO box will continue to use Avid’s Open IO as with all third parties, or will there be better or tighter integration with this model? Word from NAB was that this would not provide universal mastering, so I wonder about all those frame rate conversions it can do.

The Avid version does include the Fusion Connector (not mentioned in the press release) for those wanting to integrate Fusion with MC – perhaps that is why it is a Q3 release which will be about the time I suspect we’ll see the OS X version of Fusion hit the market. But word out of NAB was that there would also be a $200 Fusion connector only price at some point for those who needs just that.

At first blush, this seems better suited to facility class/machine room type configurations. In my world, the non Extreme version is a better fit for my file-based workflows. Comes with full version of Resolve, and getting the $200 Fusion connector will amount to $1,200.

My two cents based on what the information available so far – IBC is Q3 and perhaps the feature/benefit/value changes.

Michael

[Joe Procopio]

Thanks Michael, EXACTLY what I was looking for

Joe Procopio
Broadway Video, NYC
AVID/Premiere/FCP editor/engineer

[Joe Procopio]

Are you saying DNxHD and DNxHR compressions will NOT be available on the BMD box? Although they are on the current crop of BMD hardware on my AVIDs.
Why would that change?

Joe Procopio
Broadway Video, NYC
AVID/Premiere/FCP editor/engineer

[Michael Phillips]

I am referring to the onboard hardware based encoding that is on the DNxIO. The press releases only mentions it will do DNxHR, leaving DNxHD to be done in software. On current third party hardware, ALL of the encoding is being done in software. So if hardware based DNxHR encoding has value in your workflow, then this box has it while other don’t. It is somewhat similar to Avid’s DX Nitris hardware having hardware assisted encoders versus DX Mojo which did not.

Michael

[Joe Procopio]

thanks for the clarifiction

Joe Procopio
Broadway Video, NYC
AVID/Premiere/FCP editor/engineer

[Oliver Peters]

From the questions I asked, it’s also unclear whether or not the Avid version will also include onboard ProRes. I’m not sure there’s a definitive answer, but I could be wrong. Also Avid will provide support for the Avid DNxIO, not BMD.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Shane Ross]

Yeah, Avid likes to not support all the features it has, nor the hardware has, when using third party hardware. Avid will allow it for basic play out and capture, but advanced features the cards have…or advanced features Avid has…it restricts to Avid hardware. So, when this box comes out, I’m sure it’ll work better with Avid than the BMD 4K…because it’s branded AVID.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Jonathan Abrams]

The word at NAB was that this I/O would not have universal mastering. This is because universal mastering is not part of Open IO.

—
Jonathan S. Abrams, CEA, CEV, CBNT
Apple Certified – Technical Coordinator (v10.5) Support Professional (v10.6 through v10.8)
Chairman, NY section, AES

[Joe Procopio]

one of my biggest issues with BMD IO cards, even including the new Thunderbolt 4K (not the extreme as we don’t have one yet) has been the jumping a frame when hitting the space bar….AJA does not do this, it is a nice rock solid stop, as is the NitrisDX box…SOOOOO, I’m hoping that working with AVID, and AVID qualifying the box, it won’t be an issue anymore!

hoping!

Joe Procopio
Broadway Video, NYC
AVID/Premiere/FCP Engineer