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the best capture card for HD footage?
Hey Everyone,
I am currently working on a project where my company is using HD video from a shoot. The video will eventually be web based for an interactive site, but initially we want to capture this at the highest, uncompressed level. I need to purchase a good capture card for our editing station that will grab the footage in true HD. Trying to log and capture using just a firewire has giving me good footage, yet still compressed a bit, just is the nature of the HD filesize. Any good capture cards out there you can recommend? I’ll be capturing in FCP HD, but I don’t suspect that to be an issue with selecting a capture card.One card I may purchase is the “blackmagic”… any reviews of that?
Any and all information is greatly appreciated!
Cheers,
Francisco -
30 Replies
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I highly recommend the AJA Kona series (the LHe or Kona3 for PCIe machines, or the Kona LH or Kona3X for PCI-X machines).
The feature sets of each are listed on their website http://www.aja.com.
Jeremy
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Yep!!! As Jeremy says… You’ll find that most of us on this forum agree.
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY
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I’ve heard about the AJA products and how nice they are, but… a card such as this blackmagic card be just as good?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/286847-REG/Blackmagic_BDLK_Decklink_Uncompressed_10_bit.html
Obviously the pricing is extremely different, but would a high end card versus a card like this make a differnce if they both offer 10-bit SDI uncompressed video capture.
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I am partial to AJA and have not used Blackmagic products in quite some time.
You get what you pay for.
I am sure that some Blackmagic products work just fine, I just found AJA to be a little more reliable and responsive. They also have really great technical support should you have issues with setup.
Jeremy
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I am an AJA guy too. The AJA Kona 3 is top of the line. It does it all…upconvert SD to HD and downconvert HD to SD, cross convert 720p to 1080p.
But not to discount Black-Magic. Their cards are good too. If they weren’t then they wouldn’t be in wide use. The codecs are good, and the external boxes work as standalone converters. The ECLIPSE is their top of the line.
The advantage that AJA has is: a) Tech Support is killer, b)They work VERY CLOSELY with Apple, so their products integrate very well.
AJA is good because they seem to be there more if you have issues or need help. Decklink was BAD at one point…getting a hold of tech support impossible. They are getting better, but AJA has always been there.
I’ve used both, and like both…but I like AJA a wee bit better. They work with me and help find solutions to my needs. THAT is the sign of a good company.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Does the LHe card offer the same specs(upconvert SD to HD, etc.) as the Kona 3? The AJA Kona 3 sounds wicked, but I think it may be a bit out of my price range.
Everything sounds great about AJA, especially the tech support.
What type of machine would be ideal for this card? I’m running G5s at my shop, any specs that would make capture process a bit easier?
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The Kona LH offers downconvert, but does not offer up convert/cross convert. It also offers analog inputs, while the Kona 3 offers digital only inputs.
The Kona 3 also does 2k.
It depends on the vintage of your G5s, but for G5s with PCI-X, you need the Kona LH or Kona3X. For G5s with PCIe, you need the Kona LHe or the Kona 3.
Jeremy
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[domani_studios] “Obviously the pricing is extremely different, but would a high end card versus a card like this make a differnce if they both offer 10-bit SDI uncompressed video capture.”
That appears to be an SD only card and not an HD capable card.
Jeremy
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[domani_studios] “Does the LHe card offer the same specs(upconvert SD to HD, etc.) as the Kona 3?”
No. That card only downconverts HD to SD. Upconvert SD to HD, cross convert 720 to 1080…that is Kona 3 territory. The Advantage to the LH is analog in and out. THe Kona 3 needs a converter box for analog inputs.
[domani_studios] “What type of machine would be ideal for this card?”
MacPro…the best you can afford. This is a PCIe card…and while it will work with the older non-intel QUADS…i’d get the best Mac Pro you can afford.
[domani_studios] “I’m running G5s at my shop, any specs that would make capture process a bit easier?”
There is the Kona 3X that is the same card, but for older PCI-X machines.
Get a good DRIVE RAID array. One that can handle uncompressed HD. If you are on PCI-x machines, your options are limited, but not closed off.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Forgive me if I’m “thick headed” but HD is thrown around without defining WHAT KIND of HD you are working with.
Except for an older analog or SDI uncompressed HD camera/deck you probably won’t need a capture card. HDV which is usually what is meant by HD or DVCPRO HD are both capable without a capture card.
I only ask because I would have thought that you would already have some sort of capture card and RAID array if you were talking true uncompressed HD.
As far as what the current crop of capture cards offer, the details are very important to workflow.
Please visit http://www.thefinalcutstore.com for all your Final Cut needs.
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