• Blogs
• Forums
• Tradeshows
• Partners
• White Papers
• Podcast Show Notes
• Events

 

Blackmagic Design UltraScope 1.1 software update

Jan 14, 2010 12:00 PM, By Dan Ochiva

Now with digitally synthesized composite waveform view.

Many of today's test instruments are moving to a software base. This allows for great flexibility while keeping costs down, since manufacturers can rely on a host computer's processing power rather than the expense of manufacturing discrete electronic circuits.

That's been Blackmagic Design's approach for its UltraScope signal monitor, which consists of a PCI Express card and software package designed to work in a low-cost PC with 24in. monitor for display. UltraScope offers a 3Gbps SDI waveform monitor that combines broadcast technical accuracy with a more approachable (i.e. less like an engineer's) interface specifically designed for creative video editors and colorists.

If used with a 24in. monitor, users can experience simultaneous readout of six waveform monitor displays, choosing among RGB and YUV parade, luminance, digitally synthesized composite, luminance and composite, vectorscope, histogram, 8-channel audio metering, 2D audio scope, and picture view with video standard display and HD RP-188/SD VITC reader display.

Now, in a just-released 1.1 software update, the Australian-based company adds a digitally synthesized composite waveform view. Digitally synthesized from the SD or HD video input, it allows editors to align video levels using the composite waveform. This is a comparatively easy-to-use workflow familiar to video professionals for decades, but one that had been lost with the move from composite to SDI signals.

This composite waveform view works well when color-correcting too, since the UltraScope can show luminance or composite, or both luminance and composite displayed side by side. This side-by-side view allows colorists to see if objects in their images have color simply by comparing the luminance and composite views.

Blackmagic Design DeckLink SDI

Blackmagic Design DeckLink Optical Fiber

Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.
© 2012 NewBay Media, LLC.