Live From NAB: Blackmagic Design’s Revamped Teranex Processors Offer Smaller, Cheaper Option for Broadcasters

Blackmagic Design made a big splash at NAB on Monday with the introduction of a high-octane compact digital cinema camera for just $2,995. But the big news for the broadcast market coming out of the company’s Monday-morning press conference was the revamped Teranex 2D and Teranex 3D processors.

After purchasing Teranex in December, Blackmagic undertook the task of overhauling the Teranex VC100 format/standards converter in time for the NAB Show. The results of these efforts are the Teranex 2D and 3D processers, which have a smaller form-factor than the VC100 and feature Thunderbolt I/O technology capture and playback features. The big news is the new price point: the 2D box goes for $1,995 and the 3D for $3,995, versus the previous $90,000 price tag for the VC100 (Blackmagic cut the price to $20,000 after acquiring Teranex).

“The problem with Teranex when we bought it was that it had been on the market for six years, so the technology was great, but the chips that were built out of it were quite out of date,” Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty said. “So by updating the design we’ve been able to really cut down the price without affecting quality.”

Major Overhaul Leads to Smaller, Cheaper Solution
The new models are dramatically reduced in size (both are on-rack units) and feature much quieter fans; HDMI, analog, upgraded 3-Gbps SDI in and out; eight independent AES/EBU and four-channel analog audio connections; and Thunderbolt technology.

The Teranex 2D processor is a single-processor model that offers all conversions in 4:2:2 quality in a single channel. Featuring dual processors, the Teranex 3D model can easily handle dual-channel conversions for full-resolution 3D processing, as well as 4:4:4 quality, and includes the extra SDI connections for dual-link 3-Gbps SDI input and output, as well as built in redundant power supplies.

These new models still feature the same high-quality processing, including up/downconversion, SD/HD crossconversion, SD/HD standards conversion, cadence detect and remove, noise reduction, adjustable scaling, aspect-ratio conversion, smart aspect, timecode conversion, subtitle conversion, 16-channel audio, test signals, and more.

The Teranex 3D model also includes 3D camera align, 3D dual-stream standards conversion, 3D format conversions, and realistic 3D simulation.

With Thunderbolt technology included, customers can get a single product to perform both conversions and capture and playback.

Replacing the company’s Multibridge products, the Teranex 2D processor will be available in June, and the Teranex 3D model will be available in July.

In addition to the Teranex processors, Blackmagic rolled out a digital cinema camera and the latest version of Da Vinci Resolve color correction.

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera features super-wide 13 stops of dynamic range, high-resolution 2.5K sensor, built in high-bandwidth SSD recorder, open file-format support, color correction with full version of DaVinci Resolve, and a built-in LCD with metadata entry. It will be available in July priced at $2,995.

The DaVinci Resolve 9 software update completely overhauls the user interface in an effort to make it more modern and create a faster workflow. It will be available in July as a free update for current customers.

Also unveiled during Blackmagic Design’s press conference:

• A software update that adds full audio-mixing capability to its ATEM 2M/E production switcher (available for free download this month)
• Two battery-powered devices to convert SDI to HDMI or HDMI to SDI (available now priced at $295)
• Desktop Video 9.5 software update adding support for the upcoming release of Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 software (free download available now)
• HyperDeck Studio Pro SSD recorder (available in July for $1,995)
• Software Update 3.0 for its HyperDeck recorder, which adds support for Apple ProRes 422 (free download available now)
• A new lower price for all Mini Converter heavy-duty models (reduced to $345 each)
• UltraStudio Express capture and playback (available in the second quarter priced at $495)
• The Universal Videohub Editing Interface with Thunderbolt  (available in the third quarter for $1,195)
• New lower prices on all-in one video routers (Micro Videohub for $1,495, Smart Videohub for $1,995, and Compact Videohub for $3,995).