Can VidBlaster PRO Support Professional Standard Production?

[sidneyssa]

Hello

0) I would like to know if I can use VidBlaster Pro in a Powerful PC, for it to be almost like the Tricaster or any other of these expensive products?
1) Does VidBlaster recognize Blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme Card (installed on the Motherboard)?
2) Does VidBlaster recognize Blackmagic Multibridge Extreme (connected via the DVI of the MB)?
3) What do you suggest that can work effectively and hopefully with the same price?

Background: My Word Flow is this.
I have 3 teams for filming and recording an event daily. The Audio Team (they have a PAS), The Visual Team (they have a normal video mixer, so they project everything for the audience), and The Recording Team to records everything from Audio and Visual Teams, plus the Live Capturing from 3 Cameras. (We want to broadcast later, but this is not the issue now).
For the Record Team is where your software comes in.

On this PC and the VidBlaster Pro I need to plug in: (1) the Audio (I/O), (2) the feeding from the Visual Team (1 input via, SV cables, Component or USB), and (3) the image filmed from 3 camcorders. All three recorded simultaneously from the three teams (1) (2) (3).
- The recording will be later, edited in either the FCS Pro, or Adobe, or Other.
- The recording is to produce DVDs of the event with HD or SD quality.

Here is the proposal to be bought:
- A Quad Core PC
Processor Type Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q6600 2.40GHz 1066FSB 8MB cache
Motherboard Asus P5KPL Motherboard
Hard Disk 500GB SATA2 16MB lead free Cache
RAM Memory 4GB DDR II Kingston Ram
Optical Drive 20x Dual Layer DVD +/- R/RW Drive
Graphics Nvidia 8500GT with 1GB Memory, DVI, PCI-E
Sound Card ALC662 High Definition Audio 6-channel CODEC
No. USB Ports 6x USB 2.0 Ports
Network Card 10/100 Ethernet LAN
- Operational System: Windows XP (I don't like vista)
- VidBlaster PRO

Techinical Specs in more detalis:
For video production the PC will need to have at least 1 Audio I/O, 4 Video Inputs, and 1 Video Output.
- 1 I/O Audio to send audio in and out from the Audio Team.
- 4 Video Inputs from the Visual Team and Cameras:
- 3 Inputs for 3 HDV Cameras (Ex: 3 of Canon XH A1, or 3 of Sony Professional HDV HVR-V1P, or 3 of JVC GY-HD110E)
For true high quality image I will need to connect them to the PC via component (primarily), or SDI or SVideo.
- 1 Inputs (will be fed by the Visual Team with a Video Mixer or Laptop, for Powerpoint Presentation or other graphics)
- 1 Output:
- Will feed the Visual Team so they can either send filmed image to the audience, to the Big Screen Display.

Options:
1) Blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme Card (installed on the Motherboard)
2) Blackmagic Multibridge Extreme (connected via the DVI which is already on the Motherboard)
3) What do you suggest? So it can be effective and hopefully the same price?
- Can VidBlaster recognize the Blackmagic products?
Do you think that this will work ok? Or do you suggest a change on everything? (I haven't bought anything yet).
It might not be possible to be exactly like the Tricaser, or these other expensive equipments but if it can be workable with efficiency, it can be ok for us.

Could you kindly help me of this?

Thank you for your support.

Sidney

[Mike]

Hi Sidney,

0. For SD you need VidBlaster Studio, not Pro.
1. If it is DirectShow compatible (or comes with WDM driver), it should work but I can't confirm or deny. Maybe someone else can?
2. Same as 1.
3. To hook up your cameras? Check the help for some suggestions: firewire, analog video capture cards.

If you want to record multicam and in DVD quality, invest in a Core i7 with fast graphics card (see the help).

Mike

[sidneyssa]

0. For SD you need VidBlaster Studio, not Pro.
1. If it is DirectShow compatible (or comes with WDM driver), it should work... but I can't confirm or deny. Maybe someone else can?
2. Same as 1.

Hello Mike

Thank you for the information.
0. I downloaded the trial version of both VidBlaster Pro and Studio.
- In regards to the resolution of the Studio. The highest resolution on it is 720x576. Is it really the highest? or will it depend on the camera? or are you planing to improve it soon?
1. For information purposes, the Blackmagic Multibridge is DirectShow compatible (doesn't say anything of WDM in the manual), and so is the OSPREY Brand.
I will try to get the Core i7 in stead of just Quad Core.

Thank you for you help so far. It is helping me to take the decisions.

Sidney

[Mike]

I have no short term plans for HD, things like CPU speed, interfaces and monitor size make that impractical right now. Theoretically it's no problem though.
I can confirm the Osprey works, that's what CNET uses.

[sidneyssa]

Hi Mike

Thank you once more.
I understand that theoretically, there is no much problem not having HD feature. However, because we are entering in a generation of High Definition (both producer and consumer are expecting for HD), I would recommend you to put an extra effort on improving it to HD soon, and the CPU Speed as well, although challenging.
It will be an extra effort from you, but once your software is HD on this HD demanding market, it will be in an even better position to compete with these rather expensive companies (Tricaster, DataVideo, Sony, etc). As you should know, you will have much more costumers and organizations interested on your product, as it has a much lower cost and high effectiveness.
Another point, it is a shame that these Cards (Brackmagic Design and Osprey) can offer us HD, and when it comes to the software, it won't. Please consider it as well.

I will hold my project for while (I would need it for middle this year onwards).
I believe that there are many other consumers waiting for your software to be HD as well, but let's see what will happen.

Thank you for you support so far.

Sidney

[Mike]

As I said I can easily add it. So far I have had no requests for HD. Let me know when you've bought VB Studio and I'll make sure it's added.

[sidneyssa]

As I said I can easily add it. So far I have had no requests for HD. Let me know when you've bought VB Studio and I'll make sure it's added.


Mike,
Sorry, I didn't understand the previous message well.
So yes, once I am ready I will talk to you about the HD.
I'll just make further research about the other equipments to make sure that everything is going to be as planned.

Thank you very much.

Sidney