Blackmagicdesign Intensity Pro Operation Manual
OPERATION MANUAL
Intensity Pro
Windows
™
March 2009
Mac OS X
™
2
Overview
Contents
Overview
Contents 2
Welcome 3
Introducing Intensity Pro 4
Using for Capture and Playback
Installation for Capture and Playback 5
Third Party Applications 8
Blackmagic Design Applications 16
Supported File Formats 23
Troubleshooting 24
Connection Diagrams
Typical Intensity Pro Setup 25
Intensity Pro Connections 26
Intensity Pro S-Video Connections 27
Intensity Pro NTSC/PAL Connections 28
Connecting to an HDMI HDTV 29
Monitoring using Intensity Pro 30
Setup for Blackmagic On-Air 31
Warranty
12 Month Limited Warranty 32
3
Overview
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing Intensity Pro.
We hope you share our dream of making the video industry truly creative by allowing everyone
access to the highest quality video and sound. Intensity Pro includes the same high quality video
technology used in all Blackmagic Design video cards, so you won’t be limited creatively.
I have always felt that everyone should have the possibility of self-actualization through creative
expression. When you think about it, creativity, design and the arts are the true essence of humanity
and is what makes us unique as a species. Television is a wonderful creative medium because it
overloads the senses with exciting vision and sound, while being easy for viewers to experience.
Until now, the high quality video required for feature films, music videos, television commercials
and episodic television production required massive equipment costs. Unfortunately this turned
the television industry into an exclusive club. I think one of the most exciting things we have done
at Blackmagic Design is make the highest quality video available to all of us - so now your creative
abilities can make you the world’s best.
We are really excited about what you’ll do with your new Intensity Pro!
The instruction manual you’re reading now contains all the information you’ll need for installing your
Intensity Pro card, plus extra instructions on using it as a powerful HDMI based editing, design and
effects solution. Please take the time to check it out as there are lots of tips and tricks to help you.
Before you install Intensity Pro, please visit our support page at www.blackmagic-design.com to
download the latest updates to this instruction manual and Intensity driver software. We have more
helpful tech notes on our support page, and you might find a newer version of the software and
manual than was included on the CD with your Intensity Pro card.
Lastly, please register your Intensity Pro serial number with us, when you download the latest Intensity
driver software, so we can keep you updated when new software is released.
Perhaps you can even send us your latest “show reel” of work completed on your Intensity Pro and
any ideas for changes to the Intensity software. We are constantly working on new features and
improvements, so we would really love to hear from you!
Grant Petty
CEO, Blackmagic Design
4
Overview
Introducing Intensity Pro
Intensity Pro features the latest HDMI technology for the highest quality capture and playback on
PCI Express computers with Mac OS X or Windows XP. Now you can edit using big-screen HDMI
televisions and video projectors, or capture uncompressed quality directly from HDV cameras.
True HDMI digital connections
Intensity Pro features HDMI input for connecting cameras and digital set-top boxes for the highest
quality uncompressed capture. Get the highest quality capture possible from HDV cameras by
capturing from the camera’s image sensor and bypassing the HDV compression chip. Because edit
software cannot play back to HDV cameras for monitoring, Intensity Pro is ideal for monitoring
uncompressed HD, or HDV and even DV edits on big screen televisions and video projectors.
Analog connections
Intensity Pro includes analog video and audio connections for capture and playback from analog
equipment. Capture from VHS or DVD players via the NTSC/PAL input, or switch to analog Y,Cr,Cb
for capture in high quality component video in SD or HD. Featuring analog audio, Intensity Pro can
connect to VHS and S-Video decks, DVD players, set top boxes, HDV cameras and many more.
Now you can playback to televisions and monitors in NTSC/PAL , analog component or HDMI.
Go beyond HDV video quality
HDV video compression suffers from not being full 1920 HD resolution, with the extra processing
required making editing difficult. Now you can capture and playback full resolution HDTV
uncompressed video for true broadcast and feature film quality editing, totally eliminating HDV &
DV compression quality problems.
Professional video standards
Instantly switch between HD and SD video standards including HDTV 1080i/59.94, 1080i/50,
720p/59.94, 720p/50, NTSC and PAL. Intensity Pro allows capture in professional file formats which
are fully compatible with Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink and Multibridge capture cards.
Compatible with all video software
Compatible with QuickTime
™
and DirectShow™, Intensity Pro can use a wide range of video software
for video capture and playback in either standard definition or high definition 4:2:2. Use Final
Cut Studio™ on Mac OS X™ or Premiere Pro™ on Windows XP™ for editing, then combine Adobe
After Effects™ and Photoshop™ for broadcast design and paint. Then finish your job by using DVD
authoring software to give your clients a DVD.
Copy protected video
HDMI video sources may output copy protected encrypted video. By law Intensity Pro is not allowed
to capture from copy protected HDMI sources, such as HDCP encrypted video and DVD players.
Intensity Pro PCI Express card.
Intensity Pro break-out cable.
5
Using for Capture and Playback
Installation for Capture and Playback
Connecting to your PCIe Mac or PC
1. Shut down and remove the power plug from the back of your computer. This is a safety precaution
before opening your computer. Ensure that you are statically discharged by using a static strap.
2. Remove the side cover of your computer to gain access to the PCI Express slots.
3. Remove your Intensity Pro card from the protective static bag making sure you don’t touch the
gold connectors on the base of the card.
4. Find a spare PCI Express slot within the computer, any slot will do. Intensity Pro is a PCI Express
1 lane card and is compatible with 1,4,8 and 16 lane PCIe slots. Remove the metal port access
cover and it’s screw from the back of your computer.
5. Insert your Intensity Pro PCI Express card and ensure it clicks firmly into place.
6. Secure the card with a screw and replace the side cover of your computer.
7. Connect HDMI devices, such as HDV cameras to Intensity Pro’s HDMI input.
8. Connect HDMI compatible large screen televisions or projectors to the HDMI output.
Note: This is also a great time to install disk arrays and extra memory into your computer.
Connect HDMI devices.
Video Out
Video In
Connect HDMI devices.
Break-out
cable
6
Using for Capture and Playback
Installation for Capture and Playback
Installing the software for Windows XP
Contents
The Intensity software installer will install the following components for you:
Blackmagic Intensity drivers.
Premiere Pro
™
Easy Setups, presets and enablers.
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.
Blackmagic Capture
Note: Before installing any software or hardware you will need administrator privileges. Make sure
that your applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro
™
and QuickTime™ are installed before running
the Intensity installer.
Intensity software
1. The CD supplied with your Intensity Pro contains the Intensity software. Before you install, check
you have the latest driver. Visit www.blackmagic-design.com/support/software
2. Open the “Intensity Installer” folder and launch the “Intensity Installer” application.
3. Click
Next, Continue Anyway and Next buttons and the drivers will be installed.
4. Now restart your machine to enable the new software drivers.
Intensity Setup Wizard.
Click “Continue Anyway”.
Restart your PC!
7
Using for Capture and Playback
Installation for Capture and Playback
Installing the software for Mac OS X
Contents
The Intensity software installer will install the following components for you:
Blackmagic Intensity drivers.
Blackmagic QuickTime
™
codecs.
Final Cut Pro
™
Easy Setups, presets and enablers.
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.
Blackmagic On-Air for live production.
Note: Before installing any software or hardware you will need administrator privileges. Make sure
that your applications such as Final Cut Pro are installed before running the Intensity installer. If you
want to use the included On-Air software for live mixing you will need to install two Intensity cards,
as one is used for each of the two connected HDMI cameras.
Intensity software
1. The CD supplied with your Intensity Pro contains the Intensity software. Before you install, check
you have the latest driver. Visit www.blackmagic-design.com/support/software
2. Open the “Intensity Installer” disk image and launch the “Intensity Installer” application.
3. Click
Continue, Agree and Install buttons and the drivers will be installed on your system.
4. Now restart your machine to enable the new software drivers.
Intensity Installer components.
Follow install prompts.
Restart your Mac!
8
Using for Capture and Playback
Third Party Applications
Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 v4.0.1
Adobe Premiere Pro™ is a powerful real-time video and audio non-linear editing application. Full
presets for Premiere Pro are included with the Blackmagic driver software and will be automatically
loaded into your system during the installation process. Premiere Pro must be installed on your
system before running the Blackmagic driver installer.
Premiere Pro CS4 introduced the ability to capture and playback with sequences of different formats
within the one project. For example, Intensity cards can capture 1080i59.94, 1080i50 and NTSC
video to corresponding sequences within the one Premiere Pro CS4 project.
Setting Up
1. Launch Premiere Pro CS4 v4.0.1.
2. Create a
New Project and set the Capture Format to Blackmagic Capture.
3. Click on the Properties button and then choose from the desired properties for your project.
The Video Standard can be set to
NTSC, PAL, HD720 or HD1080. The Video Format can be
uncompressed or compressed and you should also specify the number of audio channels to be
captured. Now click OK.
4. Select your disk array as the Location for your media.
5. Type the name of your project and click
OK.
6. The New Sequence window will appear and you will usually want to select a sequence preset which
matches the preset you chose for the project, e.g. Blackmagic Design>HD1080>MotionJPEG>
Interlaced>59.94i.
7. You may wish to use the default sequence name or rename it. Then click
OK.
Audio
Blackmagic software features support for multiple channels of audio in Premiere Pro CS4 using
the new Blackmagic audio plugin. Blackmagic audio hardware is automatically chosen when a
new project is created and the capture format is set to Blackmagic Capture. The choice of audio
hardware can also be configured through
Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware. The ASIO
Settings button serves no function as ASIO audio is not used for capture or playback.
You may also wish to visit
Edit > Preferences > Audio Output Mapping to select the mix of the
multi-channel audio. Set Map Output for to either Blackmagic Audio or Blackmagic Audio
(CS4)
as both are the same as each other. Intensity cards support 2 channels of audio.
Adobe Premiere Pro.
New Sequence
Audio Output Mapping.
9
Using for Capture and Playback
Third Party Applications
Device Control
Device control is provided by Premiere Pro and is independent of Intensity. No support is provided
by Blackmagic Design for device control problems in conjunction with Intensity cards. Questions
relating to device control should be referred to Premiere Pro support and the relevant camera and
deck vendors.
Premiere Pro includes DV/HDV Device Control which may be used to control some cameras and
decks with a Firewire connection. FireWire is also known as IEEE 1394 and i.LINK. Logging clips,
batch capture and export to tape are only possible if some form of device control is available, e.g.
FireWire or third party serial device control. Device control is only useful with video tape devices
such as HDV cameras or decks.
Player Settings
The default player should be switched from Adobe Player to Blackmagic Design Playback. The
choice of player settings can be configured through
Edit > Preferences > Player Settings.
Playback
As a quick test to make sure everything is connected correctly, use the Premiere Pro test media
(bars and tone). Copy to your disk array, a test clip which matches the format of your project e.g.
HD1080i MotionJPEG. Take your media from within the Premiere Pro project and drop it on to
the timeline. You should now see the image on both your computer desktop and the output
of your Intensity card. If you can’t see any video on your HDMI or analog outputs, check the
connections again and ensure you have the correct output settings configured in the Blackmagic
Control Panel. HDMI and analog outputs are always active.
Note: Your HDMI display needs to be powered on before starting your PC. If necessary, restart
your PC to ensure Intensity Pro detects the display during startup.
Capture
To capture choose:
File > Capture [F5]
To immediately capture, click the red record button [G].
Note: If you can’t see video in the capture video, switch off your video source (e.g. camera or
deck) then switch it back on to ensure it detects the Intensity card.
Device Control.
Capture.
10
Using for Capture and Playback
Third Party Applications
Apple Final Cut Pro
Apple Final Cut Pro™ is a powerful real-time video and audio non-linear editing application. In
conjunction with your new Intensity Pro, Final Cut Pro will allow you to work in every video standard
from DV up to uncompressed 4:2:2 high definition video.
“Easy Setups” for Final Cut Pro will have been added automatically during the Intensity installation
process if Final Cut Pro is previously installed. It’s important to install Final Cut Pro before installing
the Intensity software.
Note: If necessary, reinstall the Intensity software after installing Final Cut Pro.
Setting up
1. Launch Final Cut Pro.
2. The Easy Setup window will appear.
3. Click on the popup menu named
Setup for and select a relevant Intensity Easy Setup.
For each TV format (NTSC, PAL and HDTV) you will find a range of compressed and uncompressed
file formats you can choose. For example, if you are working in NTSC format, you could choose
one of the following “Easy Setups”:
Intensity NTSC Uncompressed
Intensity NTSC - DV
The “Easy Setup” you choose will be dictated partly by the speed of your disk array and partly
by whether you already have movie clips in a particular format. If you have a fast disk array, you
can choose uncompressed video for the highest quality video. If you only have a single disk
for storage, you could choose either DV, DV50, DVCPRO HD or JPEG for professional quality
compression. JPEG often looks better but unfortunately Apple have not yet implemented RT
Effects with JPEG. If you need to add RT Effects, then DV, DV50 or DVCPRO HD would be a
better choice.
4. Click on the popup menu named
Primary Scratch Disk and select your disk array from the
popup menu. Then click OK.
5. Final Cut Pro will finish launching.
Final Cut Pro.
“Easy Setup” options.
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