NAB 2009, Las Vegas, NV, USA — April 20, 2009 — Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced 2 new models of their award winning Videohub routers. At NAB 2008, Blackmagic Design shocked the television industry with Broadcast Videohub, the world’s largest affordable SDI router, featuring 72 x 144 SDI routing, 3 Gb/s SDI technology, and automatic SD/HD/2K switching. Now Blackmagic Design has extended the Videohub range with Enterprise Videohub, a massive 144 x 288 model, and Studio Videohub, a compact 16 x 32 model.
All Videohub models will be on display at NAB 2009 at the Blackmagic Design booth SL10820.
Enterprise Videohub is a massive 144 x 288 SDI routing size with 144 deck control ports that is easily large enough for the biggest post production studio or broadcaster. Unlike other large routers that use a complicated modular design with many rack chassis interconnections, Enterprise Videohub features a single circuit board design, which reduces degradation of high speed data signals such as 3 Gb/s SDI. Enterprise Videohub is only 16 rack units high, and less than 3 inches deep, which is incredibly compact when compared to similar sized SDI routers. Enterprise Videohub will be available in July for US$29,995 or €22995
Studio Videohub replaces the original Workgroup Videohub, however it features larger 16 x 32 SDI routing and is physically smaller at only 2 rack units high. Studio Videohub is perfect for small post production workgroups where people need to share a broadcast deck. Studio Videohub can be also used to compartmentalize sections of a facility from the main router such as a small graphic design group in a large broadcast facility. Studio Videohub is available now for US$4,995 or €3845.
Enterprise Videohub and Broadcast Videohub models include redundant power connections, SDI re-clocking, and 3 Gb/s SDI technology all in a compact rack chassis less than 3 inches deep. Studio Videohub includes the same great SDI re-clocking and 3 Gb/s SDI technology all in a compact rack chassis less than 1 inch deep!
Because Videohub routers are very affordable, now even more studios can eliminate complicated manual patching between workstations and decks. Most studios currently use manual patch cables for connecting equipment because, until now, they could not afford a large SDI video router. Manual patching degrades SDI video signals, limiting cable length and limiting studio size. Videohub routers eliminate these problems with built in SDI re-clocking which cleans up SDI signals so they can run down long cables for greater flexibility when designing studio layout.
“We designed the Videohub routers to eliminate complicated manual patching, while being affordable for everyone. As post production workflows have changed over the last few years, more and more creative people such as designers and artists have entered the industry. For them, patching cables manually is very intimidating and complicated,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “Now, with these wonderful new Videohub models, they can change connections right from their desktop computer, so changing router connections is easier to understand, plus the large size provides plenty of room to grow!”
The Videohub family are the only routers that are designed to be easy to install. All connections are grouped together to include an SDI input, SDI output, deck control port, and SDI monitor output for each user. Videohub routers have twice as many SDI outputs as inputs, so each user can connect monitoring directly to the router. This lets people control their monitoring without affecting the input of their editing workstation. This is important when more than one person is working on a post production project and the client wants to switch monitoring to see the entire project being worked on.
Videohub routers include easy to use control software applications that work on Mac OS X and Windows systems, and all control is provided via the local network, so no extra cabling is required when installing. Auto failover redundant power supplies are included with the Broadcast Videohub and Enterprise Videohub for industrial strength reliability.
Enterprise Videohub Model Features
• 144 SDI inputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M and ITU-R BT.656.
• 288 SDI outputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M  and ITU-R BT.656.
• 144 independent Sony™ compatible RS-422 serial control ports. Each port is independently reversible via software control to allow broadcast decks or editing workstations to be connected.
• 16 Rack units high, less than 3 inches deep.
Broadcast Videohub Model Features
• 72 SDI inputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M and ITU-R BT.656.
• 144 SDI outputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M  and ITU-R BT.656.
• 72 independent Sony™ compatible RS-422 serial control ports. Each port is independently reversible via software control to allow broadcast decks or editing workstations to be connected.
• 8 Rack units high, less than 3 inches deep.
Studio Videohub Model Features
• 16 SDI inputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M and ITU-R BT.656.
• 32 SDI outputs compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 424M  and ITU-R BT.656.
• 16 independent Sony™ compatible RS-422 serial control ports. Each port is independently reversible via software control to allow broadcast decks or editing workstations to be connected.
• 2 Rack units high, less than 1 inch deep.
Videohub Common Family Features
• Automatically switches between SD-SDI, HD-SDI and 3 Gb/s SDI on each input, so each input can run a different television standard.
• Simultaneous connection of SD, HD and 3 Gb/s HD equipment in your facility using the one router.
• Router input, output, control and monitoring outputs are grouped in a simple to understand layout for non-technical users.
• Full SDI re-clocking supported allowing long SDI cable lengths. Re-clocking automatically detects between SD, HD or 3 Gb/s SDI video.
• Computer based software router control panel for Mac OS X™ and Windows™. Router communication via USB connected host computer, with other computers communicating via Ethernet.
• Router connections are preserved in case of power failure and connections recover immediately when power is restored.
• Video reference input, compatible with both black burst and tri-sync.
Availability and Price
Studio Videohub is available now for US$4,995 or €3845 from all Blackmagic Design authorized resellers worldwide. Enterprise Videohub will be available in July for US$29,995 or €22995.