Capture Card Review :
Blackmagic Design Intensity HDMI Capture Card (page 2)

The Intensity is an extremely useful device for those producing HD content. Seeing the output of your project in final HD form on a monitor is invaluable. While it's not quite as practical for capturing as FireWire, the option to take in the highest-quality uncompressed video is there if you need it. At just $249, Intensity could become an essential part of your HD arsenal.

Platform: PC and Mac
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Mac OSX 10.4 or higher
RAM: At least 2GB recommended for SD and HD (4GB for HD on Mac)
PCI Express Slot: x1 lane or greater PCIe
Connectors: HDMI In, HDMI Out
HDMI Audio in/Out: 2 channels
HD Format Support: 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 720p50, 720p59.94
SD Format Support: 625/25 PAL, 525/29.97 NTSC
HDMI Video Sampling: 4:2:2
HDMI Color Precision: 4:2:2
HDMI Color Space YUV: 4:2:2
HDMI Audio Sampling: 48kHz, 24-bit
Real-time Processing: Mac OSX only HD down conversion, HD cross conversion
Real-time Effects: Final Cut Pro internal effects, Adobe Premiere Pro 2 internal effects in DV, MJPEG and uncompressed edit modes (system dependent)

• Easy install
• Relatively inexpensive
• Some real time processing

• Demands high performance systems

The inexpensive Intensity fills the gap for a much-needed device to interface your computer with HDTVs and camcorders touting the HDMI interface.

John Burkhart is Videomaker:'s Editor-in-Chief.

$250
Blackmagic Design
1551 McCarthy Blvd., Ste. 106
Milpitas, CA 95035