RRP Pricing :

Downloads :

• Brochure (PDF)
• HDV Editing made Simple (PDF)
• Diagrams (PDF)

Links :

• Convergent Design
  web site

Reviews (Download)

• Video Camera Magazine, May 2006, "Taking HDV to the Limit: HD Connect LE"

Convergent Design HD-Connect LE

HDV to HD-SDI Converter: Your HDV Connection

The Convergent Design HD-Connect LE integrates video, audio, time-code and deck control into a simple, cost-effective box. This ultra portable unit offers the unique features of conversion to HD or SD, allowing users to output to the widest variety of formats: HD-CAM, DVC Pro HD (via HD-SDI), DigiBeta or Betacam. HD-Connect LE offers two modes of deck control: RS-422 to 1394 and 1394 to RS-422. The RS-422 to 1394 deck control is intended for HD/SD-SDI based editing systems, while the 1394 to RS-422 mode is perfect for HDV based editing systems. The HD-Connect LE is your HDV connection, bringing HDV to your studio and edit bays as well as supporting over-the-air playout.

• Capabilities: HD-Connect LE is a compact HDV -> HD/SD-SDI converter box with component / composite (SD Only) video out as well as LTC and AES audio outputs. Deck control is supported via RS-422 -> 1394 or 1394 -> RS-422.
• Copy HDV to HD-CAM: The HD-SDI output enables copying of HDV tapes directly to your HD-CAM deck. The video, audio and time code are carried through this single connection.
• Native HDV editing: edit in HDV and then output to HD or SD decks. Supported decks include HD-CAM, DigiBeta, DVC-Pro HD, and BetaCam SP.
• No quality loss: Video and audio remains in the digital domain throughout the conversion process. The MPEG2 (HDV) video and audio are simply decompressed and output over the SDI connection.
• Unique advantages:
  • Down-scaling to standard definition video
  • Cross conversion (720p -> 1080i).
  • Smaller size, lower cost, less power.
  • DVB-ASI Output.
  • 24 fps support.
  • 1394 -> RS-422 control

HD-Connect LE Key Features :

• HDV (over 1394) to HD-SDI
  (with embedded audio and time code)
• 720p and 1080i Support
• 50Hz and 59.94Hz compatible
• Transmission of MPEG2 Stream over DVB-ASI
• HDV Deck Control via RS-422 to 1394 translation
• All outputs simultaneously active
• Component and Composite Support
• Monitor Audio Out
• Gamma Correction

Applications:

• HDV to HD-SDI Based Editing (frame accurate captures)
• HDV to HD-CAM Tape transfer (with time code)
• HDV to SD-SDI (Down-Convert), output to DigiBeta with deck control
• HDV to DVB-ASI(over SDI coax)

Technical

HDV Input

HDV (MPEG2) input formats

• 1440x1080i, 29.97Hz
• 1440x1080i, 25 Hz
• 1440x1080i, 23.98Hz
• 1280x720p, 59.94 Hz
• 1280x720p, 50 Hz
• 1280 x 720p, 29.97 Hz
• 1280 x 720p, 25 Hz
• 1280 x 720p, 23.98 Hz

Maximum MPEG2 data-rate

• Up to 40Mbps. (720p HDV is approximately 19 Mbps, 1080i is 25 Mbps.)

Other supported MPEG 2 formats

• The HD-Connect LE supports most of the ATSC (ISO/IEC 13818-2) streams, limited to bit rates below 40 Mbps.

Video Output

Features

• 24fps support (23.98 fps) in both 720p and 1080i formats
• Both edge crop and letter box ouput available, selectable from the switches on the bottom of the HD-Connect LE box.
• Upscaling of 1080i HDV from 1440 to 1920. Using a multi-tap filter, the output video is in 4:2:2 color space.
• Expansion of 8 bit resolution HDV video to 10-bits before transmission over HD/SD-SDI.
• True NTSC frame rates (29.97 fps) and PAL support (25fps)
• Superior quality downscaling to SD : unlike SD output from your camcorder, HD-Connect LE standard-definition output does not have to go through a second (DV) compression stage.
• Supports true SD (BT-601) and HD (BT-709) color spaces
• Supports all three data rates (18, 25 and 36 Mpbs) as used in the Sony XD-CAM HD format.
• Supports HDV Camcorders from Sony, JVC and Canon.
• Automatic detection of incoming HDV stream format
• Cross converter (1080i / 720p)
• Simultaneous output from the analog component, SDI, AES and LTC outputs (analog composite output is active in SD mode only.)
• Supports connection to an LCD or Plasma panel via the component video outputs. Also allows viewing on a composite video monitor (SD mode only) or to a digital monitor via a low-cost HD-SDI -> DVI/DHMI converter for a pure digital connection.

Ouput formats (SDI & Component):

• 1920x1080i, 29.97Hz, 16:9
• 1920x1080i, 25 Hz, 16:9
• 1280x720p, 59.97 Hz, 16:9
• 1280x720p, 50Hz, 16:9
• 720x480i, 29.97Hz, 4:3
• 720x576i, 25 Hz, 4:3

Deck Control

• Control your HDV camcorder via an RS-422 cable—HD-Connect LE converts the RS-422 deck commands and time code queries to 1394 AVC commands.
• Timecode is read from the HDV camcorder (over firewire) and transferred to the SDI, LTC and RS-422 ports simultaneously.
• Switchable converstion from 1394 deck control commands to RS-422.

Audio

• 3.5mm stereo (unbalanced) output for audio output monitoring.
• Uncompressed 16-bit 48kHz audio for AES, embedded in SDI and unbalanced analog audio output. Supports HDV standard MPEG 1 Layer 2 compression.

Physical

Dimensions:

• Width: 127 mm, Depth: 108 mm, Height: 38 mm.