RRP Pricing :

Downloads :

• Data Sheet (PDF 10/05)
• User Manual (PDF)
• Connections Diag. (PDF)

Links :

• Convergent Design
  web site
• SD-Connect downloads (Convergent web site)

Reviews (Download)

• Douglas Spotted Eagle, Sundance Media Group / VASST
• Digital Media World Review, Feb 2005
• Video Camera Mar 2005

Reviews (Links)

• SD-Connect, Sony Vegas and ACID in 20th Annual Stellar Awards production (www.creativecow.net)

SD Connect^TM - Universal NLE Interface Media Converter

The Convergent Design SD-Connect^TM is a standalone or NLE-connected, comprehensive standard definition video & audio converter.

Video

The SD-Connect features all standard analog and digital video formats including:

• Composite Video
• Component Video
• S-Video
• SDI (SMPTE259M-C) with embedded audio (SMPTE272M-A) > 1394 Firewire DV video (DV25)
• Uncompressed over 1394**

Audio

The SD-Connect also features four channel audio in and out with the following formats:

• Balanced and Unbalanced Analog*
• AES/EBU
• Embedded audio over SDI

Application Compatibility

DV Based Non-Linear Editing (NLE) using Betacam or Digibeta Deck with:

• Adobe Premiere
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• Avid Xpress DV, NewsCutter
• Sony Vegas

SDI / Analog Conversion

• Component/Composite Video I/O
• Embed/De-Embed Audio
• Proc Amp
• Test Pattern Generator

"Convergent Design's new SD-Connect converter device is a godsend for broadcasters, editors, or anyone else in need of connecting a wide variety of cameras, decks, or audio gear to a variety of NLE applications, or for those needing to convert analog to digital."

"All in all, it's pretty evident that Convergent Designs have planned the SD-Connect with broadcasters and other professionals in mind. They've also clearly got an eye for the future and other formats with the upgrade tools built in and announcements that make it clear that they're far from done with this product."

"it's equally clear that these guys are poised to make some major inroads in the broadcast and professional video market. Seems to me that while there's a new kid in town, and he's also the one that everybody is gonna want to hang with."

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Sundance Media Group /
VASST Instructor

SD-Connect Key Features :

• 10-bit video, 24-bit audio I/O
• Analog Component, S-Video, Composite Video I/O
• 4-Channel Balanced & Unbalanced Analog/Digital Audio I/O
• SDI (SMPTE259M-C) with embedded audio
• (SMPTE272M-A)I/O
• 1394 I/O with DV and uncompressed modes**
• NTSC and PAL support
• Simple installation: no need to install PCI card / drivers
• Low system load (in DV mode), works with a laptop
• Easy to use LCD panel with rotary knob for control

** refer to section "Uncompressed support" for details

SD-Connect Unique Features:

• Broadcast quality video A/D and D/A converters with 12-bit conversion, adaptive comb filters and digital nose reduction
• Full-featured I/O _ both analog and digital video and audio support.
• Unique LCD display of status and error messages
• Internet enabled firmware updates
• Frame Accurate insert edit (and assemble edit), available from December, 2004
• Future growth path to uncompressed over 1394 (10/8-bit video and 24-bit audio). This feature is now functional in the SD-Connect box, awaiting NLE driver software.

Uncompressed Support:

SD-Connect now supports uncompressed 8-bit video, 4-channel 24-bit audio and time code over 1394 via a firmware upgrade and installation of appropriate drivers. Support for Adobe Premiere Pro is planned for 4th quarter 2005. Apple Final Cut Pro 8-bit NTSC Panther support is available now [click here]. 10-bit is coming soon, as is Sony Vegas Software support.

Analog composite / component or SDI (with embedded audio) as well as analog or digital audio can be transferred uncompressed over 1394. Advantages of this interconnect, include:

• No compression artifacts for superb video quality.
• No "mosquito noise" around titles or text.
• No color artifacts due to the 4:2:2 -> 4:1:1 (4:2:0) conversion found in DV
• More real-time effects : The CPU does not waste time decompressing and re-compressing each frame of rendered video. Therefore, more time is available to process effects, so more layers can be output in real-time.
• Best possible video quality for encoding to web-streaming (Windows Media Player, etc).
• No need to add another card into your PC (assuming you already have 1394 support)
• Un-compressed video and audio requires approximately 30 Mbytes/sec disk I/O for each stream. This is easily accomplished with two 10K RPM SATA and a RAID controller.
• There is no longer a need to purchase an expensive SCSI system

Comparison Table

** refer to section "Uncompressed support" for details of availability and supported NLE's