Blackmagic Design Rolls Out SmartView 4K Monitor

At IBC in Amsterdam, Blackmagic Design debuted SmartView 4K, what it calls the world’s first full resolution Ultra HD broadcast monitor with 12G-SDI inputs for compatibility with virtually all SD, HD and Ultra HD formats up to 2160p60 for $1,995.

SmartView 4K is a professional Ultra HD broadcast monitor with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160, an LCD screen with a wide viewing angle and broadcast features such as 3D LUTs, adjustable on-screen markers, H/V delay, blue only and more. SmartView 4K features multi rate 12G-SDI inputs that automatically switch between SD, HD and Ultra HD formats up to 2160p60.

When monitoring SD, 720 HD or 1080 HD SDI sources, the built in Teranex processor uses patented and proprietary PixelMotion algorithms to automatically de-interlace and scale video to the native Ultra HD resolution of the LCD.

The 6 rack unit size machined metal design of SmartView 4K features a built in control panel for access to advanced broadcast features such as built in 3D LUTs, H/V delay, blue only for checking hue and image noise and customizable frame markers. The machined metal design also has a metal internal chassis allowing VESA mounting points on the rear so the monitor can be rack mounted, or mounted on articulated arms similar to computer monitors. This allows installation in news rooms, walls and other non-rack mount locations.

With the advent of SDI video in the mid 1990’s some features on analog broadcast monitors were lost. One of these feature was the H/V delay that allowed broadcast engineers to view data and signals in the horizontal and vertical blanking. With SmartView 4K, customers get these features retuned and with the H/V delay feature, customers can shift the image to monitor data and information in the SDI blanking, such as embedded audio data, subtitles, VITC and more.

Blackmagic SmartView 4K includes both universal AC power as well as 12V DC power inputs so it can be used with a battery or plugged into standard AC mains power. There is also a SMPTE-compatible optical fiber SDI socket for allowing customers to optionally add an optical fiber SDI module if they want to run optical fiber direct to their monitor without converters. Optional optical fiber is important with the high speeds of 12G-SDI where customers might feel more comfortable about the reliability of optical fiber.

Blackmagic SmartView 4K can be controlled from the front panel or remotely via rear mounted Ethernet connection with loop output using the included Mac and Windows software. It also supports VESA mounting so customers can install it on articulated monitor arms, on walls or in equipment racks. When used on set, the dual 3D LUTs can be selected on and off with the push of a button, and the DC power input allows a V-Lock battery pack to be mounted on the rear of the monitor and plugged into the DC input for long running time where no AC power is available.

SmartView 4K will be available in December 2014 for $1,995 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

For more on IBC 2014, click here.