Review: Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K

[Prastupok]

Blackmagic.

 

They make some nice stuff, no doubt. I had the Intensity Pro for years, and we use decklinks at the office. Great products.

So naturally, when the IP 4K came out, I had to snatch one up.

 

Start with the packaging: As always, minimalism isn't a bad thing. We have a simple box, internally partitioned into 2 sections. One with the card and manuals, the other with the breakout cable and s-video adapter.

Also included are two dual-fold information trays, one with the manual and drivers, the other with the lite version of DaVinci resolve (an excellent product, I might add). Both of these come on standard SD cards, but the software is also available on the website.

 

Inside the electrostatic bag is the card itself, with a fan on it. This fan is the one issue I have with the unit. It is small, and doesn't have variable speed, meaning it screams. I actually am probably going to disconnect the fan, as I have plenty of airflow going right over it, but it depends. On the back of it, as with the old one, there is an HDMI in, HDMI out, and breakout to component.

 

The card uses PCIe 4x interface, so I was able to put it between my graphics cards. It is passively powered.

It is capable of capturing up to 4K30 YUV 4:2:2, but also handles 1080p60 RGB 4:4:4.

 

 

Now, using the device... I've had it for about 5 hours now, and it's been a dream in using it so far. It's done everything I needed it to, and more. It fully supports 10-bit color, so when it goes in the rig it is meant for, capture will be a wonderfully accurate thing. The camera I was testing with, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4, was able to send video flawlessly to the application, recording exactly the way it should, with 0 lag over HDMI. 

 

Now, this card won't be for everyone, and Blackmagic doesn't intend it to be. There are better game streaming capture cards available, for cheaper, and even general work cards. But for creative professionals working in 4K, this is a cheap, simple solution that works as it should and for an excellent price point.

 

Edit: I apologize for doing the unboxing pictures on my MBP box, to all the die-hards out there.

 

After taking the card out of the case to go in the workstation... I burned my hand. I have excellent case flow, and it still caused massive heat.

5 minutes after (I had to find my IR thermometer) it was still 114 degrees. Keep in mind this is what the cost of 4K recording is, but be aware of it if you want to buy one.

[Guest Kloaked]

i bet tht card haz mor vroom ram den ur 970 lel

[Prastupok]

i bet tht card haz mor vroom ram den ur 970 lel

 

Silence!

[Inkz]

Review section?

[Prastupok]

Review section?

 

It's a review and overview.

[Tocsin_786]

ill wait till Avermedia releases one with a black   pcb and a cheaper price. 

[pit5000]

only 4k30? quite disappointing

[Prastupok]

ill wait till Avermedia releases one with a black pcb and a cheaper price.

But that's the thing... It won't be prograde like this one. I need 10 bit color support.

[ShadowCaptain]

But that's the thing... It won't be prograde like this one. I need 10 bit color support.

 

So it only supports 1080p 30, 60 and 4k 30? 

 

I assume there are no options for 1440p or anything

[Prastupok]

So it only supports 1080p 30, 60 and 4k 30? 

 

I assume there are no options for 1440p or anything

 

It's meant more for camera footage, and as far as I know, there aren't any 1440p cameras.

[ShadowCaptain]

It's meant more for camera footage, and as far as I know, there aren't any 1440p cameras.

 

I know it is, but you can use it for other things too, I was thinking of getting one to capture my DSLR and some other things

but would be interested if I could also use it for game capture to my second rig

 

Trying to plan out the perfect home studio for myself

 

the Go pro is 2.7k (which is like 1524p) - though obviously no HDMI out anyway haha

[Prastupok]

I know it is, but you can use it for other things too, I was thinking of getting one to capture my DSLR, but would be interested if I could also use it for game capture to my second rig

 

the Go pro is 2.7k (which is like 1524p) - though obviously no HDMI out anyway haha

 

Well, it does do real-time up-conversion to 4K or down-conversion to 1080p so you could go that route.

[ShadowCaptain]

Well, it does do real-time up-conversion to 4K or down-conversion to 1080p so you could go that route.

 

Hmm but its only at 30 fps right? 

 

Do any of them support 4k 60hz? then I could use it as an excuse to go 4k on my PC - and then if I get a 4k camera, I can just go fully 4k

[Prastupok]

Hmm but its only at 30 fps right? 

 

Do any of them support 4k 60hz? then I could use it as an excuse to go 4k on my PC - and then if I get a 4k camera, I can just go fully 4k

 

They do, but the price is leaps and bounds higher. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082828-REG/blackmagic_design_bdlkhdextr4k12g_decklink_4k_extreme_12g.html

 

That can handle 4K60 over HDMI at 4:2:0

[ShadowCaptain]

They do, but the price is leaps and bounds higher. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082828-REG/blackmagic_design_bdlkhdextr4k12g_decklink_4k_extreme_12g.html

 

That can handle 4K60 over HDMI at 4:2:0

price doesn't matter too much (as long as its not like 10 grand)

 

Can you connect SDI to SDI? so say, SDI out of one machine into SDI in on another machine?

[Prastupok]

price doesn't matter too much (as long as its not like 10 grand)

 

Can you connect SDI to SDI? so say, SDI out of one machine into SDI in on another machine?

 

As much as I'd be floored that your computer had an SDI out, yes, it technically would work.

[ShadowCaptain]

As much as I'd be floored that your computer had an SDI out, yes, it technically would work

 

Well.. you can get this https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/products/dviextender

 

DVI - SDI converter - SDI capture card

 

I think its only 1080p though, so I would probably have to go the 4k hdmi route

 

hmm maybe this wont work, thanks for the help though

[Prastupok]

Well.. you can get this https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/products/dviextender

 

DVI - SDI converter - SDI capture card

 

Using true C-HDMI would be quite a bit more efficient, really. Unless you are already running a few SDI cameras.

[ShadowCaptain]

Using true C-HDMI would be quite a bit more efficient, really. Unless you are already running a few SDI cameras.

 

Not sure yet, I plan on using atamos ninjas for the cameras, some have SDI buts its also possible I could just record to SSD and not bother having it hooked up, though It would be great to livestream using them too

 

And if I could use the same hardware to record my PC screen etc that would be amazing too - not sure if thats possible 

[Prastupok]

Not sure yet, I plan on using atamos ninjas for the cameras, some have SDI buts its also possible I could just record to SSD and not bother having it hooked up, though It would be great to livestream using them too

 

And if I could use the same hardware to record my PC screen etc that would be amazing too - not sure if thats possible 

 

The Ninjas are nice, for sure. The HDMI in just made sense for this workstation, but the decklinks are pretty great. 

[ShadowCaptain]

The Ninjas are nice, for sure. The HDMI in just made sense for this workstation, but the decklinks are pretty great. 

 

Yeah been playing with my friends who just got a blade 2 for his D800 really nice to grade!

 

Might contact blackmagic and explain what I want and see if they have a solution, thanks for the help! I have much planning to do and money to spend, but hopefully by the end of the year I will have my studio set up

[Prastupok]

Yeah been playing with my friends who just got a blade 2 for his D800 really nice to grade!

 

Might contact blackmagic and explain what I want and see if they have a solution, thanks for the help! I have much planning to do and money to spend, but hopefully by the end of the year I will have my studio set up

 

I've yet to have a bad product from them, and I have a lot, so I'm sure you'll enjoy the final product. Cheers!

[Tocsin_786]

But that's the thing... It won't be prograde like this one. I need 10 bit color support.

i hate how most of the time pro grade stuff looks quite fugly, have you look at the Red Rocket X, that thing looks beautiful. but this is pro grade and only does 4K 30, thats not nice either.

[Prastupok]

i hate how most of the time pro grade stuff looks quite fugly, have you look at the Red Rocket X, that thing looks beautiful. but this is pro grade and only does 4K 30, thats not nice either.

 

Rockets are over 5 grand even with bulk discount... this is 200 bucks. This is for capturing, and the red rocket isn't.

[NeatSquidYT]

Even has a little heatsink and fan o_0