Storm HD/acceleration VS spark

[rando]

When does the HDStorms acceleration chip come into play? I am trying to get a real handle on the differences between the Spark and the HD Storm. Also will the HDStorm and Spark work with Edius 4.6 or just 5.0?

[Jerry]

When does the HDStorms acceleration chip come into play? I am trying to get a real handle on the differences between the Spark and the HD Storm. Also will the HDStorm and Spark work with Edius 4.6 or just 5.0?

The only acceleration I could see, if you want to consider it acceleration, is the HQ capture and output 'optimization.' I believe the Spark is the HDMI output only card. These are to be used with Edius 5.x.

[Zorro]

When does the HDStorms acceleration chip come into play? I am trying to get a real handle on the differences between the Spark and the HD Storm. Also will the HDStorm and Spark work with Edius 4.6 or just 5.0?

NO acceleration with both cards.

HDSTORM: HDMI In and Out
HDSPARK: HDMI Out only

HDSTORM: CanopusHQ codec in hardware which allows for capturing without stressing the CPU
HDSPARK: no hardware codec

HDSTORM plus: gives you analog (composite, y/c, (hd)-yuv) in- and outputs

[redgum]

NO acceleration with both cards.

HDSTORM: HDMI In and Out
HDSPARK: HDMI Out only

HDSTORM: CanopusHQ codec in hardware which allows for capturing without stressing the CPU
HDSPARK: no hardware codec

HDSTORM plus: gives you analog (composite, y/c, (hd)-yuv) in- and outputs

HD Storm gives you analogue providing you have the BOB.

[shueardm]

HD Storm gives you analogue providing you have the BOB.

Denoted by the plus

[GrassValley_KH]

Just to add, HDSTORM will also let you render out Canopus HQ files much faster than just pure software encoding alone.

[alpi69]

Just to add, HDSTORM will also let you render out Canopus HQ files much faster than just pure software encoding alone.

See, I was wondering about this in this thread. Thanks for that clarification.

[Zorro]

Just to add, HDSTORM will also let you render out Canopus HQ files much faster than just pure software encoding alone.

Very useful information, Kenneally!

Anyway, is there also a hardware scaler on board?

[GrassValley_KH]

Good question and one I am not sure on. I would have thought "no" given that systems are much better in performance now, when dealing with 2/3 and 3/4 1920 (1440, 1280)

[rando]

Is this spark going to be more universal? Like a HD OHCI card where I can use other apps. or just Edius?

[GrassValley_KH]

It has yet to be determined whether HDSPARK will be available outside of EDIUS.

[swsw1550]

Lets just hope that it is going to be sold as a stand alone, be great if Grass Valley would come to the party.

[Ron Evans]

Just to add, HDSTORM will also let you render out Canopus HQ files much faster than just pure software encoding alone.

IS this true for AVCHD files on the computer as well? One reason for having HDMI capture would be to realtime convert from an AVCHD camcorder to HQ but with my Q9450 quad core I can transfer from my SR11 camcorder and convert in just over realtime anyway and have all the benefit of being able to archive the AVCHD file etc. I can see live capture to get the absolute highest quality but one then has to have the PC on the shoot!!!
I am assuming the SPARK displays just the Preview window since a lot of the present video cards have HDMI output too.
Ron Evans

[kwshaw1]

Just to add, HDSTORM will also let you render out Canopus HQ files much faster than just pure software encoding alone.

Could that potentially mean faster than realtime rendering to HQ on sufficiently powerful systems, or is it just a 1:1 realtime encoder?

[GrassValley_KH]

Faster than real-time, when exporting the timeline, because it requires no input feed for transcoding (ie. HDMI input).

HDSPARK provides a potentially easier means of configuring a system for output, as opposed to a video card with HDMI output - you have a specialised output preset, so no mucking about with Overlay/theatre settings with your graphics card (that probably won't work in Vista anyway), and the output is YUV.