Blackmagic Design Adds Macros and Advanced Control Options to Videohub SDI Routers

Blackmagic Design Adds Macros and Advanced Control Options to Videohub SDI Routers

Fremont, USA - February 16, 2012 - Blackmagic Design today released Videohub 4.9, a major new software update that adds new Macro support as well as advanced network based configuration of control panels for its range of Videohub SDI routers and Smart Control panels.

Videohub 4.9 for Mac OS X and Windows is available for download now and is free of charge for all Blackmagic Design customers.

Blackmagic Design's Videohub family of products make it truly affordable to route SD, HD and 3 Gb/s SDI video and eliminate the need for manual video patching. Videohubs range from 16 x 16 SDI up to the 288 x 288 Universal Videohub that lets customers mix SDI and optical fiber interfaces in a modular rack based design. Videohub and Universal Videohub routers can be fully controlled using networkable Videohub Control Panel software and Videohub Smart Control, a 1 rack unit hardware control panel consisting of 40 programmable buttons with full RGB illumination.

Videohub 4.9 adds new functionality for new and existing Videohub customers. The addition of macros to Videohub Smart Control means that users can now activate multiple simultaneous switching commands with a single button press. New Smart Control configuration software lets users define up to 10 macros each with their own source and destination routing commands that can then be activated by one button.

Also included is the new Smart Control software utility which provides advanced ethernet configuration options all from a single central software utility for Windows and Mac OS X. This new control utility includes a new identify function which lets users visibly select the Smart Control panel they want to configure. Pressing the identify key causes all 40 Smart Control buttons to flash. This feature is particularly useful when multiple Smart Control units are used to control a Videohub and users need to identify the correct control panel they want to configure, so setting up Videohub routing systems is simpler and configuration mistakes are eliminated. Network configuration of control panels makes it easy to assign specific inputs, outputs and now macros to particular buttons, even when a facility has hundreds of control panels. Users can also create a unique name for each panel to further aid identification.

This new software update also adds support for allowing destinations to be locked from a Smart Control panel as well as Videohub software. The ability to lock specific routes is imperative in mission critical environments to avoid accidental breaking of these connections. Pressing and holding down a chosen destination will turn the button blue and this connection cannot be broken by another attached Smart Control.

“Videohub routers are the heart of a post production or broadcast facility and therefore it's important to have flexible and reliable methods of controlling them,” said Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design. “The addition of macros and these further new control functions gives customers a powerful set of controls that match the incredible high video quality of all Videohub models.”

Availability and Price

Videohub 4.9 for Mac OS X and Windows is available for download now and is free of charge for all Blackmagic Design customers.

Press Photography

Product photographs of Videohub, Universal Videohub, Videohub Smart Control and all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at www.blackmagic-design.com/press/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world's highest quality video editing products, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and film restoration software for the feature film, post-production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design's DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability, while the company's EmmyTM award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including stereoscopic 3D and 4K workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. For more information, please check www.blackmagic-design.com.