Overview

FIRECODER Blu is an H.264/MPEG2 compatible hardware transcoder board which provides high speed encoding of program stream video files for use in Blu-ray authoring.

High Performance and High Quality Hardware Assisted Encoding
FIRECODER helps meet the demand for creation of Blu-ray media by providing up to 4-5x faster than real-time encode of Blu-ray files.

A single PCI Express x1 form factor board, FIRECODER Blu provides accelerated encoding of Blu-ray compatible video sourced from a number of video applications including Grass Valley's own EDIUS non-linear editing software. Output may be directly to a Blu-ray disc or to a Blu-ray compatible program stream file for additional authoring. Additionally, FIRECODER Blu transcodes between AVCHD and HDV compatible MPEG2 formats. It supports 1080i and 720p as well as native 24p Blu-ray.

Included FIRECODER WRITER software provides basic Blu-ray and DVD authoring tools including creation of titles and chapters from Canopus HQ (avi), HDV(m2t) and MPEG2 PS (mpg, m2p) source files.

Key Features

• Faster than real-time encoding of Blu-ray compatible video
  • HD source materials: 2X faster than real time
  • SD source materials 4-5X faster than real time
• Direct writing to Blu-ray disk or output to file for additional authoring
• Transcodes between H.264- and HDV-compatible MPEG-2 formats
• Supports 1080i and 720p as well as native 24p Blu-ray formats
• Up- and downconversion of standard- and high-definition (SD and HD) sources
• Bundled FIRECODER WRITER software provides basic Blu-ray and DVD authoring tools including creation of chapters from these source files:
  • Canpous HQ/Canopus DV
  • MPEG-2 transport stream
  • MPEG-2 program stream (HDV compatible)
  • H.264 (AVCHD compatible)

Specifications

• Bus Interface: PCI Express Rev. 1.1 x1 lane


• Input Formats (FIRECODER WRITER)
  
  • Canpous HQ/Canopus DV
  • MPEG-2 transport stream
  • MPEG-2 program stream (HDV compatible)
  • H.264 (AVCHD compatible)


• Output Formats (FIRECODER WRITER)
  • BD-R/BD-RE writing: H.264, MPEG-4 AVC
  • DVD writing: MPEG-2
  • File output: H.264 (MPEG-2 transport stream), MPEG-2 program stream, MPEG-2 transport stream (HDV)

Supported Encoding Resolutions (Hardware)

• DVD/Blu-ray creation
  • 1920x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, **
  • 1440x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, **
  • 1280x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, **
  • 720x480/59.94i
  • 720x576/50i


• HDV file output
  • 1920x1080/59.94i, 50i
  • 1440x1080/59.94i, 50i
  • 1280x1080/59.94i, 50i
  • 720x480/59.94i
  • 720x576/50i


• Power Requirements: +12V: 1.75A, +3.3V: 0.15A


• Physical Dimensions: 111.15 x 167.65 mm (4.375 x 6.600 in.) (HxW)

*  Clips will be downcoverted when outputting to DVD
** 23.98p only supports Blu-ray

Package Contents

• PCI Express x1 encoder card
• FIRECODER WRITER software

Requirements

• Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz or higher
• 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended)
• BD-R/RW and/or DVD+/-R/RW drive (USB or serial ATA), for Blu-ray and DVD creation
• One free PCI Express x1 (Rev. 1.1) bus slot
• 500 MB or more space required for software installation
• Drive with serial ATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 rpm drive or faster for capturing
• A graphics card with 1024×768 dpi resolution 32 bit or higher color (must support DirectX 9.0c)
• CD-ROM drive is required for software installation
• Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional (SP2 or later, 32-bit)
• Windows Vista (SP1 or later, 32-bit or 64-bit), including the following operating systems:
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Ultimate