Blackmagic Video Recorder vs Intensity

[Ryan Kohler]

I currently have a Sony HVR-V1U, and am looking at ways to get around the HDV Compression. I had heard of a workflow using the HDMI out port connected to a Blackmagic Intensity HDMI recorder to store the 24P (or 30P) raw data.

Blackmagic has just recently released a "Video Recorder" which is intended to record from the component output of a VCR and store via USB as a H.264 .mov file. I was wondering if anybody knew if I could attach it to the component output of my V1U, and attach it to my MacBook Pro to get around HDV compression? Also, if it is possible, how much would I have gained; I'm assuming the H.264 compression would not be as bad as HDV, but don't know how the 4:2:2 digital HDMI compares to the 4:2:2 analog component output?

[Richard Leadbetter]

Well the glaring omission from the Blackmagic spec there is support for anything above SD resolution.

Secondly, while it may well accept a 4:2:2 input, if it is only capable of pumping out h.264 files, the chances are that the video is downsampled to 4:2:0 during the encoding process.

Finally, bearing in mind the price point, I think it's fair to say that the h.264 encoder is hardly going to be state of the art.

[Ryan Kohler]

I guess that all makes sense; thank you