Epoch | 4K Supernova S+

Industry-proven 4K/UHD

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ can playout or capture 4K UHD SDI video

4K/UHD/2K/HD SDI I/O features

  12/10/8-BIT YUV 10/8-BIT 3D YUV 10/8-BIT RGB 12-BIT RGB
4K/UHD @ 23, 24, 25 fps YES NO YES* NO
4K/UHD @ 29, 30 fps YES NO NO NO
2K/HD @ 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 fps YES YES YES YES
2K/HD @ 48, 50, 59, 60 fps YES YES NA NA
NA - Not applicable.*Only at 8-bit.
 

Independent bi-directional I/Os deliver unparalleled flexibility

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Independent bi-directional I/Os deliver unparalleled flexibility.

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ provides flexibility and performance with 4 industry-standard BNC video connectors each allowing 3G/1.5G/HD/SD SDI input or output, a fifth BNC for SDI monitoring and a dedicated sixth Reference INPUT BNC. With bi-directional connectivity built-in, developers choose whether they want the BNCs to be input, output, 4K, UHD, 2K, HD or SD and in 3G/1.5G/HD/SD video modes, each BNC connector can be any frame-rate and frequency of your choosing.

 

Compare features

  Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ EX Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ x2
SD-SDI 4 4 8
1.5G HD-SDI 4 4 8
3G-SDI (Level A+B) 4* 4* 8*
Dual Link 1.5G
(4:2:2:4/4:4:4:4)
YES YES YES
Dual Link 3G (Level A+B) YES YES YES
Quad Link 1.5G YES YES YES
Quad Link 3G (Level A+B) YES* YES* YES*
Low-latency hardware keyer YES YES YES
Colour space converter YES YES YES
Customisable pixel formats YES YES YES
Dedicated Reference INPUT BNC YES YES YES
5th BNC SDI copy/BF Lock YES YES YES
Thunderbolt-compatible YES YES YES
Breakout Cable
8 x AES Audio I/O
2 x Analogue Audio Monitoring
RS-422
Auxiliary Reference INPUT
NO YES YES
16-bit half float pixel format YES YES YES
Interlocking Reference  YES YES YES
Bypass relays YES YES YES
Full-duplex DMA YES YES YES
VBI, HANC & VANC YES YES YES
Embedded audio YES YES YES
NVIDIA GPUDirect YES YES YES
AMD DirectGMA YES YES YES
Range of firmware options YES YES YES

*Dependant on available PCIe bandwidth.

Additional Shield Adds
  Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ EX (X2) Epoch | 4K Supernova S+
AES/EBU audio INPUT 8 channels (BNC) NO YES YES
AES/EBU audio OUTPUT 8 channels (BNC) NO YES YES
Analogue audio OUTPUT 2 channels (RCA) NO YES YES
LTC I/O BNC NO YES YES
RS-422 machine control NO YES YES
 

Connectivity

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. EB3005M. EB3005MRL.

4K Supernova S+ features 4 bi-directional 3G/1.5G/HD/SD SDI video and audio I/O’s, a 5th BNC for SDI monitoring and a dedicated sixth Reference INPUT BNC. 4K Supernova S+ EX adds 7.1 surround sound AES/EBU audio I/O, analogue audio output, LTC I/O and RS-422.

Part Number Product Description
EB3005M Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ Full-height with 4 BNC, 5th BNC copy/BF Lock and Reference INPUT BNC
EB3005MRL Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ EX Standard card + external audio / RS-422 / LTC I/O

Download a developer brochure here.

 

Low-latency video keyer

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Low Latency Video Keyer.

4K Supernova has a low-latency hardware video keyer allowing video layers to be combined in hardware with microseconds of delay. This feature allows animated logos, captions, tickers, etc. to be keyed over live video feeds at full 12-bit precision and with minimum input to output delay. The hardware keyer can also function as an image pre-multiplier to assist in previewing images and alpha data.

 

DMA features

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. DMA Features.

The industry's lowest-latency I/O, by design

4K Supernova S+ has, by design, the world's lowest-latency providing access to captured fields or frames to on-board card memory even before the whole field or frame is complete, thereby reducing the latency to sub one field or frame. During a capture or playout each process can occur at less than or equal to 1 field for interlaced modes and less than one frame for progressive modes.

 

Low-latency framestores

4K Supernova S+ firmware and driver architecture provides I/O framestores with predictable and short propagation delays enabling the lowest possible latency through the card. The Bluefish444 SDK supports sub-field interrupts enabling access to the video field or frame even before the video field/frame has been fully captured. This low-level access to video and audio data provides maximum control over video and audio synchronisation.

FIFO mode protection

4K Supernova S+ firmware and driver architecture supports a FIFO mode that can be utilised for buffering I/O framestores ensuring that no field/frame will ever be dropped. The FIFO architecture can be used to increase or decrease the I/O latency to a fixed value.

 

Full-duplex asynchronous DMA engine

4K Supernova S+ developers have full control over the heavily optimised DMA engine via the Bluefish444 SDK. The DMA engine supports full-duplex transfers to and from each of 4K Supernova S+’s 4 video channels at the maximum available PCIe bandwidth.

The DMA engine can independently transfer video and ancillary data and has a selective DMA feature for the transfer of customisable portions of a video field or frame. This is especially useful when dealing with individual HD quadrants that make up a 4K/UHD video buffer.

 

Complete access to ancillary data

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Complete access to ANCILLARY Data.

4K Supernova S+ allows full read and write access to the VBI for standard definition video signals. In high definition signal read and write access is available for HANC and VANC data allowing AFD, KLV, closed caption data and more.

 

The industry’s lowest jitter, by design

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. The Industry’s lowest jitter, by design.

Building on 10+ years of Bluefish444 innovative hardware development, 4K Supernova S+’s jitter circuit design surpasses the industry’s minimum standard for jitter and eye pattern measurements by almost twice the permitted tolerance.

 

High quality 3G/HD bypass relays

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. High quality 3G/HD bypass relays.

4K Supernova S+ offers the highest quality 3G/HD/SD bypass relays allowing critical on-air systems to manage system failures, power outages, and other unforeseeable circumstances that can be encountered in the world of live broadcast systems.

 

MR2 Master Routing Resource

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. MR2 Master Routing Resource.

The MR2, Master Routing Resource, within 4K Supernova S+ enables a user to flexibly configure main and preview outputs to suit individual workflows. The Master Routing Resource acts like a telephone exchange for super connectivity. Allowing video from SDI or host workstation to be routed to any or all of the 4K Supernova S+’s outputs simultaneously.

 

Maintaining a 12-bit processing pipeline

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Maintaining a 12-bit processing pipeline.

A 12-bit image processing pipeline is standard within 4K Supernova S+. This allows 8, 10 & 12-bit SDI video signals to be produced from 8, 10, 12 & 16-bit pixel formats providing the highest image quality available from your source material. A 12-bit image pipe means that 4096 discrete values of red, green & blue are maintained per pixel; that’s 4 times the colour precision of a traditional 10-bit processing pipeline!

 

4K/UHD HDR

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. 4K/UHD HDR

4K Supernova S+ features four 3G-SDI I/O allowing capture and playout of 4K/UHD video streams. HDR/SDR workflows are supported for capture and playout of 4K/UHD and HD High Dynamic Range content with access to SDI ancillary space for HDR metadata.

 

VR/AR/Stereoscopic Support

VR/AR/Stereoscopic Support

With four 3G-SDI I/O connections VR/AR/Stereoscopic workflows can synchronise multiple SDI inputs into various formats for VR/AR/3D imaging.

 

IPConnect API

IPConnect API

IPConnect API is provided to support Video Over IP workflows for SMPTE IP and NDI protocols. SMPTE 2022-6 Uncompressed IP can be captured from standard off-the-shelf network adapters and used alongside Bluefish444 hardware with full control provided by the Bluefish444 SDK and IPConnect API.

 

Maintaining the highest quality RGB <=> YUV

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Maintaining the highest quality RGB <=> YUV.

Colour space conversion image processing includes a fully programmable 4 x 4 x 33-bit colour matrix providing the highest quality colour space conversions that are a standard requirement in professional video workflows. The fully programmable 4 x 4 x 33-bit colour matrix reduces colour space conversion errors and ensures the highest quality colour accuracy during capture, monitoring and mastering.

 

SDK tools for developers

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. SDK tools for developers.

The Bluefish SDK ships with a number of useful tools for developers to streamline integration and allow for easy troubleshooting.

BlueToolBox provides important card information including the card state, input and output video modes, DMA settings and more. BlueSigGen gives developers the ability to send out test signals in any video mode, so that validating multiple formats is quick and easy.

An extensive set of sample applications and interfaces are provided making integration of Bluefish hardware into applications and systems extremely efficient.

 

Achieve advanced 4K/UHD workflows

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Achieve Advanced 4K Workflows.

Synchronising two 4K Supernova S+ using the BF Lock feature will create the performance required for capture and playback of 4K/UHD 3G-SDI up to 60 fps with no change to system configuration or cabling.

 

Single system multi-card support

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Single system multi-card support.

The Bluefish444 SDK provides unrestricted synchronisation of multiple 4K Supernova S+ video cards per system with some developers using up to 5 cards per server to deliver 20 channels of SDI in a single box. BF Lock allows 4K Supernova S+ cards to generate a proprietary sync signal which will sync lock Bluefish444 video hardware when connected to a Reference INPUT connector.

 

Thunderbolt expansion chassis compatibility

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis Compatibility.

Popular PCI-Express and Thunderbolt expansion chassis' are designed to be light and portable. 4K Supernova S+ is compatible with both compact and full-length PCIe devices from those featuring a single slot right through to much larger multi-slot devices.

For the full list of qualified 3rd-party chassis' visit Bluefish444 Certified Solutions page.

 

Access a unified API across Windows, Linux & macOS

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Access a Unified API across Windows, Linux & macOS.

The Bluefish444 cross-platform SDK provides rapid distribution across multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS and delivers a unified driver for all models of Bluefish444 hardware.

4K Supernova S+ is compatible with DirectShow filters, the Medialooks MPlatform SDK for Windows and Video4Llinux2 offering advanced features like multi-channel, multi-card and 4K/UHD I/O.

4K Supernova S+ supports AMD DirectGMA and NVIDIA GPUDirect in order to reduce memory bandwidth and latency for processing video data on the GPU.

 

Cross-platform support with Industry leading 3rd-party software

4K Supernova S+ leverages a decade of Bluefish444 software development. It is compatible with industry-leading software developed by Bluefish444 and by 3rd-party developers using our Windows, Linux and macOS software development kit. Strong partnerships with companies like Adobe, Avid, ASSIMILATE, NVIDIA, AMD and many more allow Bluefish444 to deliver hardware, drivers and software plug-ins for the creative industry.

For a full list of compatible software, visit the software section.

Epoch | 4K Supernova S+. Cross platform support with Industry leading 3rd party software.

 

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