Epoch | Supernova CG
Industry-proven multi-channel I/O
2K/HD SDI I/O Features
| 10/8-BIT YUV | 10/8-BIT 3D YUV | 10/8-BIT RGB | 12-BIT RGB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2K/HD @ 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 fps | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| 2K/HD @ 48, 50, 59, 60 fps | YES | YES | NA | NA |
| SD @ 25, 29 fps | YES | YES | YES | YES |
NA - Not applicable.
Independent bi-directional I/Os deliver unparalleled flexibility
Supernova CG provides flexibility and performance with 4 industry-standard BNC video connectors each allowing 1.5G/HD/SD-SDI input or output and a fifth genlock BNC. With bi-directional connectivity built-in, developers choose whether they want the BNCs to be input, output, 2K, HD or SD and in 1.5G/HD/SD video modes, each BNC connector can be any SDI 1.5 video mode frame-rate and frequency of your choosing.
Compare features
| Epoch | Supernova CG | Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ | Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ EX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD-SDI | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 1.5G HD-SDI | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 3G-SDI (Level A+B) | NO | 4* | 4* |
| Dual Link 1.5G (4:2:2:4/4:4:4:4) |
YES | YES | YES |
| Dual Link 3G (Level A+B) | NO | YES | YES |
| Quad Link 1.5G | NO | YES | YES |
| Quad Link 3G (Level A+B) | NO | YES* | YES* |
| Dedicated Reference INPUT | YES | YES | YES |
| Colour space converter | YES | YES | YES |
| Customisable pixel formats | YES | YES | YES |
| 2/3-length PCIe | YES | YES | YES |
| 5th BNC SDI monitor/BF Lock | NO | YES | YES |
*Dependant on available PCIe bandwidth.
| Additional shield adds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Epoch | Supernova CG | Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ | Epoch | 4K Supernova S+ EX | |
| AES/EBU audio INPUT 8 channels (BNC) | NO | NO | YES |
| AES/EBU audio OUTPUT 8 channels (BNC) | NO | NO | YES |
| Analogue audio OUTPUT 2 channels (RCA) | NO | NO | YES |
| LTC I/O BNC | NO | NO | YES |
| RS-422 machine control | NO | NO | YES |
Low-latency video keyer
Supernova CG 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 with alpha data.
DMA features
The industry's lowest-latency I/O, by design
Supernova CG 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
Supernova CG 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
Supernova CG 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
Supernova CG 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 Supernova CG’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.
Complete access to ancillary data
Supernova CG allows full read and write access to the VBI for standard definition (SD) video signals. In high definition (HD) 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
Building on 10+ years of Bluefish444 innovative hardware development, Supernova CG’s jitter circuit design surpasses the industry’s minimum standard for jitter and eye pattern measurements by almost twice the permitted tolerance.
High quality HD/SD Bypass relays
Supernova CG offers the highest quality 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
The MR2 Master Routing Resource within Supernova CG 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 Supernova CG’s outputs simultaneously.
Maintaining a 12-bit processing pipeline
A 12-bit image processing pipeline is standard within Supernova CG. 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!
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
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
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.
Single system multi-card support
The Bluefish444 SDK provides unrestricted synchronisation of multiple Supernova CG video cards per system with some developers using up to 5 cards per server to deliver 20 channels of SDI in a single box.
Thunderbolt expansion chassis compatibility
Popular PCI Express and Thunderbolt expansion chassis are designed to be light and portable. Supernova CG 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 third-party chassis visit the Bluefish444 Certified Solutions page.
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.
Supernova CG is compatible with DirectShow filters, the Media Looks MPlatform SDK for Windows and Video4Linux2 offering advanced features like multi-channel and multi-card I/O.
Supernova CG supports AMD DirectGMA and NVIDIA GPUDirect in order to reduce memory bandwidth and latency for processing video data on the GPU.
