I am considering converting some archived DV to HD, but most of the higher quality convertors output the HD as HD-SDI. Will Edius Broadcast accept HD-SDI direct to the timeline, or is some conversion necessary first ? I know that Edius can also do the conversion, but the results are only so-so in my opinion.

With the appropriate hardware you can capture an HD-SDI stream. Edius will transcode to chosen codec on the fly. Alternaively you can capture the native DV via firewire (OHCI) and then edit in an HD timeline

as far as HD codecs go, the Canpus HQ codec is top notch

What hardware are you recommending that can transcode it on the fly?

I've had an Edius SP system for a couple of years - beautiful rig for the most part, but I can not get HD component or HDSDI into it (HD through firewire only). I can output HD component and HDSDI with an AJA box.

Are you suggesting that you can stick an Aja or Blackmagic card in the system and get Edius to recognize it on input? That would be the first I've heard of it...

I guess that this will be an expensive solution.

EDIUS HD (http://www.canopus.com/products/EDIUSHD_DES.php)