Finally an affordable solution to HD monitoring and capturing
 

Unbelieveable low prices on these new cards:

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

Is this something we need/can use with the A1?
 

I'm wondering if these cards give A1 users anything we don't get by just using FireWire connectivity? I'm not asking to challenge, but to understand. What benefits are to be had using this card? Thanks!

Well the biggest one for me, at least, would be the ability to monitor my work on a big screen TV while editing.

A computer with a PCIe slot is required,
so an older model computer with a PCI slot will not work with these newer cards. Just an FWI.

Yes, I'm aware of that. The point is that, up till now, this kind of functionality cost $1000+

To capture into that card, you would need to use an HV20 as a deck since it has HDMI output, yes?

That is a great price for that card — Blackmagic makes excellent products.

Apples and oranges.

My Kona will up-convert to HD, down-convert to SD, transcode, capture 10bit uncompressed HD, 2K, and capture and play-back all available frame rates.

The Intensity won't even play-back that wonderful 24p footage you shoot with your Canon.

What about the Matrox MXO? I've read that it's the best option for MacBook Pro users, allowing one to monitor HDV on an Apple Cinema Display. Cost is about $1,000.

That would be for playback only, with no capture option,
and again you are limited to the frame rates that are supported.

That just changed today, David. They have released updated software that supports the HV20.

-gb-

So where does this fit in if you are are using Aspect HD? Cineform does not support the decklink cards so when working on a Cineform project you are still limited. However the literature on the Intensity Pro says it accelerates Premiere Pro and has live monitor output. But using what? Premiere HDV presets? Special decklink presets? And if so, using what codec?

I am psyched to see this little card but wonder how it realistically fits into my Cineform workflow.

Peace.

there is zero benefit to captuing unless you are going live. The MiniDv has already been compressed and the intensity card can do nothing more than transfer the compressed image just as well as the firewire already does.
It still can be a benefit as a monitor output.