Whether you are editing uncompressed or for DTV output, signal quality is imperative. NewTek's SDI option allows you to send VT's pristine D1 video output in real-time in an absolutely lossless, uncompressed state to any SDI-capable capture device or tape deck using a single coaxial cable. For users of Digital Betacam or Digital-S equipment, this is the perfect solution, providing a direct digital connection between your source or master tapes and VT. The VT SDI specifications include:

• 3/4-length PCI card (requires free PCI slot)
• 1 SMPTE 259M Serial Digital Video in
• 1 SMPTE 259M Serial Digital Video out

Note: digital audio currently not enabled

If you need to send your video to an off-line graphics house for compositing, or simply to another VT for your co-worker to use, SDI offers two benefits: video is never re-compressed and your images are sent via a single coaxial cable, instead of a longer component run of three cables. Even if the source material was acquired in a compressed format, such as DV, you benefit from SDI by eliminating any re-compression until you are ready to print to master.

VT's SDI option is a single PCI card to be installed in a PCI slot adjacent to the VT card. The VT SDI Interface uses SMPTE 259M video in and out (EAS/EBU audio capability is present but is not yet activated). The SDI card allows for Reference In and Reference Out in addition to SDI I/O BNC Connectors.