Instruction manual
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Developer Information
Developer Information
Blackmagic 2K Format
The latest Blackmagic Design products use the new 3 Gb/s SDI video, which allows twice the data
rate of traditional HD-SDI video. We thought it would be a really nice idea to add 2K film support, via
this new 3 Gb/s SDI technology, so we could simplify feature film workflows. With the popularity of
Blackmagic Design editing systems worldwide, now thousands of people can benefit from a feature
film workflow revolution.
This information includes everything product developers need to know for building native 2K SDI
equipment. Of course, all Blackmagic products can be updated, so if the television industry adopts an
alternative SDI-based film standard, we can add support for that too!
Frame Structure
Transmitted at 23.98 or 24 frames per second as a Progressive Segmented Frame.
Active video is 2048 pixels wide by 1556 lines deep.
Total lines per frame : 1650
Words per active line. One word consists of a sample on both data streams:
3072 (2048*3/2). See following page.
Total active lines : 1556
Words per total line : 3750.
Fields per frame : 2, 825 lines each
Active lines located on lines 16-793 (field 1) and 841-1618 (field 2).
Transport Structure
Based on SMPTE S425M mapping structure 2.
Timing reference signals, line number and line CRC insertion is the same as above.
Optional ancillary data is inserted into both virtual interfaces.
At present, only audio data is included: as per standard HD audio insertion (SMPTE S299M) the audio
data packets are carried on data stream two and audio control packets are carried on data stream one.
During active video, 10-bit Red, Green and Blue data is sent in the following sequence:
Data stream1: Green_1, Red_1, Green_2, Green_3, Red_3, Green_4,…,Green_n-1, Red_n-1, Green_n.
Data stream 2: Blue_1, Red_2, Blue_2, Blue_3, Red_4, Blue_4, …,Blue_n-1, Red_n, Blue_n.
Diagrams on the following page show the vertical timing details with line numbers and Field, Vertical and
Horizontal bits for the Timing Reference Signal codes.
Final diagram shows the data stream formats around the optional ancillary data section of the horizontal
line. Note that each active pixel takes up three samples.