Avermedia DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK Duo (C129)---- 4 port card!

**AndrewSeabrook** · 01-29-2013, 04:17 AM

Hi all. Just to let you know that I have successfully installed and used the Avermedia DarkCrystal HD Capture SDK Duo (C129) into my Dell XPS 8500 with VB 2.27.

Full specs on the card can be found here: http://solutions.avermedia.com/en/pr...apture-sdk-duo

I have to compliment Avermedia for their help and support in supplying me with a review unit and for their very responsive support.

So to the nitty gritty. Installing the card was simple. The card itself is quite rigid, thanks to a cover plate which I think acts as a heat sink. The card has simultaneous 4 inputs, 2 HD and 2 SD. Physically that is provided by two HDMI sockets and a DVI connector with a solid breakout loom. (two components sets, 2 S-video and 2 composite. There are 4 audio inputs per cable set. The loom is divided into white and black sets).

I had to download the drivers as the review unit contained only the card and cables. On installing, it caused a blue screen, but after discussion with support we established that the issue was a conflict with another capture card on the PC. Once this was removed all installed correctly. Avermedia claims that up to 8 cards can be installed and operated in one PC. I cannot confirm this at the moment but have seen pictures of VB recognising 2 cards giving a total of 8 inputs.

The camera 1 module seemed to be the best for the HDMI input. My Panasonic outputs interlaced so I needed to use the deinterlacing in that module. However the camera 2 module was fine with SD sources. Interestingly VB recognised the HD input but reports the sources as Composite or S-video. I have seen the same behaviour with other cards. Choosing Composite gives you the component input, and S-video the HDMI.

I was able to change the global resolution of VB from HD to various SD setting without issue, and even more impressive was able to use a mix of camera and mix of input resolutions without issue. I can see a real use for this card for those people who don't have the budget to buy 4 matched HD cameras, or when a SD camera will more than do the job ( ie. a scoreboard or shot clock camera).

I have also done a quick test with vMix. Both video and audio input is recognised straight away with the audio coming in over the HDMI input perfectly as well as the normal RCA inputs.

I have a lot more testing to do in the lab, and then will take it into the field in March when our basketball season kicks off....

I will also try it in a Sonnet enclosure and Thunderbolt. More reports to come...

Meantime, here is a demo video I knocked together. Please ignore the bad commentary and the squished formatting of some of the footage....I messed up in post! Enjoy...http://www.mindittv.net/cms1/