Grass Valley FIRECODER Blu is an H.264 - MPEG2 compatible hardware transcoder board which provides high speed encoding of video files for use in Blu ray authoring.
Firecoder Blu can be used directly from within Edius version 5.1 via the Burn to Disc export module
or as an export plug-in.
When used as a standalone encoder your system is free for you to continue video editing in your
video editing software and your video editing hardware boards will continue function as normal.
High Performance and High Quality Hardware Assisted Encoding for your post production workflow
FIRECODER Blu helps meet the demand for creation of Blu ray discs by providing up to 4-5x faster than real-time encode of Blu ray files.
A single PCI Express x1 form factor board, FIRECODER Blu provides accelerated encoding of Blu ray compatible video sourced from any number of video applications including our own EDIUS non-linear editing software.
Output may be directly to a Blu ray disc, DVD disc or to a Blu ray or DVD compatible file for additional Blu Ray or DVD authoring.
Additionally, FIRECODER Blu transcodes between AVCHD and HDV compatible MPEG2 formats. It supports 1080i and 720p as well as native 24p Blu ray.

Included FIRECODER WRITER software provides basic Blu ray and DVD authoring tools including creation of titles and chapters from Canopus HQ (avi), HDV(m2t) and MPEG2 PS (mpg, m2p) source files.
Grass Valley Software/Hardware Warranty
Firecoder Blu Feature Set
Faster than real-time encoding of Blu ray compatible video
HD source materials: 2X faster than real time
SD source materials 4-5X faster than real time
Direct writing to Blu-ray disk or output to file for additional authoring
Transcodes between H.264- and HDV-compatible MPEG-2 formats
Supports 1080i and 720p as well as native 24p Blu-ray formats
Up- and downconversion of standard- and high-definition (SD and HD) sources
Bundled FIRECODER WRITER software provides basic Blu-ray and DVD authoring tools including creation of chapters from these source files:
Canpous HQ/Canopus DV
MPEG-2 transport stream
MPEG-2 program stream (HDV compatible)
H.264 (AVCHD compatible)
Encodes files direct from EDIUS 5.1 nonlinear editing software timeline
Package Contents:
FIRECODER Blu (HMX-C1) PCI Express x1 bus card
FIRECODER WRITER installation CD-ROM
User Manual
Technical Specifications
| Bus Interface |
PCI Express Rev. 1.1 x1 lane |
| Input Formats (FIRECODER WRITER) |
Canpous HQ/Canopus DV MPEG-2 transport stream MPEG-2 program stream (HDV compatible) H.264 (AVCHD compatible) |
| Output Formats (FIRECODER WRITER) |
BD-R/BD-RE writing: H.264, MPEG-4 AVC DVD writing: MPEG-2 File output: H.264 (MPEG-2 transport stream), MPEG-2 program stream, MPEG-2 transport stream (HDV) |
| Supported Encoding Resolutions (Hardware) |
DVD/Blu ray creation 1920x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, ** 1440x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, ** 1280x1080/59.94i, 23.98p, 50i *, ** 720x480/59.94i 720x576/50i
HDV file output 1920x1080/59.94i, 50i 1440x1080/59.94i, 50i 1280x1080/59.94i, 50i 720x480/59.94i 720x576/50i
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| Power Requirements |
+12V: 1.75A, +3.3V: 0.15A |
| Physical Dimensions |
111.15 x 167.65 mm (4.375 x 6.600 in.) (HxW) |
| Regulatory Compliance |
CE, FCC CLASS B, C-Tick |
| Minimum System Requirements |
PC/AT compatible machine with an Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz or higher. 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended).
BD-R/RW and/or DVD+/-R/RW drive (USB or serial ATA), for Blu-ray and DVD creation. One free PCI Express x1 (Rev. 1.1) bus slot. 500 MB or more space required for software installation. Drive with serial ATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 rpm drive or faster for capturing. A graphics card with 1024×768 dpi resolution 32 bit or higher color (must support DirectX 9.0c). CD-ROM drive is required for software installation. Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional (SP2 or later, 32-bit). Windows Vista (SP1 or later, 32-bit or 64-bit), including the following operating systems: Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Ultimate
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This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 25 November, 2008.