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Purpose

FIRECODER Blu logo

Purpose Icon


Accelerated Blu-ray Encoder and More
Based on the PCI Express form factor, our FIRECODER Blu board provides accelerated encoding of Blu-ray compatible video sourced from any number of video applications, including our own EDIUS nonlinear editing software. You can then output its results directly to a Blu-ray disc or to a Blu-ray compatible file for additional authoring.

The FIRECODER Blu board also lets you transcode between H.264 and MPEG-2 formats; it supports 1080i and 720p as well as native 24p Blu-ray formats. It supports up- and downconversion of standard- and high-definition (SD and HD) sources. And it encodes HD source materials 2X faster than real time—and SD source materials 4-5X faster than real time.

The board also includes our FIRECODER WRITER software, a collection of basic Blu-ray and DVD authoring tools. Among other capabilities, these tools let you create chapters from Canopus HQ source files.

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FIRECODER Blu: Key Features


  • 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 created by EDIUS 5 nonlinear editing software*

* Future release


FIRECODER WRITER Software for Transcoding and Authoring
FIRECODER WRITER Software - Click to Enlarge

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FIRECODER Blu: Specifications


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

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

* Clips will be downcoverted when outputting to DVD
** 23.98p only supports Blu-ray

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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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Service and Support

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Get FIRECODER Blu
FIRECODER Blu box

  • Includes Hardware:
FIRECODER Blu board
FIRECODER Blu Board
(PCI Express)

FIRECODER Blu in Action
Document Library (PDF)
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