Inputting and Outputting Media > Clip Input/Output Using HSDL Devices >

# About HSDL Input and Output

HSDL (High Speed Data Link) is a software-based transport mechanism for moving data between applications. It encapsulates 2K film frames in a video format for transfer. Put another way, HSDL is essentially another video input/output timing, without audio. As a result, the need to read header information for each file is eliminated. Also, frames can pass through most HD devices, such as routers, transparently.

Using HSDL allows you to work on 2K frames in Smoke in collaboration with users on other HSDL-compliant workstations. With transfer rates ranging from 14.99 to 19.13 fps, HSDL I/O represents up to a five-fold increase in transfer speed versus the Image Import/Export process, using existing infrastructure (assuming your facility is HD-ready). HSDL also enables remote control of the HSDL device connected to your workstation using an RS-422 cable.

Although images transfer as video signals, they are converted to raw RGB data once they arrive at their destination with no loss of information.

HSDL is compliant with the SMTPE 292M HD signal transport mechanisms.

Clip input and output using an HSDL device workflow:

1. Make sure all hardware devices involved in the HSDL I/O process are properly set up and configured. See Setting Up Hardware for HSDL Input and Output.
2. Edit the software initialisation configuration file to ensure the proper devices and settings are initialized on application start-up. See Configuring Software for HSDL Input and Output.
3. Do one of the following:
   - Input clips.
   - Output clips.
4. Carry out additional steps, depending on the HSDL I/O process that you are performing.
   - Monitor clips that are being input or output while processing, unless there is no hardware GVO path. See Monitoring Video During Clip Input and Output Operations.
   - Generate proxies and parity.
   - Set and modify Engineering menu options.

NoteMost of these procedures are similar to the ones described in About Clip Input and Output Using a VTR.