UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G

UltraStudio Mini 12G

UltraStudio Mini 12G is a new family of compact video capture and playback solutions for Thunderbolt-enabled computers. All three models are designed for high-quality broadcast applications. The UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G provides playback to 12G-SDI and HDMI devices, while the UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G captures from 12G-SDI and HDMI devices. Completing the family, the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G supports both 12G-SDI capture and playback, with two independent 12G-SDI fill and key outputs and a dedicated 12G-SDI monitoring output. The Replay model also supports live action replay features in DaVinci Resolve. All models support SD, HD, and Ultra HD video standards up to 2160p60.

UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G

This input-only model captures from 12G-SDI and HDMI devices in SD, HD, and Ultra HD. It is perfect for live internet streaming using software such as Open Broadcaster. It is also ideal for archiving footage from legacy broadcast equipment into popular editing software or the included free Media Express software. You can even capture from gaming consoles!

UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G

This output-only model provides playback to 12G-SDI and HDMI devices in SD, HD, and Ultra HD formats. It is an excellent solution for monitoring playback from popular editing software. Its dual 12G-SDI outputs provide fill and key support for broadcast graphics, automatically converting the alpha channel in graphics into a key signal.

UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G

This 12G-SDI model can capture and playback simultaneously! This makes it ideal for using computers as real-time AI processing engines or for live action replay with DaVinci Resolve. Connect the input to the multiview output of a video mixer, then use the fill and key outputs to perform replays with automatic stinger transitions!

News Editing and Replay in DaVinci Resolve!

The DaVinci Resolve Cut page features powerful new capabilities including a media player, editing, and replay. DaVinci Resolve supports almost all video file formats, allowing you to play virtually any file provided by your clients. It can also play video files with alpha channels for broadcast graphics and output them as 10-bit SDI fill and key signals.

The new multi-source viewer lets you visually browse media, displaying all time-matched clips in the multiview. New “on air” controls allow the key signal to activate the downstream keyer on a video mixer, enabling broadcast playback automation with a single button. DaVinci can even add an automatic stinger transition! It is an excellent solution for news and replay applications.

Ultra-Fast Thunderbolt Connection

All UltraStudio Mini models feature a high-speed Thunderbolt 4 connection that provides video capture, playback, and power over a single cable. Thunderbolt 4 delivers the bandwidth required to handle high resolutions, higher bit depths, and advanced framebuffer formats such as 4:2:2:4 and 4:4:4:4.

It also supports real-time conversion of alpha channel output into 10-bit 12G-SDI fill and key signals. UltraStudio Mini uses the DeckLink API, making it compatible with virtually all video software. Since the Thunderbolt connection is bidirectional, the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G can capture, process, and output video in real time. This allows computers to be used as real-time graphics or AI processing engines!

Connections and Features for Replay and Processing

The UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G is more powerful because it supports both capture and playback, all through a single Thunderbolt connection.

It features dedicated 12G-SDI fill and key outputs that connect to the downstream keyer of a video mixer. These outputs can be muted until replay begins, preventing the video from being keyed into the mixer prematurely.

An additional dedicated 12G-SDI output is assigned for monitoring, giving you an always-active output for preparing the next replay. The 12G-SDI video input is also ideal for monitoring the video mixer’s multiview output.

Because the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G is bidirectional, you can even process broadcast graphics or perform AI processing on a live video signal.

Supports Independent Fill and Key Outputs

With dual 12G-SDI video outputs, the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G and Mini Monitor 12G can connect to live production video mixers, allowing broadcast graphics to be overlaid using transparency.

There is built-in hardware support for both RGBA and YUVA framebuffers. When processing RGBA graphics, video frames automatically convert RGB pixels with full 10-bit precision into YUV 4:2:2:4 video on the fill and key outputs.

The two SDI signals can then be connected to a live production video mixer and keyed over the video. The key signal ensures that transparent elements in the graphics are seamlessly composited. This makes UltraStudio Mini 12G ideal for broadcast graphics and stinger transitions.

Capture and Playback Simultaneously!

UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G uses the same Desktop Video software used with popular DeckLink capture cards. The driver supports real-time bidirectional transfer of video data to and from the computer simultaneously, with extremely low latency.

This means you can capture video from the SDI input to your computer while simultaneously sending video from your computer to the SDI outputs.

This enables powerful workflows where the computer acts as a real-time processing engine. You can use the computer as a keyer, create broadcast graphics over a live input signal, or even overlay AI-processed visuals onto live video.

Get True 10-bit Broadcast Quality

UltraStudio Mini is designed to support the highest-quality video. Most software supports recording and playback of popular video formats including Apple ProRes, DNxHD, and even 10-bit uncompressed video, giving you flexibility rather than locking you into a single file format.

10-bit is the most widely used television format because it provides four times the precision of 8-bit video. Working with 10-bit uncompressed video ensures that every image is a pixel-perfect copy of the original SDI source, allowing you to maintain the highest possible image quality.

This delivers cleaner green-screen keying, smoother VFX compositing, and better color correction.

Works with All Popular Video Software

UltraStudio Mini 12G supports all popular video software, allowing you to work with the applications you already know and use. You can use Open Broadcaster for live internet streaming.

UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G is ideal for broadcast editing and color correction workflows in DaVinci Resolve. The UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G can capture and playback simultaneously, allowing you to use DaVinci Resolve’s live color grading feature to capture video, apply color correction, and output the result live in real time.

You can also use other editing applications including Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, and Premiere Pro. For visual effects, you can work with Fusion, After Effects, and Photoshop.

Powerful Broadcast Graphics Tools

When creating broadcast graphics and titles, it is useful to work with tools that graphic designers already know, avoiding the need to learn an entirely new workflow.

UltraStudio Mini works with Adobe After Effects and Photoshop, as well as Fusion, the visual effects software integrated into DaVinci Resolve.

Fusion Studio is a powerful node-based compositing and VFX tool featuring 2D and 3D environments, hundreds of effects, and much more. Fusion can also be downloaded and used free with DaVinci Resolve.

You can use the included Blackmagic Media Express software to capture and playback video for files that can be imported into Fusion, After Effects, or Photoshop.

Supports All SD, HD, and Ultra HD Standards up to 2160p60!

All UltraStudio Mini 12G models feature multi-rate 12G-SDI and HDMI connections supporting a wide range of HD and Ultra HD video standards, making them ideal for broadcast applications worldwide.

For SD, UltraStudio Mini 12G supports 525i59.94 and 625i50 standards.

For HD, it supports 720p, 1080i, and 1080p standards up to 1080p60.

For Ultra HD, it supports all standards up to 2160p60.

You can also switch between Level A and Level B when working with 3G-SDI sources. With support for a wide range of video standards and compatibility with most video software, UltraStudio Mini is an ideal solution for broadcasters. The Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini software can also be updated to support new television standards in the future.

Media Express Software Included

If you are using video software without built-in hardware support for capture and playback, Blackmagic Media Express is an excellent solution and is included free with every UltraStudio Mini.

Media Express supports capture and playback in formats including uncompressed YUV 4:2:2 QuickTime, AVI and DPX, ProRes, DVCPRO, and MJPEG.

It is ideal for archiving footage from legacy broadcast decks. Since flash-based storage performance can vary significantly between different manufacturers, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test software is also included with UltraStudio Mini. This allows you to test storage disk performance and see results in frames per second across different television standards.

Upgrade to Blackmagic Media Player for Even More Features

If you need additional features, Blackmagic Media Player provides all the capabilities of UltraStudio Mini and much more.

It is designed for broadcast graphics, replay to live production video mixers, and large broadcast systems. In addition to video capabilities, it includes 10G Ethernet, allowing you to connect your computer to a network and access network storage at high speeds.

The Thunderbolt connection also provides power to your computer.

It features a 12G-SDI input, dual 12G-SDI outputs for fill and key signals, dedicated 12G-SDI and HDMI monitoring outputs, and extended desktop output on separate 12G-SDI and HDMI outputs. There is even a balanced XLR audio output for listening through external speakers.