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. The UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G captures from 12G-SDI and HDMI devices. Completing the range is the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G, which supports both 12G-SDI capture and playback, with two independent 12G-SDI fill and key outputs plus a dedicated 12G-SDI monitoring output. The Replay model also supports the 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 older broadcast equipment into popular editing software or the included free Media Express software. You can even capture from game 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. 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. Simply connect the input to the multiview output of a production switcher, then use the fill and key outputs to perform replays with automatic stinger transitions.

News Editing and Replay in DaVinci Resolve

The Cut page in DaVinci Resolve includes powerful new features for media playback, editing and replay. DaVinci Resolve supports almost all video file formats, allowing you to play back virtually any files provided by your customers.

DaVinci Resolve can play video files containing an alpha channel for broadcast graphics and output them as 10-bit SDI fill and key signals. The new multi-source viewer allows you to visually browse media, displaying all time-matched clips on the multiview screen.

New “On Air” controls allow the key signal to activate a downstream keyer on a production switcher, enabling broadcast playback automation with a single button. DaVinci Resolve can even add an automatic stinger transition, making it an excellent solution for news and live replay workflows.

Ultra-Fast Thunderbolt Connection

All UltraStudio Mini models feature a fast Thunderbolt 4 connection that provides video capture, playback and power over a single cable.

Thunderbolt 4 provides the bandwidth required to handle high resolutions, deeper 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. Because 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 provides both capture and playback capabilities, all through a single Thunderbolt connection.

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

An additional dedicated 12G-SDI output is assigned for monitoring, giving you an always-active output for preparing the next replay. There is also a 12G-SDI video input, which is ideal for monitoring the live multiview output of a production switcher.

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

Independent Fill and Key Outputs

The UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G and Mini Monitor 12G feature dual 12G-SDI video outputs that can connect to live production switchers, 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 at full 10-bit precision into YUV 4:2:2:4 video across the fill and key outputs.

These two SDI signals can then be connected to a live production switcher and keyed over the video. The key signal allows transparent elements in graphics to be seamlessly combined with the background video.

This makes UltraStudio Mini 12G ideal for broadcast graphics and stinger transitions.

Simultaneous Capture and Playback

The UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G uses the same Desktop Video software used with popular DeckLink capture cards. This 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 opens up 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 signal, or even overlay new AI-powered processed images onto live video.

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 the flexibility to work with multiple file formats.

10-bit video provides four times the color precision of 8-bit video and is widely used in television production. Working with 10-bit uncompressed video ensures that your images remain a pixel-perfect copy of the original SDI source, delivering the highest possible quality.

This provides 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 live stream using Open Broadcaster. 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 features to capture video, apply color correction and output the result live in real time.

You can also use other editing software including Final Cut Pro, Media Composer and Premiere Pro. For advanced visual effects, UltraStudio Mini works with Fusion, After Effects and Photoshop.

Powerful Broadcast Graphics Tools

When creating broadcast graphics and titles, you want to use tools that graphic designers already know, allowing them to work creatively without having 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 is also available as part of DaVinci Resolve.

The included Blackmagic Media Express software can be used to capture and playback video to files that can then be loaded into Fusion, After Effects or Photoshop.

Supports 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 standards up to 2160p60.

You can also switch between Level A and Level B when working with 3G-SDI sources.

Because UltraStudio Mini works with a wide range of video standards and most video software, it is an ideal solution for broadcasters. The software can also be updated to support new television standards in the future.

Media Express Software Included

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

Media Express supports recording and playback of uncompressed YUV 4:2:2 QuickTime, AVI and DPX, as well as ProRes, DVCPRO and MJPEG file formats.

It is ideal for archiving footage from older broadcast decks. Since flash-based storage speeds can vary significantly between different brands, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is also included with UltraStudio Mini.

This allows you to test your storage media and determine the frame rates supported across different television standards.

Upgrade to Blackmagic Media Player for Even More Features

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

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

The Thunderbolt connection also provides power to your computer.

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