UltraStudio Mini 12G

UltraStudio Mini 12G is a new family of compact video capture and playback solutions for computers featuring Thunderbolt. 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 as well as a dedicated 12G-SDI monitoring output. The Replay model also supports live action replay features in DaVinci Resolve. All models work with 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 Blackmagic 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. 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 play back 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 Features in DaVinci Resolve!

The Cut page in DaVinci Resolve features powerful new capabilities including a media player, editing, and replay functionality. DaVinci Resolve supports almost all video file formats, allowing you to play virtually any files provided by your clients.

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 in a multiview display.

New On Air controls allow the key signal to trigger the downstream keyer on a video mixer, enabling broadcast playback automation with a single button. DaVinci Resolve can even automatically add a stinger transition. It is an excellent solution for news production and replay!

Ultra-Fast Thunderbolt Connection

All UltraStudio Mini models feature a high-speed Thunderbolt 4 connection that provides video capture and playback as well as power over a single cable.

Thunderbolt 4 provides enormous data bandwidth, sufficient for handling high resolutions, greater bit depths, and advanced framebuffer formats such as 4:2:2:4 and 4:4:4:4. It even 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 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 so that the video is not keyed into the video mixer until replay begins.

An additional 12G-SDI output is dedicated to monitoring, providing an always-active output for setting up your next replay. There is also a 12G-SDI video input, which is perfect for monitoring the live multiview signal from a video mixer.

You can even process broadcast graphics or perform AI processing on a live video signal because the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G is bidirectional!

Supports 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 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 with RGB pixels at full 10-bit precision are automatically converted to YUV 4:2:2:4 video on both the fill and key outputs.

These two SDI signals can then be connected to a live production video mixer and keyed over video. The key signal allows transparent elements within graphics to be seamlessly composited.

All of this makes the UltraStudio Mini 12G ideal for broadcast graphics and stinger transitions!

Simultaneous Capture and Playback!

UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G uses the same Desktop Video software used by our popular DeckLink capture cards. This driver supports simultaneous, real-time bidirectional transfer of video data to and from the computer.

Latency is extremely low, allowing you to capture video data from the SDI input to your computer while simultaneously sending video data from the computer to the SDI outputs.

This enables powerful workflows where the computer functions as a processing engine. Imagine using the computer as a keyer or creating broadcast graphics over a live input signal. You can even overlay exciting new AI-processed imagery 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, so you are not limited to 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 only 10-bit uncompressed video ensures that every image is a pixel-perfect copy of the original SDI source, allowing you to always work at the highest possible 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 love.

You can perform live internet streaming with Open Broadcaster. UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G is perfect for use with DaVinci Resolve for broadcast editing and color correction.

UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G can capture and play back simultaneously, allowing you to use DaVinci Resolve’s live color grading features to capture video, apply color correction, and output the result live and in real time.

You can also use other editing applications including Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Premiere Pro, and more. You can even create stunning visual effects with Fusion, After Effects, and Photoshop.

Use Powerful Broadcast Graphics Tools

When creating broadcast graphics and titles, you want to use tools that graphic designers are already familiar with, allowing them to achieve maximum creativity 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 VFX compositing tool featuring 2D and 3D environments, hundreds of effects, and much more. Fusion can also be downloaded and used free of charge with DaVinci Resolve.

You can use the included Blackmagic Media Express software to record and play back video files that can be loaded 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 the full range of HD and Ultra HD video standards, making them ideal for broadcast applications worldwide.

When operating in 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.

When working with 3G-SDI sources, you can switch between Level A and Level B.

Because it works with all major video standards and most video software, UltraStudio Mini is an ideal solution for broadcasters. The 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 direct hardware support for capture and playback, Blackmagic Media Express is 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, ProRes, DVCPRO, and MJPEG file formats.

It is an excellent solution for capturing footage from older broadcast decks for archiving.

Because flash-based storage performance can vary significantly between different brands, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is also included with UltraStudio Mini. This allows you to check the speed of your storage media and view results showing the number of frames per second supported across various television standards.

Upgrade to Blackmagic Media Player for Even More Features

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

It is designed for broadcast graphics, as well as replay to live production video mixers and large broadcast systems.

In addition to video, 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, a dedicated 12G-SDI and HDMI monitoring output, and extended desktop output on separate 12G-SDI and HDMI outputs.

It even includes balanced XLR audio output for monitoring audio through external speakers.