Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G

UltraStudio Mini - Powerful Thunderbolt Capture and Playback

UltraStudio Mini 12G is a new family of compact video capture and playback solutions for Thunderbolt computers. Each of the three models is designed for extremely high quality broadcast use. The UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G model plays back to 12G-SDI and HDMI. The UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G model captures from 12G-SDI and HDMI. Completing the family, the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G model supports both 12G-SDI capture and playback, with dual independent 12G-SDI fill and key outputs, plus a separate dedicated 12G-SDI monitoring output. The replay model also supports live action replay features in DaVinci Resolve. All models work in SD, HD and Ultra HD video standards up to 2160p60.

Three Powerful UltraStudio Models

• UltraStudio Mini Recorder 12G - This input only model captures from 12G-SDI and HDMI in SD, HD and Ultra HD. It's perfect for live streaming using software such as Open Broadcaster. Or archive from old broadcast decks into popular edit software or the free included Media Express software. You can even record from game consoles.
• UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G - This output only model plays back to 12G-SDI and HDMI in SD, HD and Ultra HD. It's the perfect solution for monitoring playback from popular edit software. Dual 12G-SDI outputs support fill and key for broadcast graphics, automatically converting the alpha channel in graphics to a key output.
• UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G - This 12G-SDI only model can both capture and play back, at the same time. This makes it great for using computers as real time AI processors or for live action replay with DaVinci Resolve. Connect the input to your switcher multi-view. Then replay with auto stingers using the fill and key outputs.

Get News Editing and Replay in DaVinci Resolve
The DaVinci Resolve cut page has exciting editing, media player and replay features. DaVinci Resolve handles virtually any video file format, so you can play any files your client gives you. For broadcast graphics, DaVinci Resolve can play video files that have an alpha channel, and they will be output as a 10-bit SDI fill and key. Plus the new multi source viewer allows visual media browsing, so that any clips that match in time will be displayed in a multi-view. New "on air" controls allow the key output to enable the downstream keyer in a switcher, so a single button can automate the play-out to air. DaVinci can even add an automatic stinger. It's the perfect solution for news and replay.

Extremely Fast Thunderbolt Connection
All UltraStudio Mini models include fast Thunderbolt 4 with video capture and playback plus power, all over a single Thunderbolt cable. Thunderbolt 4 provides massive data speeds, giving enough bandwidth to handle high resolutions, deeper bit depths and advanced frame buffer formats such as 4:2:2:4 and 4:4:4:4. It even supports real time conversion of alpha channels out to 10-bit 12G-SDI fill and key outputs. UltraStudio Mini uses the DeckLink API, so almost all video software works. Plus the Thunderbolt link is bidirectional, so the UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G model can capture, process and output video in real time. This means computers can be used as real time graphics or AI processors.

Connections and Features for Replay and Processing
The UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G model is more powerful because it has both capture and playback. All with a single Thunderbolt connection. There’s dedicated 12G-SDI fill and key outputs that are connected to a switcher’s downstream keyer which can be muted so video won't key on the switcher until the replay starts. An extra 12G-SDI output is dedicated to monitoring so you have an output that’s always active so you can setup the next replay. There’s also a 12G-SDI video input that’s perfect for live monitoring the switcher multi-view. You could even render broadcast graphics or AI processing over a live video input because UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G is bi‑directional.

Supports Independent Fill and Key Outputs
With dual 12G-SDI video outputs, UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G and Mini Monitor 12G can connect into live production switchers so graphics can be overlaid with transparency. Internally, there's hardware support for both RGBA and YUVA frame buffers. With RGBA graphics, video frames will automatically transcode the RGB pixels to YUV 4:2:2:4 video on both fill and key outputs in full 10-bit precision. The two SDI outputs are then connected to a live production switcher where they can be keyed over video. The key output ensures you get smooth blending of the transparent elements in the images. This all means that UltraStudio Mini 12G is ideal for broadcast graphics and stingers.

Simultaneous Capture and Playback
UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G uses the same Desktop Video software that's used in our popular DeckLink capture cards. This driver supports simultaneous real time bidirectional transfer of video data to and from the computer. Plus the latency is extremely low. What this means is you can capture image data into the computer from the SDI input, while at the same time, send image data from the computer to the SDI outputs. This lets you create some amazing solutions where the computer is a processing engine. Imagine using the computer as a keyer, or generating broadcast graphics over the live input. Or even exciting new AI based processing overlaid on live video.

Get True 10-Bit Broadcast Video Quality
UltraStudio Mini is designed to support the highest quality video. Most software has support for capture and playback to all popular video formats such as Apple ProRes, DNxHD or even 10-bit uncompressed, so you’re never locked into a single file format. 10-bit is the most commonly used television standard as colors can be represented with 4 times the precision of 8-bit video. Only working with 10-bit uncompressed video will ensure all images are a perfect pixel for pixel clone of the original source, so you’re always working at the absolute highest quality possible. This means you get the sharpest green screen keying, seamless VFX compositions and superior color correction.

Works With All Popular Video Software
UltraStudio Mini 12G supports all popular video software, allowing you to work with the software you already know and love. You can live stream with Open Broadcaster. UltraStudio Mini Monitor 12G is perfect for use with DaVinci Resolve for broadcast editing and color correction work. UltraStudio Mini Replay 12G will even capture and playback at the same time. So you can use the live grading feature in DaVinci Resolve to capture video, apply color correction and then output it all live and in real time. Or use other editing software 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 will want to use the same tools graphic designers are already familiar with, so you get the most creativity, with no retraining required. UltraStudio Mini works with Fusion, which is the visual effects software integrated into DaVinci Resolve, as well as Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. Fusion Studio is a powerful node based compositing VFX tool with 2D and 3D environments, hundreds of effects and more. Plus you can download and use Fusion free of charge in DaVinci Resolve. You can use the included Blackmagic Media Express software to capture and play back video into files that can be loaded into Fusion, After Effects or Photoshop.

Supports All SD, HD and Ultra HD Standards up to 2160p60
UltraStudio Mini 12G models all feature multi-rate 12G-SDI and HDMI connections that support all SD, HD and Ultra HD video standards, making it ideal for worldwide broadcast video use. When working in SD, UltraStudio Mini 12G supports 525i59.94 and 625i50 standards. In HD, it supports 720p, 1080i, and 1080p standards, up to 1080p60. In Ultra HD you get support for all standards up to 2160p60. For working with 3G-SDI sources, you can switch between level A and level B. UltraStudio Mini is the ideal solution for broadcasters, because it will work in all video standards and with most video software. Plus Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini can be software updated to add new television standards later.

Includes Media Express Software
If you're using video software that doesn't have direct hardware support for capture and playback, then Blackmagic Media Express is the perfect solution, plus it comes free with every UltraStudio Mini. Media Express lets you capture and playback in uncompressed YUV 4:2:2 QuickTime, AVI and DPX, ProRes, DVCPRO and MJPEG file formats. It’s a fantastic solution to capture from old broadcast decks for archiving. Because the speeds of flash based storage media can vary a lot between brands, UltraStudio Mini also includes Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. This means you can check the speed of media disks, with the results displayed in frames per second at various television standards.

Upgrade to Blackmagic Media Player for Even More Features
If you need more features then the Blackmagic Media Player has all the features of UltraStudio Mini plus a whole lot more. It’s designed for broadcast graphics or replay into live production switchers and large broadcast systems. In addition to video, it also includes 10G Ethernet, which allows you to connect your computer to the network and access network storage at high speeds. Plus the Thunderbolt connection will power your computer. It has 12G-SDI in, dual 12G-SDI outputs for fill and key, dedicated 12G-SDI and HDMI outputs for monitoring and an extended desktop output on separate 12G-SDI and HDMI outputs. There’s even balanced XLR audio out for monitoring with external speakers.

Develop Custom Solutions with the SDK
If you want to build a custom solution for your UltraStudio Mini, then you can download a free advanced developer SDK for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The developer SDK makes it easy to develop your own custom solutions for in house use, or to sell to other broadcasters. The Desktop Video SDK also provides low level control of hardware when you need flexibility, as well as high level interfaces which are a lot easier to use when you need to perform more common tasks. Thousands of manufacturers and developers use DeckLink and UltraStudio interfaces, so you can be confident that the Desktop Video SDK will provide a solid foundation for developing commercial quality broadcast solutions.

Use UltraStudio Mini In Your Solutions
If you are a manufacturer interested in using UltraStudio Minis, then you can contact our OEM team. The first step is to download the Desktop Video SDK, which includes the API and example code to help you get started. If you require technical assistance, our developer support engineers are available to help, or you can visit us at trade shows like NAB or IBC. Our developer support engineers can offer suggestions and help you with your code. Once your solution is working, you can contact us to arrange bulk purchase discounts. If you only need lower volume, you can simply buy UltraStudio Mini through our global reseller network.