Blackmagic Design announced the new UltraStudio Express HD, a compact high-speed capture and playback solution for Mac, Windows and Linux computers with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 connections. With both digital and analog connections, it’s perfect for archiving from old broadcast decks, or for editing with DaVinci Resolve. UltraStudio Express HD captures and plays back to 3G-SDI in all SD and HD video standards up to 1080p60. This new model also has analog video and audio inputs, HDMI output for monitoring and dual SDI outputs for fill and key playback.

UltraStudio Express HD includes fast USB4 with video capture and playback plus power, all over a single USB cable. It works with both USB4 and Thunderbolt connections, so customers can plug into the Mac, Windows and Linux computers they already use. USB4 provides massive data speeds, giving enough bandwidth to handle high resolutions, deeper bit depths and advanced frame buffer formats such as 4:2:2 and 4:4:4. UltraStudio Express HD uses the DeckLink API, so almost all video software works. Because UltraStudio Express HD is powered via USB, it can operate from laptop batteries, perfect for on location use.

UltraStudio Express HD 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 users are 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. This means customers get seamless VFX compositions and superior color correction.

UltraStudio Express HD supports all popular video software, allowing customers to work with the software customers already know and like. 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. Playing back via 3G-SDI, meanwhile, is perfect for use with DaVinci Resolve for broadcast editing and color correction work. Or use other editing software including Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Premiere Pro and more. Customers can even create stunning visual effects with Fusion, After Effects and Photoshop.

UltraStudio Express HD 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 customers can download and use Fusion free of charge in DaVinci Resolve. Customers 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.

UltraStudio Express HD includes 3G-SDI in and out, HDMI out for monitoring on TVs and projectors and analog YUV/NTSC/PAL video and balanced analog input for archiving from legacy analog broadcast tape decks. Plus the dual SDI outputs can switch to fill and key. When working in SD, UltraStudio Express HD supports 525i59.94 and 625i50 standards. In HD, it supports 720p, 1080i and 1080p standards, up to 1080p60. For working with 3G-SDI sources, customers can switch between level A and level B. UltraStudio Express HD also includes video reference for sync playback to broadcast systems, plus RS-422 remote.

The optional Teranex Mini Smart Panel adds front panel controls and LCD monitoring for UltraStudio Express HD. The easy to install design features push button controls and a bright color display so customers can preview video, see meters, timecode, format information and much more. The Teranex Mini Smart Panel is perfect when customers are out in the field or on set without external monitors, or even when they have multiple units mounted in equipment racks and just want to see what’s going through them all.

If customers want to build a custom solution for their UltraStudio Express, then customers can download a free advanced developer SDK for Mac, Windows and Linux. The developer SDK makes it easy to develop their 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 customers need flexibility, as well as high level interfaces which are a lot easier to use when customers need to perform more common tasks.

If customers are a manufacturer interested in using UltraStudio Express, then customers can contact our OEM team. Our developer support engineers can offer suggestions and help customers with their code. Once their solution is working, customers can contact us to arrange bulk purchase discounts. If customers only need lower volume, customers can simply buy UltraStudio Express through our global reseller network.

Blackmagic UltraStudio Express HD Features

• Broadcast-quality 10-bit video capture and playback.
• Works with all Mac, Windows and Linux computers with a high-speed USB4 connection.
• 3G-SDI, analog component and composite video inputs, analog audio inputs.
• Supports all common SD and HD video standards up to 1080p60.
• Uncompressed and compressed 10-bit 4:2:2 YUV or RGB quality.
• HDMI output for monitoring on televisions and projectors.
• Dual link 3G-SDI outputs with simultaneous fill and key.
• RS-422 deck control and reference input for archiving from broadcast decks.
• Optional Teranex Mini Smart Panel with LCD for video preview, audio meters and timecode.
• Works with all popular video software, including DaVinci Resolve.
• Includes free developer SDK for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Availability and Price

UltraStudio Express HD is available now from US$565, excluding local duties and taxes, from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.