Blackmagic Design UltraStudio HD Mini – Thunderbolt 3 SDI Capture & Playback

Product Overview

The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio HD Mini is a bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 capture and playback device for edit suites that ingest from both modern SDI and legacy analog sources. It sends and receives SD and HD video up to 1080p60 with up to 16 channels of embedded SDI audio, functioning as a 3G-SDI HDMI capture device that fits directly into NLE-based post-production workflows. Dual SDI outputs support fill and key, and built-in RS-422 lets it interface with professional broadcast decks.

Product Description

The UltraStudio HD Mini acquires footage from digital or analog inputs straight into your NLE of choice, making it useful where facilities still run mixed legacy and current equipment. As a bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 capture device, it draws all required power over the Thunderbolt 3 connection, so no separate power supply is needed for mobile or rack-adjacent setups. The unit provides hardware-based real-time color space conversion and 10-bit HD-to-SD down-conversion on output, selectable between letterbox, anamorphic 16:9, and center-cut 4:3. It supports real-time effects in DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Avid Media Composer, allowing integrators to standardize capture hardware across an edit team. Dual 3G-SDI outputs provide SDI fill and key output for keying workflows, while an HDMI 1.4b output drives consumer displays for confidence monitoring. Front-panel DIP switches and the rear RS-422 deck control port give broadcast video capture for editing workstations a familiar control path; the optional Teranex Mini Smart Panel adds confidence monitoring.

Key Features

• SD/HD/3G-SDI and analog inputs — Captures from current SDI sources and legacy component/composite equipment in one device.
• Dual SDI and HDMI outputs — Two 3G-SDI outputs support fill and key; HDMI 1.4b drives consumer monitors.
• Bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 — Operates entirely on Thunderbolt 3 bus power with no external supply required.
• 8-, 10-, and 12-bit color depth — Supports 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 sampling for color-accurate capture and playback.
• RS-422 deck control — Interfaces with professional broadcast decks for frame-accurate capture and playout.
• HD-to-SD down-conversion — Real-time 10-bit hardware down-conversion with letterbox, anamorphic, and center-cut options.
• Cross-platform software support — Works with DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Avid Media Composer, and Pro Tools.

Typical Applications

• Broadcast studio — Capture and playout with professional decks over SDI and RS-422.
• Post-production edit bay — Real-time effects capture and review across DaVinci Resolve, Premiere, and Avid.
• Training room — Recording of HD presentation and lecture feeds into an editing workstation.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it require an external power supply?
No. The UltraStudio HD Mini is bus-powered over Thunderbolt 3, which simplifies mobile and rack-adjacent installations.

Can it ingest legacy analog video?
Yes. Alongside 3G-SDI, it accepts component and composite analog input for digitizing footage from older equipment.

Does it support fill and key output?
Yes. The two 3G-SDI outputs can be used for fill and key in keying workflows.

How is it controlled in a broadcast environment?
Through front-panel DIP switches and the rear RS-422 deck control port; the optional Teranex Mini Smart Panel adds confidence monitoring.