Magewell USB Capture SDI 4K Plus – 4K SDI USB 3.0 Capture Device

Product Overview

The Magewell USB Capture SDI 4K Plus is a single-channel, bus-powered 4K SDI capture device that brings SD through 6G-SDI video into any Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chrome OS computer via USB 3.0, with no driver installation required on most platforms. Designed for AV integrators, IT managers, and facilities teams who need a compact, reliable SDI capture card for conference room video conferencing, remote production, or media recording workflows, the device captures SDI signals at resolutions up to 4096x2160 and integrates directly with Zoom Rooms, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio, vMix, and any UVC- or DirectShow-compatible software. An active SDI loop-through preserves the local SDI signal path, and a 3.5mm analog audio I/O provides flexibility for environments where embedded SDI audio is not available. Built for 24/7 commercial operation, the USB Capture SDI 4K Plus is a field-proven solution for AV professionals who need dependable SDI-to-USB capture without complexity.

Product Description

The USB Capture SDI 4K Plus accepts SD, HD, 3G, 2K, and 6G-SDI signals through a single BNC input and delivers captured video to the host computer over a USB 3.0 connection, with backward compatibility for USB 2.0 ports at reduced resolutions. The device captures at up to 4096x2160 pixels, with maximum frame rates of 30fps at 4K (3840x2160) and up to 90fps at 1080p — well-suited to both high-resolution conference room recording and high-frame-rate sports or event capture applications. A processing pipeline rated at approximately 640 megapixels per second handles on-device video scaling, de-interlacing, cropping, aspect ratio conversion, color format conversion, frame rate conversion, and flip/mirror operations, reducing the processing burden on the host CPU.

The included 3.5mm line in/line out jack accepts analog audio from external microphones or mixers when SDI-embedded audio is not available, and outputs the extracted SDI or analog audio back to a local monitoring device. Up to 8 channels of SDI-embedded audio are captured, with up to 2 channels output via the 3.5mm jack at 48kHz. The unit appears to the operating system as a standard UVC capture device, enabling plug-and-play compatibility with Zoom Rooms, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts, OBS Studio, XSplit, VLC, QuickTime, and any DirectShow, V4L2, or AVCaptureSession-based application. Multiple units can be connected to a single host simultaneously for multi-channel capture installations. The Magewell USB Capture Utility provides an optional configuration tool for adjusting capture parameters, setting custom device names, monitoring audio levels, and performing firmware updates. An SDK with Windows DirectShow/WASAPI, Linux V4L2/ALSA, and macOS AVCaptureSession/AudioUnit APIs is available for custom software integration. At 110.7 x 56.8 x 17mm and powered entirely by the USB bus, the unit requires no external power supply or PCIe slot, making it practical for portable kits, rack-mounted KVM carts, and fixed conference room installations alike.

Key Features

• 6G-SDI Input with Active Loop-Through — Accepts SD, HD, 3G, 2K, and 6G-SDI via BNC with a simultaneous loop-through, preserving the local SDI signal path for connected displays, routers, or recording devices.
• 4K DCI Capture at up to 4096x2160 — Captures 4K DCI (4096x2160) and 4K UHD (3840x2160) content up to 30fps, and 1080p content up to 90fps, accommodating a wide range of professional SDI camera formats.
• USB 3.0 Bus-Powered Connection — Draws power entirely from the USB 3.0 port with no external power supply required, simplifying deployment in conference rooms, portable kits, and rack installations.
• UVC Plug-and-Play Compatibility — Recognized as a standard UVC device on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS, enabling immediate use with Zoom Rooms, Microsoft Teams, OBS, XSplit, and any DirectShow or V4L2-compatible application.
• On-Device Video Processing — A ~640 Mpixels/s processing pipeline performs scaling, de-interlacing, cropping, aspect ratio conversion, color format conversion, frame rate conversion, and flip/mirror on-device before delivery to the host.
• 3.5mm Analog Audio I/O — Provides a 3.5mm line in for analog audio capture and line out for local audio monitoring, supporting installations where SDI-embedded audio is not the primary audio path.
• Multi-Device Support on One Host — Multiple USB Capture SDI 4K Plus units can be connected to a single host computer simultaneously for multi-channel SDI capture workflows.
• 24/7 Commercial Operation — Rated for continuous operation with an operating temperature range of 0–45°C, suitable for always-on conference room and broadcast installations.
• Cross-Platform OS Support — Compatible with Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2016–2025, Linux (x86/x64/ARM, kernel 2.6.35+), macOS 10.9+, and Chrome OS.
• SDK and API Access — Magewell's MWCapture SDK provides Windows DirectShow/WASAPI, Linux V4L2/ALSA, and macOS AVCaptureSession/AudioUnit APIs for custom capture software and systems integration.

Typical Applications

• Conference room — capturing SDI camera video for Zoom Rooms, Microsoft Teams Rooms, or Skype for Business on a connected PC or room system
• Huddle room — connecting a compact SDI camera to a laptop or mini PC for video conferencing without a dedicated capture appliance
• Broadcast studio — bringing SDI program feeds into a software production environment (OBS, vMix, XSplit) for streaming or recording
• House of worship — capturing PTZ SDI camera output for live streaming software on a production PC
• Training room — recording instructor-facing SDI camera feeds to a local computer for content archival or remote delivery
• Government space — integrating SDI sources into software-based video conferencing on secured or isolated workstations
• Multi-purpose room — supporting portable or semi-permanent SDI capture setups that move between rooms or venues

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the USB Capture SDI 4K Plus require a driver or software installation to work with Zoom Rooms or Microsoft Teams?
A: No driver installation is required on Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS for basic video capture — the device presents as a standard UVC capture device. The Magewell USB Capture Utility is optional and provides additional configuration and monitoring capabilities.

Q: Can multiple units be connected to a single computer for multi-channel SDI capture?
A: Yes. Multiple USB Capture SDI 4K Plus units can be connected simultaneously to a single host computer, each appearing as an independent capture device, subject to available USB bandwidth and host processing capacity.

Q: What is the maximum 4K capture frame rate?
A: The device captures 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 content at up to 30fps. At 1920x1080, capture frame rates up to 90fps are supported. Actual frame rate may be limited by USB bandwidth and host performance.

Q: Does the loop-through output continue to work when the host computer is off or the USB cable is disconnected?
A: The SDI loop-through requires USB power to operate. If the USB connection is lost or the host is powered off, the loop-through signal will not pass. Power via an active USB hub or powered port is recommended for installations where loop-through continuity is critical.

Q: Is this compatible with Linux-based room systems or embedded platforms?
A: Yes. The device is compatible with Linux x86, x64, and ARM architectures running kernel 2.6.35 or above, and supports V4L2 and ALSA APIs. This makes it suitable for custom Linux-based AV systems and embedded room controllers.

Q: What warranty does Magewell provide on this device?
A: Magewell provides a 3-year limited hardware warranty. Technical support is available through Magewell's online ticketing system and knowledge base portal.

Q: Can the device accept analog audio from a microphone or mixer if the SDI source has no embedded audio?
A: Yes. The 3.5mm line in jack accepts unbalanced analog audio from an external source. The device captures the analog audio stream alongside video and can output it via the 3.5mm line out for local monitoring.