Blackmagic Design has introduced a new UltraStudio Express 3G family of high-speed USB4 capture and playback products. They were designed to be compact and portable for high-quality broadcast use and are compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 connections.

The family consists of two models, the UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G and UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G.

The UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G plays back to 3G-SDI and HDMI, and the UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G captures from 3G-SDI and HDMI. The UltraStudio Express 3G family is powered by their USB connection, allowing it to draw power from a computer battery. Both models work in all SD and HD video standards up to 1080p60.

UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G

The UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G is an input-only model and captures from 3G-SDI and HDMI in SD and HD. It looks like a good option for live streaming using software such as Open Broadcaster. You can also use it to archive from old broadcast decks into popular edit software or the free included Media Express software. Additionally, users can even record from game consoles.

UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G

The UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G is an output-only model and plays back to 3G-SDI and HDMI in SD and HD. It’s a good solution for monitoring playback from edit software such as DaVinci Resolve, etc.

Both UltraStudio Express models include fast USB4 with video capture and playback plus power, all over a single USB cable. USB4 provides fast 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 3G uses the DeckLink API, so almost all video software works.

UltraStudio Express is designed to support high-quality video. Most software has support for capture and playback in 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 allows users to get seamless VFX compositions and better color correction.

UltraStudio Express 3G supports all popular video software, which allows users to work with the software they already know and like. UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G is a good solution for live streaming with software like Open Broadcaster. UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G, 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, etc. Users can also create visual effects with Fusion, After Effects, and Photoshop.

UltraStudio Express 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 node-based compositing VFX tool with 2D and 3D environments and hundreds of effects. Users 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.

UltraStudio Express 3G models all feature multi-rate 3G-SDI and HDMI connections that support all SD and HD video standards, making them suitable for worldwide broadcast video use. When working in SD, UltraStudio Express 3G supports 525i59.94 and 625i50 standards. In HD, it supports 720p, 1080i, and 1080p standards, up to 1080p60. For working with 3G-SDI sources, users can switch between level A and level B.

If users want to build a custom solution for their UltraStudio Express, then they 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 users need flexibility, as well as high-level interfaces, which are a lot easier to use when more common tasks need to be performed.

If manufacturers are interested in using UltraStudio Express, then they can contact Blackmagic Design’s OEM team. The developer support engineers can offer suggestions and help customers with their code. Once their solution is working, you can contact Blackmagic Design to arrange bulk purchase discounts. If they only need a lower volume, they can simply buy UltraStudio Express through the global reseller network.

Pricing & Availability

The UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G and UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G are now available for $175 USD each.