Blackmagic UltraStudio HD Mini
Portable Thunderbolt 3 capture and playback up to 1080p60 in 10-bit YUV. 3G-SDI, HDMI and analogue connections. Bus-powered from Thunderbolt — no power adapter needed.
- Thunderbolt 3 capture and playback up to 1080p60 in 10-bit YUV — professional HD quality for post-production, grading and broadcast monitoring from a portable bus-powered device
- 3G-SDI, HDMI and analogue connections — accept or output signals from the widest range of broadcast cameras, monitors and legacy equipment
- Bus-powered from Thunderbolt 3 — no external power adapter required; the Thunderbolt cable from the connected MacBook or PC provides all the power the device needs
- Dual SD/HD capture with simultaneous outputs — capture from SDI or HDMI while simultaneously outputting to a broadcast monitor for real-time quality monitoring
- Compatible with DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer — works with every major professional NLE and grading application
- Compact portable form factor — small enough to carry in a laptop bag, ideal for on-location capture, client review sessions and portable post-production setups
What is the Blackmagic UltraStudio HD Mini?
The UltraStudio HD Mini is Blackmagic's compact portable capture and playback device for professional HD post-production. It connects to any MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, PC or Windows laptop with Thunderbolt 3 and provides professional 3G-SDI, HDMI and analogue connections for capturing from broadcast cameras and decks, playing back to reference monitors, and performing real-time colour grading output in DaVinci Resolve.
Bus-powered from the Thunderbolt 3 cable means the HD Mini requires no mains connection — the MacBook or laptop provides the power alongside the data connection. For portable post-production and on-location capture this is a significant practical advantage over devices that need a separate power adapter.
10-bit YUV capture
10-bit YUV capture preserves the full colour depth of broadcast cameras and SDI sources — important when the captured footage will be colour graded in DaVinci Resolve, where 10-bit source material provides significantly more headroom for correction than 8-bit.
Broadcast monitoring via Thunderbolt
Beyond capture, the UltraStudio HD Mini provides real-time video output from DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro to a connected broadcast monitor via 3G-SDI or HDMI. This allows colour grading and editing on a calibrated broadcast reference monitor rather than the laptop's built-in screen — an important distinction when making grading decisions that need to be accurate to the broadcast standard.
Analogue connections
The inclusion of analogue audio connections (AES/EBU and analogue audio in and out) in a device this compact reflects its professional broadcast heritage — handling legacy analogue audio infrastructure that purely digital USB devices cannot accommodate.
| Host Connection | |
| Interface | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Power | Bus-powered from Thunderbolt 3 — no external PSU |
| Video Connections | |
| SDI | 3G-SDI input and output (BNC) |
| HDMI | HDMI input and output (Type A) |
| Capture | |
| Max Capture | 1920x1080 at 60fps (1080p60) |
| Colour Depth | 10-bit YUV |
| Supported Formats | SD and HD in all standard frame rates |
| Audio | |
| Audio Connections | AES/EBU, analogue in and out |
| Embedded SDI/HDMI Audio | Yes |
| Software Compatibility | |
| NLE Support | DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer |
| Operating Systems | macOS, Windows |
| Product Information | |
| SKU / Model | BDLKULSDMINHD |
| Warranty | 1-year Blackmagic Design warranty |
| Pricing | Price on Application — contact us for a quote |
Specifications correct at time of publication. Contact us to confirm before specification.
The UltraStudio HD Mini is for professional post-production and broadcast monitoring workflows where portable Thunderbolt 3 HD capture and output is required.
On-Location Post-Production
Capture from broadcast cameras and SDI decks at on-location shoots or client review sessions using a MacBook Pro — bus-powered portability with professional 10-bit SDI quality.
DaVinci Resolve Colour Grading
Output the grade in real time from DaVinci Resolve to a calibrated broadcast reference monitor via SDI — making accurate grading decisions on a professional reference rather than a laptop screen.
Broadcast Monitoring
Real-time SDI output from Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro to a broadcast monitor for accurate monitoring during editing on a laptop or desktop connected via Thunderbolt 3.
Tape and Deck Capture
Capture from legacy SDI broadcast decks, Betacam SP (via analogue connections) and other broadcast tape formats into DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro for digitisation and archiving.
Broadcast Engineers
Portable monitoring and signal checking device for broadcast engineers — accept any SDI source and output to a monitor for quality control and fault-finding without a heavy desktop solution.
Film and Television Education
Teaching HD broadcast capture and monitoring in film schools and media departments — professional SDI and HDMI quality with the software their students use for post-production.
Does the UltraStudio HD Mini require an external power supply?
No. The HD Mini is bus-powered from the Thunderbolt 3 connection. The Thunderbolt cable from the connected computer provides both data and power. No mains power adapter is required.
What is the maximum capture resolution?
1080p60 (1920x1080 at 60 frames per second) in 10-bit YUV. For 4K capture, see the UltraStudio 4K Mini or UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3.
Which computers is it compatible with?
Any computer with a Thunderbolt 3 port running macOS or Windows. Thunderbolt 4 ports (on newer Mac and PC systems) are backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices.
Does DaVinci Resolve come included?
DaVinci Resolve is not included with the HD Mini — download it free from blackmagicdesign.com. The Studio version of DaVinci Resolve (paid) is included with the UltraStudio 4K Mini.
The UltraStudio HD Mini is compatible with all major professional NLE and grading applications via the Blackmagic Desktop Video driver.
NLE and Post-ProductionContact us to confirm compatibility with a specific platform or version not listed above.