Product Highlights
- Bus-powered 3G-SDI USB capture device
- SDI looping BNC output included
- 1080p60 capture, zero drivers required
- Mac, Windows, Linux plug-and-play
- 3-year AJA warranty backed
AJA U-TAP SDI 3G-SDI USB 3.0 Capture Device
- SKU:
- AJA-U-TAP-SDI-R0
- MPN:
- U-TAP-SDI-R0
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Description
Product Overview
Most USB capture devices speak HDMI. The AJA U-TAP SDI speaks the language that broadcast engineers actually trust on set — 3G-SDI, SMPTE-259/292/424, the uncompressed lossless signal that runs through every professional camera, router, and production switcher in the business. If your sources are SDI and you need a fast, driver-free path into a laptop for streaming, monitoring, or ingest, this is the device built for that exact job.
The U-TAP SDI is a USB 3.0 bus-powered 3G-SDI capture device with one feature its HDMI sibling doesn't have: a 3G-SDI looping output. That single BNC passthrough changes everything about how you can deploy it. Plug it inline — between your camera and a monitor, between a switcher and a confidence feed, between a router output and a scope — and simultaneously capture to a laptop without interrupting the existing signal chain. One device, two jobs, zero compromises.
Like the rest of the U-TAP family, it's UVC/UAC compliant, recognized natively by macOS, Windows, and Linux Ubuntu/Rocky the moment it's plugged in. No drivers to install, no IT tickets to file, no surprises at showtime.
Note: The U-TAP SDI captures YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit SDI signals (SMPTE-259/292/424). It is the professional broadcast-native companion to the AJA U-TAP HDMI — choose based on whether your sources run SDI cable (BNC) or HDMI.
Why the SDI Loop Output Changes Everything
The HDMI version of this device is a tee — you plug in, you capture, done. The SDI version is a Y-connector built into the hardware. Your incoming 3G-SDI signal passes straight through the loop BNC to whatever was already connected — a broadcast monitor, a vectorscope, a program feed — while simultaneously being captured to USB. This is the critical reason broadcast engineers reach for the U-TAP SDI over cheaper alternatives. You're not interrupting a signal chain or adding a passive splitter. You're passing a clean, reclocked-quality loop while capturing in parallel. That's not a feature, that's an architecture.
Pass the incoming SDI signal through to monitors, switchers, or scopes via a second BNC — while capturing simultaneously. Unique to the SDI model.
Accepts SMPTE-259 (SD-SDI), SMPTE-292 (HD-SDI), and SMPTE-424 (3G-SDI) on a standard BNC connector — the full professional SDI family.
Covers the full broadcast raster set including 1080i, 720p, 1080PsF, 525i, and 625i at all standard frame rates. Level A and Level B-DL 3G-SDI supported.
1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 — critical for cinema-originated content and long-form broadcast workflows.
UVC and UAC compliant on macOS, Windows, and Linux Ubuntu/Rocky — appears as a native camera instantly. No installation, no configuration.
5V / 4W max, powered entirely from the host USB port. One cable handles data and power — no wall adapter needed in the field or on set.
Native broadcast color sampling — matches what SDI cameras and production switchers actually output, with no unnecessary conversion.
No moving parts — zero fan noise bleeding into your recording environment. Critical for live broadcast, studio capture, and quiet set work.
Backed by AJA's three-year limited warranty and their Grass Valley, CA support team — recognized as among the best in the broadcast industry.
Broadcast-Grade SDI Capture. Fits in a Jacket Pocket.
At 4.1 × 2.4 × 1.0 inches and 0.3 lb, the U-TAP SDI is roughly the same footprint as a thick wallet. It rides in a camera bag, a grip case, or a laptop bag without a second thought. And because it draws its power over USB — 4W max — there's no brick to forget, no cable to manage beyond the USB-A connection to your host machine.
This matters most when you're operating lean. A one-person livestream from a news scene, a backup ISO recording running off a producer's laptop at a sports event, or a quick capture off a confidence monitor feed during a corporate event — in every one of those scenarios, the U-TAP SDI disappears into the workflow. Plug it in. The software sees a camera. Record. That's the entire operation.
Automatic video scaling means the device delivers exactly the raster and frame rate your application requests, from 1080p60 down to 176×144p, without you touching a setting.
SDI vs. HDMI: Why Broadcast Pros Reach for the BNC
Cable runs up to 100m+
SDI over coax handles long cable runs without signal degradation. HDMI tops out around 15m without active extenders.
Locking BNC connectors
SDI cables lock. They don't wiggle loose mid-broadcast. HDMI connectors are notoriously fragile in production environments.
No HDCP complications
SDI carries no copy-protection scheme. Every professional camera, router, and switcher output is capturable without restriction.
The signal infrastructure already exists
Studios, OB trucks, broadcast facilities, and FOH positions are already wired in SDI. The U-TAP SDI connects directly — no adapters needed.
SMPTE-standardized timing
SDI carries embedded timing that professional broadcast gear expects. It integrates cleanly into sync-locked environments.
Tally, intercom, and metadata paths
In larger broadcast setups, SDI infrastructure often carries ancillary data alongside the video signal that HDMI simply cannot.
Works With the Software Already on Your System
UVC/UAC compliance means any application that accepts a video camera input will recognize the U-TAP SDI immediately — no integration work required.
Who Deploys the U-TAP SDI
Tap an SDI feed inline without breaking the signal chain. Ideal for confidence monitoring, ISO recording, and remote stream contribution from existing infrastructure.
Run a backup capture or web stream off a program SDI output from the OB truck or broadcast mix position without touching the primary signal path.
Pull the SDI program feed from an existing video switcher and stream to YouTube or Facebook Live — while the loop output continues feeding the in-house display system.
Bring an SDI router output into an NLE workstation for spot-monitoring or clip ingest without a dedicated PCIe capture card or additional rack hardware.
Laptop-based ingest from a professional SDI camera in the field — bus-powered, driverless, and small enough to live permanently in a kit bag.
Convert a local SDI source to a USB camera for software encoders at the venue, contributing a clean feed over IP back to a central production hub.
Supported SDI Video Formats
| Format | Resolution | Frame Rates | Signal Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3G-SDI HD Progressive | 1920×1080p | 50, 59.94, 60 (Level A or B-DL) | SMPTE-424 |
| HD-SDI Progressive | 1920×1080p | 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30 | SMPTE-292 |
| HD-SDI PsF | 1920×1080PsF | 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30 | SMPTE-292 |
| HD-SDI Interlace | 1920×1080i | 50, 59.94, 60 | SMPTE-292 |
| HD-SDI 720p | 1280×720p | 50, 59.94, 60 | SMPTE-292 |
| SD-SDI PAL | 625i | 50 | SMPTE-259 |
| SD-SDI NTSC | 525i | 59.94 | SMPTE-259 |
| Scaled USB Output | 176×144p – 1920×1080p | 7.5, 15, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 | USB UVC |
Color sampling: YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit throughout. Host system performance governs available formats.
Full Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Video Input | 3G-SDI, SMPTE-259/292/424, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit (1× BNC) |
| Video Loop Output | 1× 3G-SDI (1× BNC) — passthrough of the incoming SDI signal |
| Audio Input | 2-channel, 24-bit SDI embedded audio at 48 kHz |
| Capture Video | 16 bits/pixel YUV (truncated as required) |
| Capture Audio | 2-channel, 16-bit at 48 kHz |
| Device Interface | USB 3.0 (USB 3.2, Gen 1) — UVC/UAC compliant |
| Host Interfaces | USB 3.0 (5 Gbps), USB 3.1 (10 Gbps), USB 3.2 (20 Gbps), USB 2.0 (reduced performance) |
| OS Support | macOS, Windows, Linux Ubuntu / Rocky Linux |
| Power | 5V USB bus-powered — 4W max |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 4.1 × 2.4 × 1.0 in (104.14 × 60.96 × 25.4 mm) |
| Weight | 0.3 lb (0.2 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 60°C (-40 to 140°F) |
| Humidity | 10–90% noncondensing |
| Operating Altitude | <3,000 meters (<10,000 feet) |
| Warranty | 3-year AJA limited warranty |
U-TAP SDI vs. U-TAP HDMI — Which One Do You Need?
| Feature | U-TAP SDI | U-TAP HDMI |
|---|---|---|
| Input connector | BNC (3G-SDI) | HDMI 1.4a |
| Loop / passthrough output | ✓ SDI BNC loop out | None |
| Color sampling | YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit | YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit + RGB/YCbCr 4:4:4 up to 12-bit* |
| PsF format support | ✓ 1080PsF | No |
| Max cable run (lossless) | 100m+ coax | ~15m (passive) |
| Locking connector | ✓ BNC threaded lock | No |
| Body size | 4.1 × 2.4 × 1.0 in | 3.3 × 2.4 × 1.0 in |
| Power draw | 4W max | 3.5W max |
*HDMI model 4:4:4 support is raster and frame-rate dependent.
Ready to Add Pro SDI Capture to Any Laptop?
The AJA U-TAP SDI is in stock at Coremicro. Our AV specialists can help you confirm compatibility with your SDI infrastructure, camera outputs, or streaming software setup before you order.
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Specifications
AJA U-TAP SDI 3G-SDI USB 3.0 Capture Device Specifications
Reviews
What's included
Included on AJA U-TAP SDI 3G-SDI USB 3.0 Capture Device
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Video Inputs |
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Audio Inputs |
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Video Standards |
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Computer Interface |
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Operating Systems |
Mac OS and Windows
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| Physical / Environmental Specifications | |
Dimension |
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Environment |
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Warranty |
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UPC / GTIN |
892448000076
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