3G-SDI

Broadcast Output

1080p60

Max HD Playback

10-bit

Color Depth

40Gbps

USB4 Bandwidth

Bus Powered

No Adapter Needed

Mac / Win / Linux

Cross-Platform

The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G is a pocket-sized 3G-SDI monitor output device built for USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 computers. It delivers broadcast-quality 10-bit video simultaneously to a 3G-SDI broadcast monitor and an HDMI 2.0 display — over a single USB-C cable that also carries power. No rack. No wall adapter. Just a clean, bus-powered SDI playback device that goes wherever your laptop goes.

Whether you need to output SDI video from a laptop on a live event, send a broadcast feed from DaVinci Resolve to a reference monitor, or drive a client display from Premiere Pro during a grade review — the Express Monitor 3G handles every SD and HD standard up to 1080p60 without fuss. It uses the DeckLink API, so nearly every professional video application already supports it natively: Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Premiere Pro, vMix, CasparCG, and more. Plug it in, open your app, and your outputs are live.

Part of the Blackmagic Design collection at Coremicro — your professional source for broadcast and AV production equipment.

Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G — 3G-SDI and HDMI USB4 monitor output device for broadcast and post production

UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G

Blackmagic Design · 10-Bit 3G-SDI + HDMI · USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 · Bus Powered

Why Engineers Choose This 3G-SDI Monitor Output Device

🎬

10-Bit 3G-SDI — SMPTE Compliant Broadcast Output

Single-link 3G-SDI output at up to 3Gb/s, compliant with SMPTE 259M, 274M, 296M, 424M, 425M Level A and B, and SMPTE ST2108-1 for HDR metadata. Your reference monitor sees the same clean signal a transmission chain would.

🖥️

HDMI 2.0 Output with Deep Color + HDR

Full HDMI 2.0a Type A output with Deep Color (10/12-bit), Rec 2020, and HDR metadata — HLG and PQ transfer characteristics. Auto-configures to the connected display. Drive a client screen or production display with no converter in the chain.

⚡

USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 — Truly Bus Powered

40Gbps USB Type-C delivers the bandwidth for full uncompressed 10-bit output while drawing power from the laptop — a genuine bus-powered SDI monitor output device with no wall adapter required in the field.

🎧

16-Ch SDI Audio · 8-Ch HDMI Audio

16 channels of embedded SDI audio and 8 channels of HDMI audio, both at 48kHz/24-bit. The full audio payload from your NLE timeline goes to your broadcast monitor and audio monitoring system — no companion interface needed.

🎨

Hardware Colorspace Conversion — On the Device

Real-time hardware colorspace conversion between Rec 601, Rec 709, and Rec 2020 runs on the device itself. Your CPU stays free for the application. What your software sends is exactly what the monitor receives.

🌐

DeckLink API — Every App Just Works

DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Premiere Pro, After Effects, vMix, and CasparCG all support it natively via the DeckLink API. Install the Desktop Video driver, open your app, and your outputs are live. No patching. No workarounds.

📦

ProRes, DNxHR, Uncompressed — Full Codec Stack for Playback

ProRes 4444, ProRes 422 HQ/LT/Proxy, DNxHR, DNxHD, uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4, HEVC, DPX, XDCAM, DVCPRO, AVCHD, and AVC-Intra. Whatever your NLE timeline contains, the Express Monitor 3G plays it back to your broadcast outputs without transcoding.

Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G front view — pocket SDI monitor output USB4 device

Pocket-Sized. Broadcast-Grade.

Most portable broadcast monitor output devices ask you to compromise on signal quality, output count, or power requirements. The Express Monitor 3G gives up nothing. It fits in a jacket pocket and drives two professional outputs at the same 10-bit quality as rackmount gear three times its price.

UltraStudio Express Monitor 3G angle view showing 3G-SDI and HDMI output connectors

SDI Out. HDMI Out. One Cable In.

Two broadcast outputs, one USB-C cable from the laptop, zero power adapters. Hardware colorspace conversion runs on the device — your CPU stays focused on the application, not the signal chain.

Where Professionals Use This Device

DaVinci Resolve SDI Monitor Output Broadcast Graphics & Playout Final Cut Pro SDI Monitoring Premiere Pro Broadcast Output Media Composer Review Output Live Event Monitor Output CasparCG / vMix Operators Field Production Laptop Monitoring House of Worship Broadcast Teams Corporate AV & Events Campus Broadcast Facilities Remote & Travel Production

Supported Codecs — Playback to SDI and HDMI

Codec Family	Formats	Best For
Apple ProRes	4444, 422 HQ, 422, 422 LT, 422 Proxy	ProRes playback to SDI for Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve color sessions
Avid DNx	DNxHD, DNxHR	Native Media Composer SDI monitor output and Avid broadcast review workflows
Uncompressed	8-bit 4:2:2 · 10-bit 4:2:2 · 10-bit 4:4:4	Maximum quality broadcast output for VFX review and color-critical monitoring
HEVC / H.265	HEVC	Efficient delivery playback monitoring and streaming output review
DPX	DPX	Cinema and VFX pipeline playback on a broadcast reference monitor
XDCAM	XDCAM EX · HD · HD422	Sony broadcast camera timeline playback and delivery review
DVCPRO	DVCPRO50, DVCPROHD	Legacy Panasonic format playback and archive review via broadcast monitor
Other	AVC-Intra · AVCHD · Canon XF MPEG2 · DV · HDV · Digital SLR	Mixed-source timeline playback, multi-format post-production review

Full Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
SDI Output	1 x 10-bit SD/HD switchable. Rates: 270Mb, 1.5G, 3G
HDMI Output	1 x HDMI 2.0 Type A connector. HDMI 2.0a supports Deep Color and HDR — auto-configures to connected display
SDI Audio Output	16 channels embedded, 48kHz / 24-bit
HDMI Audio Output	8 channels embedded, 48kHz / 24-bit
Computer Interface	USB Type-C, 40Gbps — USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 compatible
Power	Bus-powered via USB-C — no external power supply required
SDI Color Precision	8, 10, 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 up to 1080p30 · 8 and 10-bit YUV 4:2:2 in all standards
HDMI Color Precision	10, 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 up to 1080p30 · 8-bit RGB 4:4:4 and 12-bit YUV 4:2:2 in all standards
SDI Color Space	Rec 601, Rec 709, Rec 2020
SDI HDR Support	HDR metadata packing, HLG and PQ transfer characteristics
SMPTE Compliance	259M · 274M · 296M · 424M · 425M Level A and B · ST2108-1
HD Standards	720p50/59.94/60 · 1080i50/59.94/60 · 1080p23.98–60 · 1080PsF23.98–30
2K Standards (SDI)	2KPsF23.98–30 DCI · 2Kp23.98–60 DCI
SD Standards	525i59.94 NTSC · 625i50 PAL
Maximum Resolution	1080p60 — HD only (no 4K/UHD on this model)
Hardware Frame Buffer	v210 (10-bit YUV) · 2vuy (8-bit YUV) · ARGB · BGRA · r210 · R12B · R12L
Colorspace Conversion	Hardware-based real-time
Operating Temperature	5° to 40°C (32° to 104°F)
OS Support	macOS 15.0 Sequoia / 26.0 Tahoe or later · Windows 10/11 (64-bit) · Linux
Software Included	Media Express · Disk Speed Test · LiveKey · Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility & driver
Compatible Applications	DaVinci Resolve · Fusion · Final Cut Pro · Premiere Pro CC · After Effects CC · Adobe Photoshop CC · Adobe Character Animator CC · Avid Media Composer · Avid Pro Tools · Steinberg Cubase · Steinberg Nuendo. Also: CasparCG · vMix · Wirecast · Resolume Arena · ProPresenter · TouchDesigner · OBS Studio · and many more via DeckLink API
SDK	Free Blackmagic Desktop Video SDK for Mac, Windows, and Linux
Warranty	1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty

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