3G-SDI

Broadcast Input

1080p60

Max HD Capture

10-bit

Color Depth

40Gbps

USB4 Bandwidth

Bus Powered

No Adapter Needed

Mac / Win / Linux

Cross-Platform

The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G is a pocket-sized 3G-SDI capture card built for USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 computers. It pulls broadcast-quality 10-bit video from both 3G-SDI and HDMI sources straight into your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine over a single USB-C cable — and it powers from that same cable. No rack. No wall adapter. Just a clean, bus-powered SDI capture device that goes wherever your laptop goes.

Whether you need to capture SDI video to a laptop on a live event, ingest a broadcast feed into DaVinci Resolve, or run a live streaming workflow in OBS with a broadcast camera — the Express Recorder 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, Wirecast, and more. It even works for archiving legacy broadcast decks to computer or recording from game consoles.

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

Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G — 3G-SDI and HDMI USB4 capture card for live streaming and broadcast ingest

UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G

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

Why Engineers Choose This 3G-SDI Capture Card

🎬

10-Bit 3G-SDI — SMPTE Compliant

Single-link 3G-SDI up to 3Gb/s, meeting SMPTE 259M, 274M, 296M, 424M, and 425M Level A and B. This is what separates a real broadcast capture card from a consumer grab box.

🖥️

HDMI 2.0 Input with Deep Color

Full HDMI 2.0 type A input with Deep Color, Rec 2020 support, and 8-channel embedded audio. Capture from cameras, monitors, streaming boxes, or game consoles in 10-bit quality.

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USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 — Truly Bus Powered

40Gbps USB Type-C delivers full bandwidth for uncompressed capture. Draws power from the laptop — a genuine bus-powered SDI capture device with no wall adapter required in the field.

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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. Captures the full audio payload — no companion audio interface needed for broadcast ingest.

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DeckLink API — Every App Just Works

DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Premiere Pro, OBS Studio, vMix, and Wirecast all support it natively via the DeckLink API. No patching. No workarounds. Install the driver, open the app, capture.

📦

ProRes, DNxHD, Uncompressed — Full Codec Stack

ProRes capture from SDI across all tiers. Plus DNxHD/HR, uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4, HEVC, DPX, XDCAM, DVCPRO, AVCHD, and AVC-Intra. Whatever your pipeline demands, it is covered.

Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G front view — pocket SDI capture USB4 device

Pocket-Sized. Broadcast-Grade.

Most portable broadcast capture devices ask you to give something up. The Express Recorder 3G gives up nothing. It fits in a jacket pocket and captures at the same 10-bit quality as rackmount gear three times its price.

UltraStudio Express Recorder 3G angle view showing 3G-SDI and HDMI input connectors

SDI In. HDMI In. One Cable Out.

Two broadcast inputs, one USB-C cable to the laptop, zero power adapters. Hardware colorspace conversion happens on the device — your CPU stays free for the application doing the recording.

Where Professionals Use This Device

Live Streaming via OBS / vMix / Wirecast Broadcast Ingest & Archive DaVinci Resolve Capture Final Cut Pro SDI Capture Media Composer Ingest Field Production Laptop Recording Legacy Broadcast Deck Archiving Game Console Video Capture Remote & Travel Production Corporate AV & Events Campus Broadcast Facilities

Supported Codecs — ProRes Capture from SDI and Beyond

Codec Family	Formats	Best For
Apple ProRes	4444, 422 HQ, 422, 422 LT, 422 Proxy	ProRes capture from SDI for Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve post-production
Avid DNx	DNxHD, DNxHR	Native Media Composer SDI capture and Avid broadcast workflows
Uncompressed	8-bit 4:2:2 · 10-bit 4:2:2 · 10-bit 4:4:4	Maximum quality broadcast ingest, VFX pipeline source material
HEVC / H.265	HEVC	Efficient delivery recording and streaming archive
DPX	DPX	Cinema and VFX pipeline compatibility
XDCAM	XDCAM EX · HD · HD422	Sony broadcast camera ingest and archiving
DVCPRO	DVCPRO50, DVCPROHD	Archive broadcast deck to computer — legacy Panasonic format support
Other	AVC-Intra · AVCHD · Canon XF MPEG2 · DV · HDV · Digital SLR	Mixed-source broadcast ingest, multi-format capture workflows

Full Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
SDI Input	1 x 10-bit SD/HD switchable — 270Mb, 1.5G, 3G
HDMI Input	1 x HDMI 2.0 type A, Deep Color, Rec 2020
SDI Audio Capture	16 channels embedded, 48kHz / 24-bit
HDMI Audio Capture	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	12-bit RGB 4:4:4 to 1080p30 · 8 and 10-bit YUV 4:2:2 in all standards
SDI Color Space	Rec 601, Rec 709, Rec 2020
SMPTE Compliance	259M · 274M · 296M · 424M · 425M Level A and B
HD Standards	720p50/59.94/60 · 1080i50/59.94/60 · 1080p23.98–60 · 1080PsF23.98–30
SD Standards	525i59.94 NTSC · 625i50 PAL
Maximum Resolution	1080p60 — HD only (no 4K/UHD on this model)
Timecode	RP 188 and VITC pass-through
Operating Temperature	5° to 40°C (32° to 104°F)
OS Support	macOS Sequoia / Tahoe · Windows 10/11 (64-bit) · Linux
Software Included	Media Express · Disk Speed Test · LiveKey · Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility & driver
Compatible Applications	OBS Studio · vMix · Wirecast · DaVinci Resolve · Final Cut Pro · Media Composer · Premiere Pro · Zoom · Cinegy · Softron MovieRecorder · ToolsOnAir
SDK	Free Blackmagic Desktop Video SDK for Mac, Windows, and Linux
Warranty	1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty

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