Blackmagic Design Decklink Duo 2

Essential Information about the Blackmagic DeckLink Duo 2 PCIe Capture Card

• 4 independent bidirectional 3G-SDI connections for capture and playback up to 1080p60.
• Each BNC can be configured as input or output for low-latency multichannel workflows.
• Wide compatibility with major NLEs, live solutions, and broadcast servers.
• Software up/down/cross conversions, HDR management, and color precision up to 4:4:4 12-bit.

A Quadruple I/O at the Heart of the DeckLink Range

True SDI "Swiss Army knife," the DeckLink Duo 2 combines the versatility of four cards into a single PCIe slot. It inherits Blackmagic's Desktop Video ecosystem, ensuring stability and integration in control rooms, playout servers, video walls, and multichannel ingest systems.

Who It's For and Which Workflows

Designed for broadcasters, broadcast service providers, live events, e-sports, post-production, and digital signage, it simultaneously handles multi-camera capture, program returns, recording, and playback in parallel. Its independent 3G-SDI I/Os facilitate isolated stream orchestration, backups, and playout without hardware re-routing.

Streams, Conversions, and End-to-End Integration

Per-Channel I/O Flexibility

Each 3G-SDI port can be dynamically configured as input or output. This allows you to create asymmetric setups (for example, 3 inputs + 1 monitoring output) while maintaining minimal latency via the PCIe Gen 2 x4 bus.

Image Quality and HDR

The DeckLink Duo 2 supports YUV 4:2:2 10-bit sampling in all modes and RGB 4:4:4 up to 12-bit at 1080p30, with Rec.601/709/2020 color spaces, HDR metadata (HLG, PQ), and real-time software conversions.

Software Integration

Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, it comes with Media Express, LiveKey, and Desktop Video utilities for quick deployment in heterogeneous environments and smooth operation with major editing, live, and broadcast software.

Technical Specifications

Connectivity and Interfaces

• SDI Connections: 4 x bidirectional SD/HD 12-bit ports, independently configurable as input or output.
• Sync Input: Tri-Sync or Black Burst.
• Computer Interface: PCI Express Gen 2, 4 lanes, compatible with PCIe x4, x8, and x16 slots.

Audio

• SDI Audio: 16 embedded channels input and 16 embedded channels output (SD and HD).
• Audio Sampling: 48 kHz, 24-bit TV standard compliant.

Video Formats and Standards

• SD Video Standards: 525i59.94 NTSC, 625i50 PAL.
• HD Video Standards: 720p50/59.94/60; 1080p23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60; 1080PsF23.98/24/25/29.97/30; 1080i50/59.94/60.
• SDI Compliance: SMPTE 259M, 292M, 296M, 372M, 425M, ITU-R BT.656, ITU-R BT.601.
• SDI Metadata: RP 188/SMPTE 12M-2 and closed captions.
• SDI Color Precision: RGB 4:4:4 8/10/12-bit up to 1080p30; YUV 4:2:2 8/10-bit in all modes.
• Video Sampling: 4:2:2, 4:4:4.
• Color Space: REC 601, REC 709, REC 2020.
• HDR: Static metadata packets, HLG and PQ transfer characteristics.

Conversions and Processing

• Processing: Real-time hardware color space conversion.
• HD to SD Down-conversion on output: letterbox, 16:9 anamorphic, center cut 4:3.
• SD to HD Up-conversion on input: 16:9 zoom or anamorphic.
• Cross-conversion: HD720 to HD1080 and vice versa during playback.
• Real-time effects: DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro CC Mercury Playback Engine, Avid Media Composer.

File Formats and Codecs

• Supported Codecs: AVC-Intra, AVCHD, Canon XF MPEG2, Digital SLR, DV-NTSC, DV-PAL, DVCPRO50, DVCPROHD, DPX, HDV, HEVC, XDCAM EX, XDCAM HD, XDCAM HD422, DNxHR, DNxHD, Apple ProRes 4444, Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes LT, Apple ProRes 422 Proxy, uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit, 4:2:2 10-bit, 4:4:4 10-bit.

Software Compatibility

• Included Software: Media Express, Disk Speed Test, LiveKey, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility, Mac OS and Windows drivers; Media Express, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility, and drivers for Linux.
• Compatible Applications: DaVinci Resolve, Fusion, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Avid Media Composer, Adobe After Effects CC, Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, Steinberg Nuendo, Adobe Photoshop CC.
• Other Applications: The Foundry Nuke, Grass Valley Edius, Sony Catalyst Production Suite, Tools On Air Just: Play & Live & In, Softron MovieRecorder & MReplay, Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder, Telestream Wirecast, Livestream Producer, Resolume Arena, Magix Vegas Pro & Movie Edit Pro Premium, Corel VideoStudio Pro, CyberLink PowerDirector, Vidblaster X & Studio & Broadcast, Uniplay One & CG, CasparCG Server, Magicsoft CG, Xsplit Broadcaster, Imagine Communications Velocity & InfoCaster, DevTek Easy Media Suite, Metus Ingest, Boinx Software MimoLive, Cinegy Capture Pro, vMix Live, Renewed Vision ProPresenter, Ventuz Director, Class X Liveboard & Coral CG, Glookast Capturer, Open Broadcaster Software Studio, Nautilus NEMO3D, Burst Video WebClip2Go & REC Marker, Zoom.

Systems and Installation

• Internal Update: Firmware integrated into the driver, loaded at startup or via software update.
• Physical Installation: PCIe 4 lanes Gen 2, compatible with Mac OS, Windows, Linux; Mac Pro required for PCIe slots (see manufacturer's system requirements).
• Operating Systems: Mac 15.0 Sequoia, Mac 26.0 Tahoe or later; Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11; Linux.

Power Consumption and Environment

• Power Consumption: 10 W.
• Operating Temperature: 5 to 40 degC.
• Storage Temperature: -20 to 45 degC.
• Relative Humidity: 0 to 90 percent non-condensing.

Included

• DeckLink Duo 2.