Essential Information About the Blackmagic DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K Capture Card
- Captures up to 2160p30 via 6G-SDI and HDMI 2.0a, with automatic SD/HD/Ultra HD detection and switching.
- HDR Compatibility (HLG and PQ) with HDR metadata transmission over HDMI for current live and post-production workflows.
- Low-profile PCIe Gen2 x4 form factor designed for compact workstations, streaming racks, and integrations, including full-height and low-profile brackets.
- Extensive software ecosystem: Media Express, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and many more.
A Mini Recorder Designed for Ultra HD: The Natural Evolution of the DeckLink Range
The DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K continues the legacy of Blackmagic Design's broadcast-oriented capture cards, adopting the approach that made the Mini Recorder HD successful (stability, low latency, and easy integration), while making a major leap: Ultra HD support up to 2160p30 via 6G-SDI and HDMI 2.0a. Added to this is HDR support, now essential for modern broadcasters, premium events, and content destined for platforms.
Designed to integrate into existing setups, it relies on Desktop Video drivers (macOS, Windows, and Linux) and maintains a compact PCIe form factor, ideal when space is limited in a streaming PC, editing workstation, ingest server, or mobile control room.
Built for Live, Multicam Capture, and Studio Ingest
This capture card targets streaming studios, mobile control rooms, content creators, training institutions, and post-production teams who need to ingest SD, HD, 2K, or Ultra HD video signals into their workflows. It is particularly suited for use cases where reliability and minimal latency are critical: capturing from a camera or video mixer, recording a clean feed, software monitoring, or feeding an encoding pipeline for live streaming.
Thanks to its dual SDI and HDMI inputs, the DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K acts as an effective bridge between "broadcast" sources (cameras and SDI infrastructures) and HDMI sources (photo/video cameras, camcorders, consoles, computers), while remaining consistent with editing (NLE), streaming (OBS, vMix), and playout/automation workflows.
Key Features for Modern 4K and HDR Workflows
Auto-configured SDI and HDMI Inputs: Simplicity in the Field
In real-world conditions, switching from an HD set to a 4K shoot should not become a complex technical operation. The SDI and HDMI inputs auto-configure and switch between supported standards, securing camera, format, and frame rate changes without unnecessary production chain interruptions.
HDR, REC 2020, and Color Depth: Image Ready for Grading
HDR compatibility (HLG and PQ) and HDR metadata handling, combined with REC 601, REC 709, and REC 2020 color spaces, facilitate integration into modern broadcast pipelines and projects intended for color grading. The PCIe Gen2 x4 bus provides the necessary bandwidth for smooth capture, including 10-bit oriented configurations, and helps maintain a stable experience in capture, recording, and post-production software.
Included Blackmagic Tools: Capture, Diagnostics, and Operation
To ensure reliable daily operation, Blackmagic provides a software suite useful at every stage: capture and playback with Media Express, disk performance verification with Disk Speed Test, keying and operation with LiveKey, and card management via Desktop Video Utility. Note an important limitation in HDMI environments: the HDMI input does not capture protected sources, a point to anticipate depending on your sources.
Technical Specifications
Connections and Interface
- SDI Video Inputs: 1 x switchable SD/HD/Ultra HD 10-bit.
- SDI Audio Inputs: 16 embedded channels in SD, HD, Ultra HD.
- HDMI Video Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0a connector.
- HDMI Audio Inputs: 8 embedded channels in SD, HD, Ultra HD.
- Computer Interface: PCI Express Gen2 x4, compatible with PCIe x4, x8, and x16 slots.
Supported Codecs
- AVC-Intra, AVCHD, Canon XF MPEG2, Digital SLR, DV-NTSC, DV-PAL, DVCPRO50, DVCPROHD, DPX, HDV, 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, 4:2:2 8-bit uncompressed, 4:2:2 10-bit uncompressed, 4:4:4 10-bit uncompressed.
Included Software
- Media Express, Disk Speed Test, LiveKey, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility, and Blackmagic drivers for Mac OS and Windows.
- Media Express, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility, and Blackmagic drivers for Linux.
- Software updates: firmware integrated into the driver, loaded at startup or via update.
Compatible Software Applications
- DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Photoshop CC, 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. (Verify support with the software publisher.)
Video Standards
- SD: 525i59.94 NTSC, 625i50 PAL.
- HD: 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.
- 2K (SDI only): 2K DCI 23.98p/24p/25p; 2K DCI 23.98PsF/24PsF/25PsF.
- Ultra HD: 2160p23.98/24/25/29.97/30.
- 4K DCI: 4K DCI 23.98p/24p/25p.
Compliance and Metadata
- SDI Standards: SMPTE 259M, 292M, 296M, 372M, 425M, 2081, ITU-R BT.656, and ITU-R BT.601.
- SDI Metadata: RP 188/SMPTE 12M-2 and closed captions.
Sampling, Color, and HDR
- Audio Sampling: 48 kHz / 24-bit (TV standards).
- SDI Video Sampling: 4:4:4 and 4:2:2.
- SDI Color Precision: RGB 4:4:4 8/10/12-bit up to 1080p60; RGB 4:2:2 8/10-bit all modes.
- Color Spaces: REC 601, REC 709, REC 2020.
- HDMI Video Sampling: 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0.
- HDMI Configuration: HDMI 2.0a with Deep Color, HDR.
- HDMI Color Precision: up to 12-bit (Deep Color).
- HDR SDI/HDMI: static HDR metadata packets, HLG and PQ transfers.
- Supports multiple bitrates: HDMI and SDI switchable SD/HD/2K/4K.
- Copy Protection: HDMI input does not capture protected sources.
Processing and Conversions
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