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Consuming the Flavors of High Definition: The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K
Formats, resolutions, and file types can feel like the 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins. Try to consume too many and you will end up with brain freeze, or much worse. After you’ve purchased that new camera, trying to ingest the new file type or resolution can cause the same effect, and slow down the process between shooting and editing. The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K is a rack mounted I/O device that supports 4:4:4, 4K, and 3D and outputs via 3G SDI, HDMI, and the increasingly popular Thunderbolt technology. If you have a bay of editing suites and looking for the fastest route between the raw media and your suites the UltraStudio lives up to that challenge.
It is equipped with RS-422 remote control so you can control the import of anything from the highest 4:4:4 4K on down using either the 3GB/sec SDI port or that 10GB/sec bidirectional Thunderbolt connection. Blackmagic had made a mission of simplifying designs for ease of use and the UltraStudio 4K is no different. With its simple six button design on the display side, the UltraStudio 4K makes operation simple.
Camera crews working in video production you get used to the phrase, “Time is money.” Sometimes explaining the concept that transferring footage cost time and money can be a tricky minefield. With UltraStudio 4K you can explain to the client that what used to take hours can now take minutes utilizing Thunderbolt or SDI. If you don’t have an editing suite but still work with many flavors of high or ultra high definition (Ultra HD) the UltraStudio 4K comes with the Blackmagic Media Express software. 
Blackmagic Media Express can view and import any 4K, 3D, or other formats without the need of an editing software, and can convert that footage to a plethora of file types from DNxHD, ProRes, Uncompressed, and many more. Saving time translates to saving money to the client, and with the UltraStudio 4K you can save time between that production and post-production phase.
The Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K is due out in November 2012 and has a list price of $1295. Does your Chicago camera crew have a favorite I/O device you use? Or have plans to order the UltraStudio 4K? Please share with us in the comment section below or you can join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
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