Blackmagic became one of the first with shipping video-oriented Thunderbolt hardware as it released the UltraStudio 3D. The device first shown in April uses the high-speed interface to support as much as dual-stream 3D video, 2K 2D video, and 1080p, 60FPS 2D over SDI. The choice of Thunderbolt lets even an 11-inch MacBook Air potentially process video it might not otherwise.
The 10-bit pipeline inside works both for up- and down-scaling as well as cross-converting video. Along with the SDI inputs and outputs, which peak at 3Gbps, the video capture box has HDMI 1.4a in and out along with matching input and output pairs for component video and both balanced and unbalanced stereo audio. It takes in Genlock and has an RS-422 deck control for Sony users.
Using the UltraStudio 3D needs a Mac with a Thunderbolt port as well as an editing suite that will recognize it, such as Final Cut Studio, Adobe’s After Effects and Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and some others. Integrating dual-stream 3D needs the bundled Media Express 3 app since most can only show 3D in a single feed.
The device costs $995.
