Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder

This product can be used to capture unencrypted HDMI signals (without HDCP) or SDI video. So a PS3 for instance will not work with it. But otherwise it is very flexible and captures with very high-quality. The software control panel allows you to select many capture resolutions and frame rates. It allowed me to capture to a Mac from a 1080i camcorder to BM Media Express (the included software), FCP X, and Wirecast. It did not show up as a video source in Quicktime Player. For Thunderbolt-enabled computers without USB 3.0, this is probably the cheapest, simplest, and most effective device.

I purchased this in the hope that I could connect my Canon VIXIA HF M500 Full HD 10x Image Stabilized Camcorder with One SDXC Card Slot and 3.0 Touch LCD to my computer and be able to live stream and use it as my webcam for Skype and Google+ Hangouts. I had originally looked at the Blackmagic Design Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt. But all I really needed was a box to convert my HDMI signal to Thunderbolt. I didn't need the pass thru ports, nor all the other inputs on the Shuttle. Once I saw the Mini Recorder I was convinced I found what I needed.

If you expect it to work straight out of the box, then you'll be disappointed. There is software to download to get you to the latest version. I tested it with Skype, Quicktime Broadcast, Adobe FMLE, justin.tv (using QT and FMLE), CamTwist, and Google+ Hangout. They all worked. I do have to say that using QT Broadcaster wasn't ideal. The frame rate was very slow. All the software except Skype worked on first try. OK, not exactly first try, which I'll get to later. Skype, as of this writing, only works with version 6.0.0.2946. It won't work with the 6.3 version of Skype, so be careful about upgrading.

The key to all of this is to make sure you have the latest and greatest computer software from the website. Next, make sure you set the frame rate coming in to match the camera's native rate. Google the video about this to see. Use the search phrase BlackMagic Ultra studio Mini Recorder to see how someone got it to work. It WILL work if you follow his instructions.

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No video capture in different settings either on HDMI or SDI. Body of the recorder gets very hot, I measured temperature 62°C.

And to make sure that everyone not making assumption that this is H264 compression device, no it is not. Only uncompressed video, so you need to have a huge hard drive.

From all of the standpoints even if the blackmagic fixes the drivers to make it work properly, disregarding the low price, this product is only for professional users.

Even if the thunderbolt option look tempting, look elsewhere.

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Does not work for me properly on a brand new macbook pro, using either HDMI or SDI. No signal with HDMI, flickering signal with SDI.

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