Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro

The Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro is an updated 1 RU file-based deck that features the same functionality and control of professional tape decks in a digital design. This model updates the previous HyperDeck Studio models with several features including 12G-SDI support, two added SD card slots, USB-C recording output, timecode input and output, Ref input and output, a redesigned jog/shuttle wheel, 10G Ethernet, and a speaker on the front.

The Studio 4K Pro records video with 10-bit 4:2:2 color using either ProRes or DNxHD codecs, as well as the H.264 and H.265 compression formats. With two SSD slots and two SD card slots, you can record almost endlessly as one SSD becomes full, recording automatically continues on to the other, and the SD card slots are also hot-swappable. The Studio 4K Pro features one 12G-SDI input, two 12G-SDI outputs, a loop-through 12G-SDI output, a dedicated SDI monitor output, and there’s also one HDMI input and one HDMI output that can all output up to DCI 4K. The 4K Pro can even play ProRes 4444 files in true UHD for fill and key outputs. The ports autodetect the signal and will adjust to the SD, HD, 6G-SDI, or 12G-SDI format input. The 3-pin XLR timecode input and output allow you to sync timecode with other devices, and it also allows you to daisy-chain with other devices to create a timecode sync chain.

The Studio 4K Pro is a 1 RU rack-mountable unit, with built-in rack mount ears. It features illuminated front panel button control and a heavy jog/shuttle wheel for analog scrubbing. RS-422 control is supported for external control using the Ref input and output ports. The USB-C port allows you to record to external disks, and you can also use it to plug into a computer to use as a source for a web stream. An integrated LCD on the front panel allows you to monitor the video and display timecode and transport information.

The new HyperDeck Studio recorders have been totally redesigned with dozens of new features. The advanced models have new broadcast-style front panel controls and more connections on the rear panel. The LCD screen supports both light and dark modes, plus the transport control buttons are stronger with a firm professional feel. The Pro models feature a machined metal search dial with increased mass and a soft rubber surface that feels nice to the touch. Plus the search dial features an active clutch, just like a traditional broadcast dec. With dual media slots, you can change cards without interrupting recording. The advanced models even include a front headphone connection and speaker.

All models record to H.264, ProRes, and DNx files, so are perfect for recording broadcast masters, plus the 4K model adds H.265 when recording to UHD files. You can even use PCM or AAC audio. You get everything you need to send shows to broadcasters and for uploading to YouTube.

All models feature timecode and reference generators, with outputs to loop to other HyperDecks. This means you can build a rack of HyperDeck Studios for ISO camera recording, allowing multi-cam editing after live events. You can even sync cameras to the SDI output and the SDI input has frame sync.

HyperDeck Studio supports all SD and HD standards so it’s ideal for archiving old television shows from broadcast decks such as Digital Betacam, Betacam SP, 1″, U-matic, and VHS. You can even record directly to H.264 to maximize storage. For analog decks, just add a Mini Converter Analog to SDI.

HyperDeck Studio features traditional deck-style transport controls, including a search dial for jog, shuttle, and scroll. The compact LCD shows timecode and transport information, plus a full-color thumbnail preview of the current clip in record or playback. It also displays information about each card’s recording status, along with video format, frame rate information, and audio levels, all on the same display. The LCD includes monitoring for video, plus audio level meters, selectable between technically accurate VU or PPM ballistics. The combination of familiar VTR style controls with the built-in LCD screen makes HyperDeck Studio incredibly fast to use and very easy to learn.

HyperDeck Studio includes a traditional broadcast-style control panel that’s very fast to use. Simply press the record button and you instantly start recording the video input to a file. You can also change the record file format from the menu. There are transport control buttons for playback, rewind, fast forward, previous clip, next clip, and more. The Pro models have a machined metal search dial that supports shuttle, jog, and scroll so you can find clips fast. Any button pressed on the front panel is sent to the rear RS-422 remote output for looping control to multiple HyperDecks. The Plus and Pro models also include a front panel speaker and headphone socket for live audio monitoring.

All HyperDeck Studio models support recording to common SD cards and UHS-II cards so you don’t need expensive custom media. However, the Pro models also add two SSD slots so you can use two different types of media. SD cards and SSDs are the perfect choices for broadcast media because they are small and very affordable. When using H.264, the files are so incredibly small you get very long recordings even on smaller low-cost cards. Plus, you can even record to external USB disks. With H.265, you can record up to 58 hours in 2160p60 Ultra HD or up to 157 hours of H.264 recording in 1080p59.94 on a 1TB card. That’s over 6 days of recording in HD using a single 1TB card.

If recording to other types of media is required, the USB-C expansion port lets you plug in an external flash disk for recording. USB-C flash disks have unlimited capacity because they can be physically larger than an SD card or SSD. Plus, it’s even possible to record to a disk array you’ll use for editing, so you don’t need to waste time copying files before starting post-production. Just move the disk over to a computer and instantly start editing. You can even add a Blackmagic MultiDock 10G that has four separate SSD media slots, so you can add compatibility with SSD media to the HyperDeck Studio Mini and Plus models. There are also menus for managing external disks on the built-in LCD.

HyperDeck supports the most popular codecs in use today. All models include DNx and ProRes file formats. However, all models also include H.264 in quality levels up to full 10 bit 4:2:2 when recording in NTSC, PAL, 720p, 1080p, and true 1080i interlaced formats. While the 4K model adds H.265 when recording in Ultra HD. That means you get tight 60:1 to 285:1 compression ratios for very small files at full broadcast quality. Plus you can choose uncompressed PCM audio, or even AAC audio when uploading files to YouTube. All models support both ExFAT and HFS+ disk formats and long-duration single file recordings. The Plus and Pro models even support ProRes 4444 allowing fill and key playback.

Depending on the model HyperDeck Studio features a wide range of video and audio connections such as 3G-SDI, 6G-SDI, or 12G-SDI. All models include HDMI for connecting to televisions and projectors. There’s even a dedicated SDI monitoring output on the Pro and Plus models with on-screen status. The Pro and Plus models include two SDI outputs so you can play ProRes 4444 files, allowing simultaneous fill and key output for keying in live production switchers. The internal timecode and reference generator connections can be looped to sync multiple units for ISO recording. The 4K model has 10G Ethernet for extremely fast network file copying. All models even include AC and locking DC power.

For compatibility with a wide range of computer software, HyperDeck Studio features webcam support using the USB connection. If you’re not recording to an external USB disk, you can plug the HyperDeck USB connection directly into a computer to get live video into any video software. The computer is tricked into thinking the HyperDeck is a common webcam, but it’s really a broadcast-quality video source. That guarantees full compatibility with any video software and in full resolution 1080 HD quality. HyperDeck Studio’s USB webcam feature works with any video software including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype, or get live streaming with Open Broadcaster, XSplit Broadcaster, and more.

You’ll be ready for the latest feature film workflows with support for advanced HDR standards. All HDR status information is embedded into the SDI connections so downstream equipment can detect when HDR files are played. When recording, the SDI and HDMI inputs will also automatically detect HDR video standards and then tag the files with the correct HDR information. Static metadata PQ and HLG formats are handled according to the ST2084 standard. Plus the front panel LCD has a wider color gamut for both Rec. 2020 and Rec. 709 color spaces. HyperDeck Studio Plus and Pro models even allow you to load a 3D LUT into the monitoring output to add looks or to convert film to video gamma.

All HyperDeck models allow media files to be uploaded remotely, using simple FTP client software. With 10G Ethernet built into the HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro model, file transfers are so fast, they are faster than the SD card or SSD media disks. For remote deck control, all models use an easy-to-learn text-based protocol, so you can use a simple terminal app like Telnet to test control commands. Simply log into the HyperDeck and then type “play” or “record” and it will execute the command. If you combine the control protocol and file transfers with a HyperDeck connected to a large USB-C disk array, you get a fantastic broadcast server for ingest, media management, and play out.

The most popular control connection used on broadcast decks since the early 1980s is the RS-422 protocol. Originally developed by Sony, RS-422 is used on almost all broadcast gear. HyperDeck Studio features wide protocol support so you can connect it directly to broadcast systems. It also supports extra commands for the Advanced Media Protocol for managing disk recorders. When designing RS-422 control solutions, you’ll know you’re connected to a HyperDeck Studio when you see the ID 0xF0E0 in 30/60p, 0xF1E0 in 25/50p or 0xF2E0 in 24p. The full set of support remote commands are included in the instruction manual and you can download this from the support page of our website.

With a timecode and sync generator built into all models, you can stack multiple units for digital signage or multi-channel recording. Each HyperDeck has dedicated outputs for reference and timecode, direct from the internal sync and timecode generators. The generators “free run” unless reference or timecode is connected to the inputs, and then generators will automatically lock. This means you can loop from HyperDeck to HyperDeck to create perfectly timed array or recorders.

The innovative Blackmagic OS has been designed for high-performance film and broadcast products and it manages all functions on HyperDeck Studio. Only Blackmagic OS provides instant power on while including powerful features such as LCD with video, timecode, and audio metering, monitoring with overlays, menus, fast networking, multi-disk media management, 3D LUTs plus localization. The on-screen LCD menus include settings to customize your HyperDeck Studio, plus the menus now support both light and dark mode. Blackmagic OS provides world-leading network performance and HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro can sustain data transfers at a massive 1.2 gigabytes per second on its 10G Ethernet connection.