Blackmagicdesign UltraStudio Pro User manual

Operation Manual
UltraStudio Pro
Windows™
April 2011
USB 3.0

Contents
UltraStudio Pro
How to Install
Installation 5
Product Diagram 5
Before Connecting UltraStudio to your USB 3.0 computer 6
Connecting UltraStudio Pro 7
Installing Desktop Video software 8
Software
Blackmagic Software 10
Setting Blackmagic Preferences 10
Blackmagic Media Express 18
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test 29
Disk arrays 29
Third Party Applications 30
Adobe Premiere Pro 30
Adobe After Effects 33
Adobe Photoshop 34
Sony Vegas Pro 9 35
Helpful Information
Support 37
USB 3.0 Frequently Asked Questions 37
Uncompressed data rates for capture and playback 39
Troubleshooting 40
04 41
09
36
Connection Diagrams
Betacam SP analog deck 42
SDI digital deck 43
Sony HDCAM SR deck in 4:2:2 44
Composite monitor 45
YUV component monitor 46
Connecting to an HDTV 47
HDMI Workflow 48
Warranty
Warranty Terms and Conditions 50
49

Welcome
3
Welcome to UltraStudio Pro.
We hope you share our dream for the television industry to become a truly creative industry by allowing
anyone to have access to the highest quality video.
Blackmagic UltraStudio Pro is the first uncompressed editing solution that connects via the new
SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) found on the latest computers. USB 3.0 is easy and you can just plug in your
UltraStudio Pro. Previously high end television and post production required investment in millions of
dollars of hardware. However with UltraStudio Pro and USB 3.0, even 10 bit uncompressed high definition
TV is now easily affordable.
We hope you get years of use from your new UltraStudio Pro and have fun working with some of the world’s
hottest television and design software!
This instruction manual should contain all the information you’ll need to connect UltraStudio Pro to your
computer and video hardware. As UltraStudio Pro uses uncompressed video and the data rates are quite
high, you’ll need fast disk storage.
We think it should take you approximately 5 minutes to complete installation. Before you connect
UltraStudio Pro, please check our website at www.blackmagic-design.com and click the support page
to download the latest updates to this manual and UltraStudio Pro driver software. Lastly, please register
your UltraStudio Pro when downloading software updates. We would love to keep you updated on new
software updates and new features for your UltraStudio Pro. Perhaps you can even send us your latest show
reel of work completed on your UltraStudio Pro and any suggestions for improvements to the software.
We are constantly working on new features and improvements, so we would love to hear from you!
Grant Petty
CEO Blackmagic Design

How to Install
4

Installation
5
3G/HD/SD-SDI Output USB 3.0
3G/HD/SD-SDI Input
Breakout cable
connector
Power
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
20
21
22
23
24
2. RS-422 Deck Control
3. R-Y Out
4. Y Out
5. B-Y Out
6. Ref In
7. R-Y In
8. Y In
9. B-Y In
10. AES / EBU Out CH1&2
11. AES / EBU In CH1&2
12. Analog Audio Out 1
16. Analog Audio In 3
14. Analog Audio In 1
18. Analog Audio Out 3 or AES/EBU CH3&4 Out
20. Composite In
22. S-Video In
13. Analog Audio Out 2
17. Analog Audio In 4
15. Analog Audio In 2
19. Analog Audio Out 4 or AES/EBU CH5&6 Out
21. Composite Out
23. S-Video Out
24. Standard Definition SDI Out
UltraStudio Pro
HDMI Input HDMI Output
UltraStudio Pro Breakout Cable

Installation
6
Before Connecting UltraStudio Pro to your USB 3.0 computer
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
USB 3.0 hardware requires the latest versions of USB 3.0 software drivers and firmware to enable the
high speed performance required for high definition video capture and playback.
While most new motherboards and computers are now shipping with suitable versions of USB 3.0
software drivers and firmware, it is very important to ensure you have installed the latest versions
before installing your Blackmagic Design USB 3.0 product. Please download the latest USB 3.0 drivers
and firmware, for your USB 3.0 motherboard or computer, from the vendor’s website.

Installation
7
Connect the included SuperSpeed USB 3.0 cable to
UltraStudio Pro and to your computer.
Connect the professional breakout cable to UltraStudio Pro.
Connecting UltraStudio Pro
1. Connect the included power supply to UltraStudio Pro. Switch on the power.
2. Use the included SuperSpeed USB 3.0 cable to connect UltraStudio Pro directly to a dedicated
USB 3.0 port on your computer.
3. If UltraStudio Pro software has previously been installed and offers to update the firmware, click
Update to run the update. When the firmware update is finished, the onscreen instructions will
prompt you to power the UltraStudio Pro off and on.
UltraStudio Pro is now ready for use. The professional breakout cable can be connected to UltraStudio Pro
at any time using the multi-pin connector. The connection diagrams toward the end of this manual show
how to connect UltraStudio Pro to many kinds of video equipment.

Installation
8
Installing Desktop Video software
Contents
The Desktop Video software installer will install the following components:
Blackmagic Desktop Video drivers
Blackmagic Design Control Panel
Blackmagic Media Express application
Blackmagic AVI and QuickTime™codecs
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
Adobe®presets and plug-ins
Desktop Video software
1. The CD supplied with UltraStudio Pro contains the Desktop Video software. Before you install,
ensure you have the very latest driver. Visit www.blackmagic-design.com/support
2. Open the “Desktop Video” folder and launch the “Desktop Video” application.
3. The drivers will now be installed on your system. An alert will appear: “Do you want to allow
the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to this computer?”
Click Yes to continue.
4. You will see a dialog bubble saying “found new hardware” and the hardware wizard will appear.
Select “install automatically” and the system will find the required Desktop Video drivers. You will
then receive another dialog bubble saying “your new hardware is ready for use.”
5. Now restart your machine to enable the new software drivers.
Automatic firmware updating
After your computer has restarted, the software will check the UltraStudio Pro hardware to see what
firmware the card contains. If the firmware version does not match the software version, Desktop Video will
offer to update the firmware. This is automatic and all you need to do is click OK to start the update. After
the firmware has updated, restart your computer to complete the process.
Programmable firmware can provide new features, compatibility with new hardware and support for
new formats.
Click “Yes”.
Desktop Video Setup Wizard
Restart your PC!

Software
9

Blackmagic Software
10
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
UltraStudio Pro preferences are located in the Blackmagic Design Control Panel. The Blackmagic Design
Control Panel is used with all UltraStudio Pro, DeckLink, Multibridge and Intensity hardware. Any preferences
which are not applicable to UltraStudio Pro will be grayed out and unavailable. The following preferences
contain options for setting up your UltraStudio Pro.
Settings
Input and Output connections
NTSC Setup
1080p/1080PsF switch
Remove Field Jitter
Output black/last played frame switch
Reference Output Timing (Genlock)
Processing
Output processing
Input processing
VITC Reader A Frame - 3:2 Pulldown Removal
VANC input
Video Levels
Calibrate Analog Video In
Calibrate Analog Video Out
Betacam/SMPTE level switch
Audio Levels
HiFi/Professional Audio Levels
Analog Audio Input Levels
Analog Audio Output Levels
AES/EBU Input Reference Level
AES/EBU Output Reference Level
Blackmagic Design Control Panel
Blackmagic Design Control Panel.

Blackmagic Software
11
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
UltraStudio Pro video and audio output connections
All of the video and audio outputs of UltraStudio Pro are active all of the time and the only choice you need
to make is between 4 analog and 2 AES/EBU audio channels, or 2 analog and 6 AES/EBU audio channels,
as they use shared connectors.
The SDI, HDMI and component (Y,R-Y,B-Y) analog video outputs support HD and SD video. S-Video and
composite analog video do not support high definition video but UltraStudio Pro always lets you see
downconverted SD video on these outputs when working with HD video!
UltraStudio Pro switchable audio outputs
UltraStudio Pro has switchable audio outputs. You can choose to output:
4 analog and 2 AES/EBU audio channels, or
2 analog and 6 AES/EBU audio channels
UltraStudio Pro video and audio input connections
Your UltraStudio Pro supports all of the following combinations:
SDI Video & SDI Audio
SDI Video & AES/EBU Audio
SDI Video & Analog XLR Audio
HDMI Video & HDMI Audio
HDMI Video & AES/EBU Audio
HDMI Video & Analog XLR Audio
Component Video & AES/EBU Audio
Component Video & Analog XLR Audio
Composite & AES/EBU Audio
Composite & Analog XLR Audio
S-Video & AES/EBU Audio
S-Video & Analog XLR Audio
Video and Audio Output Connections
Video and Audio Input Connections

Blackmagic Software
12
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
NTSC setup
The NTSC composite video used in the USA, and some other countries uses 7.5% setup. However setup is
only used in composite video, but is never used in SDI video. Your UltraStudio Pro will handle adding and
removing setup from NTSC video automatically for you. The USA and countries that use 7.5% setup should
enable this setting; if you’re working in Japan and countries that don’t use this setup, leave this set to 0 IRE
setup. The PAL and high definition standards do not use this setup.
Progressive HD1080 video
By default, progressive HD1080 video frame rates are treated as progressive segmented frame,
i.e. 23.98PsF, 24PsF and 25PsF. If you enable Use 1080p not 1080PsF progressive HD1080 video frame
rates will be treated as true progressive, i.e. 23.98p, 24p and 25p.
Remove Field Jitter
“Remove field jitter when video is paused” allows UltraStudio Pro to display only a single field when paused,
while turning this mode off will display a complete frame in pause. Single field is similar to how Betacam SP
decks work when paused, eliminating field flicker from paused images.
If you’re doing work without interlaced video, such as animation, then you can turn this mode off
so you can see both fields in full resolution for best quality. Regardless of this setting, you always get the
correct full frame dual field output when in playback mode, as this setting only effects paused video.
NTSC Setup
1080p/1080PsF switch
Video Output Behavior

Blackmagic Software
13
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
Output black/last played frame switch
If you have switched out of a video application and so video is not being played, this setting determines
whether UltraStudio Pro will output black or the last played frame of video.
Reference Output Timing
Genlock, also known as black burst, reference or house sync is used to lock various equipment in your
facility to the same timing point. When two or more video devices are connected to the same sync signal,
their video signals can be switched without jumping or rolling. This is critical when connecting equipment
in large post production facilities and broadcast stations.
To change video to reference timing:
Adjust the Set reference output timing for timed output until the picture locks and is no
longer rolling on the display.
Reference Output Timing
Output black/last played frame switch

Blackmagic Software
14
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
HDTV Down/Up/Cross Conversion
UltraStudio Pro includes a powerful image processor which can down-convert high definition to NTSC
or PAL video in real time. It can also upconvert from standard definition to 720HD or 1080HD or even
cross-convert between 720HD and 1080HD. Select the desired option from the output or input processing
menus under the Processing tab.
Output Processing
Permanent Down Conversion provides both high definition video and down-converted standard definition
video output. Choose between letterbox, anamorphic and center cut SD video.
SD Letterbox
SD Anamorphic
SD Center Cut
Note: Simultaneous down conversion introduces a 2 frame delay on the SD-SDI output. To ensure accuracy,
adjust the playback/timecode offset options when performing an insert or assemble edit to tape with
Premiere Pro or Blackmagic Media Express.
Analog video outputs are also down converted so you can always see video on an S-Video or composite
analog monitor. The HD-SDI, HDMI and Component analog video outputs can be switched between HD or
SD video. Choose to Down Convert All Outputs, if you wish to view downconverted SD video on all outputs.
Up Conversion from SD to HD 720p provides up-converted HD 720p video output from NTSC and PAL
video files. Choose between pillarbox and zoom HD 720p video.
SD to 720p HD 4:3 Pillarbox
SD to 720p HD 16:9 Zoom
Up Conversion from SD to HD 1080i provides up-converted HD 1080i video output from NTSC and PAL
video files. Choose between pillarbox and zoom HD 1080i video.
SD to 1080i HD 4:3 Pillarbox
SD to 1080i HD 16:9 Zoom
HD Cross Conversion converts HD 720p to HD 1080i, or HD 1080i to HD 720p.
Cross Converted HD
HDTV Up/Down Converter output processing

Blackmagic Software
15
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
Output HD 23.98PsF at HD 59.94i
23.98 fps is a common film frame rate but support for this frame rate in SDI and analog monitors is rare.
Enabling this option will apply 3:2 pulldown processing so that HD 23.98 PsF video is output as HD 59.94i.
Almost all HD monitors support HD 59.94i.
Input Processing
Down Conversion from HD to SD on input makes it possible to capture high definition video to standard
definition files. Choose between letterbox and anamorphic SD video.
1080i HD to SD Letterbox 16:9
1080i HD to SD Anamorphic 16:9
720p HD to SD Letterbox 16:9
720p HD to SD Anamorphic 16:9
Up Conversion from SD to HD on input makes it possible to capture standard definition video to HD 1080i
files. Choose between letterbox and anamorphic SD video.
SD Letterbox 16:9 to 1080i
SD Anamorphic 16:9 to 1080i
HDTV Up/Down Converter input processing
Output HD 23.98PsF at HD 59.94i

Blackmagic Software
16
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
VITC Reader A Frame - 3:2 Pulldown Removal
Set A-frame VITC reference (to) Frame ## in 23.98 fps capture from NTSC using
3:2 pulldown
This option decodes the VITC and uses it to correctly locate the A-frame when performing 3:2 pulldown
while capturing video at 23.98fps. Carefully set the correct A-frame VITC reference to match the timecode
on tape. Selecting the wrong A-frame will generate incorrect presentation of fields and frames.
Preserving Blanking Data or VANC
This feature lets you use up to 3 video lines at the top of a captured movie file to store any 3 lines from
vertical blanking. This allows 3 line timecode, VITC (vertical interval test signals) subtitle info or any other
VANC data to be preserved during capture. These lines are then inserted back into the video blanking
when the file is played back.
To preserve VANC data:
1. Open the Blackmagic Design Control Panel.
2. Select the VANC and 3:2 Pulldown tab and tick the On check box for video line 1, 2 or 3
depending on how many blanking lines you want to capture.
Note: Video file line 1 needs to be enabled for lines 2 and 3 to work.
Because these lines can be passed to the application, a developer could write software to read the VANC
data and use it for various purposes, e.g. 3-line timecode and audio chasing, or other uses.
An example of VANC data is 3-line timecode, which uses lines 18, 19, and 20 in NTSC or lines 19, 20 and
21 in PAL. 3-line timecode, as used in AATON™equipped telecine suites, featuring audio timecode and
keycode information along with the normal timecode numbers.
Set the A-Frame VITC Reference when
performing 3:2 pulldown
VANC preferences

Blackmagic Software
17
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
Video Levels
A video processing amplifier (Video Proc Amp) is provided for use with analog video and chroma levels
and ideally should always be used in conjunction with a waveform monitor. By contrast to digital video,
analog video can suffer from inconsistencies even between identical analog devices such as two analog
tape decks. The video level controls can be used to correct inconsistencies in analog video input and
output. The option to Calibrate Analog Video In will only be available if the Set Input option in
the Settings are set to an analog video option. If a digital input is being used, such as SDI or HDMI, or if
your Blackmagic capture device does not include analog input, the option to Calibrate Analog Video
In will remain grayed out and unavailable. The Reset Gain button resets the video levels back to their
original settings.
By default, Blackmagic products use SMPTE component analog levels as almost all analog video monitors
and modern video equipment use SMPTE levels. Sony Betacam SP decks can use Betacam levels and
you may need to enable the checkbox Use Betacam YUV Levels with these analog decks. Sony CRT
monitors support Betacam and SMPTE levels to allow direct monitoring from a Betacam SP deck. These
monitors include a switch so you can choose between Betacam and SMPTE and you also need to choose
the corresponding SMPTE/Betacam setting in the Blackmagic Video Levels. If in doubt, try a test capture
and you should see a very noticeable brightness shift if you choose the wrong levels.
Audio Levels
An audio processing amplifier (Audio Proc Amp) is provided for use with analog audio. It can be used to raise
or lower an audio signal. By contrast to digital audio, analog audio can suffer from inconsistencies between
audio channels and so analog audio channels can be adjusted independently from each other. AES/EBU
audio is digital and does not suffer from level inconsistencies between audio channels. Accordingly all AES/
EBU audio channels are raised or lowered together. The Reset Gain button resets the audio levels back
to their original settings.
Professional analog audio levels and XLR audio connectors are standard on UltraStudio Pro, DeckLink
and Multibridge products. If you need to connect to consumer audio equipment with analog RCA inputs,
enable the option to Use HiFi Audio Levels and use an inexpensive XLR to RCA adapter for each
audio connection.
Video levels
Audio levels

Welcome
18 Blackmagic Media Express 18
Welcome to Media Express 2.0.
Blackmagic Media Express 2.0 is a sophisticated software application which enables UltraStudio, DeckLink,
Multibridge and Intensity users to capture, play back and preview video and audio via Blackmagic capture
hardware. DeckLink, Multibridge and UltraStudio users can also master to tape, using insert or assemble edit,
with frame accurate RS-422 device control.
Media Express has an intuitive interface and requires a 1920 x 1200, or 1280 x 800, pixel computer display to
compliment its uncluttered appearance. The capture, playback and master views are color-coded so you will
know at a glance which mode is being used.
Media Express uses many of the same keyboard shortcuts which are standard in the video industry so there is
little to learn. Use j, k, l to shuttle backwards, pause and shuttle forwards, or use i and oto mark in and
out points when batch capturing or mastering to tape. Hold down the control and shift keys to reveal a jog wheel
and then use your mouse, with the jog wheel, for precision control of your tape deck.
VITC timecode is supported via RS-422 and RP188 timecode is supported via SDI.
DeckLink, Multibridge and UltraStudio users can use the Media List feature to log multiple clips for batch capture
or to seamlessly play back multiple clips from a playlist and master them to tape.
Media Express can directly capture to, and play back from, DPX files or movie files.
Use the Grab Frame feature to capture still images during capture, playback or when mastering to tape.
Frame grabs are saved in the targa (.tga) graphic file format.
Blackmagic Media Express 2.0 is not NLE software and does not have a timeline. It is a great tool when you don’t
need the complexity of NLE software but simply want to capture, play back and output clips to tape, especially
when working with video compositing software.

Welcome
19 Blackmagic Media Express 19
Blackmagic Media Express 2.0 Interface
Media List
Search field
Remote indicator
VTR / deck timecode
Video Preview
Transport Control
Mark In / Mark Out
Track enable/disable
Project name, video format
and frame rate

Welcome
20 Blackmagic Media Express 20 Blackmagic Media Express – Preferences 20
Media Express preferences are accessed from Edit>Preferences.
Project Video Format
Project Video Format defines the frame rate and frame size of the current project. The formats displayed are
those supported by your UltraStudio Pro and you may see some differences when compared to running Media
Express with DeckLink, Multibridge, UltraStudio or Intensity.
Capture File Format
Capture File Format sets the video codec and file format when capturing in the current project.
On Windows, the capture file format options are either AVI movies or DPX files. A choice of Blackmagic
Uncompressed or Motion JPEG codecs can be made when capturing to AVI movies.
Preferences
Video formats
Capture file formats