The Blackmagic Design DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G is an 8-lane PCIe Gen2 digital cinema capture and playback card with two multi-rate 12G-SDI inputs and outputs that accept resolutions from SD up to DCI 4K (4096×2160) at 60 fps. The card supports 10-bit YUV and 8-, 10-, and 12-bit RGB color, as well as up/down/cross conversions and 3D stereoscopic output at full bandwidth 4:4:4:4 RGB. The DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G features a mezzanine card design that has 4K HDMI input and output connectors on a second daughter card, along with connections for adding two optional optical fiber modules for Dual Link optical fiber SDI input and output. The card also supports AES/EBU balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs/outputs, analog video I/O, reference input, and RS-422 control via an included breakout cable.
Flexible Format Support
Optical Fiber Connections
Key Features
- 8-Lane PCIe Gen2 I/O card compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux based workstations and servers
- Multi-rate 12G-SDI and HDMI connections accept SD, HD, 2K, and 4K resolutions
- Supports UHD 4K (3840×2160) and DCI 4K (4096×2160) up to 60 fps
- Single and dual link 4:4:4:4/4:2:2 signals
- 3D stereoscopic SDI output at full bandwidth 4:4:4:4
- Up/down/cross conversions
- 4 channels of balanced analog audio I/O, 2 channels of AES/EBU balanced audio I/O, genlock/tri-sync input, and Sony RS-422 deck control port via included breakout cable
- Optional optical fiber modules for Dual Link optical fiber SDI input and output
- Breakout cable adds S-Video, composite and component in/out and RS-422 control connectors
- SD card with Media Express capture and playback software, and developer SDK for Windows, Mac, and Linux
Connections
SDI Video Inputs
2 x 12Gb/s SD/HD/2K/4K. Supports single/dual link 4:2:2/4:4:4. 2D/3D switchable.
SDI Video Outputs
2 x 12Gb/s SD/HD/2K/4K. Supports single/dual link 4:2:2/4:4:4. 2D/3D switchable.
Analog Video Inputs
1 x Component YUV on 3 BNCs switchable to S-Video or Composite. Component supports HD and SD.
Analog Video Outputs
1 x Component YUV on 3 BNCs switchable to S-Video and Composite. Component supports HD and SD.
Analog Audio Inputs
2 Channels of professional balanced analog audio via XLR connectors.
Analog Audio Outputs
2 Channels of professional balanced analog audio via XLR connectors.
Optical Fiber Inputs/Outputs (Optional)
2 x 12Gb/s Optical Fiber.
AES/EBU Audio Inputs
2 Channels unbalanced with sample rate converter.
AES/EBU Audio Outputs
2 Channels unbalanced.
SDI Audio Inputs
16 Channels embedded in SD/HD/2K/4K.
SDI Audio Outputs
16 Channels embedded in SD/HD/2K/4K.
HDMI Video Inputs
HDMI type A connector with support for 2160p60.
HDMI Video Outputs
HDMI type A connector with support for 2160p60.
HDMI Audio Inputs
8 Channels embedded in SD/HD/4K
HDMI Audio Outputs
8 Channels embedded in SD/HD/4K.
Sync Input
Tri-Sync or Black Burst.
Device Control
Sony™ compatible RS422 deck control port. Serial ports TxRx direction reversible under software control.
Computer Interface
PCI Express 8 lane generation 2, compatible with 8 and 16 lane PCI Express slots with HDMI or SDI mezzanine card.
Supported Codecs
AVC-Intra, AVCHD, Canon XF MPEG2, Digital SLR, DV-NTSC, DV-PAL, DVCPRO50, DVCPROHD, DPX, HDV, XDCAM EX, XDCAM HD, XDCAM HD422, DNxHR & DNxHD, Apple ProRes 4444, Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes LT, Apple ProRes 422 Proxy, Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2, Uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2, Uncompressed 10‑bit 4:4:4.
Software
Software Included
DaVinci Resolve, Media Express, Disk Speed Test, LiveKey, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility and Blackmagic driver on Mac OS and Windows. Media Express, Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility and Blackmagic driver on Linux.
Internal Software Upgrade
Firmware built into software driver. Loaded at system start or via updater software.
Physical Installation
PCI Express 8 lane generation 2, compatible with 8 and 16 lane PCI Express slots on Mac OS, Windows and Linux. Mac OS systems require a Mac Pro computer with PCI Express slots. Please check the Support pages to see the full system requirements.
Standards
SD Video Standards
525i59.94 NTSC, 625i50 PAL
HD Video Standards
720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60
1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30, 1080p50, 1080p59.94, 1080p60
1080PsF23.98, 1080PsF24, 1080PsF25, 1080PsF29.97, 1080PsF30
1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60
2K Video Standards (SDI Only)
2K DCI 23.98p, 2K DCI 24p, 2K DCI 25p
2K DCI 23.98PsF, 2K DCI 24PsF, 2K DCI 25PsF
Ultra HD Video Standards
2160p23.98, 2160p24, 2160p25, 2160p29.97, 2160p30, 2160p50, 2160p59.94, 2160p60
4K Video Standards
4K DCI 23.98p, 4K DCI 24p, 4K DCI 25p (playback only)
3D Video Standards SDI
720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60
1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30,
1080PsF23.98, 1080PsF24, 1080PsF25, 1080PsF29.97, 1080PsF30
1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60
2K DCI 23.98p, 2K DCI 24p, 2K DCI 25p
2K DCI 23.98PsF, 2K DCI 24PsF, 2K DCI 25PsF
3D Video Standards HDMI
720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60
1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30,
1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60
SDI Compliance
SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 296M, SMPTE 372M, SMPTE 425M, SMPTE 435, SMPTE 2081, SMPTE 2082, SMPTE 2082-10, SMPTE 2108-1, ITU-R BT.656 and ITU‑R BT.601.
SDI Metadata Support
RP 188/SMPTE 12M-2 and closed captioning.
Audio Sampling
Television standard sample rate of 48 kHz at 24‑bit.
SDI Video Sampling
4:2:2, 4:4:4
SDI Color Precision
8, 10, 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 in all modes up to UHD 30p, and 8, 10-bit YUV 4:2:2 in all modes
Color Space
REC 601, REC 709, REC 2020
HDR Support
HDR metadata packing, HLG and PQ transfer characteristics. (HDMI supports static HDR metadata only)
HDMI Video Sampling
4:4:4, 4:2:2 and 4:2:0
HDMI Color Precision
8, 10 and 12-bit (Deep Color).
HDMI Configuration
HDMI 2.0b supports Deep Color and HDR. Automatically configures to connected display.
Multiple Rate support
HDMI and SDI video connections are switchable between SD/HD/2K and 4K. Component analog video connections are switchable between SD and HD.
Copy Protection
HDMI input is unable to capture from copy protected HDMI sources. Always confirm copyright ownership before capture or distribution of content.
Processing
Ultra HD Down Conversion
Built in, high quality hardware down converter outputs Ultra HD to HD with down converted signal on SDI outputs C & D and HDMI output when connected to an HD only TV.
HD to SD Down Conversion
HD to SD with down converted signal on SDI output B, Component and Composite NTSC/PAL. SD output selectable between letterbox, anamorphic 16:9 and center cut 4:3.
HD Up Conversion
Built in, high quality hardware up conversion from SD to 720HD or 1080HD on playback. Selectable between 4:3 pillarbox, 14:9 zoom and 16:9 zoom. HD outputs via HD-SDI, HDMI and component analog.
HD Cross Conversion
Built in, high quality hardware cross conversion from 720HD to 1080HD, 1080HD to 720HD on playback.
Real Time Effects
DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro X internal effects. Premiere Pro CC Mercury Playback Engine effects. Avid Media Composer internal effects.
Colorspace Conversion
Hardware based real time on output.
3D Processing
Dual stream and frame packed capture and playback.