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Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 8-Channel 3G-SDI Capture & Playback Card

BH #BLDLQ2 • MFR #BDLKDVQD2
15 reviews
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Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 8-Channel 3G-SDI Capture & Playback Card
Key Features
  • 8 x Bidirectional SD/HD/3G-SDI
  • 8-Lane PCIe Interface
  • Resolutions up to 1080p60
  • DIN (Mini-BNC) Connectors
The Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 is an 8-lane PCIe card that features eight bidirectional, 12-bit SD/HD/3G-SDI DIN (Mini-BNC) connectors that are independently configurable to provide any combination of eight capture or playback channels at up to 1080p60. The card supports compressed video formats such as ProRes and DNxHD, as well as uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 video, making it ideal for use in both live broadcast and post-production. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers, and is supported by a wide range of software applications. For use with applications that don't capture video on their own, Blackmagic's Media Express software is included, allowing you to capture, organize, and manage your media.
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Blackmagic Design Quad 2 Overview

The Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 is an 8-lane PCIe card that features eight bidirectional, 12-bit SD/HD/3G-SDI DIN (Mini-BNC) connectors that are independently configurable to provide any combination of eight capture or playback channels at up to 1080p60. The card supports compressed video formats such as ProRes and DNxHD, as well as uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 video, making it ideal for use in both live broadcast and post-production. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers, and is supported by a wide range of software applications. For use with applications that don't capture video on their own, Blackmagic's Media Express software is included, allowing you to capture, organize, and manage your media.

Compatibility
Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers and supported by a wide range of software applications. For use with applications that don't capture video on their own, Blackmagic's Media Express software is included, allowing you to capture, organize, and manage your media.
Independent Input/Output
Each SDI input and output can be a different video standard, as they're all independent.
Video Support
  • Supports uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 signals.
  • Cross conversion between 720p and 1080p on video capture.
  • SD upconversion to 720p or 1080p on video capture.
Audio Support
Supports 16 channels of embedded audio per input/output.
Included Software
Mac OS and Windows:

  • Media Express.
  • Disk Speed Test.
  • LiveKey.
  • Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility.
  • Blackmagic driver.

Linux:

  • Media Express.
  • Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility.
  • Blackmagic driver.
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, 422 HQ, 422, LT, 422 Proxy.
  • Uncompressed: 8-bit 4:2:2, 10-bit 4:2:2, 10-bit 4:4:4.
Software Applications
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
  • Adobe After Effects CC.
  • Adobe Photoshop CC.
  • Apple Final Cut Pro X.
  • Avid Media Composer.
  • Avid Pro Tools.
  • DaVinci Resolve.
  • Fusion.
  • Steinberg Cubase.
  • Steinberg Nuendo.
Other Supported Applications
 

  • Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder.
  • Autodesk Flame.
  • Boinx Software MimoLive.
  • Burst Video WebClip2Go.
  • CasparCG Server.
  • Cinegy Capture Pro.
  • Class X Liveboard & Coral CG.
  • Corel VideoStudio Pro.
  • CyberLink PowerDirector.
  • DevTek Easy Media Suite.
  • Glookast Capturer.
  • Grass Valley Edius.
  • Imagine Communications Velocity & InfoCaster.
  • Livestream Producer.
  • Magicsoft CG.
  • Magix Vegas Pro & Movie Edit Pro Premium.
  • Metus Ingest.
  • Nautilus NEMO3D.
  • Open Broadcaster Software Studio.
  • Renewed Vision ProPresenter.
  • Resolume Arena.
  • Softron MovieRecorder & MReplay.
  • Sony Catalyst Production Suite.
  • Telestream Wirecast.
  • Tools On Air Just: Play & Live & In.
  • Uniplay One & CG.
  • Ventuz Director.
  • Vidblaster X & Studio & Broadcast.
  • vMix Live.
  • Xsplit Broadcaster.
  • Zoom.

Blackmagic Design Quad 2 Specs

Inputs/Outputs
System Connection
PCIe 2.0 x8
Inputs/Outputs
8x DIN (Mini-BNC) (3G-SDI) Male
Other I/O
1x DIN (Mini-BNC) Blackburst, Reference, Tri-Level Sync Input
Simultaneous Multi-Input Support
Yes: 8 Simultaneous Inputs
Format Support
Input Video Format
SDI (8/10/12-Bit 4:4:4/4:2:2 RGB, YUV)
1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1080PsF at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
1080i at 50/59.94/60 fps
720p at 50/59.94/60 fps
480i / 525 lines at 60 fps
576i / 625 lines at 50 fps
Input Audio Format
Analog: 48 kHz / 24-Bit
Output Video Format
SDI (8/10/12-Bit 4:4:4/4:2:2 RGB, YUV)
1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94 fps
1080PsF at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30 fps
1080i at 50/59.94/60 fps
720p at 50/59.94/60 fps
480i / 525 lines at 60 fps
576i / 625 lines at 50 fps
Embedded Audio
SDI: 16-Channel
Standards
Video Standard Compliance
SMPTE 259M/292M/296M/372M/425M
ITU -R BT.601/BT.656
HDR Support
Not Specified by Manufacturer
Hardware
OS Compatibility
Windows 8.1.10 or Later
macOS 10.14.15 or Later
Linux
Power
Power Consumption
22 W
Environmental
Operating Temperature
37 to 72°F / 5 to 40°C
Storage Temperature
-4 to 113°F / -20 to 45°C
Operating Humidity
0 to 90%
General
Certifications
C-Tick, CE, FCC
Dimensions
6.3" / 16 cm
Weight
4.59 oz / 130 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
0.56 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
7 x 5.55 x 1.05"

Blackmagic Design Quad 2 Reviews

Amazing value

By Jason
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-02-27

Compared to the alternatives, the Decklink Quad 2 gives you more I/O's for your money. That being said, there has got to be a better (more intuitive) way of mapping the connectors. It's confusing, and ends up requiring a lot of plugging and unplugging of sources to see what is what.

Don't expect any tech support.

By Leif
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2021-08-25

I've had TWO of these cards ruined by Blackmagic Design's own software update process. In both cases the cards were previously working just fine but I needed to move them to different computers for new projects, and after booting up the computers I was prompted with the ...needs a software update popup. The update would fail, leaving multiple ports dead. Blackmagic will NOT fix the cards once they are out of warranty even though it was their own software that bricked the cards. It's hard to find a comparable product with such a low price-per-input ratio, but any savings are lost when the cards are ruined by BM's own firmware. Avoid these cards like the plague.

See any errors on this page?

question

Why so the connections look so small. Are the connections not for SDI?
Asked by: Anonymous
The connections are miniature BNC's called 1.0/2.3 DIN. It allows more connections per card. Clever actually. You do need adapters if going to a conventional size cable. Please see below.
Answered by: Dennis A L.
Date published: 2018-08-26

Does this process/Encode video. would this be ...

Does this process/Encode video. would this be less of a burden on a computer if it had to separate capture cards for each video. Does the board do any processing of the video. or does the computer GPU and CPU still have to process the video? I want to use this for live streaming I have a 10th gen I7 with 80+ gbs of ram with 6gb graphics card Nvidia p1000 Laptop. Just want to make sure it can Work. I use OBS
Asked by: John
The Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 is a capture card and it does have some processing capability. which is listed below. Processing Colorspace Conversion Hardware based real time. HD Down Conversion Built in, high quality software down converter on playback and capture. Down converted SD selectable between letterbox and anamorphic 16:9 styles. HD Up Conversion Built in, high quality software up conversion from SD to 720HD or 1080HD on capture. Selectable between 4:3 pillarbox, 14:9 zoom and 16:9 zoom. Cross Conversion Built in, high quality hardware cross conversion from 720HD to 1080HD on playback, 1080HD to 720HD on playback. Real Time Effects DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro X internal effects. Adobe Premiere Pro CC Mercury Playback Engine effects. Avid Media Composer internal effects.
Answered by: Chris H
Date published: 2022-03-15

Can you tie two of the outputs together for key ...

Can you tie two of the outputs together for key and fill, while still using the other channels independently for ins and outs?
Asked by: Nick
Yes, you could set the I/O to KEY or Fill for two of the 8 ports when using the Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 8-Channel 3G-SDI Capture & Playback Card, and the rest could be normal SDI video outputs or inputs.
Answered by: Chris H
Date published: 2024-05-01

Can anyone reccomend a capture software that ...

Can anyone reccomend a capture software that works with this card allowing all 8 inputs to be captured at once? My PC is plenty powerful (64 cores, 128GB RAM, 6TB RAID0 SSD). Thanks!
Asked by: William
You could run 8 instances of OBS, or a professional program like MediaLooks Direct Take.
Answered by: Edward
Date published: 2021-02-19

All of these answers have aged, is the Sonnet ...

All of these answers have aged, is the Sonnet Echo Express SE IIIe still the Expansion case of choice for these BMD cards?
Asked by: Joseph
Yes, the Sonnet Echo Express SE IIIe Thunderbolt 3 Expansion Chassis for PCIe Cards is still the appropriate chassis for the Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2 8-Channel 3G-SDI Capture & Playback Card using Windows, Linux, or Mac M1/M2 chips.
Answered by: Richard
Date published: 2023-06-09

What is the connector? It looks smaller than a ...

What is the connector? It looks smaller than a standard BNC
Asked by: Kyle
Are the adapters with the right angle DIN 1.0/2.3 end going to fit into the DL? I'm wondering if the DL will stick out far enough from the back of the PC case. If that makes sense. I don't have it yet to look.
Answered by: Shea
Date published: 2020-08-17

What is a recommended Thunderbolt 2 Expansion ...

What is a recommended Thunderbolt 2 Expansion chassis for this PCIe card?
Asked by: Josiah
For the Blackmagic Design DeckLink Quad 2, Sonnet recommends the Sonnet Echo Express SE IIIe (thunderbolt 3): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1506346-REG/sonnet_echo_ex_se3e_t3_echo_express_se_iiie.html
Answered by: Eric
Date published: 2021-01-14

question

Hello product comes with cables? You make shipments to Argentina or Bolivia?
Asked by: Ruben E.
No. The Decklink Quad 2 not come with cables. You need to buy or make the cables . The small connectors are DIN 1.0/2.3. We can supply you pigtail cables with these small connectors to normal 75 Ohm BNC connectors.
Answered by: Paulo F.
Date published: 2018-08-26
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