Blackmagic Design Video Assist 7” 3G Blackmagic Design

Edit-ready files

10-bit Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD recording provides higher quality than the internal codecs of many cameras, with files ready to open directly in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Older cameras gain modern recording formats without transcoding.

Scopes always available

Waveform, vectorscope, RGB parade and histogram can be displayed directly on the monitor without a separate measuring instrument – full screen, as a transparent overlay on the picture or with a small picture in picture view in the corner. Ideal for checking camera exposure and signal levels against broadcast standards.

Professional audio and mini XLR inputs

Two balanced mini XLR inputs with phantom power connect microphones or an external mixer directly to the monitor. Audio is recorded at 48 kHz and 24 bit, 2, 4, 8 or 16 channels can be recorded from SDI and levels are shown on audio meters with VU or PPM ballistics. A 3.5 mm headphone output is provided for monitoring.

Details for professional monitoring and recording

Blackmagic Video Assist 7″ 3G is a professional camera monitor, video recorder and a solution for measuring the video signal. It lets you add a larger viewfinder and recording to high-quality codecs to your camera with SDI and HDMI outputs. The new models offer improved signal measurement and focus assist features, a tally light and 3D LUT correction. The Video Assist 7″ 3G supports standard video formats up to 1080p60 and offers longer run time thanks to Sony L-Series batteries.

All Video Assist camera monitors and recorders have a large touchscreen for easy monitoring, recording and playback, signal measurement and focus assist display. Thanks to their larger body, the 7″ models also include analog audio inputs and two SD card slots for continuous recording. All models also feature a rear tally light, a speaker and a headphone output. The new generation of Video Assist uses Sony L-Series batteries and, with two battery slots, allows uninterrupted operation.

The 5″ and 7″ models with touchscreens make framing and focusing easy and display essential information and controls including timecode, transport controls, audio meters and histogram. Focus assist, false color, 3D LUT correction and other features are also available. 3D LUTs give a preview close to the final post-production look; the correction can be applied directly into the recorded files or non-destructively.

The integrated Video Assist recorders use standard, easy-to-obtain SD media (ExFAT and HFS+ file systems are supported); the 7″ 3G model has UHS-I card slots, while the fast UHS-II cards are used by the 12G HDR models. The larger 7″ versions have two SD card slots so full media can be swapped, allowing infinite length recording. SD cards combine affordability, small size and high recording speed.

Blackmagic Video Assist is an ideal addition to cameras, which mostly offer only small displays with insufficient brightness and often lack good focus assist features or high-quality recording codecs. The Video Assist range can also upgrade older cameras, extending their life with the modern Apple ProRes and Avid DNx recording formats. HDMI and SDI inputs let the monitors connect to practically any consumer or professional camera or DSLR/DSLM.

The innovative touch control gives quick access to all features including virtual playback buttons, a mini timeline for quickly scrolling through recordings and display of timecode, video standard or audio levels. Fast playback using gestures is also included.

Video Assist offers wide support for interfaces and video standards, from SD/HD on all models up to Ultra HD on the 12G-SDI models. The 7″ versions also feature mini XLR inputs for professional microphones or external audio mixers. All models have a 12 V power input, and the 12G models add a locking nut to prevent the power cable from being disconnected accidentally.

Recording uses standard open video formats, so no later transcoding is needed: recordings can be processed immediately in standard software (such as DaVinci Resolve Studio) on all common operating systems. The monitors record standard 10-bit ProRes and DNx files and, on the 12G-SDI HDR models with supported cameras, the 12-bit Blackmagic RAW format.

The software also includes scopes that ensure, for example, compliance of the recording with broadcast standards. A waveform, vectorscope, RGB parade and histogram are available. The scopes can be overlaid on the live video or shown as a thumbnail in the top right corner of the screen.

Digital film cameras preserve a wide dynamic range, but their output therefore looks very different from the final look of the program. 3D LUTs solve this by correcting the look of the footage losslessly during monitoring. Video Assist models support importing standard 17 and 33 point 3D LUTs and also offer several built in presets such as Extended Video and Film to Video.

The digital slate and metadata entry features make managing footage much easier. A gesture (swiping from the edge of the screen) opens the digital slate, where information can be entered manually or take numbers can increment automatically. Metadata is saved with the video files and is available in post production, for example in DaVinci Resolve. DaVinci Resolve can automatically find and sync shots using the Sync Bin in the Cut page.

The SDI and HDMI interfaces support standard SD and HD formats. This includes PAL and NTSC SD, 720p HD standards including 720p50 and 59.94p, 1080i HD formats 1080i50 and 59.94 and 1080p HD formats 1080p23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60p. 1080 PsF formats are also supported.

With high-quality audio recording, Blackmagic Video Assist removes the need for a dedicated audio recorder. When recording SDI, 2, 4, 8 or 16 audio channels can be recorded in real time. The 7″ models also have two analog audio inputs with mini XLR connectors, phantom power for condenser microphones and 16 and 24-bit recording at a 48 kHz sample rate. Levels can be monitored on the on-screen audio meters with VU or PPM ballistics.