Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast – Update for RAW Recording

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by Jakub HanDecember 20^th, 2019

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Besides DaVinci Resolve 16.1.2 update, Blackmagic also announced new firmware update for the URSA Broadcast camera. The new version 6.7 brings Blackmagic RAW recording format and many more improvements. The company also updates their viewfinders. The update can now be downloaded for free from Blackmagic Design support center.

URSA Broadcast camera. Image credit: Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design announced new DaVinci Resolve 16.1.2 update, which brought support for Blackmagic RAW format from the URSA Broadcast camera. Naturally, they also announced new firmware for this camera to support BRAW recording. Furthermore, they announced updates for URSA Viewfinder and URSA Studio Viewfinder. What exactly is included with these free firmware updates?

Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast Update 6.7

Apart from adding support for Blackmagic RAW recording, there are many new improvements and features. Please note, that the update will also remove Cinema DNG format recording – we have seen this recording option also removed from other Blackmagic cameras (like the Pocket series) in the past. Rumor has it (and Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty hinted at it) that this has to do with RED’s patent for camera-internal RAW compression and recording. Yet, Cinema DNG is considered old and storage inefficient for many purposes, which is why Blackmagic RAW seems like the better option in most cases anyway.

URSA Broadcast camera. Image credit: Blackmagic Design

This is a complete list of new features for URSA Broadcast:

• Add language localization support.
• Add new demosaic algorithm for improved sensor response.
• Add extra level of gain control up to +18dB.
• Add gain slider and 1/3 stop gain adjustment.
• Add lens correction for B4 lenses.
• Add ability to remap buttons on broadcast lenses.
• Add Blackmagic RAW recording format.
• Add LUT embedding in Blackmagic RAW clips.
• Add 720p SDI output on main SDI and 720p SDI input.
• Add sensor pixel recalibration in camera.
• Add ability to adjust line level audio.
• Add sidetone level adjustment.
• Add improved ballistics and scaling of audio meters.
• Add choice of -18 or -20dB reference levels for audio meters.
• Add ability to remap the HFR button.
• Add ability to disable function and HFR buttons.
• Add press-to-focus for EF, PL and B4 lenses with focus servo.
• Add quick media switching from the heads up display.
• Add support for HDR metadata in SDI output.
• Add ‘LUT’ icon to status text overlays.
• Add ‘PRE’ icon to status text overlays for preset timecode.
• Add 2:1, 1:1 and 4:5 monitoring frame guides.
• Add customizable frame guides.
• Add ability to lock timecode to SDI Input.
• Retain jam synced timecode after power cycle.
• Improved jam sync timecode accuracy after playback.
• Improved stability when using external or program reference.
• Improved compatibility for embedded audio on SDI outputs.
• Improved thermal performance.
• Improved ND filter status text.
• Improved Canon B4 lens support.
• Improved EF lens support.
• Improved auto exposure speed and performance.
• Improved auto focus performance.
• Improved media formatting user interface.
• Improved clip playback for renamed clips.
• Numerous performance and stability improvements.
• Removed old Cinema DNG format.

New Features for URSA Viewfinders

Blackmagic Desing also updates their viewfinders. The URSA Studio Viewfinder receives the following new features:

• Add support for new URSA Broadcast gain settings.
• Add support for new 4:5 and 1:1 frame guides.
• Add improved ballistics and scaling of audio meters.
• Add choice of -18 or -20dB reference levels for audio meters.
• Fixed bug where Focus Assist changes colour on power cycle.

URSA Studio viewfinder. Image credit: Blackmagic Design

The URSA Viewfinder receives the following updates:

• Add support for new URSA Broadcast gain settings.
• Add support for new 4:5 and 1:1 frame guides.

URSA viewfinder. Image credit: Blackmagic Design

Last but not least, Blackmagic Design updated Blackmagic RAW format. Besides the obvious URSA Broadcast support, BRAW version 1.6.1 brings general performance and stability improvements for  Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro BRAW plugins.

The new update can be downloaded for free on Blackmagic Design support center website. Please note, that there no new features in firmware 6.7 for other camera models. Blackmagic Design also announced they are working on a firmware update for the Blackmagic Camera & Studio Fiber Converters which will follow in 2020.

What do you think about the new update for Blackmagic URSA Broadcast? Do you use this camera for your work? Do you like working with Blackmagic RAW? Let us know in the comments below the article.