Blackmagic Design
Australian developer and manufacturer of professional digital cinema, broadcast, live-production, and post-production technology.
Last updated October 7, 2026
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Overview
Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd is an Australian professional media-technology company founded by Grant Petty in 2001 and headquartered in South Melbourne, Victoria. The company develops software and manufactures hardware for digital filmmaking, television production, live streaming, broadcast infrastructure, editing, color grading, visual effects, audio post-production, and film restoration. Its products are used across independent production, commercial filmmaking, television, online video, education, houses of worship, corporate communications, and broadcast operations. The company entered the market with DeckLink, a video-capture card introduced in 2002 for macOS. DeckLink supported uncompressed 10-bit video and positioned Blackmagic around a characteristic combination of professional capability and comparatively accessible pricing. Later DeckLink products expanded operating-system support, connectivity, and compatibility with mainstream editing applications. The product family helped establish Blackmagic as an infrastructure supplier rather than solely a camera maker. Blackmagic broadened its capabilities through acquisitions. The purchase of da Vinci Systems brought color-grading technology that became the foundation for DaVinci Resolve. The company later acquired Echolab's ATEM switcher business, eyeon Software, London-based Cintel, and Fairlight. These additions extended its scope into live switching, compositing, film scanning, restoration, and professional audio. The resulting portfolio spans the full production chain, from camera acquisition and signal conversion to editing, grading, finishing, delivery, and archiving. The company announced its first Cinema Camera at the 2012 NAB Show. It subsequently developed the Cinema Camera, Pocket Cinema Camera, URSA, and URSA Mini families, giving cinematographers and smaller production teams access to digital cinema cameras with features associated with higher-end workflows. Its camera business operates alongside a broad range of accessories, recorders, monitors, converters, storage devices, and software tools. DaVinci Resolve is one of Blackmagic Design's most recognizable offerings. The application combines nonlinear editing, color correction and grading, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production. A free edition and a paid Studio edition support different levels of functionality, while dedicated keyboards, color panels, Fairlight consoles, and other control surfaces integrate with the software. This software-and-hardware model reinforces Blackmagic's position across both acquisition and post-production. In live production, the ATEM family includes compact streaming switchers as well as larger multi-format production systems. Other product groups include HyperDeck recorders, DeckLink and UltraStudio capture and playback hardware, Ultimatte keyers, Videohub routing systems, Micro and Mini Converters, Teranex products, and Cloud Store network-storage systems. The portfolio is designed to let users assemble complete workflows using products from one supplier while retaining compatibility with established broadcast and post-production standards. Blackmagic remains a privately held company. Public reference material identifies its principal base in Australia and describes an international customer and distribution footprint, but does not establish a public stock listing, revenue figure, or current executive roster beyond the company's founder. Its market identity is built around vertically integrated product development, broad workflow coverage, frequent product-family expansion, and professional features offered at prices intended to reach a wider customer base than traditional high-end vendors.
History
Blackmagic Design was founded in Australia by Grant Petty on 7 September 2001. Its initial identity was built around professional video infrastructure rather than cameras. The company's first product, DeckLink, appeared in 2002 as a video-capture card for macOS. Its support for uncompressed 10-bit video addressed professional editorial and finishing requirements while pursuing a lower-cost alternative to established specialist hardware. Subsequent DeckLink versions, including DeckLink 2, Pro SDI, HD Plus, and related products, added features such as color-correction support, Windows compatibility, and integration with widely used editing systems including Adobe Premiere Pro. Blackmagic's strategy was to assemble a broad, compatible toolkit for media production. Rather than concentrating on a single device category, it expanded into capture, playback, signal conversion, monitoring, routing, recording, and live production. The acquisition of da Vinci Systems in 2009 was particularly important because it added mature color-grading technology. That technology became central to DaVinci Resolve, which developed from a specialist grading application into an integrated platform for nonlinear editing, color, visual effects, and audio post-production. In 2010, Blackmagic acquired Echolab's ATEM switcher line, establishing a presence in live production and broadcast switching. At the 2012 NAB Show, it announced its first Cinema Camera, extending the brand into digital cinematography. The Cinema Camera initiative was followed by camera families such as Pocket Cinema Camera and URSA, including URSA Mini variants. These products helped make Blackmagic a visible camera brand while retaining links to the company's existing post-production ecosystem. The company continued to build its software and workflow portfolio through acquisitions. In 2014 it acquired eyeon Software, adding compositing and visual-effects expertise that became associated with Blackmagic Fusion. The same year, it acquired London's Cintel, a company known for film-scanning and restoration technology. In 2016, it acquired Fairlight, adding professional audio technology, consoles, and post-production tools. These transactions enabled Blackmagic to cover more stages of the media lifecycle, from film scanning and camera capture through editing, grading, effects, mixing, and delivery. Its modern portfolio includes DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio; control surfaces for editing, color, and audio; Fairlight consoles and interfaces; Cintel film scanners; ATEM switchers and controllers; Ultimatte chroma-keying systems; HyperDeck and Video Assist recording products; DeckLink and UltraStudio capture and playback devices; Micro Converter, Mini Converter, and Teranex broadcast-conversion products; Videohub routing systems; and Cloud Store and Cloud Pod network-storage products. The camera portfolio includes digital cinema systems and accessories aimed at both independent and professional production. Blackmagic Design is privately held and operates internationally. Publicly available reference material identifies its headquarters in South Melbourne, Australia, and describes a global professional-media customer base. The company has not publicly disclosed in the supplied sources a current executive roster beyond founder Grant Petty, financial performance figures, or a stock-market listing. Its continuing differentiation is the breadth of its integrated workflow, compatibility with professional standards, and attempt to make advanced cinema and broadcast tools accessible to a wider range of users.
- 2016
Fairlight is acquired
[1]Fairlight's audio technology and professional-console expertise expanded Blackmagic's audio post-production capabilities.
- 2014
eyeon Software and Cintel are acquired
[1]The acquisitions expanded Blackmagic into compositing, visual effects, film scanning, and restoration.
- 2012
First Cinema Camera is announced
[1]Blackmagic announced its first digital Cinema Camera at the NAB Show.
- 2010
Echolab's ATEM line is acquired
[1]The acquisition brought the ATEM live-production switcher line into Blackmagic Design.
- 2009
da Vinci Systems is acquired
[1]Blackmagic acquired da Vinci Systems, adding established color-grading technology to its portfolio.
- 2002
DeckLink launches
[1]The company's first product, DeckLink, introduced a macOS video-capture card supporting uncompressed 10-bit video.
- 2001
Blackmagic Design is founded
[1]Grant Petty founded Blackmagic Design in Australia on 7 September 2001.
Products and positioning
Professional, integrated, and comparatively cost-accessible production technology spanning acquisition, live production, post-production, broadcast infrastructure, and media storage.
Editing, color, visual effects, and audio software
DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio
DaVinci Resolve is Blackmagic Design's integrated post-production application. It combines nonlinear editing, color correction and grading, visual effects and motion graphics, and audio post-production in one environment. A free edition is offered alongside DaVinci Resolve Studio, the paid edition with additional professional capabilities. The software is supported by dedicated editing keyboards, color panels, and Fairlight control surfaces.
Cameras · 2012
Digital Cinema Cameras
Blackmagic's digital cinema-camera portfolio includes the Cinema Camera, Pocket Cinema Camera, URSA, and URSA Mini families. These systems are designed for filmmaking and other professional image-acquisition workflows and connect with the company's recording, monitoring, editing, and color-grading ecosystem.
Live-production switchers
ATEM
ATEM is a family of live-production switchers ranging from compact systems aimed at streaming and small productions to larger multi-input broadcast switchers. The range is supported by camera-control panels, advanced control panels, recording functions, and related live-production accessories.
Capture and playback · 2002
DeckLink
DeckLink products are professional PCI Express video capture and playback devices. The family supports broadcast and post-production connections and is used to move video between computers, cameras, monitors, editing systems, and other studio equipment. Its original 10-bit uncompressed capture capability helped establish Blackmagic's market position.
Broadcast recording and playback
HyperDeck
HyperDeck products are professional recording and playback devices for studio, broadcast, and production environments. The range includes compact and rack-oriented models with support for different resolutions, interfaces, and HDR workflows, allowing them to serve as camera recorders, playback decks, and broadcast media devices.
Compositing and visual effects
Fusion
Fusion is Blackmagic Design's compositing and visual-effects software, derived from technology associated with eyeon Software. It supports compositing and effects work within the broader DaVinci Resolve post-production ecosystem.
Audio post-production · 2016
Fairlight
Fairlight products cover professional audio post-production, including consoles, channel controls, audio editors, interfaces, and related tools. The technology is integrated into DaVinci Resolve and supports sound editing, mixing, and finishing for media production.
Film scanning and restoration · 2014
Cintel
Cintel systems provide film scanning and restoration capabilities for converting motion-picture film into digital media and supporting preservation or remastering workflows. Cintel became part of Blackmagic Design through an acquisition in 2014.
Broadcast infrastructure
Broadcast converters and Videohub
Blackmagic's Micro Converter, Mini Converter, Teranex, and Videohub families handle signal conversion, distribution, routing, and connectivity across broadcast and production environments. Products support combinations of SDI, HDMI, optical, analog, audio, and IP-based workflows.
Network storage
Cloud Store
Cloud Store and Cloud Pod products provide network-storage and media-access functions for production teams. They extend Blackmagic's portfolio from capture and post-production into shared storage and media-workflow infrastructure.
Brand decisions
2016
Acquire FairlightM&ABackground
The company wanted to strengthen the audio component of its integrated post-production workflow.
Action taken
Blackmagic acquired Fairlight, an audio-technology company associated with professional audio systems and consoles.
Aftermath
Fairlight technology became part of Blackmagic's audio post-production and DaVinci Resolve offering.
2014
Acquire eyeon Software and CintelM&ABackground
Blackmagic was broadening its workflow coverage into visual effects, film scanning, and restoration.
Action taken
It acquired eyeon Software and London's Cintel.
Aftermath
The acquisitions added Fusion-related compositing capabilities and Cintel film-scanning technology.
2012
Enter digital cinema camerasProduct launchBackground
Blackmagic had established itself in video infrastructure and sought to address digital filmmaking directly.
Action taken
The company announced its first Cinema Camera at the NAB Show.
Aftermath
The move led to a wider camera portfolio including Pocket Cinema Camera and URSA families.
2010
Acquire Echolab's ATEM switcher lineM&ABackground
The company was extending its product range into live television and production switching.
Action taken
Blackmagic acquired Echolab's ATEM switcher line.
Aftermath
ATEM became a core part of Blackmagic's live-production and streaming portfolio.
2009
Acquire da Vinci SystemsM&ABackground
Blackmagic sought to expand beyond capture hardware into professional color grading and post-production.
Action taken
It acquired da Vinci Systems and incorporated its color-grading technology into the Blackmagic portfolio.
Aftermath
The acquisition contributed to the development of DaVinci Resolve as a broader editing, grading, effects, and audio application.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Blackmagic Design introduces UltraStudio Express HD[3]
Reported:
Blackmagic Design introduced UltraStudio Express HD, a capture and playback device that connects broadcast and analog video equipment to computers over USB4 or Thunderbolt 4. The device is available through Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.
- Unconfirmed
Blackmagic Design raises prices on 36 products[4]
Blackmagic Design increased prices on 36 products due to rising memory costs. The updated prices apply to new orders; existing customer backorders will be fulfilled at their original order prices.
- Unconfirmed
Blackmagic Camera app for iOS adds iPhone 18 Pro adjustable aperture support[5]
Reported:
Blackmagic Design's free Blackmagic Camera app for iOS was among the first third-party apps to introduce support for the iPhone 18 Pro's adjustable aperture, offering 10 presets instead of the four settings in the native iOS camera app. After version 3.5 was tested and described as "pretty buggy," the app was updated to version 3.5.1 with general performance and stability improvements.
DaVinci Resolve 17 Beta 2 released with more than 50 improvements[6]
Reported:
Blackmagic Design released DaVinci Resolve 17 Beta 2, which includes more than 50 improvements, including increased reliability when installing from network disks on Windows.
Blackmagic Design makes Teranex Mini SDI to DisplayPort 8K HDR available[7]
Reported:
Blackmagic Design announced the immediate availability of the Teranex Mini SDI to DisplayPort 8K HDR, an 8K monitoring solution available from its resellers worldwide.
Blackmagic Design lowers Pocket Cinema Camera 6K price[8]
Reported:
Blackmagic Design announced a US$500 price reduction for the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, setting its price at US$1,995. The camera was available at that price immediately from resellers worldwide.
Sources11 sources
- 1Blackmagic Designen.wikipedia.org
- 2Blackmagic Design official websiteblackmagicdesign.com
- 3Blackmagic Design推出UltraStudio Express HDiclarified.com
- 4Blackmagic Design 上调 36 款产品价格webwire.com
- 5Blackmagic Camera iOS 应用支持 iPhone 18 Pro 可调光圈theverge.com
- 6DaVinci Resolve 17 Beta 2 发布，新增 50 多项改进finance.sina.com.cn
- 7Blackmagic Design推出Teranex Mini SDI to DisplayPort 8K HDRsportsvideo.org
- 8Blackmagic Design下调Pocket Cinema Camera 6K售价nexttv.com
- 9Blackmagic Design Announces New Low Price for Pocket Cinema Camera 6Kdigitalmedianet.com
- 10Blackmagic Design Announces New Low Price for Pocket Cinema Camera 6Kdigitalproducer.com
- 11Blackmagic Design Launches UltraStudio Express HDtvtechnology.com
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