USB Capture devices appear as standard USB cameras — no additional configuration needed in most cases.

• Install the USB Capture driver first
• Zoom: Settings → Video → Camera → select Magewell USB Capture
• Teams: Settings → Devices → Camera → select the device

Zoom Rooms: USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus is Zoom Rooms certified — it will be recognised as a room camera automatically.

USB 3.0 bandwidth limits uncompressed capture. To achieve 4K:

• Confirm you are on a USB 3.0 port (not USB 2.0)
• Set capture format to NV12 (YUV420 compressed) — this enables 4K30 over USB 3.0
• YUY2 (uncompressed 4:2:2) is limited to 1080p60 over USB 3.0 — this is normal and expected
• Check USB Capture Utility → the current USB speed is displayed at the top

• In OBS: set Audio Device in the Video Capture Device properties to Magewell USB Capture Audio — not Default
• Windows Sound: ensure Magewell device is not muted
• Confirm your source is outputting embedded audio — some cameras require HDMI audio output to be enabled in their menu settings
• In USB Capture Utility: check audio channel mapping — ensure the correct channels (1+2 for stereo) are selected
• If using a server OS: Windows Server disables the audio service by default — enable it in Services

A yellow exclamation on “Multimedia Video Controller” means the driver is not installed.

• Recommended: PCIe x4 Gen2 or higher — provides sufficient bandwidth for multi-channel 4K capture
• PCIe x4 cards can physically fit in x8 or x16 slots and will operate at x4 bandwidth
• PCIe x4 cards in x2 slots will work but bandwidth is reduced — not recommended for 4K or multi-channel capture
• Check the PCIe bandwidth in the Magewell driver panel after installation — it shows the current negotiated bandwidth

Low-latency mode: Pro Capture cards support a low-latency mode that reduces capture latency to as low as 64 scan lines — enable in the driver panel for live production use cases.

• Insufficient PCIe bandwidth: Check the driver panel — if PCIe bandwidth is near capacity, move the card to a higher-bandwidth slot or reduce capture format (e.g. switch from RGB32 to NV12)
• RGB32 colour space: RGB32 uses significantly more bandwidth than YUY2 — switch to YUY2 for multi-channel capture
• CPU bottleneck: If the capture PC is encoding in software simultaneously, reduce encoding threads or use hardware encoding
• BIOS incompatibility (multi-channel cards): Update the motherboard BIOS — the interchange chip on multi-channel cards can conflict with older BIOS versions

Yes — using a Thunderbolt PCIe expansion enclosure. Compatible enclosures include Sonnet xMac Mini Server, Sonnet Echo Express SE II and Akitio Node Pro.

• Confirm your laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 port
• Connect the PCIe expansion enclosure via Thunderbolt
• Install the Pro Capture card in the expansion enclosure
• Install the Magewell driver on the laptop — the card will be detected as normal

Yes — Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus supports three 4K SDI connection modes:

• Single-link 12G-SDI: One BNC cable — 4K at up to 60fps from a single 12G-SDI source
• Dual-link 6G-SDI: Two BNC cables — 4K from two 6G-SDI outputs
• Quad-link 3G-SDI: Four BNC cables — 4K from four 3G-SDI outputs (legacy infrastructure)

Select the connection mode in the Magewell driver panel to match your source configuration.

Eco Capture M.2 devices require an M.2 slot with PCIe signalling — specifically M.2 M-key (PCIe x4). They are NOT compatible with M.2 SATA-only slots.

• Check your motherboard or NUC specifications — the M.2 slot must support PCIe, not just SATA
• Most modern M.2 slots on Intel NUC, desktop motherboards and mini-PCs support PCIe — confirm before purchase
• The card will not be detected in an M.2 SATA-only slot even if it physically fits

• Confirm the M.2 slot supports PCIe — SATA-only slots will not detect the card
• Ensure the card is fully seated and the retaining screw is fastened
• Power off completely (not just restart) before installing — hot-insertion is not supported
• Check Device Manager for “Multimedia Video Controller” with a yellow warning — install the Eco Capture driver from magewell.com/downloads
• Check PCIe bandwidth in the driver panel after installation — M.2 PCIe x4 is the target

This is a known behaviour when capturing multiple channels simultaneously in RGB32 colour space — Eco Capture M.2 bandwidth becomes insufficient for multi-channel RGB32 preview.

• Switch colour space from RGB32 to NV12 or YUY2 — significantly reduces bandwidth per channel
• Reduce encoding parameters in your capture software
• Update to the latest Eco Capture firmware — bandwidth optimisations are included in firmware updates
• Single-channel capture in RGB32 is not affected — the issue is specific to multi-channel simultaneous capture

• Form factor: Eco Capture uses M.2 — fits in NUC, mini-PC and embedded systems. Pro Capture uses full PCIe — requires a desktop PC or server
• Bandwidth: Pro Capture PCIe (x4 Gen2) has higher sustained bandwidth — better for multi-channel uncompressed 4K capture
• Channel count: Eco Capture ranges from 1–4 channels. Pro Capture ranges from 1–8 channels
• Resolution: Both support up to 4K capture — Eco Capture 12G SDI 4K Plus M.2 supports single-link 12G-SDI 4K60
• Use case: Eco Capture = compact/embedded deployments. Pro Capture = broadcast workstations and multi-channel servers

NDI uses mDNS for automatic discovery — it only works within the same subnet.

• Confirm encoder and receiving device are on the same subnet (e.g. both 192.168.1.x)
• Check your managed switch supports multicast — some switches block mDNS by default on managed ports
• Ensure firewall allows UDP 5353 (mDNS discovery) and TCP/UDP 5960+ (NDI streams)
• Install NDI Tools on the receiving PC — open NDI Studio Monitor to verify the source is discoverable
• If not discoverable, add the encoder IP as a manual NDI source in your software

Cross-subnet: Use Magewell NDI Discovery Server feature (firmware V1.2.213+) or configure an NDI Discovery Server via NDI Tools to route streams across subnets.

Typical end-to-end latency (encode → network → decode → display) is approximately 70ms at 1080p60 under ideal conditions.

• Use hardware monitors and switches — software-based displays add OS rendering latency
• On Pro Convert decoders: reduce the video buffer in web GUI → NDI tab → decrease buffer value
• Use a low-latency managed switch (under 1ms forwarding) — consumer switches can add 5–10ms
• Full NDI provides lower latency than NDI HX — HX trades latency for bandwidth efficiency
• The PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) function can be disabled in the decoder web GUI if you experience decoding lag caused by inaccurate timestamps

• Full NDI: SpeedHQ intra-frame codec — highest quality, ~100–200Mbps, lowest latency. Used by Pro Convert encoders. Requires Gigabit LAN.
• NDI HX: H.264 compressed — 8–20Mbps. Good for bandwidth-constrained networks. Supported by Ultra Encode HDMI/SDI.
• NDI HX2: H.265 compressed — 8–20Mbps. Better quality than HX at the same bitrate.
• NDI HX3: H.265 up to 62Mbps — approaches Full NDI quality. Supported by Ultra Encode Plus/AIO and Pro Convert IP devices.

View packet loss in the Pro Convert web GUI → Signal tab.

• Network congestion: Full NDI at 1080p60 uses ~150Mbps — ensure the switch and uplinks have headroom
• Consumer switches: Replace with a managed Gigabit switch with QoS — prioritise NDI traffic
• Wi-Fi: Never use Full NDI over Wi-Fi — always use wired Ethernet
• Long cable runs: Use Cat6 for runs over 50m — Cat5e supports Gigabit to 100m but errors increase in poor installations
• Multicast: Multicast NDI is only recommended on a dedicated LAN not connected to an external network

• Connect the PTZ camera RS-232 cable to the Mini-DIN 8 port using the included breakout cable
• Web GUI → PTZ tab → select protocol: VISCA, Visca UDP, PELCO-P or PELCO-D
• Set baud rate to match your camera — 9600 for PELCO-D, 38400 for VISCA typical
• PTZ commands can also be sent via NDI tally from vMix, NewTek TriCaster and other NDI-compatible software

Three options for cross-subnet or cross-site NDI:

• NDI Bridge: Built into Ultra Encode firmware — bridges NDI streams from one network segment to another over standard IP. Configure in web GUI → NDI → Bridge settings
• NDI Discovery Server: Firmware V1.2.213+ on Pro Convert decoders — allows devices on different subnets to register with a central discovery server. Configure under Sources → NDI OPTIONS → Server IP
• SRT tunnel: Encode the NDI stream as SRT at the sending end and decode back to NDI at the receiving end using a Pro Convert IP decoder or Ultra Encode — works over any internet connection

• Check Signal LED: flashing = no signal, solid = signal locked
• Web GUI → Dashboard → Input Signal: shows detected format or “No Signal”
• Verify source is actively outputting — test directly with a monitor
• HDMI encoders: check EDID settings — the device must negotiate a format the source supports. Try setting Custom EDID to 1080p60
• SDI encoders: confirm SDI standard matches source (3G-A, 3G-B etc.) in web GUI SDI tab
• Try a different cable — SDI and HDMI cables can fail intermittently

• Web GUI → Sources: confirm an NDI/IP source is selected and active
• Web GUI → Output tab: confirm Decode Output is set to On — it can be disabled
• Check the NDI source is actively streaming — open NDI Studio Monitor to verify
• Try setting output resolution to Follow Input — a manual resolution unsupported by the display shows blank
• HDMI decoders: the display EDID is read automatically — try a different HDMI cable or display to rule out EDID negotiation issues

• Confirm your switch supports PoE — not all Gigabit switches include PoE
• Check the switch port has PoE enabled — managed switches often disable PoE per-port by default
• Pro Convert standard models use IEEE 802.3af (15.4W). Ultra Encode Plus/AIO need IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (30W) — confirm your switch supports the correct standard
• Check the total PoE budget — if the switch budget is exhausted, individual ports may not receive power
• Test with the included USB power adapter — if it powers via USB the issue is confirmed as PoE-related

EDID tells the HDMI source what formats the encoder accepts — setting a custom EDID forces the source to output a specific format.

• Web GUI → EDID tab → select Custom EDID → choose the target resolution and frame rate → Apply
• The source renegotiates and switches to the selected format automatically

The Pro Convert IP to HDMI (launched ISE 2026) is the new generation multi-format IP decoder:

• Single view: One stream at up to QHD (2560×1440) 60fps
• Dual view: Two streams side-by-side
• Picture-in-picture: Two streams as main + inset overlay
• Quad 2×2: Four simultaneous streams in a grid

Protocols accepted: NDI, SRT, RTMP, RTSP, HLS, MPEG-TS and Zixi simultaneously.
Layout selection is done via the onboard rotary dial or web GUI — no computer required on-site.

• Programme (red) and Preview (green) tally LEDs are built into the device
• Tally signals are output via the Mini-DIN 8 port — connect to the included tally light accessory for on-camera tally
• Tally state is sent by NDI-compatible production software (vMix, TriCaster etc.) via the NDI tally protocol over the network — no separate tally cable infrastructure needed

Via Magewell app (Ultra Stream):

Via web GUI (Ultra Encode): Channels → Add → RTMP → Server URL: rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 → paste your YouTube stream key from YouTube Studio → Save → Start.

• Via the Magewell app: select Facebook → log in — streams to your personal profile natively
• For Business Pages: Facebook → Live Video → Setup → Get Stream Key → copy Server URL and Stream Key → web GUI → Channels → Add → RTMP → paste both

Ultra Encode Plus / AIO and Director Mini/One: Support Facebook Business Pages natively in the latest firmware — log in directly from the device.

• Upload bandwidth: Your bitrate must be no more than 70% of sustained upload speed — a 4Mbps stream needs at least 6Mbps upload
• Use Ethernet: Wi-Fi jitter causes drops — always use wired Ethernet for streaming
• Reduce bitrate: Start at 2Mbps and increase until drops appear — identifies your reliable ceiling
• Switch to SRT: SRT has built-in packet loss recovery — far more reliable than RTMP over unstable connections
• Try a different ingest server: Some RTMP ingest servers are geographically distant — select the nearest server URL from your platform’s documentation

• Ultra Stream: 2 simultaneous RTMP destinations
• Ultra Encode HDMI/SDI: Multiple simultaneous RTMP, SRT, HLS and NDI HX destinations
• Ultra Encode Plus / AIO: Up to 6 simultaneous destinations across all protocols
• Director Mini / One: Up to 4 simultaneous streaming destinations

Each destination is configured independently — stream YouTube at 4Mbps and an SRT contribution at 15Mbps simultaneously from the same device.

Yes — Ultra Stream and Ultra Encode devices support 3G/4G USB modems via the USB-A port. Director One has a built-in 4G modem with antenna.

• Insert compatible USB modem (Huawei, Vodafone, EE etc.) into USB-A port
• Select Mobile Broadband as network interface in web GUI or app

Recommended 4G settings: Keep bitrate below 2Mbps, use H.265 for efficiency, use SRT rather than RTMP — SRT handles the packet loss and variable latency of mobile networks far better.

• YouTube 1080p60: 4500–6000Kbps, H.264, AAC 128Kbps
• YouTube 1080p30: 3000–4000Kbps, H.264
• Facebook Live: 3000–4000Kbps max, H.264
• Twitch 1080p60: 4500–6000Kbps, H.264
• SRT contribution (high quality): 8–15Mbps, H.265

H.265 advantage: Achieves equivalent quality to H.264 at approximately half the bitrate — use for SRT contribution or where bandwidth is limited.

SRT Caller — encoder initiates connection to receiver. Use when the destination has a known IP and open port.

• Channels → Add → SRT → Caller → enter destination IP and port e.g. 192.168.1.100:9001

SRT Listener — encoder waits for incoming connections. Use when destination IP is unknown or behind NAT.

• Select Listener → set port number → receiver connects to your encoder IP and port
• Ensure the port is open UDP in your firewall

Latency setting: Set to 4× your round-trip time (RTT). Local network: 20–40ms. Internet: 120–250ms.

Use RTMP for: consumer platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch), stable reliable internet connections, maximum platform compatibility.
Use SRT for: unreliable connections (4G, satellite, long-distance internet), broadcast contribution, when security/encryption is required, high bitrates above 8Mbps.

The URL is shown in the web GUI → Channels → next to the active session.

• RTSP format: rtsp://[device-ip]:554/stream
• HLS format: http://[device-ip]:8080/stream.m3u8

Paste into VLC, a web player or receiving software. Ensure ports 554 (RTSP) and 8080 (HLS) are open if accessing from outside the local network.

Yes — all Ultra Stream and Ultra Encode devices support simultaneous streaming and local recording.

• Ultra Stream: 32GB internal SD + USB flash drive simultaneously with streaming
• Ultra Encode HDMI/SDI: USB flash drive simultaneously with streaming
• Ultra Encode Plus / AIO: USB flash drive + SD card simultaneously with streaming

MP4 or MOV format. Files can be uploaded to FTP, Dropbox or Google Drive directly from the web GUI without removing storage media.

OSD overlays are available on the Ultra Encode AIO only — up to 8 simultaneous overlays:

• Text overlay with custom font and position
• PNG logo/image file uploaded via web GUI
• Analogue and digital clock displays

Web GUI → Video → OSD. Overlays appear in the encoded stream only — not on the loop-through output.

Stream scheduling is available on the Ultra Encode AIO only. Web GUI → Channels → Schedule → set start and stop times — the device streams and stops automatically.

Other Ultra Encode models start streams manually via web GUI or HTTP API integration with a control system.

The Plus models (HDMI Plus and SDI Plus) add:

• 4K input: Up to 4096×2160 30fps vs 2048×1080 on standard models
• 32Mbps bitrate: vs 16Mbps on standard models
• NDI HX2 and HX3: Up to 62Mbps vs NDI HX only on standard
• PoE+ powered: IEEE 802.3at — no mains adapter required
• Up to 6 simultaneous destinations: Including TVU ISSP and RTP
• SD card + USB recording: vs USB only on standard
• SDI Plus only: CEA-608/708 Closed Caption passthrough and RP-188 broadcast timecode

Director Mini accepts a wide range of source types:

• HDMI: Connect to HDMI IN 1 or 2 — auto-detected, supports up to 4K input
• USB webcam: Connect to USB-A port — UVC-compatible cameras including DJI and Insta360 supported
• NDI HX2/HX3: Touchscreen → Sources → Add → NDI → select from discovered sources on the network
• SRT stream: Add → SRT → enter server URL or listener port
• Phone camera: Director Utility app → connect phone → adds phone camera as a source over Wi-Fi
• Media file: Copy MP4/MOV/JPG/PNG to internal storage or SD card → Add → Video/Image
• Webpage: Add → Webpage → enter URL for live web content as a source

Scenes are pre-configured layouts combining sources, graphics and overlays.

• Create scenes in the Scenes panel — drag sources into the layout, set size and position
• Switch scenes using the touchscreen — tap the scene to take it to programme directly (Cut), or tap Preview first then Programme for a controlled transition
• Available transitions: Cut, Fade, DIP, DVE and custom effects
• Freeze a scene: hold the programme output static while reconfiguring in the background

Director Utility app enables remote scene switching from a smartphone — ideal for a single operator managing both camera and production.

Director Mini includes a comprehensive built-in GFX system:

• Title and lower-third overlays with custom text
• Animated text and bullet lists
• Analogue and digital clock
• Social media overlays
• Logo image overlays (PNG)
• Scoreboard with home/guest scores — including tennis scoring templates
• Timer and stopwatch
• Custom PAG (Portable Animated Graphics) files for advanced animations

All GFX text can be edited live during a production from the touchscreen or Director Utility app — change scoreboard scores, lower-third names and clock displays in real time.

Director Mini supports two-channel simultaneous ISO recording — record two different sources at the same time:

• Choose from: Programme output, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, USB Webcam, Multi-view, NDI HX2/HX3 stream
• Can record same source at two different quality levels simultaneously
• Files saved to internal storage or SD card in MP4 or MOV format
• Split recording files by time (up to 4 hours) or file size (up to 16GB)
• Export via: USB flash drive, SD card, computer connection, Director Utility app or web GUI download

Director Mini supports two hot-swappable NP-F batteries (not included) mounted on the rear of the device.

• NP-F550, NP-F570, NP-F750, NP-F970 compatible — higher capacity = longer runtime
• Two batteries mounted simultaneously — one can be hot-swapped while the other powers the device (Director One has four LEDs per battery socket for battery level indication)
• The rear-mounted batteries also act as a stand when placed on a flat surface — ensuring ventilation for the fan

Both share the same core production feature set. Key differences:

• Screen size: Director Mini = 5.44″ AMOLED. Director One = 7″ display — more working space
• Built-in 4G modem: Director One has a built-in 4G modem with Wi-Fi and 4G antennas — no USB modem dongle needed for mobile streaming
• Locking connectors: Director One has locking HDMI and USB connectors — more secure for broadcast/OB truck deployments
• External touchscreen: Director One can be controlled via an external connected touchscreen display in Duplicate Screen mode
• Battery indicators: Director One has 4 LEDs per battery socket for precise battery level display

The Director Utility app (iOS and Android) provides comprehensive remote control:

• Scene switching and transition control
• GFX management — edit lower-thirds, scoreboard and clock in real time
• Audio level control and monitoring
• PTZ camera control via network (Visca UDP)
• Instant replay control
• Use phone camera as an additional video source (up to 3 phone cameras)
• Stream start/stop
• Recording management

Connect via Wi-Fi on the same network as the Director device. The app can also connect remotely over the internet for off-site control.