Below is a list of recommended hardware and accessories to capture, record and re-stream video content using Focus.
Capture & Recording
Laptop and iPad
For full specification see Recommended Computer Hardware and Operating Systems.
Capture Devices
We support the following Blackmagic and AJA U-TAP capture devices.
Blackmagic
| Device | Notes |
| UltraStudio Recorder 3G | - |
| Blackmagic MiniRecorder | Not supported on M1 or M2 Macs |
See Blackmagic Desktop Video OS Compatibility below.
AJA U-TAP
Available in HDMI and SDI models. See AJA U-TAP Desktop Video OS Compatibility below.
Important:
- Requires Focus Server 6.7 or later
- Only one AJA device can be used at a time
- Audio capture with AJA is not supported
IP Video Encoders
Any H.264 IP video encoder capable of streaming via a supported protocol will work, for example:
- AVMatrix SE1217
- Blankom HDE-264
- Antrica devices (e.g. ANT-2554)
- Matrox Monarch EDGE
Camera
We don't endorse specific camera models, but most cameras with HDMI or SDI output are compatible with Blackmagic and AJA U-TAP devices.
- Keep the feed at 1080p / 60fps or below
- See Recommended Camera Settings for Focus for details
Cables
Cable requirements depend on your camera and capture device. Common options:
- HDMI to Mini HDMI or Micro HDMI (Blackmagic or AJA devices)
- SDI to SDI (Blackmagic or AJA devices)
- Thunderbolt 3 (Blackmagic capture device)
Capture Device Compatibility
Blackmagic Desktop Video OS Compatibility
Multiple versions may work with a given OS, but we recommend using the most recent release for best performance. Download the latest drivers here.
| Blackmagic Desktop Video | Sequoia 15.x | Sonoma 14.x | Ventura 13.x |
| 15.1 | |||
| 15.0 | |||
| 14.5 | |||
| 14.4.1 | |||
| 14.4 or lower |
Windows: Desktop Video 14.0 or later works with Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), minimum 8GB DDR4 RAM.
AJA U-TAP Desktop Video OS Compatibility
AJA U-TAP HDMI and SDI devices are bus-powered and driverless - supported natively on macOS and Windows.
| AJA U-TAP | Sequoia 15.x | Sonoma 14.x | Ventura 13.x | Monterey 12.x |
| HDMI | ||||
| SDI |
Windows: Works with Windows 10 and 11 (11 recommended by manufacturer), minimum 8GB DDR4 RAM.
Networking & Re-streaming
Wired Network
- Ethernet cable (x2 minimum)
- USB-C to Ethernet adapter (x2 minimum) or USB-C Hub (x2 minimum)
- Gigabit Ethernet switch
Wireless Network
Recommended access points our customers have used successfully:
- Ubiquity Wireless Access Point
- Ruckus R610 (or higher) Wireless Access Point
- MikroTik Wireless Wire Cube