Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive workflow 01 / 05

Stuff to buy

The cost of the camera itself is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re using a high-end camera to record something, you tend to feel inclined to spend a little more double up and do it right. This page lists the exact gear I use, but get whatever fits your budget. I’m a solo “run and gun” kind of guy, so mobility matters.

Camera, batteries, storage

  • $32,995 at Blackmagic Design: Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera.
  • 4 × $519 at B&H: Core SWX Helix Max 275 Lithium-Ion Dual-Voltage Battery (275 Wh, B-Mount) to power the camera.
  • $1,299 at B&H: Core SWX GT8 Quad Charger for Helix Max Batteries (B-Mount) to charge four batteries at once.
  • 2 × $1,865 at B&H: Blackmagic Design Media Module (8 TB). The camera comes with one. If you plan to record more than 98 minutes of footage, you’ll need more — three modules gets you 4.9 hours.

Tripod, computer, software

  • $4,384 at B&H: Sachtler aktiv8T flowtech75 MS Tripod System — supports 26.5 lbs (12 kg). Sometimes goes on sale for $2,334. It carries the weight, re-levels easily after picking it up, doesn’t wobble even when there’s movement nearby (dancing crowds), goes high or low, and the legs set up one-handed. Fluid head, but that’s incidental — you won’t pan or tilt.
  • $7,349 at Apple: 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128 GB unified memory, 8 TB SSD. A MacBook Pro or Apple Studio is required — the PC version of DaVinci Resolve cannot generate AIVU files. (If you’re a student, use Apple’s Education Store.)
  • $2,375 at B&H: Blackmagic Design Media Dock for URSA Cine 12K. Connects up to three media modules to multiple computers. The camera itself runs hot even just transferring footage to a computer over ethernet or USB, so a dedicated Media Dock takes that strain off the camera body.
  • DaVinci Resolve Studio. A license comes with the camera; if you’re renting, it’s $295 from Blackmagic.
  • Cheese plate — either option A or option B.
  • 1/4” to 1/4” screws — Amazon.
  • 3/8” to 3/8” screws — Amazon.

Microphones, recorder, timecode

  • $999 at Amazon: Soundfield by RØDE NT-SF1 Premium Ambisonic VR Microphone — 1st-order ambisonic audio (4 channels).
  • $750 at Amazon: Zoom F6 Multitrack Field Recorder records the audio from the mics as 32-bit float. 6 channels, supports the NT-SF1 plus two mono mics.
  • $350 at B&H: Tentacle Sync E mkII Timecode Generator (Bluetooth 5.0, dual set) so the camera’s video syncs to the external mic’s audio in Resolve. You can use one if you set the Zoom F6 to its own internal timecode after sync, but expect drift if you power-cycle.
  • $32 at B&H: Tentacle to BNC Cable (right-angle, 16”) to connect a Tentacle to the camera. The other Tentacle uses the cable that comes with it for the Zoom F6.
  • $191 at Amazon: Sennheiser MD 46 cardioid interview microphone for street interviews.
  • $20 at Amazon: Sennheiser 004839 windscreen.
  • $300 at Amazon: Sennheiser EW-DP SKP (R1-6) — records 32-bit audio onto a microSD card as backup and wirelessly transmits the signal.
  • $349 at Amazon: Sennheiser EW-DP EK (R1-6) receiver. Plugs into the Zoom F6’s channel 5 or 6 so audio is timecoded.
  • 2 × $107 at Amazon: SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-I 1 TB + Adapter. Zoom F6 takes full-size SD, handheld mic takes microSD.
  • $40 at Amazon: Panasonic Eneloop Pro Quick Charger. Powers the Zoom F6 (4 batteries) and two lapel mics (2 × transmitter + 2 × receiver) — 12 batteries in service.
  • $85 at Amazon: Eneloop Panasonic Pro AA — 16 batteries, 4 spares.

Archive

  • Lots of mechanical hard drives. 98 minutes of footage = 8 TB.

If money were no object