Blackmagic Design just dropped a firmware update that video shooters and broadcasters have quietly been waiting for: Blackmagic Camera 10.0 adds up to 10 minutes of pre-record on the URSA Broadcast G2 and Blackmagic PYXIS cameras so you never miss a moment. This is not a minor tweak, and it shifts how independent shooters, news crews, and event teams think about capture workflows.

What is pre-record and why it matters

Traditionally, cameras only record from the moment you press record forward. With pre-record, the camera constantly buffers footage in a temporary memory. When something important happens, even if you hit record a few seconds (or minutes) late, you can save what happened before the button press. This matters because:

• Unplanned moments rarely happen on cue.

• Traditional record workflows mean guessing when action will occur.

• Continuous record wastes media and makes post-production harder.

Pre-record preserves context without the storage overhead of always recording.

Blackmagic’s implementation: Up to 10 minutes

Ten minutes is not accidental. In documentary, broadcast news, and live event coverage, heads-up cues can lag by minutes. A 10-minute buffer gives you confidence that you’ll have usable footage before you react. Blackmagic’s pre-record:

• Works on both URSA Broadcast G2 and PYXIS cameras.

• Buffers internally so you can save footage retrospectively.

• Is especially powerful combined with reliable codecs and fast media.

This feature aligns these cameras more closely with professional ENG (electronic news gathering) gear, where pre-record is a standard tool for live scenarios.

Today we announced Blackmagic Camera 10.0 update which adds support for up to 10 minutes pre-record on Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 and Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and 12K models! Now you can record up to 10 minutes of action before you press the record button. The pre-record function lets the camera continuously record to the media card, ensuring any unexpected event will never be missed. Simply select the pre-record duration you need, from 5 seconds to a full 10 minutes, and that cached media will be added to the start of each file you record. This means every important moment is safely captured, critical for unpredictable or fast changing environments like documentaries, news or live events. By only saving what’s needed, pre-record also helps reduce storage use because even though you are constantly recording, only the section before you press record is preserved.

– Blackmagic Design

How this changes real-world workflows

• Less Guesswork, Better Coverage: Shooters covering events or breaking news can focus on framing and storytelling, not on hitting record at exactly the right moment.
• Storage Efficiency: Continuous record consumes media quickly. Pre-record lets you capture only what matters while still preserving context.
• Multi-Camera Shoots: In multi-cam setups, staggered record triggers are common. With pre-record enabled, editors are far more likely to have usable clips from all angles, even if cameras were started at slightly different times.

Other notable improvements in Camera 10.0

While pre-record is the headline, Camera 10.0 includes workflow refinements worth noting:

• Expanded audio capture options including four-channel support.

• Mono headphone monitoring for simpler audio checks.

• Frame guide opacity controls for cleaner operator experience.

• New REST API commands supporting remote control and automation.

These enhancements are subtle but meaningful for newsrooms, studios, and rental houses.

What this means for Blackmagic in the market

Blackmagic continues to innovate in ways that matter to real shooters: The company is adding features that solve real production problems. Pre-record puts URSA Broadcast G2 and PYXIS in a new category of value for live and unpredictable production. Moreover, these cameras now better serve hybrid shooters who need both cinematic quality and broadcast-ready workflows.

Bottom line

By introducing up to 10 minutes of pre-record, Blackmagic has filled a gap between traditional cinematography workflows and live/broadcast requirements. This feature alone makes the URSA Broadcast G2 and PYXIS more versatile, smarter, and better suited for high-stakes shooting environments where timing is unpredictable.