Blackmagic Cloud Storage Overview: Features, Pricing, Security, and Performance

Today Blackmagic Design introduced several Blackmagic Cloud products for network storage. These new products will integrate with DaVinci Resolve so your team can all have access to the media and work more efficiently as a team. The kill of the hill is the Blackmagic Cloud Store. In short, Cloud Store is a network storage disk that features four 10G Ethernet ports, up to 320TB of high-speed flash memory, Dropbox sync, and HDMI monitoring. Blackmagic Cloud Store was designed for film and television where large media files need to be shared between multiple users for editing, color correction, audio post, and VFX work. Users don’t need to store files on their local computers and Blackmagic claims that there is zero latency.

The Blackmagic Cloud Store features a vertical design and it is also portable, unlike a lot of rack-mounted solutions. According to Blackmagic Design, it is also whisper quiet so it can be used on location. Internally it has an array of flash memory cards that work in parallel for speed and data protection. There are 2 redundant power supplies and the four 10G Ethernet ports operate as a switch so you can connect four separate computers, or they work together using “link aggregation” for 40G Ethernet speeds. The HDMI monitoring output allows you to watch a live graphic view of the storage operating on a TV or monitor. Dropbox sync allows multiple disks to be synchronized in different locations globally. Then each location is able to get the fastest editing experience possible. It is available in 20 TB, 80 TB, and 320 TB models, so customers have lots of space for all their business files and video media. M.2 flash memory cards are used for extreme reliability, high access speeds and zero seek times. Plus the M.2 cards are arranged in parallel RAID 5 groups so they can operate much faster than a single card. That ensures massive speed combined with fault tolerance. The internal memory core has been designed to saturate all four 10G Ethernet ports to their theoretical maximum speed, all at the same time. At maximum speed, the Blackmagic Cloud Store is extremely quiet with very little cooling fan noise. Users can set up a local cache of their Dropbox files. This makes working much faster because files are instantly available without needing to be loaded from the internet. Blackmagic Cloud Store will constantly work to stay in sync. Plus can also save space on their computer by moving cached Dropbox files to the Blackmagic Cloud Store so they are accessible to everyone on their local network. Users can even sync multiple Blackmagic Cloud Stores via Dropbox so people in different geographic locations can collaborate without latency because everyone has a local copy of the files.

The two USB-C ports on the Blackmagic Cloud Store can be used for loading and backup files. If users connect a media card reader or a USB-C disk to the ingest port, then all files on that disk will be loaded into the cloud store. It works with a USB-C disk, or even large USB-C disk arrays. There are no subscriptions to sign up for. There are no monthly license fees. There is no tracking of their usage or data. This means customers can run a private network, totally disconnected from the internet. This is critical for many security standards where computer networks cannot be connected to the external internet. Blackmagic Cloud Store will be available in Q2 2022 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide and it starts at $9,595 USD.

Variants: Mini, Pod, Store, Max, and Ultra

Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini can also handle heavy loads such as 12K Blackmagic RAW digital cinema files. Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini features a compact rack mount design that’s very portable and whisper quiet. Internally it has an array of 4 flash memory cards working in parallel for higher speed. The 10G Ethernet port and the 1G Ethernet port operate as a 2 port network switch. The Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini is available with 8 TB of flash memory, so customers have lots of space for their files. M.2 flash memory cards are used for reliability, high access speeds, and zero seek times. Plus the four M.2 cards are arranged in a parallel RAID 0 group so they can operate much faster than a single card. With a separate very high speed 10G Ethernet connection, Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini is very fast. The internal memory core has been designed to saturate the 10G Ethernet port to its theoretical maximum speed with multiple users connected at maximum speed. The Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini is quiet with very little cooling fan noise.

Blackmagic Cloud Pod lets you use any USB-C disk as network storage. The Blackmagic Cloud Pod means users can build their own network storage using USB-C flash disks they already own. Features include high-speed 10G Ethernet and Dropbox sync, so users can cache files locally and share them with everyone on their network. Blackmagic Cloud Pod even includes an HDMI monitoring output for a real-time view of the network storage status. Blackmagic Cloud Pod features compact pod design that connects 2 external USB-C disks. Hardware acceleration for high performance. Sync to Dropbox. Includes HDMI monitoring output with live storage status. Includes high speed 10G Ethernet port. No subscriptions, no licenses and no user data tracking. Includes software utility for Mac and Windows platforms. The Cloud Pod is extremely small and thin because it doesn’t have any included storage internally. It’s also quiet and very portable. It features two USB-C ports so it can host two separate USB disks on its network at the same time. The 10G Ethernet port means customers get extremely high performance. With a separate, very high speed 10G Ethernet connection, Cloud Pod is very fast. The internal processing has been designed to saturate the 10G Ethernet port to its theoretical maximum speed, so customers get full performance from the very fast USB-C disks available today. When using flash USB-C disks, access has very low latency, so responsiveness is fast. Even when editing large 12K digital film RAW files.

Pricing, Plans, and Comparisons

Blackmagic Cloud launched in 2023 with a pitch aimed directly at DaVinci Resolve users: collaborative project hosting with integrated cloud storage. The original pricing was $15 per month for 500 GB - steep at $30 per terabyte. That changes the math significantly. Blackmagic Cloud is not just raw storage. It is a project hosting service built around Resolve's collaboration features. The project library backs a Blackmagic Cloud database, which allows multiple Resolve users to work on the same project simultaneously with live syncing. The collaboration layer is the product. For teams that need real-time Resolve collaboration, this fills a gap that no combination of Dropbox and shared drives handles well. Resolve's collaboration has always required a shared PostgreSQL database, and setting that up remotely is not trivial.

Blackmagic Cloud pricing structure includes tiers to suit a wide audience, from independent creators to large post-production studios. This scalable approach means you can upgrade or adjust your subscription when project needs change, helping you keep costs under control without sacrificing features. The entry-level plan provides essential storage and remote management tools. As needs grow, mid-tier and enterprise options add storage, priority support, and advanced administrative tools. The pricing discussion emphasizes that Blackmagic Cloud is a specialized ecosystem for video editing efficiency, not just generic cloud storage.

When you compare Blackmagic Cloud to competitors in the video production cloud market, its specialization stands out. The platform enables a complete ecosystem fine-tuned for video editing efficiency, including large file transfers, multi-user collaboration, and straightforward project versioning. No subscriptions, licenses, or data tracking for the private storage option make it attractive for security-conscious teams. For solo editors or those using non-Resolve workflows, alternative cloud storage or traditional archival storage may be more appropriate.

Security and Privacy

Regardless of the cloud service chosen, Blackmagic Cloud emphasizes private, private-network usage with no mandatory external internet connectivity. The Cloud Store’s private, self-contained setup helps meet security standards that prohibit external internet access. The included Blackmagic Cloud Store utility enables customization of users, logins, and security certificates, along with optional FTP or web browser access controls. The system supports local caching and Dropbox synchronization to balance speed and collaboration while preserving data sovereignty.

Performance and Reliability

Key performance features include parallel M.2 flash memory in RAID configurations (RAID 5 in Ultra for redundancy, RAID 0 for maximum speed in some models), multi-port 10G and 100G Ethernet networking, and real-time HDMI/SDI monitoring outputs. The internal memory core is designed to saturate Ethernet ports at their theoretical maximum speeds, allowing dozens of simultaneous users with very low latency. Cooling designs range from side-to-side for desktop use to front-to-rear with multiple fans for Ultra, ensuring sustained performance even under heavy workloads and large 12K RAW files.

Use Cases and Workflows

Blackmagic Cloud is particularly well-suited for film and television workflows requiring shared access to large media files for editing, color correction, audio post, and VFX. It enables global collaboration with local copies of media to minimize latency, simplifies remote production with live project sharing in Resolve, and supports multi-camera and multiclip workflows through HyperDeck integration and multicam features within Resolve. The Cloud ecosystem is designed to complement DaVinci Resolve collaboration features, including dynamic project libraries and live syncing across locations.

For on-set operations, the vertical, portable Cloud Store devices fit on location where rack-mounted gear is impractical. The HDMI and SDI monitoring outputs provide real-time visibility into storage status during shoots. The integration with HyperDeck recorders enables live recording directly into the Cloud Store, with Resolve powering playback and post-production in near real-time.

Table: Model Highlights

In practical terms, Blackmagic Cloud pricing is a consideration, but the platform’s value lies in its workflow optimization for Resolve-centric teams. The solution emphasizes collaboration, local caching to minimize internet latency, and a private network with transparent management tools, which can translate into faster turnaround times and more predictable budgeting for post-production pipelines.

In summary, Blackmagic Cloud provides a family of storage solutions designed for film and television production, with fast multi-user performance, robust data protection through RAID configurations, private networking with no mandatory internet access, and deep integration with DaVinci Resolve for collaborative workflows across multiple locations.

tags: #blackmagic #cloud #storage