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Resolve 21, Fusion, Fairlight Live, and many, many boxes!

13.04.2026
NAB 2026 turns into a platform push: 100G SMPTE 2110 live gear, Resolve Photo Editing workflows, new Fairlight live mixing, and a bigger Fusion core.
A man with gray hair smiles while standing behind an expansive mixing console filled with various sliders and controls. In the background, there are sleek audio and video equipment, highlighting a modern, well-lit studio setting with wooden accents.

Before we start: We typed this during the live stream, so watch out for deeper and more precise News and Articles about Resolve 21 and Fusion 21. (And the removing of some typos the day after)

The 100G shift: fewer cables, still redundant

Blackmagic Design is using NAB 2026 as a coordinated move to a new SMPTE 2110 ecosystem built around 100G networking. The goal is to reduce cabling complexity while keeping redundancy, monitoring, and routing features in a footprint that fits broadcast racks and mobile units.

The centre of gravity is a new class of native 2110 switchers, designed around 100G links rather than baseband trunks. The ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP moves the Constellation line into a 100G design with 32 inputs and 28 outputs. It includes standards conversion on every input, four multiview outputs, 16 ATEM Advanced Keyers, four DVEs, and two SuperSource processors. A larger three-rack-unit model targets bigger sports and broadcast work with 64 inputs and 52 outputs.

A sleek, black audio interface device with a modern design, featuring two large knobs for volume control centrally located. To the right, a small LCD screen displays information, while the front panel has various ports and buttons, enhancing its professional look.
A sleek, black rack-mounted video switcher, the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP by Blackmagic Design, is showcased prominently. It features a front panel with ventilation slits and a small monitor displaying colorful visual outputs, emphasizing its advanced technology and design. Pricing and availability details are presented beside it.
The image shows the back view of a Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Plus video switcher. It features a sleek black design with ventilation holes, multiple connections for USB and network ports, and power outlets, all arranged in an organized manner against a muted background.
The Blackmagic SDI Expander 8x12G features a sleek, matte black design with an intricate vent pattern. It includes a digital display indicating input from camera 2, along with buttons and indicators, all positioned harmoniously for streamlined operation.
A sleek Blackmagic StudioBridge 10G PWR device with a textured black front panel featuring a geometric design. A small display shows the input signal from "IN: CAM 2" with audio levels, while control knobs and buttons add to its professional, high-tech appearance.
The image displays the rear view of the Blackmagic StudioBridge 10G PWR, showcasing its sleek black design. It features multiple Ethernet ports, two power outlets, and USB ports lined up neatly along the perforated surface, emphasizing its professional look and functionality.
The HyperDeck ISO Recorder 100G features a sleek black design with a textured, geometric pattern on the front panel. It boasts several buttons and a large, prominent dial, making it user-friendly. An information display shows recording time alongside vibrant blue indicators, emphasizing its professional quality.
A sleek, black Blackmagic Cloud Store Ultra 24TB sits against a dark background, featuring a detailed display screen showing a capacity of 2.82TB used. The device has an elegant design with ventilation slits, accompanied by text indicating its price of ,835 and availability in July.
The Blackmagic Ethernet Switch 820 is a sleek, modern device with a black matte finish and a textured pattern. It features a clear display showing "Camera A" and "Monitor A" settings, alongside a rounded black knob for adjustments, all set against a dark background.
The Blackmagic Ethernet Switch 820 is displayed against a dark background, showcasing its sleek design. It features multiple Ethernet ports, power connectors, and ventilation slots, emphasizing its professional and modern aesthetic suitable for advanced networking setups.
A sleek Blackmagic UpDownCross 100G converter is displayed against a dark background. The device features a matte black finish with stylish vents, a small digital screen showing input data labeled "IN: CAM 2," and an array of buttons, highlighting its professional video processing capabilities.
A technician in a black collared shirt is interacting with a large, dark server cabinet on a wooden surface. The cabinet features multiple rows of ports and connections, while the technician carefully inserts a cable, focusing intently on his task.

Infrastructure gets a matching 100G backbone

A pile of new rack hardware is positioned as glue between the new switchers and the wider world. Blackmagic SDI Expander 8x12G converts a 100G connection into eight 12G-SDI inputs and eight 12G-SDI outputs, aimed at bridging IP cores to SDI edges. Blackmagic Studio Bridge 10G PWR aggregates eight separate 10G Ethernet connections into a 100G link and adds 90 watts of PoE per port, intended to power multiple Studio Camera Pro 6K systems from a single bridge. The Ethernet layer here leans on IEEE 802.3 Ethernet concepts, and the power spec ties into Power over Ethernet as a technology class.

A sleek, black audio-visual mixer panel with a multitude of circular knobs and connectors arranged neatly across its surface. The panel is designed for professional use, featuring labeled input and output ports, along with a prominent logo of Blackmagic Design in the top corner, indicating its high-tech functionality.
A sleek, black rack-mounted device showcases the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP from Blackmagic Design. The front features numerous buttons, connectors, and ports, arranged systematically in neat rows, emphasizing its professional-grade design for video production.
The best laugh at the demonstration: How not to do Multi-Source IP. Please don’t ask them to build this!

For recording and replay, HyperDeck ISO Recorder 100G is recording eight channels over a 100G workflow to network storage. A key workflow promise is that Resolve can access files while they are still recording, which pitches a tighter handoff between acquisition and post.

Routing and timing details are also called out in the wider 2110 fabric. Blackmagic Ethernet Switch 820 expands the 2110 infrastructure with eight 100G ports, PTP clock distribution, NMOS control, and redundant power. The timing note points to PTP as a production-critical building block, while the control layer references NMOS for device discovery and orchestration in IP facilities.

Storage and removable media aim at replay and shared post

The replay path is paired with new storage and media hardware intended to sit in the middle of shared workflows.

Blackmagic Cloud Store Ultra is a faster dual-100G storage design intended to sit at the center of Resolve replay and shared post workflows. Blackmagic Media Dock Ultra uses Blackmagic Media Modules in a rackmount form for removable high speed storage, pitching a more controlled way to move media in and out of a facility or truck without improvising around generic drives.

A sleek Blackmagic Media Dock Ultra showcased against a dark background. The rectangular device features three compartments with a modern design, highlighted by a glowing green accent around the center compartment. To the left, the price of

There is also a new rack utility converter designed to keep a 2110 system calm when the outside world does not behave. Blackmagic Up/Down Cross 100G is an eight channel standards converter intended to shield a 2110 system from mismatched incoming formats. In practical terms, it is presented as a buffer between the promise of clean IP routing and the messy reality of mixed feeds. Monitoring and local control also get attention in rack-first environments. ATEM Monitoring Rack Panel 20 and 40 combine monitoring outputs and control panel functionality so a rack can retain local ATEM operation even in newer ventilated rack designs.

A sleek, professional ATEM Monitoring Rack Panel 40 by Blackmagic Design is centered against a dark background. It features a series of buttons, including a grid of color-coded keys, and a small monitor displaying a vibrant "BREAKING NEWS" graphic, highlighting its broadcasting capabilities.

Cinema cameras keep getting pulled into live

A camera software update adds an ST2110 Live mode to URSA Cine 12K, pitching it as a live production camera while leaning on digital film image quality language, plus built in color correction and dedicated LUT handling for 2110 output. The clear throughline is that the cinema camera becomes another node in the same IP plant, not a separate island that demands special cabling and conversions.

A Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF camera is prominently displayed against a dark backdrop. This professional camera features a sleek design with a large lens and various control buttons visible on the side, showcasing its advanced features for filmmakers. A vibrant orange number '2' is attached to the camera's top, adding distinctive detail.

New accessories are also listed for broadcast lens and operator needs. URSA Cine Studio Viewfinder is introduced, along with a Sony B4 mount and a lens control cable intended for broadcast lenses and production demands.

High frame rate 2110 as a future workflow teaser

One future track focuses on high frame rate production over 2110. The pitch is that 100G Ethernet is not just about more channels, but also higher frame rates, with workflows aimed at 240 fps or even 480 fps capture.

A man in a black shirt gestures with his right hand while discussing camera equipment. In front of him, a professional video camera is mounted on a tripod. The background features shelves with additional photographic gear, and a small green plant adds a touch of life to the workspace.

To support that direction, a URSA Cine 12K LF 100G and a Blackmagic Studio Bridge 100G are previewed. The same infrastructure is intended to feed Resolve replay with high frame rate media, while using Up/Down Cross 100G to derive standard frame rate feeds for the rest of the system. This is the point where the platform story becomes very literal: acquisition, conversion, replay, and shared storage all orbit the same 100G core.

Immersive production plans: live 3D and more switching

A second future track targets immersive production with a live chain built around URSA Cine Immersive 100G. The outlined chain includes a URSA Cine Live Encoder module, plus HyperDeck and DeckLink updates for immersive handling. A future ATEM Solaris switcher family is also in the works for full 3D and immersive switching.

The Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive 100G camera is featured prominently, showcasing a sleek, modern design. Its robust black body includes dual lenses, providing a high-tech appearance. The camera sits on a sturdy support, with a minimalistic backdrop enhancing its professional aesthetic. Brand name visible above.

The scope here matters because it frames immersive as a live pipeline problem, not just a post problem. It also implies that switching, capture, encode, and I/O need to be designed together if the goal is real-time immersive production.

Fairlight Live: software mixing with broadcast expectations

Audio is treated as a major pillar of the NAB 2026 story, centered on Fairlight Live. It is a software based live audio mixer designed for broadcast, ATEM integration, SMPTE 2110 workflows, and surround, spatial, and immersive audio.

A dimly lit venue filled with warm, ambient lights creates an inviting atmosphere. In the foreground, a person is focused on a large mixing console, their back to the viewer, while the outlines of a band performing can be seen in the background, adding to the lively ambiance.

Channel scale is positioned as elastic, with support for hundreds or thousands of channels depending on the host computer. It is said to work with standard computer audio and USB devices, and includes broadcast functions such as cue playback, talkback, snapshots, routing tools, and third party plug-in support.

A digital audio mixing interface displayed on a dark screen features multiple faders, knobs, and colorful LED meters. Various green, yellow, and red lights indicate audio levels, while control buttons and sliders are neatly arranged in an organized, modern layout, showcasing an advanced sound mixing setup.

To pair with the software, Fairlight Live Audio Panel hardware is launching in 10, 20, and 40 fader versions. The intent reads as a familiar split: compute and software can scale quickly, while tactile control stays purpose-built and consistent.

A sleek Blackmagic Design Fairlight Live Audio Panel 10 positioned on a dark surface. It features an intricate layout of knobs, faders, and illuminated meters, all set against a polished black backdrop, conveying a modern, professional audio mixing environment.

DaVinci Resolve 21: Photo page, AI tools, broader umbrella

DaVinci Resolve 21 is the main software release, a large update that spans a new Photo page, multiple AI tools, improvements across Edit, Cut, Color, Fusion, and Fairlight, immersive and VR work, and more than one hundred new features overall. (More on that tomorrow, and a test is soon to follow!)

A model in a flowing, vibrant red gown stands gracefully on stone steps, framed by lush green foliage and tall cypress trees. The bright blue sky is dotted with fluffy white clouds, creating a striking backdrop. The scene is captured in a photo editing software interface.

The Photo page brings the application’s film color grading toolset into photography. On the AI side, IntelliSearch is a object, face, and content based media search. Both in bins, certain types of media, trqanscripts, and media-libary-wide. We all have that one folder ….

AI Clip Analysis and AI Slate ID are included, with AI Slate ID reading slate metadata, and writing those into the file metadata – so, the first ingest pass is quickly filled with all availble stuff from set, but do keep an assitant with a non-medical handwriting, or use a digital slate. An AI Speech Generator is also on board, generating spoken audio from written text, whoich is claimed to learn a new voice with just a few seconds or minutes of training. We’ll try that soon, with our best southern bavarian accent.

A screenshot of video editing software interface displaying a timeline with various clips in shades of grey and vibrant colors. The upper right section showcases a visually striking title reading 'WILDERNESS' against a dramatic background of orange and purple hues, evoking a fiery landscape.

Edit and Cut updates include improved keyframing, better curves, and a new font browser. Color gains multi-master trim pass grading, node editor improvements, larger node stack options, group grade versions, and updated immersive workflows.

A monochromatic image depicting a group of elephants in a hazy scene. The foreground features two large elephants with soft, blurred edges, while the background reveals more elephants, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Light swirls around the base, hinting at grass. Shadows enhance the depth and intrigue of this serene wildlife moment.

One notable packaging detail is the integration of the Krokodove effects package into Fusion and Resolve, adding more than 70 built-in Fusion effects. That is a pragmatic kind of news, because built-in effects tend to survive long projects better than scattered third-party installs.

An abstract graphic featuring bold, overlapping letters in black and white, with vibrant splashes of red and yellow. The letters are deconstructed and layered against a warm yellow background, creating a dynamic and energetic composition.
A textured gray canvas displays the elegant, cursive title "DeFlicker" in a glossy, shimmering silver. The image is divided, with a bold red diagonal line indicating a comparison of visual effects: one side labeled 'WITH' and the other 'OUT', suggesting varying degrees of clarity and enhancement.
The image features the word "MIRROR" prominently displayed in stylish, alternating black and white fonts against a vibrant red background. Elaborate, swirling designs flank the text, adding a decorative flair, while the glossy surface below creates a striking reflection that enhances the visual impact.
The image features the word "DIRECTIONAL" in large, bold letters, interspersed with arrows pointing in various directions, set against a dark background. Below, the word "SCALE" is displayed in a smaller, elegant font. The colors of the letters vary, creating a visually dynamic and engaging composition.
A 3D illustration showing a stylized, blocky structure resembling the letter 'E,' composed of red and white cubes stacked in an intriguing, open design. The background is a soft blue with scattered red spheres floating around, creating a whimsical, playful atmosphere.
The image features the word 'WORM' in stylized, bold lettering, rendered in a vibrant green color against a deep burgundy background. The letters gradually dissipate into tiny green particles on the right, creating a dynamic and artistic effect.
A vibrant graphic featuring the words "SEAMLESS LOOP" in large, colorful letters. The letters are made up of various bright hues, including orange, pink, blue, and purple, and are surrounded by subtle sparkling effects against a solid blue background, creating a dynamic visual impact.
The image features the stylized text "EXTRUDE" in bold, 3D letters rendered in shades of white and yellow, set against a vibrant turquoise background. Below it, the term "MOTION GRAPHICS" is presented in striking red, emphasizing the dynamic theme of the design.
An abstract digital illustration features a vibrant, contrasting color palette of neon greens, pinks, and blues. In the center, the large word "PULL" is stylized with block letters, while colorful, geometric human figures dynamically engage in a pulling motion, enhancing the visual energy.
The image features the word 'SHEAR' in large, bold typography against a soft green background. A stylized yellow propeller spins to the left, suggesting motion, while lines indicating airflow or speed dart to the right, enhancing the dynamic feel of the design.
An abstract graphic featuring vibrant, layered shapes in soft blues, warm oranges, and pinks, blending together against a deep maroon background. Small markers with numerical values rest above the shapes, creating a dynamic visual flow that suggests rhythm and motion.
A vibrant background featuring a repeating pattern of interlocking circles in shades of gold and mint green against a deep purple backdrop. The word "SEAMLESS" is prominently displayed in bold red letters, seamlessly integrated within the circular designs.
The image features the word "DIME" in a bold, pixelated font set against a deep blue gradient background. The letters seem slightly blurred, with soft edges and a glowing effect, creating a sense of motion and depth. The overall aesthetic is modern and digital, evoking a tech-inspired vibe.
A vibrant graphic design featuring the word "FRAGMENTS" in bold, stylized yellow letters. The background is a smooth gradient of green with overlapping, darker, abstract shapes, creating a dynamic and visually striking effect. Intricate lines connect some elements, enhancing the modern look.
A playful and whimsical scene features a rounded character, resembling a cup filled with pink liquid and bubbles, lifting large teal weights with ease. In the background, several smaller, colorful blob-like figures watch, adding a lighthearted atmosphere to the image.
A digital graphic featuring the large word "RASTERIZE" in bold, black typography, set against a vibrant, pink background splashed with geometric triangular patterns. The scene is illuminated with a gradient that transitions from deep black to an energetic pink, creating a visually striking contrast.
A vibrant, abstract design features blurred gradients of purple, blue, and green hues, converging towards the center. The words "MAPPED DUPLICA 3D" are elegantly displayed in bright orange and yellow, adding a modern touch to the colorful composition against a dark background.
The word "GROW" is prominently displayed in bold, stylized yellow lettering against a deep maroon background. The letters are elongated, with varying widths creating a dynamic visual effect that emphasizes the concept of growth. The design is vibrant and eye-catching.

Since they are Fusion-based, you can use them as is, or confiugure and personalise them to your hearts desire. Or use them as a jumping off point to create your own.

Fusion 21: deep tech work, not just polish

Fusion 21 is one of the biggest technical updates in the package, and the list is dense in the best and worst way. It adds a Fairlight Animator modifier, plus a new macro editor. Multi Inspector controls allow editing shared properties across multiple nodes. Lens distortion analysis gets improvements.

A vibrant, multicolored dragon-like creature hovers in midair, its iridescent scales reflecting a spectrum of neon hues, including blue, green, and pink. In the background, a shadowy building and a bright yellow chair add contrast to the lively scene.

The native 3D renderer gains Cryptomatte output, tying into the broader Cryptomatte standard for ID mattes. There are relief map tools, full layer support in the Deep toolset, and a Deep Colour Corrector.

A vibrant yellow chair sits on a textured gray floor illuminated by dappled sunlight, casting intricate shadows. In the background, a modern building is partially visible. The screen displays a digital interface with nodes, indicating a creative design process.

On the scene description side, Fusion 21 includes OpenUSD SDK 25.11 with Hydra 2.0 for Storm. There are also new projector and capture nodes for USD, plus stereoscopic and immersive workflow updates. Speed Warp is now listed as available inside Fusion, and there are UI changes, variable mapping, and support for OGraph HTML graphics and Lottie animations. The overall theme is that Fusion is being treated as a serious systems piece inside Resolve, not a bolt-on compositor with a few convenience features.

A screenshot of software interface showing a black background with large, white text displaying "Spll chcking wrks w". The workspace includes various editing tools and a timeline at the bottom, highlighting features designed for text manipulation.
And my personal Highlight: Spellcheck works now in most inputs!

Pricing and the usual reality check

The larger point across this whole slate is coherence. The product updates line up as a platform push that tries to make live IP infrastructure, replay, storage, cameras, audio, and post feel like one continuous system. That does not remove risk. New tools and new workflows should be tested in your own pipeline before they touch a live show, a tight delivery, or anything with real money attached.

Bela Beier Author