Blackmagic has released firmware update 3.3 for its monitor recorders
Video Assist 3G and
Video Assist 12G HDR, which enables all four models to be used as webcams. This means that every camera to which Video Assist 3G/12G is connected via HDMI
becomes a webcam - for example for live streaming to YouTube or Facebook or for use in video conferences.

Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR
The output of the live video stream for the webcam is done via the USB-C ports of Video Assist 3G and 12G HDR. The Blackmagic Video Assist update 3.3 also gives the two 5" and 7" Video Assist 3G models the ability to select channels for audio monitoring and the Video Assist 7" 3G XLR
audio mapping and external XLR
timecode.
The Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR comes in 5" and 7" format and has a very bright 2500-Nit touch display with Wide Color Gamut (WCG). It records via 12G-SDI and HDMI
2.0 connections in formats up to 2160p/60 (DCI 4K), with codec options for recording in Apple ProRes
, Avid DNx and Blackmagic RAW. Here our
review of the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR.

Blackmagic Video Assist 3G
For filmmakers still working in FullHD
resolution, Blackmagic Design has released two cheaper and slimmed down versions of Video Assist 12G. The two monitor recorders Video Assist 3G -- again offered as 5" and 7" versions respectively -- feature multi-rate capable 3G-SDI and HDMI
connections for recording in SD and HD up to 1080p/60 (i.e. no 4K).
Recording is possible in 10bit Apple ProRes
or Avid DNx (no Blackmagic RAW), the display is 300 nit bright and not HDR-capable -- only the color spaces REC 601 and REC 709 are supported. Compared to the 12G models, the possibility to record externally via USB is also missing.