Quick answer
Choose the Teradek Prism Flex Mk II if you need a portable, all-in-one encoder that can mount on a camera or sit between your mixer and switcher. Pick the Teradek Prism 877 (SDI) if you're building a rack-mount encoder/decoder system and need SDI I/O in a card form factor.
Portability vs rack integration
The Prism Flex Mk II is a compact, aluminum-bodied encoder designed for on-the-go use. It can be placed on a table, attached to a camera, or positioned between a video mixer and audio mixer, making it a flexible choice for field production or small studios.
The Prism 877 (SDI), in contrast, is a professional card that installs into a Prism Rack chassis. It's built for environments where multiple channels need to be housed in a central location, such as broadcast trucks, control rooms, or event production racks. This trade-off is about where you need the encoding to happen: at the camera or in the rack.
Understanding the input/output difference
Both units support DCI 4K60 encoding, but the Prism 877 (SDI) is explicitly a card that handles both encoding and decoding. That dual role makes it a more versatile building block in a rack system, where you might need to decode feeds as well as encode them.
The Flex Mk II is an encoder, so its primary job is to convert video into a stream. If your workflow requires decoding alongside encoding, the 877's card design may be a more efficient use of rack space.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Form factor: Flex Mk II: portable, all-in-one unit. Prism 877: rack card requiring a chassis. Assess whether your setup is mobile or fixed before choosing.
- Encode vs decode: Flex Mk II: encoder only. Prism 877: both encoder and decoder. If you need decode capability, the 877 is the only option here.
- Mounting flexibility: Flex Mk II: can be tabletop, camera-mounted, or placed between mixer and switcher. Prism 877: designed for rack installation. Consider where your signal chain physically lives.
Product facts
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Teradek Prism Flex Mk II – Encodeur: The Teradek Prism Flex Mk II is a compact, aluminum-bodied encoder that supports HEVC/AVC encoding at DCI 4K60. This makes it a durable, portable choice for on-camera or tabletop use in live productions.
Teradek Prism Flex Mk II – Encodeur
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Teradek Prism 877 (SDI) – Carte Encodeur/Décodeur: The Teradek Prism 877 (SDI) is a professional card that installs into a Prism Rack chassis and supports encoding and decoding up to DCI 4K60 10-bit 4:2:2. It's built for rack-mount workflows where you need both encode and decode in a centralized, multi-channel environment.
Teradek Prism 877 (SDI) – Carte Encodeur/Décodeur
Which fits you?
Best for
- Field producers and solo streamers who need a portable encoder that can mount on a camera.
- Small studios that want a flexible unit to place between a video mixer and audio mixer.
Not for
- Broadcast or event production environments that require centralized rack-mount encoding and decoding.