Blackmagic Decklink

Anybody using a blackmagic decklink sdi? Installed a Decklink SDI in MacPro and no matter what I do it won't see the camera (Sony EX1). I installed the latest drivers, tried installing in every PCI-e slot, tried with FCP, Media Express, tried changing different settings in the camera and also in FCP, Media Express and Blackmagic preferences and nothing! Very frustrating and I have to say even more frustrating is that the manual has absolutely nothing to help you not even a troubleshooting section.

The funny thing is that when I open FCP and go to log and capture, all the Blackmagic codecs show up as an option. But I get no image from the camera in none of the applications. It says "no communication or whatever.

Running FCP 6 on OSX 10.5.8

What could be wrong?

Thanks a lot for the help.

I'm pretty sure the EX1 has no RS-422 control interface.

log and capture? I thought the EX1 uses log and transfer?



www.strypesinpost.com

check your connecting procedures
set up the digitizing process from the camera, while the camera is disconnected
set up the capture process while the computer is not connected to the camera
then connect both
also make sure your capture presets and sequence presets match

Adam...

"no communication"

Via SDI you won't see any controllable device like with firewire - as Jeff said there is no RS-422 on the EX1 so you won't see it as long as FCP is trying to establish a control link.

You need to set your device control to "non-controllable device" and crash record your output from the EX1 into FCP via the relevant Blackmagic setting which you will need to set according to the format you recorded.

Watch this: [www.ehow.com]



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strypes Wrote:
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> log and capture? I thought the EX1 uses log and
> transfer?

Yeah, if you are capturing the XDCAM media recorded to the SxS cards you use log and transfer. But I'm trying to capture live out of the SDI so I can capture 10 bit 4:2:2 instead of the XDCAM codec.

filmman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> check your connecting procedures
> set up the digitizing process from the camera,
> while the camera is disconnected
> set up the capture process while the computer is
> not connected to the camera
> then connect both
> also make sure your capture presets and sequence
> presets match


Thanks. I just tried that as good as i could understand, but it still doesn't work.

Ben King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Adam...
>
> "no communication"
>
> Via SDI you won't see any controllable device like
> with firewire - as Jeff said there is no RS-422 on
> the EX1 so you won't see it as long as FCP is
> trying to establish a control link.
>
> You need to set your device control to
> "non-controllable device" and crash record your
> output from the EX1 into FCP via the relevant
> Blackmagic setting which you will need to set
> according to the format you recorded.
>
> Watch this:
> [www.ehow.com]
> t-pro-5.html


Thanks Ben.
Yep, I already have my device control to "non-controllable device" but it still says "No communication" in the bottom middle of the capture window under the monitor. Also, even without RS-422 I will be able to see the camera image live in the capturing monitor once it's working right?
I have no idea why FCP is still trying to establish a control link even after I chose "non-controllable device".
This is the very first time I use the log and capture function as I have never worked with FCP and tape based solutions. Since I started in FCP I have always worked with solid state cameras so I just imported the files. But in the video you pointed to the instructor mentions that if you don't playback the clip you only capture black with "capture now" which is what i think I would be using, the "capture now" button. But when you are capturing live, what do you playback? I may be just be seeing too much into this, but it's a bit frustrating that the Blackmagic manual has no instructions whatsoever for any workflow, not even for the own Media Express which also doesn't work here and says "no remote". But I can also see all the codec options inside Media Express including ProRes, which you have if FCP is installed.

Yes that is correct - there should be NO - COMMUNICATION

Make sure your Camera Settings are set to output the SDI signal when recording or just camera on and that your FCP capture settings match!

When capturing live (or from a non-controllable source) you simply press capture now once the video is playing or being fed to your card.

Check your Decklink settings in the System preferences are also set correctly for single SDI Video and Audio.

Failing that - go and download the latest Decklink Drivers from: [www.blackmagic-design.com] reinstall - then restart.



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> But I'm trying to capture live out of the SDI so I can capture 10 bit 4:2:2 instead of the XDCAM
>codec.

Well, anything recorded to the SxS card, gets compressed to XDCAM EX.


If you want to capture via capture card... Can you post a screen grab of the capture settings in the log and transfer window?



www.strypesinpost.com

...and the Blackmagic Decklink Control Panel in System preferences.



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strypes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > But I'm trying to capture live out of the SDI so
> I can capture 10 bit 4:2:2 instead of the XDCAM
> >codec.
>
> Well, anything recorded to the SxS card, gets
> compressed to XDCAM EX.

Yes, but what I want is to bypass the SxS cards and capture straight to the computer, either to ProRes or may DPX as i see the Blackmagic Media Express application offers that option. Just not sure if I need a RAID for capturing in DPX. I know I don't for capturing in ProRes as that works even on a laptop.

Ben King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes that is correct - there should be NO -
> COMMUNICATION
>
> Make sure your Camera Settings are set to output
> the SDI signal when recording or just camera on
> and that your FCP capture settings match!
>
> When capturing live (or from a non-controllable
> source) you simply press capture now once the
> video is playing or being fed to your card.
>
> Check your Decklink settings in the System
> preferences are also set correctly for single SDI
> Video and Audio.
>
> Failing that - go and download the latest Decklink
> Drivers from:
> [www.blackmagic-design.com]
> and reinstall - then restart.


Thanks. Will try that.

strypes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you want to capture via capture card... Can you
> post a screen grab of the capture settings in the
> log and transfer window?

Ben King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...and the Blackmagic Decklink Control Panel in
> System preferences.


Ok, yes I can do that.

Thanks guys. I got it to work.

Excellent - thanks for letting us know.

Have fun!



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]