Older Catalyst and HD

[SourceChild]

A couple of notes, not that I wish to dispute other experts but I have a few results of my own.
They do know what they are talking about and I support them. However, I have tested a few of the scenarios.

A G5 can run a TH2G. I had a client doing this every week. Doesn't make it a good idea. Use a Mac Pro.

A G5 can run 3 layers of 1920x1080 but not on 3 different outputs. The memory size must be increased and you must use an SSD. Basically better to use a Mac Pro.

It is possible to run three screens can run 1920x1200 on a single Mac Pro. I do this now in my studio at home using a Matrox device on one of the outputs.
This is not a setup I would use for a show.

Something else very important to be aware of...
Multiple Catalyst machines can be synchronized to play together. If you do this, be aware that the more you tax one machine, the more likely you will begin to notice a frame delay between the master and the slaves. You won't notice it as much on discretely different screens but if you edge blend, it will be noticeable if there is a frame lag.

[efxmaster]

Thanks for the help. Does anyone know if the Decklink Extreme HD card works with the Catalyst? I would really like to try and get an HD input card seeing as the SD-SDI Decklink card for Mac Pros is only $100 less the the HD version.

Thanks

[efxmaster]

Here is another question, if the Decklink Extreme HD works, is there anyway to use the HD-SDI output on it as a mix out in the catalyst? I have a show that is going to be using the catalyst and they will record everything and they asked if I could send them the content. I can just use one of the outs on the TH2G, but then I have to convert it to SDI because that is the only input the switcher has on it. So it would be great if I could just bypass the converter and use the SDI out on the card.

Thanks

[NevBull]

no - Catalyst outputs from the graphics cards only - nothing comes out of the decklink's SDI outputs. You will have to scan convert the output.

[SourceChild]

Does anyone know if the Decklink Extreme HD card works with the Catalyst?

The decklink extreme will work in new Mc Pro machines. Don't try it in old G5s though because processing HD-SDI is a little much for those.

[Peter]

A G5 can run a TH2G. I have run 800x600@60Hz and 1024x768@75Hz.
Doing this I can run six layers of SD. I have a client that does this now and has been doing 5 shows a week with it for close to 2 years now. All the content is AIC@25fps 2816x768.

Which G5 will be needed to playback max 1 movie SD (3 mix outputs)? Which graphic card, X1900 G5 or can it be less?

And what in the case of 3 movies SD?

[samsc]

Which G5 will be needed to playback max 1 movie SD (3 mix outputs)? Which graphic card, X1900 G5 or can it be less?

And what in the case of 3 movies SD?

this posted information is very very misleading-

x1900 only worked on pci-e g5's -which was only the last revision from Oct 2005 - almost noone has these.
everyone refers to 'g5' as older pci or pcix macs.

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[SourceChild]

Which G5 will be needed to playback max 1 movie SD (3 mix outputs)?

If you have a newer G5 that has the PCIe you can get an X1900XT.
If you have an older PCI-X G5 I suggest getting a new Mac Pro.

You could use a DH2G on the X1900 and run three outputs but I don't recommend it.

And what in the case of 3 movies SD?

A G5 can run 3 layers of SD without a faster disk or better video card. I strongly suggest a Mac Pro instead with an Mtron SSD and X1900XT.

[efxmaster]

Ok, I for some reason cannot get the Decklink to work. Brand new decklink extreme HD. I have it in slot 2. When I called Blackmagic, they told me that it needed to be in slot 4. When I moved it up there, the Catalyst started running very slow. Like it would only play things back at 15FPS. And I mean like simple DV movies. When I moved it back to slot 2, the Catalyst started working like it should, but I still cannot get it to work. I can see the video using the Deck control software that came with the card, but when I go into Catalyst to set it up, I either get Black, or green lines.

Any thoughts?

I will put up some pics of this event, because it turned out to be really cool. I had to do some keystone correcting on 2 of the screens, and they client was blown away that it could do that.

Thanks for everyones support with this.

[Mr_P]

Ok, I for some reason cannot get the Decklink to work. Brand new decklink extreme HD. I have it in slot 2. When I called Blackmagic, they told me that it needed to be in slot 4. When I moved it up there, the Catalyst started running very slow. Like it would only play things back at 15FPS. And I mean like simple DV movies. When I moved it back to slot 2, the Catalyst started working like it should, but I still cannot get it to work. I can see the video using the Deck control software that came with the card, but when I go into Catalyst to set it up, I either get Black, or green lines.

Any thoughts?

Lets backtrack a little here:

What mac do you have? G5/intel/2007/2008
What OS?
What version of Catalyst are you using?
What version of Decklink HD Extreme drivers are you using?

Can you post a 'support' PDF profile'

Were you trying to use the deckink control software at the same time as catalyst?


I've just configured an HD Extreme (old model without HDMI) for a client with no issues on a 2007 3.0G intel MacPro, using latest available drivers and m165 - card was in top slot and configured with the Expansion slot Utility in Tiger. Input and output was set to uncompressed SD-SDI

S