HDMI Input on Blackmagic Intensity Pro.. Possible?

[Dr. Bot]

Hi guys,

Once again thanks in advance because everyone is always so helpful.

I recently installed a Blackmagic Intensity Pro PCI card. I can't get Catalyst to recognize the HDMI input. Is it even possible to use this as an input?

If you can think of any settings or something I may be doing wrong, please advise.

Thanks!

[Mr_P]

Hi

Yes it is possible - however it depends upon which Mac OS you are using?

Decklink card only supports PAL / 720p* / 1080i (not 1080p)
*requires new catatlyst version.

See other posts:

http://chaldee1.gotadsl.co.uk/~richa...=9583#post9583
http://chaldee1.gotadsl.co.uk/~richa...ead.php?t=1895
http://chaldee1.gotadsl.co.uk/~richa...ead.php?t=1889

Contact Richard Bleasdale for a new catalyst version if using Snow leopard 10.6.5


PROBLEM:
Quicktime Video input broken in 10.6.2 onwards
- This affects video capture when using Decklink cards as they use quicktime capture engine.
This does not affect Active Silicon Capture cards, as they they use their own drivers.

****UPDATE****
SOLUTION:
(as at 1 Dec 2010)
Use either Snow Leopard 10.6.0 / 10.6.1 for existing shows where it is not practical to upgrade to the latest version
or download new version of Catalyst which includes a decklink video capture fix:
http://chaldee1.gotadsl.co.uk/~richa...ead.php?t=1907

[Dr. Bot]

Thanks Simon!

I actually downgraded to 10.6.1 to keep Catalyst from locking up and closing after the Intensity install. Should I upgrade to Snow Leopard now and obtain the newest version of Catalyst from Richard?

I'm not really a fan of Snow Leopard, it has wreaked havoc on everything else I use as well.

I will try build m257 and see how that works out for me.

[samsc]

Thanks Simon!

I actually downgraded to 10.6.1 to keep Catalyst from locking up and closing after the Intensity install. Should I upgrade to Snow Leopard now and obtain the newest version of Catalyst from Richard?

I'm not really a fan of Snow Leopard, it has wreaked havoc on everything else I use as well.

I will try build m257 and see how that works out for me.

no - you should use m329 -

[samsc]

Hi
Decklink card only supports PAL / 720p* / 1080i (not 1080p)
*requires new catatlyst version.

or obtain new version of Catalyst from Richard Bleasdale directly which includes a decklink video capture fix.

720p doesnt require anything from me-

[Mr_P]

10.6.1 + m257 should work out for you...

Ensure you have the latest Decklink drivers and that you can see an image via blackmagic software outside of catalyst
If not - Ask Richard for an update - try it without upgrading the OS, unless Richard says otherwise.

are you running in 32bit mode?
What version MacPro do you have? (2010?)

PROBLEM:
2010 MacPros Boot in to 64Bit
- By default all new 2010 MacPros boot in to 64bit mode. However, most apple applications do not support 64bit mode - including quicktime. Quicktime is still a 32bit application. Active Silicon Drivers (and many others) are currently only 32bit.
SOLUTION:
Force the Mac to boot in 32bit mode.
To select the 32-bit kernel for the current startup disk, use the following command in Terminal:

sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture i386

This will allow the Mac to boot in to 32bit mode permanently
(an alternative command is available to boot in to 64bit mode)



NOTE:
These issues do not affect users using Mac OS 10.5.8 Leopard.

Down-grading the MacOS is only an option with a MacPro version earlier than 2010.
Any current 2010 versions available from apple cannot be downgraded to previous software version.


S

[SourceChild]

are you running in 32bit mode?

...most apple applications do not support 64bit mode - including quicktime. Quicktime is still a 32bit application. Active Silicon Drivers (and many others) are currently only 32bit...

Just a Note: Instead of using command line tools to force 32 bit boot, use this nice little application. Make sure to READ EVERYTHING.

32- or 64-bit Kernel Startup Mode Selector

By default all new 2010 MacPros boot in to 64bit mode.

A suggestion: Get a 2006 Mac Pro with an x1900 or a 2008 Mac Pro with an 8800. These machines seem to do Catalyst Best

...but decklink is very picky on what it likes - edid/screen size/refresh has to be exactly right...

This is such the case. Terrible... If you want to try using a Decklink devices then instead of using the Intensity Cards, try using the Multibridge. I've been using servers with the Multibridge and m331 and everything seems to work well. We were using them with 10.6.0 but we are experimenting with 10.6.6 and will post results shortly.

The advantage of the Multibridge is that you can run Catalyst with an HDMI (also means DVI with very specific settings) OR you can use the HD-SDI. The HDMI(DVI) and HD-SDI outputs also work as pass-throughs so you don't need additional DAs when jumping multiple servers. The other advantage is using the analog or Digital Audio IN and OUT with the Multibridge.

Still, above all else, I suggest using either a Phoenix or LFG4 with Catalyst. If you need DVI or VGA as an input then also purchase a companion TVOne Scaler/Converter but feed it into the Phoenix.

[samsc]

Hi guys,

Once again thanks in advance because everyone is always so helpful.

I recently installed a Blackmagic Intensity Pro PCI card. I can't get Catalyst to recognize the HDMI input. Is it even possible to use this as an input?

If you can think of any settings or something I may be doing wrong, please advise.

Thanks!

main problem with decklink cards - apart from little software glitches ( crashing after 10.6.1 ) - is you have to have exactly the correct input selected - or you just dont get anything at all displayed from their driver

if you have a 59.97Hz input selected - a 60Hz input doesnt show up - etc

and hmdi input only works at video res - 1080i 720p & sd

[Mr_P]

and hmdi input only works at video res - 1080p 720p & sd

1080i not p

Thought you changed a few values in the software to make 720p work...??

[samsc]

1080i NOT p

Thought you changed a few values in the software to make 720p work...??

thats phoenix.

the hardest thing with decklink cards is that they are exceptionally picky