Blackmagic UltraStudio SDI - no audio on capture

[advisiontv]

I've recently purchased a Blackmagic UltraStudio SDI and its been set up to successfully capture via SDI to my HQ codec and works!
I know this isn't really supported, but wondered if it anyone else has this set up and has the same limitations - no audio on capture.
I'm aware of the limitations of the Intensity series which is no deck control or timecode, which is the same for the Ultrastudio.
Will this ever be supported in the future?

I've also noticed a strange speed change - sometimes when playing off the timeline it seems to speed up to about 110%. I havn't looked at this in detail to see if its the playback, or if the capture slowed down, resulting in the same effect! Anyone else had this?
Matt

[Jerry]

I use the Intensity Pro to capture. Make sure you have chosen the correct audio path and such. Also, test capture into Media Express and see if you get audio to record by that method. The files captured in Media Express will work quite well in Edius.
Give it a try and see if you get audio. If you do, make sure your preset settings are correct for the audio capture. The settings in the control panel are very important as to telling the device what to do.

[4Kover3D]

I've recently purchased a Blackmagic UltraStudio SDI and its been set up to successfully capture via SDI to my HQ codec and works!
I know this isn't really supported, but wondered if it anyone else has this set up and has the same limitations - no audio on capture.
I'm aware of the limitations of the Intensity series which is no deck control or timecode, which is the same for the Ultrastudio.
Will this ever be supported in the future?

I've also noticed a strange speed change - sometimes when playing off the timeline it seems to speed up to about 110%. I havn't looked at this in detail to see if its the playback, or if the capture slowed down, resulting in the same effect! Anyone else had this?
Matt

Check in clip Properties, what fps Edius is reporting.

[shueardm]

I use the Intensity Pro to capture. Make sure you have chosen the correct audio path and such. .

That's right, with my Decklink SDI DUO- when setting up a EDIUS device preset, it chooses the wrong audio device by default.
What I mean by that is, once you select the direct show video device you will see the video in the display. This, I found, does not mean the audio device is coming from the same source, you need to also select that separately.

[advisiontv]

I should have probably been a little clearer - it is capturing audio correctly, it's just that I can't monitor it as it goes in. The only way I can is by monitoring the source device, or listening to it via HDMI out of the Blackmagic Box. It would be lovely to hear it coming out of my laptop via Edius to have confidence it is going in!
As far as the speed change is concerned, it's only now and again it speeds up. IE if i was playing a clip on the timeline it would be OK for about 10 mins, and then speed up a little for about 5 seconds! Slightly embarrassing when a client is watching the monitor and their voice changes as if they have been inhaling helium!!

[4Kover3D]

Still don't understand your speed problem. Edius does not support BM as monitoring card. BM Media Express reads only few formats- uncompressed, DPX, MJPEG, so you can play eg HQX file.

Do you have speed problem on Edius timeline? Never seen this.

[Jerry]

As Far as monitoring your audio, I can monitor my audio through the HDMI from both the BM card and the Edius card. I have a HDMI switcher that I use to check both outputs. If it is processiing the audio to my external monitor by way of both switcher inputs, I am really sure that I am getting a recorded signal. I tell the blackmagic settings panel where to send the audio.

[4Kover3D]

Which one has speed problems than?

[advisiontv]

OK -I'll live with not getting the audio on capture as there is a way around that my monitoring HDMI.

The speed problem is once the file (Canopus HQ) is inside Edius. I can play the hour clip I've just captured on the timeline, and for no reason it would speed up the audio for about 10 seconds before rectifying itself - almost as if the capture rate at that point had dropped down to 24fps from 25.

I was playing around with the settings last night and noticed it drops to 24 for a whole clip if the setting is ticked to determine the frame rate from the audio sampling - but that is for the whole clip and I am having problems with small sections of a clip.

This has only happened to me a few times over the last few days, and I was in front of my client so I couldn't really investigate to see if the actual clip was faulty, or of it was just a playback glitch. I'm doubting it's playback though as I've had no problems ever with this with OHCI captures or MXF transfers etc.

[4Kover3D]

OK -I'll live with not getting the audio on capture as there is a way around that my monitoring HDMI.

The speed problem is once the file (Canopus HQ) is inside Edius. I can play the hour clip I've just captured on the timeline, and for no reason it would speed up the audio for about 10 seconds before rectifying itself - almost as if the capture rate at that point had dropped down to 24fps from 25.

I was playing around with the settings last night and noticed it drops to 24 for a whole clip if the setting is ticked to determine the frame rate from the audio sampling - but that is for the whole clip and I am having problems with small sections of a clip.

This has only happened to me a few times over the last few days, and I was in front of my client so I couldn't really investigate to see if the actual clip was faulty, or of it was just a playback glitch. I'm doubting it's playback though as I've had no problems ever with this with OHCI captures or MXF transfers etc.

Yes- you have typical fps problem on directshow capture.
It may be due to fact that BM card which you use is not officially supported by Edius.

[Jerry]

Why not just capture in Media Express? The files will play fine within Edius.
See if that corrects your fps issue. Remember, there are more ways than one to
skin a cat.

[4Kover3D]

Yes- but MediaExpress is limited- uncompressed or MJPEG- is not the same as having HQX,HQ in Edius, but as you said- it also works.

Directshow is limited in terms of long term accurate capture (syncing, timing itself)- it can be done but requires special attention.
I don't think if any of popular companies use frame accurate capture tools, which are based on directshow technology. I just had a conversation about it with BluFish444 engineer and he said it's tricky- most capture tools are written in C++ (or other language) with deep access to hardware resources.
Directshow filters are offered, but mostly used for different needs.