- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:04 am
- Location: United Kingdom
I have been having some crazy problems when using the US4K with Avid Pro Tools, and have spent ages trying to resolve them. I have found an unsatisfactory workaround and am hoping you can suggest a different solution.
I have two edit suites, both running Mac OS10.11.4 on Mac Pro's. Each has its own Ultrastudio 4k & Smartscope Duo.
The main problem is that a while ago (when it was a single edit suite) I was advised that if i wanted to record audio in ProTools, with a feed going into the US4k, i needed to provide the device with a video signal as well. At the time the only source i had was a Sony digibeta video deck with unbelievably loud cooling fans, making it impractical as the long term source.
The US4K was fed with a tri-sync ref signal from a BM mini converter sync generator.
It worked, but also involved rebooting the US4k and resetting its inputs whenever i wanted to record anything. Then resetting and rebooting once the Sony was switched off.
Now i have just finished installing the second suite and have tried to make a more usable setup but there is something going wrong and its causing ProTools to refuse to respond whenever the video track is switched on.
What i have done is to feed a Colour Bars test pattern from an Atomos Connect-AC device (i have tried a few different frame rates (pal, 1080 26p, etc) into one of the SDI inputs, at the same time as sending a sync signal to the ref input.
In this setup, the Protools log shows an error message saying "it cant play the video as the network clock is not locked."
I tried various combinations of syncing the US4k and Atomos by connecting
a: atomos output into USk4 SDI IN + BM Sync to Ref In
b: atomos into BM Updowncross + BM Sync into Updowncross and US4k Ref In
The only way i have found to cure this is to remove the video input from the US4K. This stops the clock problem and allows ProTools to playback audio and video correctly. However, I cannot record audio from an external source such as a Mic preamp.
Also - I have noticed that when i feed the test signal into the US4k's, i cannot see the signal on my monitor or the front panel monitor. The DesktopVideo Utility shows that the signal is being seen, but i cannot find a way to display the result on a screen.
If i feed the test signal directly into a monitor, then it shows a Colour Bars pattern, and the onscreen info shows the correct frame rates.
I am now wondering if there is a problem with how the US4k actually sees and processes the incoming video signals. As all my material is brought in as files rather than video inputs, its only now i am finding this discrepancy.
The exact same problem is occuring on two different systems - one has been installed over a year, the other is brand new.
Any advice or suggestions how to cure this problem would be really appreciated.
Adam
I have also sent this to BMs tech support so if i get a solution i will add it here also.
I have two edit suites, both running Mac OS10.11.4 on Mac Pro's. Each has its own Ultrastudio 4k & Smartscope Duo.
The main problem is that a while ago (when it was a single edit suite) I was advised that if i wanted to record audio in ProTools, with a feed going into the US4k, i needed to provide the device with a video signal as well. At the time the only source i had was a Sony digibeta video deck with unbelievably loud cooling fans, making it impractical as the long term source.
The US4K was fed with a tri-sync ref signal from a BM mini converter sync generator.
It worked, but also involved rebooting the US4k and resetting its inputs whenever i wanted to record anything. Then resetting and rebooting once the Sony was switched off.
Now i have just finished installing the second suite and have tried to make a more usable setup but there is something going wrong and its causing ProTools to refuse to respond whenever the video track is switched on.
What i have done is to feed a Colour Bars test pattern from an Atomos Connect-AC device (i have tried a few different frame rates (pal, 1080 26p, etc) into one of the SDI inputs, at the same time as sending a sync signal to the ref input.
In this setup, the Protools log shows an error message saying "it cant play the video as the network clock is not locked."
I tried various combinations of syncing the US4k and Atomos by connecting
a: atomos output into USk4 SDI IN + BM Sync to Ref In
b: atomos into BM Updowncross + BM Sync into Updowncross and US4k Ref In
The only way i have found to cure this is to remove the video input from the US4K. This stops the clock problem and allows ProTools to playback audio and video correctly. However, I cannot record audio from an external source such as a Mic preamp.
Also - I have noticed that when i feed the test signal into the US4k's, i cannot see the signal on my monitor or the front panel monitor. The DesktopVideo Utility shows that the signal is being seen, but i cannot find a way to display the result on a screen.
If i feed the test signal directly into a monitor, then it shows a Colour Bars pattern, and the onscreen info shows the correct frame rates.
I am now wondering if there is a problem with how the US4k actually sees and processes the incoming video signals. As all my material is brought in as files rather than video inputs, its only now i am finding this discrepancy.
The exact same problem is occuring on two different systems - one has been installed over a year, the other is brand new.
Any advice or suggestions how to cure this problem would be really appreciated.
Adam
I have also sent this to BMs tech support so if i get a solution i will add it here also.