Sun Oct 15, 2017 6:50 am
An interesting couple of days.
Preamble: MacBook Pro, 10.11.6, ATEM software updated via USB, USB - Ethernet for deck control, testing with two cameras and Rode Filmmaker kit. Set ATEM to 1080p/30. Set both cameras to 1080p/30.
On the audio side, ran out of the Rode into a Behringer tube pre-amp, and out to ATEM via XLR. Sound is excellent, and levels are visible on the Audio panel in the ATEM software, and on Levels on the Program screen on the Multi View. So far, all good.
The cameras have HDMI out; we tested this by plugging the HDMI out leads from the camera separately, and directly into the monitor. Clean HDMI.
The problem was that the ATEM (which we know was connecting properly to the computer; Preview and Program sources were selectable as expected), and the output Multi View saw no signals from the cameras. We disconnected the HDMI-SDI connections, and plugged the cameras' HDMI cables (1 metre length only) directly into the first two HDMI inputs on the ATEM to test whether the HDMI-SDI BM units were the problem. Still no images on the Multi View.
This is where it gets interesting: Reading the manual suggests that the ATEM can be set to 1080p/30 (p.52) and certainly that frame size and rate is an option on the ATEM Preference screen. But no matter which of the camera's internal setting we chose (AVCHD/MP4) and all the options for 1080p/30, the deck could not see any images.
So I set the ATEM to 1080p/60, and the cameras to this as well, and instantly we saw video where we expected to see it (Multi View) and the ATEM cuts cleanly.
We can use this framerate (though we will use twice the space on our drives) and the framerate inherently is not a problem because we are recording live to SDD. We will bring the recordings into FCPX, add titles and effects, and output to Compressor for delivery to Vimeo on Demand, and 60 to 30 fps is a simple conversion.
Sorry for the long post; here's the $64 question: why can't the ATEM see 1080p/30?
Regards, Kit Laughlin::www.StretchTherapy.net::BodyPress Productions
ATEM Television Studio HD, UltraStudio Mini-Recorder, 4 x Panasonic GX85s, too much sound gear