Blackmagic Forum

Hi Everyone,

I am currently renting a Blackmagic Web Presenter for the purposes of testing a potential new camera purchase. I have been having LOTS of issues with this combination since we received it and have yet to stream anything successfully.

Here's the situation. We are looking at purchasing several new UltraStudio Mini's and Sony PWX-X70 cameras over the next month or so. Before spending almost $5k on this purchase, I wanted to rent the camera and make sure it was everything I wanted. Once I received it and connected everything (via SDI) in my main auditorium, I couldn't get a signal via the house video patchbay and OBS. The video patchbay is approximately 10 years old. After two hours of tinkering, I finally got a signal and a brief, but stable, test stream. The next day, when I was ready to stream a large-scale production - no image...not on restart, not on reconnect, not on moving patchbay points, not on changing output parameters of camera, double-checked proper patch/video connection cables being used...nothing. So, I setup my old system and the production was run from that.

The next day, I setup the camera and web presenter in my building on my video patchbay (circa 20 years old) and it streamed via OSB for four hours before having issues. Once the issue was noticed, we couldn't get a signal back through the web presenter. I did notice that the SDI indicator light on the back of the unit was lit the entire time the camera was connected - picture or not...both days. Again, all potential issues checked-out but nothing remedied the problem.

At this point, I'm not sure where the problem lies - the video patchbay (in both buildings?), the web presenter, or OBS.

Has anyone else run into this type of issue with the WebPresenter before? It's making it difficult to make a proper assessment of equipment for purchase. Just a note - I will not be purchasing a Web Presenter but an UltraStudio Mini...just renting as an evaluation device.

Thanks for help and thoughts.

I didn't like the specs or the initial reviews on the Web Presenter - so, I can't help directly with your question. I ended up getting the AJA U-Tap for those types of applications. It has been pretty solid. It might be a good alternative for you look at.

BTW, I have some very old video patchbays I use every day. Most are at least 20 years old. Occasionally, they need exercising or a quick cleaning. But I have been impressed with how few issues I have had with them after switching to HDSDI video.

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the reply and the info regarding the patchbays. I sort of think the issue isn't laying there all of the patchbays, both video and audio, have been well maintained over the years.

I'll take a look at the Aja unit.

dwh

+1 for the U-tap
Or A magewell usb 3 equivalent.
https://www.amazon.com/Magewell-Capture ... BKOLL3J3K6
Have several of both and they run great.

Bought the WP nothing but issues.. to be fair BMD have
ironed some of these out as the product got more established with recent updates etc.
but the only thing I miss using the above is the confidence monitor the WP gives me
which really doesn't say much for the WP itself. Still too unreliable for me, at this time.

A.