Video Assist won't trigger record from Ursa Mini

Hey there,

Any help would be appreciated. I can't seem to get VA 5' to trigger record from the Ursa Mini. I have the trigger record setting and source set to SDI, but the VA just won't respond. Is there a setting in the camera that I'm missing?

Thanks

First, you ned to set the VA to T/C Run, which uses time code in the SDI or HDMI (auto detects) to start and stop the VA. BM cameras including the Ursa Mini do not support SDI/HDMI Rec Trigger (mostly used by DSLR cameras). Then set your Ursa Mini to T/C Run and have T/C set to output through SDI, not sure on the actual menu setting here, as I do not have a UM, but it should be in the camera manual.
Good Luck
DS

Thanks Denny! I'm gonna give that a shot.

Unfortunately Dennny, I don't see anything about timecode in the Ursa Mini menu. I refuse to believe that Black Magic designed two products that can't work together. I know that the VA works with Canon and Sony? Anybody out there that can help? It's a real pain in the butt having to use the monitor to record.

Don't know why it isn't working for you, but the Ursa Mini does support record triggering over SDI. I'm using it right now on a 4.6K with the 4K Video Assist.

Trigger Record

Your URSA Mini automatically sends a signal via the SDI outputs that will trigger recording when connected to equipment that supports the SDI trigger record feature, such as Blackmagic Video Assist. This means when you press record on your camera, your external SDI equipment will also start recording, then will stop recording when you press record again.

You will also need to set your equipment to enable SDI trigger recording to make sure it responds to the trigger signal from your URSA Mini. If your SDI equipment supports SDI trigger recording, it can usually be enabled using your SDI equipment’s settings menu.

As far as I can tell there is no way to turn the feature off in the camera, so it should just work if the Video Assist Trigger Rec is set to SDI/HDMI.

Hmmmm...I don't know why either. Been trying for hours. Just not happening.

Ace, I assume you are on the latest firmware levels for camera and BMVA. If not, do the firmware updates first. It's a long shot, but try restarting both the camera and the BMVA and then activate the Video Assist Trigger Record.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Set the VA for T/C Run and give it a go with the Ursa Mini, it should be outputting T/C when you hit the record button. Just be sure T/C is set for "Run". You can check this by hitting record then wat ch the T/C display, stop, wait a a few seconds, then start Rec again, as see if the TC has advanced any or restarts from 0:00:00:00. If no change while stopped, then you should be good to go.
DS

Denny, just tested that with the 4kVA and the UM46 with the latest firmware on both and the T/C Run doesnt work as you describe... its for when the camera doesn't have Start/Stop SDI/HDMI. On the Ursa Mini the 4kVA is triggered by SDI/HDMI and assume the 5" is the same

Thanks, for the clarification, John. Nice when it's automagic!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks, for the clarification, John. Nice when it's automagic!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hahaha yes and when it 'WORKS!!' Still long for the old days when all you had to do is load the film, set aperture/shutter and just make sure you got focus! 4 THINGS!! nowadays the checklist is so long its like being on the flightdeck of the space shuttle

That's exactly how I feel when I start my car. In my youth, you turned the ignition, glanced a a couple of dials, and you could drive. Now, you're in a cockpit, visually checking a dozen things, interacting with a few things like the navigation system, the temperature readout, the various air controls, and so on, looking in the mirrors and the back up camera, and then you can back out of the garage, assuming the garage door opened!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey Denny and Rick, thanks for the input. I've gone through everything mentioned and still nothing. Gonna try and exchange the VA on the weekend. I'm pretty sure I've gone through everything, I mean it's not complicated right? Anyways hope the exchange goes well and we get a working unit, cause its been a total pain in the ass for my 1st AC.

Ace, let us know how the new BMVA works out.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey Denny and Rick, thanks for the input. I've gone through everything mentioned and still nothing. Gonna try and exchange the VA on the weekend. I'm pretty sure I've gone through everything, I mean it's not complicated right? Anyways hope the exchange goes well and we get a working unit, cause its been a total pain in the ass for my 1st AC.

Ace, I'd test out the SDI cable as well, it might be faulty. I had all sorts of problems with a cheap Small Rig cable and now use a Canare L2.5 sheilded cable... worth a shot

John, I was troubleshooting in the dark here, as I didn't have a Mini handy. The T/C Run ,odevworked with ny Panny AF100, however. Ace said he tried SDI/HDMI Triggerbwith no luck, so was just suggesting the alternative. Thanks for testing this out, now we all know for sure how it is supposed to work.

Checkingbtge cable is also a good idea. I also use the Canare LC2.5 cables great stuff there!
Cheers

John, I was troubleshooting in the dark here, as I didn't have a Mini handy. The T/C Run ,odevworked with ny Panny AF100, however. Ace said he tried SDI/HDMI Triggerbwith no luck, so was just suggesting the alternative. Thanks for testing this out, now we all know for sure how it is supposed to work.

Checkingbtge cable is also a good idea. I also use the Canare LC2.5 cables great stuff there!
Cheers

Hey no probs Denny My monies on it being a faulty cable rather than a faulty 4kVA... but we shall see, although there have been faulty mini output's as well... but if you can see a picture surely it should be working?

I feel stupid saying this, but the guy at the shop told us that you need to see Cfast card inside the camera to work the trigger record. Surely that can't be it? Kinda defeats the purpose right.

OK Ace, you did not tell us you didn't have a CFast card in the camera. We are good, but not that good

Bad news: All the pro video cameras, including BM cameras, I have ever used would not "record" without media (disk, tape etc) in them. The only exception I can think of, is a real film camera, you could run it without film (kinda hard on th camera though).

Good news: If you want to record only on a the VA4K, you are in luck, there is a work around. When you are using the camera in a tripod, just touch the VA screen "Record" button to start a recording (I do this with my Micro Studio camera and AF100), quicker than reaching for a camera record button. When shooting with the camera handheld or a better idea, on your shoulder, Connect the camera's side grip connection cable to the VA4K LANC plug (you might need a short ext. cable) instead of to the camera, then, pressing the red record button on the grip will start/stop the recording on the VA4K. The grip is actually a LANC remote, and the plug on the camera it connects to is a LANC input.

Now, you can only record widowed 4K and down, ProRes or DNxHD recordings, not full open gate 4.6 or Raw files. Also you can not do over cranking (limited to HD 1080p60 max fps or 4K at 30fps max).
Good luck

I have the same problem but with my Nikon D810 not triggering record over HDMI on my BMVA 5". Hasn't worked since the update to 2.3 (worked perfect before - I had to downgrade to get it working again).

Chris

Wondering if anyone has tried triggering the VA over SDI from an Arri camera? I have the Hyperdeck Shuttle, which triggers over SDI from Red, Sony, Canon, just not Arri.

I really hope the VA doesn't have the same issue. Sound mixers and AE's would never let me set the camera to Rec Run TC, so that option is impractical.

Black Magic, can you answer this ^^^^
Would love a definitive answer whether the VA will trigger over SDI from an Arri camera?

Hi guys,

Can I use VA 5” as a remote for Ursa Mini Pro to record/play clips while is installed on Ronin?
All the buttons on VA are grey without a card and with card it rec only on it (1080p) not on the camera.
Is there a setting I’m missing?

Thanks!

No, the VA is not a remote device. The Record and Play buttons are only for recordings made on the VA, to its SD card. You need to put a compatible SD card in the VA to record on it. The VA can not trigger recording or playback on the UM Pro. However, yiu can set the VA and use the UM Pro to trigger recording on the VA.

That said, You canuse BM’s IOS program to remotely start and stop recording on the UM Pro with an IPad, or with one if the new IPhone or Android apps thst are available.
Cheers

No, the VA is not a remote device. The Record and Play buttons are only for recordings made on the VA, to its SD card. You need to put a compatible SD card in the VA to record on it. The VA can not trigger recording or playback on the UM Pro. However, yiu can set the VA and use the UM Pro to trigger recording on the VA.

That said, You canuse BM’s IOS program to remotely start and stop recording on the UM Pro with an IPad, or with one if the new IPhone or Android apps thst are available.
Cheers

I tried with trigger record and it works but only 1080p (as its the 5").
I need 4K in camera and a comfortable solution for Ronin.

The second solution sounds great.
I don`t have and iPad but can you tell me please the name of the apps available for iPhone?

Thank you!

The second solution sounds great.
I don`t have and iPad but can you tell me please the name of the apps available for iPhone?

Thank you!

Go to iTunes - search for "Blackmagic design inc" - it's called "bluetooth+ for blackmagic"