Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

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Robert Betzner

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Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 3:25 pm

Hi,

we tried today to use the video assist 4k with a standard 1080i50 SDI signal.
The Video Assist is smply not usable with this (standard production) format. It stutters and seems to deinterlace the signal very badly.

Blackmagic - pleas fix that in the next firmware update because we do most of our work in 1080i50 as this is still the most used format in live production.

Any word on this serious issue?

Thanks

Robert
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Denny Smith

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 6:52 pm

That is strange, it is supposed to support 1080i50-60 signals as well as interlaced SD signals. Is the VA set for 50Hz. Perhaps your Unit is got an issue? If so, you should contact the regional BM Supoirt office in yiur area.

I Will give the VA (HD model) at work a test today and see if it works with 1080i from the Ursa. It was displaying a 1080i signal from a Canon DSLRs ok.
Cheers
Denny Smith
SHA Productions
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Robert Betzner

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 8:07 pm

Denny,

we have 4x VA4k and all of them show the issue. Make sure to feed a real interlaced 1080i50 signal to the VA. If I switch the Ursa to 1080p the VA will show 1080p50 correctly and smooth. But as soon as I switch to 1080i50 it stutters and shows strange deinterlacing artifacts.

So this must be a firmware issue. I tested it on the same output with a Righton 7inch SDI monitor which shows a correct and smooth 50i signal.

Cheers

Robert
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Xtreemtec

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 8:39 pm

What source are you using?? Is it real 1080I or PSF?
Daniel Wittenaar .:: Xtreemtec Media Productions ::. -= www.xtreemtec.nl =-
4K OBV Trailer, ATEM TVS HD, 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Constelation 8K, Hyperdeck Studio 12G, Ursa Broadcast 4K, 4K fiber converters with Sony Control
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Denis Kazlowski

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 9:04 pm

Robert Betzner wrote:Hi,

we tried today to use the video assist 4k with a standard 1080i50 SDI signal.
The Video Assist is smply not usable with this (standard production) format. It stutters and seems to deinterlace the signal very badly.

Blackmagic - pleas fix that in the next firmware update because we do most of our work in 1080i50 as this is still the most used format in live production.

Any word on this serious issue?

Thanks

Robert


Sorry you had trouble.

This post does not leave them BM, any steps on how to reproduce your problem.
It would help if you said we connected BM Video Assist Model X, with Software Version Y, to 1080i50 camera of Brand Z set to shoot at this rate and output 1080i50 on SDI channel Q.

Where X, Y, Z and Q are imperative to be able to reproduce. Otherwise they'll only do the following - clock a SDI PC card with color bars to 1080i50 and connect it to the their version of the Video Assist display and say 'works'.

Also I would definitely use this web-form
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/contact/email
or dial here anywhere here
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/contact/phone
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Denny Smith

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 9:51 pm

If you are using an Ursa set to 1080p50, then switching the output to 1080i50 with the output option selection, then the camera is probably outputting a 1080psf signal, as do most of the other BM Cinema cameras when set to 1080i output. That said, the VA can handle a 1080psf24 signal, I have tested that, not sure about how it does with the other frame rates. Will give this a try and let you know.
Cheers
Denny Smith
SHA Productions
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Denis Kazlowski

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostFri Dec 01, 2017 10:30 pm

Denny Smith wrote:If you are using an Ursa set to 1080p50, then switching the output to 1080i50 with the output option selection, then the camera is probably outputting a 1080psf signal, as do most of the other BM Cinema cameras when set to 1080i output. That said, the VA can handle a 1080psf24 signal, I have tested that, not sure about how it does with the other frame rates. Will give this a try and let you know.
Cheers


EDIT: Did not read.
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Robert Betzner

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostTue Dec 19, 2017 3:23 pm

OK I found the reason and the bug:

If you switch on "Focus Assist" on any interlaced mode the display starts jittering all over the place. If you switch the focus assist off the interlaced picture quility is totally acceptable.

So it is a bug - as I said. If you switch focus assist to on you can't really use the VA on interlaced signals.

It would be great if BMD would fix this in a future firmware update.


Thanks

Cheers

Robert
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Robert Niessner

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostTue Dec 19, 2017 6:12 pm

Robert, please send BMD a bug report here:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/contact/email

This is a user to user forum and while guys from BMD occasionally read and write here they just might overlook this post. By emailing them this bug will be brought to the attention of the product manager.
I've done this several times and at least I got an answer a few days later from support.
Saying "Thx for help!" is not a crime.
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Robert Niessner
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Robert Betzner

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Re: Video Assist 4k - 1080i50 not usable!

PostWed Dec 20, 2017 9:54 am

Thanks Robert.

Done.

Cheers

Robert

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