On Borrowed Time

I'm a hobbyist. I recently posted the following (mostly the same) on another forum, but haven't received a response, so I'd like to ask here. If there's anything inappropriate about my post, I apologize, and I'll delete it (or please do it for me, administrators).

I'm not concerned with HDCP, I'm capturing unencrypted sources.

HDPVRCapture for Mac has been discontinued. I may be the last person in the world to be using it. It still works, but will become useless at any time. The latest glitch that I was able to solve was that a network resource (I wasn't even aware of it) stopped working to verify its license, and a crash appears to occur if authentication can't be verified via network at launch. I have my purchased license cached, so the solution was apparently to disable the network, launch the app, then re-enable the network. It's a workaround, but a precarious one. I'm well aware that system changes will eventually kill it anyway, of course.

I need to adopt a new capture system. What I want is something that can accept HDMI video input and s/pdif audio input for capturing 1080p and 1080i with 5.1 multichannel audio for my Silicon MacBook Pro (that's the capture system I have now).

Does Blackmagic offer a product that would meet my needs? Also, do you offer any senior discounts? Thanks.

Thadlet (L. Lee)

I have now purchased a Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Recorder 3G, but I think I'll have to return it because it can't capture optical audio along with the video. Is there a Blackmagic Design capture device similar to the UltraStudio Recorder 3G that can simultaneously capture video from HDMI and multichannel audio from S/PDIF? Thanks.

HDMI carries not only video but up to 8 channels of digital uncompressed audio as well. You should not need a separate S/PDIF digital connection. In this day and age you will be unlikely to find a modern interface with an optical TOSLINK connection.

HDMI carries not only video but up to 8 channels of digital uncompressed audio as well. You should not need a separate S/PDIF digital connection. In this day and age you will be unlikely to find a modern interface with an optical TOSLINK connection.

Thanks. The TOSLINK connection is what I meant (I am a hobbyist after all), but since then I've verified that audio *is* being sent through HDMI. My main goal is to get away from old software that is no longer supported by its developer (the software is called HDPVRCapture, and I've been using it for a Hauppauge capture device). I simply need help getting audio to work for the UltraStudio. I tried many settings and at some point in time through the process something did work, because I was temporarily able to get stereo audio. I've said temporarily because my audio source sends 5.1, and I kept trying other settings to make the 5.1 input work. Now I'm again unable to adjust settings so that I can receive even stereo. I've been trying to scour these forums, but I haven't been able to learn the details needed to fix the issue yet. I never have problems capturing 5.1 audio using my Hauppauge, and it only used a TOSLINK connection, so that's why I thought TOSLINK might be necessary. I'm eager for any suggestions that will help me receive 5.1 audio through HDMI using the UltraStudio. I've made adjustments that include creating an aggregate device in Audio Midi Setup, installing and configuring OBS as well as Blackmagic Media Express (it was OBS that first recorded stereo audio when audio was working), and making all possible adjustments for audio at source and destination that I've been able to think of. One thing I haven't tried yet is installing and configuring Resolve. Is there a chance that Resolve might provide the remedy I'm hoping for? I'm open to any suggestions, and I thank you again for your response.

HDMI carries not only video but up to 8 channels of digital uncompressed audio as well. You should not need a separate S/PDIF digital connection. In this day and age you will be unlikely to find a modern interface with an optical TOSLINK connection.

I have some updated information to share. I tried capturing video using the UltraStudio Recorder 3G using Blackmagic Media Express.app and capturing audio using the old hardware and software in a separate process. Then I used ffmpeg to perform my usual detelecine transcoding operation on the .mov file created by Blackmagic Media Express (QuickTime Apple ProRes 422 LT), then demuxed the resulting output (audio stream is present, just empty), keeping only the picture stream (h.264). I then demuxed the mpeg title set generated by the old hardware and software, keeping only the multichannel audio (AC-3) stream. Upon muxing the resulting audio and video sources, I discovered that the audio and video were perfectly synced after aligning using the necessary offset (no tempo change for audio was needed). The resulting output was splendid, as perfect as I could hope for.

My issue isn't solved because my goal is to get better video capture as well as to replace old, sunsetted hardware and software. However, I still have a result that's better overall than what I have been getting using the old hardware and software for both audio and video. Hopefully, I'll eventually be able to capture audio using the UltraStudio Recorder 3G as well. I'll still welcome suggestions in case you're able to help me. Thanks.

Maybe this will help…. It is possible to capture 1080p/1080i video with 5.1 multichannel audio using the Blackmagic UltraStudio Recorder 3G and DaVinci Resolve on your Apple Silicon MacBook Pro using DaVinci Resolve Studio (paid version) with the proper settings and an HDMI source with embedded 5.1 audio, but UltraStudio Recorder 3G is limited to 2 channels of audio capture. To do full 5.1 channel ingest, you will need a different Blackmagic capture device like the UltraStudio HD Mini. But if you’re limited to the Recorder 3G, you can do this:
1. Capture video + stereo audio via UltraStudio 3G and DaVinci Resolve (or Media Express).
2. Simultaneously record the full 5.1 surround audio using:
* The source computer’s HDMI audio output to a multichannel audio recorder/interface.
* Or, export the audio as 6-channel WAV from your source system.
3. Sync the full 5.1 audio in DaVinci Resolve manually during editing.

If you go this route Configure DaVinci Resolve Project by following this steps:
1. Open DaVinci Resolve Studio
2. Create a new project
3. Go to Project Settings (gear icon, lower right)
4. Under Fairlight > Audio I/O:
* Set Monitor Format to 5.1
* Set Timeline Bus Format to 5.1
5. Under Video and Audio I/O:
* Set Input Device to Blackmagic Design
* Confirm video format and sample rate (48 kHz)
* Assign Input channels 1–6 to Track 1 (for 5.1) if using a device that supports them.

To record from your capture device, you can use either:
* Media Page > Go to Media Storage > Capture tab (for live ingest)
* Or use Media Express (installed with Desktop Video), which is simpler for direct capture and imports into Resolve.
If your source includes 6-channel audio embedded over HDMI and your capture device supports it, you will see all 6 channels show up. I’m not a Fairlight guy but has dubbed lightly with it to do 5.1. There are other folks here in the forum who may be able to help you with using Fairlight. Good luck.

2. Simultaneously record the full 5.1 surround audio using:
* The source computer’s HDMI audio output to a multichannel audio recorder/interface.

Thanks for the detailed information. I'm not sure I understand the nature of the "multichannel audio recorder/interface". Are you referring to external hardware or are you referring to software? Could you name an example of such a recorder/interface?

At present I'm not categorically limited to the UltraStudio Recorder 3G for audio input, but I should explain that the hardware/software solution that I've been using since before I purchased the UltraStudio Recorder 3G is a completely closed system. I can only access the 5.1 available from it using the software included with it which is no longer supported by its developers. So there's no possibility of using that hardware to capture audio any other way. To use any Blackmagic Design, Mac system software, or third party software to capture 5.1 audio, I am limited to the UltraStudio Recorder 3G at present. I'm not necessarily limited to it if I consider returning it for refund and then purchasing one of Blackmagic Design's other capture devices, such as the UltraStudio HD Mini (which you've mentioned). I have one other question pertaining to your response about that. If I purchase the UltraStudio HD Mini, can you (or any Blackmagic Design rep who may be following the discussion) tell me whether that hardware purchase includes the license for the DaVinci Resolve Studio (paid version) that you mentioned, which my UltraStudio Recorder 3G purchase apparently does not include? I guess my question comes down to whether the paid version of DaVinci Resolve does actually provide the means for allowing my UltraStudio Recorder 3G to capture 5.1 audio. You've implied that it might with the proper procedures and configurations.

I apologize if I'm still failing to grasp the pertinent details of the explanation you provided. It didn't occur to me that the 8 channels of audio that the UltraStudio Recorder 3G is capable of receiving might not include the 6 channels of a 5.1 stream, but now I'm well aware of it.

Thanks again..

I would used some kind of an audio interface that can take the output of an HMDI with audio signal through it and split it into different channels. Ones I can think of are Focusrite or Zoom F6 that can integrate to a DAW and split the audio channels that can be processed it in post into a 5.1 channel inside Resolve/Fairlight. I think there are others you can give better advice on this setup.

AFAIK, the UltraStudio Mini HD does not come with DaVinci Studio.

I would used some kind of an audio interface that can take the output of an HMDI with audio signal through it and split it into different channels. Ones I can think of are Focusrite or Zoom F6 that can integrate to a DAW and split the audio channels that can be processed it in post into a 5.1 channel inside Resolve/Fairlight. I think there are others you can give better advice on this setup.

For that configuration I'm assuming I would send the 5.1 audio to the audio interface either through TOSLINK or HDMI and receiving that output into the Mac through USB-C or Thunderbolt, and I would still connect the UltraStudio Recorder 3G to a separate Thunderbolt input (as I'm doing now) to receive the video? If so, is it correct that the reason I need the paid version of Resolve to accomplish this is that only the paid version will allow me to capture audio and video from separate devices through separate inputs?

I think what matters the most may be the answer to my next question.

AFAIK, the UltraStudio Mini HD does not come with DaVinci Studio.

Are you advising me that if I substitute the UltraStudio Mini HD for the UltraStudio Recorder 3G, I will be able to capture 5.1 audio (6 channels) rather than stereo (2 channels) using Blackmagic Media Express.app, or will DaVinci Studio be required for that case also? Thanks.

Are you advising me that if I substitute the UltraStudio HD Mini for the UltraStudio Recorder 3G, I will be able to capture 5.1 audio (6 channels) rather than stereo (2 channels) using Blackmagic Media Express.app, or will DaVinci Studio be required for that case also?

In case anyone else is following this topic, I exchanged email with Blackmagic Design Support, and their representative informed me that the UltraStudio HD Mini cannot decode embedded 5.1 surround sound audio either.

It appears that I would need a hardware de-embedder such as the Gefen HDMI to HDMI Audio De-Embedder with Eight LPCM Audio RCA Outputs, and an audio interface that can accept 6 analog audio inputs, as well as the discipline to learn how to use them.

It appears that I would need a hardware de-embedder such as the Gefen HDMI to HDMI Audio De-Embedder with Eight LPCM Audio RCA Outputs, and an audio interface that can accept 6 analog audio inputs, as well as the discipline to learn how to use them.

So this is pretty much similar to what I suggested but using a de-embedder which goes between the source(computer) via hdmi and an audio interface device. There are many kinds of de-embber the one BM suggested does break the audio output to different channels. Now with a 5.1 output, you can use a multitrack recorder/audio interface like a Zoom or Tascam, or Behringer to record each channel coming from the de-embedder to each input on the AI. Now the audio interface won’t know which channel type it’s connected to but that’s ok. You will have 6 tracks of recording (I.e., 6 individual wav files) saved on the AI (likely on an SD Card). You can label those files to correspond to the channel out from the embedder, then offload it to a computer with DaVinci Resolve. That’s where you will reassemble the 5.1 and sync it with the video file. There are cheaper HDMI embedders but the advantage of the Gefen is that you have all the output channels to connect on a multitrack audio interface while the cheaper ones you’ll have to do them one at a time. Good luck!

EDIT: Just to provide some visual context on how all the above is put together, here’s a rough sketch that I drew and hope this gives you the general idea.

Illustration051225.jpeg (39.66 KiB) Viewed 258 times

There are cheaper HDMI embedders but the advantage of the Gefen is that you have all the output channels to connect on a multitrack audio interface while the cheaper ones you’ll have to do them one at a time. Good luck!

Thanks for all the information. This is pretty much what I have already reported doing using my Hauppauge system, except that I don't have to deal with the 6 separate channels, they remain encoded and aren't broken out. I just have to truncate the 6-channel AC-3, then apply whatever offset is required to make audio and video sync. I will eventually have to do something like you've explained (when I'm unable to make the orphaned HDPVRCapture.app work on my Mac). I'll probably use Logic 11, which I've already purchased, or whatever version of that exists at the time, because I'm still unable to get DaVinci Resolve to recognize the UltraStudio Recorder 3G. Blackmagic support doesn't offer any encouragement that there's a way to persuade DaVinci Resolve to recognize and capture from the UltraStudio Recorder 3G. If there's a less sophisticated (cheaper) device that will de-embed the 5.1 audio so that it can be sent to an audio interface through S/PDIF, I might be interested in that. Thanks again.