7.9.1 Firmware Problems for 6K PRO

I just updated my 6K Pro to v7.9.1.

Before updating the firmware, I exported my presets to the internal CFast and SD cards. However after the firmware update, the camera is not allowing me to re-import them.

Ken

At my first recording session after installing the firmware the audio and video tracks were recorded out of sync. The audio came before the video. That's never happened to me before. The problem showed itself in Davinci Resolve and the separate Blackmagic Raw viewer app.

I also used a Tentacle Sync timecode clock to jam sync the camera before connecting audio via XLR. The camera showed an Ext timecode sync but it failed to write that to file. I was not able to sync the recording with my other cameras that did recorded the timecode and audio properly.

Until I figure out how to fix this or revert to earlier firmware I'll have to leave the 6k Pro at home. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Can you post a clip? Audio desync is usually because the HFR switch was pressed by accident.

Thanks. I must have done that accidently and didn't notice.

Since my previous post I turned off "off speed recording" that I had accidently set while swiping in haste. I still have the timecode problem and wonder if anyone can suggest a solution.

I recently updated to Resolve 18 and Camera 7.9.1 firmware. I ran a number of tests today and was not able to get my 6K Pro to sync clips with a Sony AX700 using Tentacle sync E generators. The Tentacle devices sync all 3 of my Sony cameras perfectly. The 6k Pro is the outlier.

I had occasional problems syncing the 6K Pro in the past but was able to get reliable results if I plugged in the Tentacle sync before the XLR audio inputs. Since I updated to Resolve 18 and camera firmware 7.9.1, I can't get it to work at all.

Here are the test details (verbose). Both cameras are set to record at 29.97 fps with drop frame tuned off. The 6k Pro is set to record Braw onto a T5 using constant bitrate and 8:1 compression. I have the camera set to stop recording if it can't write the frames. It's never stopped at 8:1.

When I plugged the Tentacle into the 3.5 mm jack of the 6k Pro, the Ext icon appeared and the clock reset to roughly the same time that was displayed on the Tentacle Bluetooth app. I hit the record button on both cameras with opposite hands at roughly the same time.

After a few minutes I loaded both clips into the Resolve Media page. I selected the Sony clip and chose "Update Timecode From Audio Track". I could see the TC Start field change to match the start time of the Braw file recorded by the 6k Pro. Then I tried to sync them on the Cut page. No luck.

I did another test with both cameras and recorded the LTC code from the Tentacle onto the Ch 1 (left) track of the 6k Pro just like I do with the Sony cameras. On the Media page I selected both clips and chose "Update Timecode From Audio Track". No luck with that either.

The Sony cameras are easy to sync in Resolve. That leads me to believe that the problem lies with the Braw file and the way Resolve is reading it. I would really like Blackmagic to look into this. The camera is much less useful if it can't be used in a multi-camera shoot.

I'll post this to the regular forum in a couple of places and see if someone has a solution that I've overlooked. If that doesn't work I'll file a bug report. Thanks for the help on my previous problem.

That’s strange. I’ve never encountered a problem syncing multiple cameras of different kinds in my Multicam shoots, including a PCC4K on firmware 7.9.1

Can you check if your tentacles are set to the correct fps? In your case 29.97.
And are you 100% sure about the framerate in your Sony AX700?
A quick search in the Sony online user manual showed me it is displaying 30 fps, but records in 29.97
in 24p it seems to force NDF, otherwise you can set NDF or DF.

Can you double check your Problem isn’t related to drop frame vs. non-drop frame TC?

You might also find this general read about Timecode useful:
https://blog.frame.io/2017/07/17/timeco ... ame-rates/

All the tentacles were synced to 29.97 non-drop. Drop frame was turned off on the Sony camcorders. I can see the frame rate in the metadata on the Media page of Resolve and all the clips were recorded at 29.97.

Perhaps your BM4K doesn't have the same problem as my 6K Pro. I have a friend with the original 6K and he doesn't have any sync problems. My 6K Pro used to sync but now it doesn't.

Factory Rest is my friend. I turned off the camera, took out the battery and plugged in AC adapter. After I powered up I did a factory reset from the Setup menu and reset all my parameters to the values I had used before. I ran another short test with two Tentacle Sync devices on different cameras. This time it worked!

Mark, that’s great. Thanks for the follow up.

After updating (Oct 14 2024) ALL firmware for 6K PRO CAM...unable to access MENU...can go back to live shooting but when going back to menu...cannot advance any control, item on the menu.

Believe it's time to go back to factory reset.

Thanks for putting this info out there.

I just did your factory reset for my BMDC 6K PRO CINEMA CAMERA (2021?) .

Bought for my state of California media center around 2021...sat in warehouse for almost 2 years...did NOT actually get it until 2023.

Started with the installed firmware -- 6.0?

Started with original batteries...everything fine for about 6 months...then went with battery grip and that is when problems started.

Mostly menu access and usage stability.

Updated firmware...went back to original batteries and off the battery grip...kept it on ac power for entire weekend -- SHUT OFF -- simply for batteries to charge.

everything fine...went back to battery grip...
everything fine until:

FIRMWARE UPDATE to early 8.0 something.(didn't keep accurate records.)

Menu instability again -- now...cannot get out of menu...stuck on the LANGUAGE page -- but get switch over to shooting screen...but it only stays on that page -- no CANNOT use the full capability of this camera.

Now...after uninstalling entire firmware and re-installing firmware to factory rest at 6.0 -- it is CA power...no batteries...will not touch it until Thursday morning (tomorrow)

If same problems exist -- it goes back to BMD -- I've done everything according to the "book".
I simply cannot put this taxpayer bought equipment on the shelf when the taxpayers are paying me to use it.

Will I push BLACKMAGIC PRODUCTS for the California taxpayer -- out of so many digital media vendors -- since I work in the largest funded budget department for the state of California (in the wealthiest state in America) ...in a media content creation office -- a field of digital-based digital media creation, BLACKMAGIC designs for????

Don't know after this.

Maybe BMD has a higher world-wide customer grouping of private sector companies than any gov't agency at any level.

Thanks for all help from all.