connect issue between BMPC camera 6k and Mac

Hey guys,
I'm trying to upgrade the firmware on my newish BMPC 6k but the Blackmagic Camera Setup (and Mac Finder) cannot see it. My Mac OS is Big Sur 11.3.1 with 3.1 USB ports. The USB-C/USB 3.1 cable is new. I've tried all combinations of computer re-boot and camera on/off. I have seen in this forum that USB 2.0 ports will work but neither of my computers have them so that isn't an option. Any thoughts?

Have you verified the new cable can be used for data rather than only a power cable?

I just checked and it is for both power and syncing data.

Given you’ve already tried a variety of connection steps, you may find one of them suddenly works. Cables are the first thing to suspect though. I had a costly cable that didn’t a few years ago and now it works fine. The cable didn’t change, but the behaviour sure did so it’s a mystery.

You could try a different quality cable and might have immediate success. Never hurts to have a spare cable so don’t feel that adding another cable is a waste of money as when they do fail, it’s without warning or apparent cause.

Don’t know if this will help, but I normally:

have the new Camera Setup running on the computer and

the cable plugged into the camera,

the camera turned On, then

finally plug the cable into the computer.

Sometimes plugging the cable into the computer last ‘wakes up’ the connection.

big sur has a lot of USB problems - a USB hub between helps sometime

I’m still using Catalina with no plans to go to Big Sur; don’t feel the need to have macOS emulate iPadOS and the Mac Pro is Intel of course so support for Apple silicon is still irrelevant. I just enjoy where I’m at, but I used to apply Apple updates religiously. Getting more cautious and don’t want my Dante-related theatrical audio to break.

I've ordered a USB-C to Thunderbolt cable. I'll let you know if that works. Thanks for the info so far.

I just tried a new USB-C to Thunderbolt cable that was designed primarily for data transfer. No dice. Even the Mac Finder doesn't see the camera.

Do you know the USB-C connection on the camera is good? Have you connected an external SSD to the camera USB-C and successfully written clips?

I just tried a new USB-C to Thunderbolt cable that was designed primarily for data transfer. No dice. Even the Mac Finder doesn't see the camera.

a thunderbolt cable does not work*

you need a 3,1 USB-C to USB-C data cable


*most are not backward compatible
and if the computer recognizes the cable as thunderbolt,
there is no USB connection

Good tips. Thank you guys. I'll get a flash drive recommended by BM and try it out.

I just tried a new SSD, which works with my Mac but doesn't work with the camera. The power light on the SSD doesn't come on. So, I think it is the USB-C port on the camera that is the problem. Am sending it to where I bought it for service.

Bob, full marks for effort in isolating the problem. The SSD will come in handy thankfully.

Got it. It was the USB-C port on the camera. BM replaced it and Camera Setup works fine. Many thanks guys.