Blackmagic Forum

I'm aware its been discussed before but has anyone got further info why Apple included an image of a BMCC hooked up to an iMAC in their store website?


Does the new iMAC and Final Cut X an ideal choice for BMCC?

Certainly works a treat for me at least using ProRes (FCPX's native format).

It's the first camera to have a thunderbolt port ?

they're probably excited about that.

JB.

John Brawley wrote:It's the first camera to have a thunderbolt port ?

they're probably excited about that.

JB.

BMCC very well fits into the workflow for FCPX...That I think is the reason even apple guys have realized.

Correct.

Ad the fact you can also add metadata in camera.

JB.

Marketing 101

The BMCC looks like an iMac. Maybe BMD too had some marketing intentions here?

Nick Bedford wrote:Certainly works a treat for me at least using ProRes (FCPX's native format).

Is your iMAC the current top spec?

I'm considering the i7 with the better graphic card. Not sure if 16mb ram is enough?

They should show four of them hooked up, it does appear to be a 4 source multicam...

Michael

Samjack wrote:

Nick Bedford wrote:Certainly works a treat for me at least using ProRes (FCPX's native format).

Is your iMAC the current top spec?

I'm considering the i7 with the better graphic card. Not sure if 16mb ram is enough?

27" iMac with i7 3.4GHz with GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5 video memory and 16 GB of system memory with run well in Resolve and FCP X. When I say run well in Resolve, you should be able to run in real time with a few nodes. You may be able to search and find comments from Peter Chamberlain of BMD on this. Just be aware to run with many nodes in Resolve in real time requires a very high-end Mac Pro or a powerful Windows PC.

More system memory may be helpful in some functions of FCP X but won't likely have any impact on Resolve unless you have other things running at the same time or at least occupying memory. If you can budget for it, go for the 32GB system memory but it isn't absolutely necessary. Lots of pros use iMacs now for editing.

Rick Lang
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I have a previous generation model. 27" i7 3.4GHz Sandy Bridge, 12GB DDR3, AMD Radeon 6970M with 256GB SSD and 2TB hard disk.

Just wondering, how well is Resolve supposed to run on a 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD? I've tried making adjustments to a short RAW clip from the BMCC and it seems that, unless I am doing something wrong, Resolve is unusable. I don't expect (or even need) real-time playback of 2.5k RAW files, but it takes ages for any image adjustments to show in the preview window. The UI isn't sluggish though, so maybe I just need to tweak some setting?

Christian Schmeer wrote:Just wondering, how well is Resolve supposed to run on a 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD? I've tried making adjustments to a short RAW clip from the BMCC and it seems that, unless I am doing something wrong, Resolve is unusable. I don't expect (or even need) real-time playback of 2.5k RAW files, but it takes ages for any image adjustments to show in the preview window. The UI isn't sluggish though, so maybe I just need to tweak some setting?

Wonder if the 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD is enough to edit prores files. At least I dont intend to shoot RAW.

John Brawley wrote:It's the first camera to have a thunderbolt port ?

Although the configuration as pictured isn't terribly useful is it? Unless I'm missing something, there isn't anything much you can do by connecting a BMCC via Thunderbolt to a Mac running FCP-X? I know you could capture the live output of the camera into Media Express. Can FCP-X do that too?

I suspect many people would assume from that picture that you can download rushes into FCP-X directly from the camera via Thunderbolt. Maybe one day that will be possible. Does anybody know if that could be enabled with a firmware update, or if the hardware is not capable of it?

Nick Shaw wrote:

John Brawley wrote:It's the first camera to have a thunderbolt port ?

Although the configuration as pictured isn't terribly useful is it? Unless I'm missing something, there isn't anything much you can do by connecting a BMCC via Thunderbolt to a Mac running FCP-X?

Ultrascope ?

jb

satyablack wrote:

Christian Schmeer wrote:Just wondering, how well is Resolve supposed to run on a 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD? I've tried making adjustments to a short RAW clip from the BMCC and it seems that, unless I am doing something wrong, Resolve is unusable. I don't expect (or even need) real-time playback of 2.5k RAW files, but it takes ages for any image adjustments to show in the preview window. The UI isn't sluggish though, so maybe I just need to tweak some setting?

Wonder if the 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD is enough to edit prores files. At least I dont intend to shoot RAW.

Yes it is more than enough to edit pro-res files. For doing a project of any scale you will need to invest in an external thunderbolt RAID drive (we bought the Lacie 6TB and it works well). On studio shoots we have been recording RAW to the hard drive and capturing ProRes files via thunderbolt to the Macbook - it's been a great workflow.

Chris - I've found Resolve sluggish on the Macbook. We have to transfer files onto a custom built PC with more RAM and large capacity graphics cards to do anything worthwhile.

John Brawley wrote:

Nick Shaw wrote:

John Brawley wrote:It's the first camera to have a thunderbolt port ?

Although the configuration as pictured isn't terribly useful is it? Unless I'm missing something, there isn't anything much you can do by connecting a BMCC via Thunderbolt to a Mac running FCP-X?

Ultrascope ?

jb

Do you need FCPX to run Ultrascope?

I thought it was stand-alone?

Eric Santiago wrote:Do you need FCPX to run Ultrascope?

I thought it was stand-alone?

That is my understanding too. As far as I know FCP-X cannot "talk" to a BMCC via Thunderbolt at all, which is why I think the picture is a bit misleading. Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

As this was months ago (the picture), its all marketing folks nothing else.

So is the thunderbolt interface is just a gimmick as fas as BMCC is concern with the iMAC?

Samjack wrote:So is the thunderbolt interface is just a gimmick as fas as BMCC is concern with the iMAC?

There is a lot of information about using the BMCC Thunderbolt port in the camera's manual. Here is a quote from Page 21:

The Thunderbolt port of your camera outputs uncompressed 4:2:2 10-bit HD1080 video while recording live with the camera.

You can capture video from the Thunderbolt port with a variety of video software supported by your camera including: Apple Final Cut Pro 7, Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, Avid Media Composer 6, Blackmagic Media Express 3 and DaVinci Resolve 9. Each of these applications have their own project preferences which let you capture the video in an uncompressed or compressed video format of your choice.

You can find the manual here: http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/4 ... Manual.pdf

Samjack wrote:So is the thunderbolt interface is just a gimmick as fas as BMCC is concern with the iMAC?

Long before BMD shipped a single camera, Apple *created* this image. I say created because you'll notice the scale is totally wrong. The camera isn't anywhere near as small as this against an iMac. You also can't use the camera directly in FCPx.

You could run Ultrascope on an iMac over thunderbolt.

You can capture directly to the iMac to do longer than an SSD's worth of continuous recording over thunderbolt.

There's two unique Thunderbolt only applications right there plus a specific stand alone app that can only work with Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt is certainly useful to those who like those features.

This is the first camera to use Thunderbolt. And still is. And there are Thunderbolt specific features

jb

isn't FCP 7 pretty much dead any way so they would't really have anything else editing wise to show a edit

Gbenjamin wrote:isn't FCP 7 pretty much dead any way so they would't really have anything else editing wise to show a edit

If I had an BMCC and it was the FCP7 is the only app that can import live TB video, then Id use it.

No different from other workflows I've experienced in the past.

I honestly thought the TB was for Ultrascope only.

I like the live feed, great for corporate and long formats e.g concerts, theater, etc...

Eric Santiago wrote:If I had an BMCC and it was the FCP7 is the only app that can import live TB video, then Id use it.

No different from other workflows I've experienced in the past.

I honestly thought the TB was for Ultrascope only.

I like the live feed, great for corporate and long formats e.g concerts, theater, etc...

Hi Eric: Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your point, but just to be clear:

To the best of my knowledge, the BMCC's Thunderbolt port is for use with Ultrascope & MediaExpress only.

No version of FCP can access a BMCC directly via TB. FCP 7 & X can be part of a BMCC post workflow, but not capture directly from the camera.

Cheers.

It would be worthwhile if BMD engineers update their firmware to provide media transfer from BMCC via thunderbolt. Can anyone confirm if the capture through media express is in real time or 4X rate ??

The capture is in real time.

Kristian Lam wrote:The capture is in real time.

Thanks Kristian for that confirmation.

Peter J. DeCrescenzo wrote:To the best of my knowledge, the BMCC's Thunderbolt port is for use with Ultrascope & MediaExpress only...

Im honestly confused now. I read that you can in live mode.
To me that means you can record from camera into an NLE that records live to hard-drive.
Please someone confirm.

Goodness it's not that difficult.

Yes. You can record live using the free included Media Express software using the camera over thunderbolt to create Quicktimes that can LATER be used in FCPx or FCP7.

As explained in the manual that was linked earlier.

jb

These are the results when I have the camera connected via Thunderbolt to my MacBook Pro 17".

Apple System Profile lists the camera under Thunderbolt as follows:
Cinema Camera:

Vendor Name: Blackmagic Design
Device Name: Cinema Camera
Vendor ID: 0x4
Device ID: 0xA125
Device Revision: 0x1
UID: 0x00040000000E26C0
Route String: 1
Firmware Version: 7.1
Port:
Status: Connected
Link Status: 2
Port Micro Firmware Version: 0.2.5
Cable Firmware Version: 0.1.18

Final Cut Pro X does not see the camera in the import dialoge under camera. Only the iSight webcam is listed.

Final Cut Pro 7 does not list the Blackmagic Cinema Camera in the device list in Log and Capture. Selecting other Blackmagic HDTV presets does not work.

Blackmagic Media Express sees the camera and can capture straight to disc in same HD 1080p formats the camera supports (23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30). You can record to various Quicktime codecs and DPX.

I could not get UltraScopes to launch. Got this message every time:
Startup Failed
UltraScopes could not configure the capture hardware

No idea why that is as Media Express sees the camera just fine. I even downloaded the latest version from the Blackmagic Support Site.

John Brawley wrote:Goodness it's not that difficult.

adamroberts wrote:

John Brawley wrote:Goodness it's not that difficult.

JB not fair you got one earlier than all of us

LOL!

Thanks Adam for the breakdown.

Hmm can someone from BMD chime in on this situation asap.

I was about to rent one for a live event.

Dont want to use a HyperDeck2 with my Scarlet due to the environment of this shoot

adamroberts wrote:Blackmagic Media Express sees the camera and can capture straight to disc in same HD 1080p formats the camera supports (23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30). You can record to various Quicktime codecs and DPX.

DPX too. Nice, had not realized that.

Rick Lang
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Hi,

I have just performed a quick test using the camera with a MacBook Pro 17". UltraScope sees the camera fine, I'm not seeing any problems there. Have you made sure to use the copy of UltraScope that comes with the Cinema Camera software? Please try using the uninstaller icon in the Cinema Camera 1.1 software installer package, and then install again. Then try launching UltraScope and see if you see the same thing. If you still don't get anywhere, please do contact your regional support team using the numbers here.

Final Cut Pro X does not have any way to capture from a device such as the Cinema Camera, so I'm afraid that there's no way this can work.

I haven't been able to test with FCP7 as yet, but I don't believe it's supported.

Chris Pearse wrote:Hi,

I have just performed a quick test using the camera with a MacBook Pro 17". UltraScope sees the camera fine, I'm not seeing any problems there. Have you made sure to use the copy of UltraScope that comes with the Cinema Camera software? Please try using the uninstaller icon in the Cinema Camera 1.1 software installer package, and then install again. Then try launching UltraScope and see if you see the same thing. If you still don't get anywhere, please do contact your regional support team using the numbers here.

Final Cut Pro X does not have any way to capture from a device such as the Cinema Camera, so I'm afraid that there's no way this can work.

I haven't been able to test with FCP7 as yet, but I don't believe it's supported.

Thanks Chris. I now have Ultrascopes working after re-installing the software package.

Still can't capture from Resolve tho. See here:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4411&p=27423#p27423

likewise for my 'early 2011' MacBook Pro 17" - Ultrascope now good

Chris Pearse wrote:I haven't been able to test with FCP7 as yet, but I don't believe it's supported.

Page 21 of the manual, as quoted by Christine, certainly refers to being able to "capture video from the Thunderbolt port" using Final Cut Pro 7.

Yeah, this is frustrating. BMDCC via TBolt to Ultrascope works fine. Can Capture on the fly to Express either live camera or free run playback.
But no Log & Capture anywhere. FCP7, Express, Resolve, there doesn't seem to be any deck control anywhere. Is this correct?
I mean I rely on logging clips by Mark In, Mark Out, Add Metadata, then Batch capture. I can't believe this doesn't work on this camera, I mean whats the point of giving Express if it can't control the camera transport? What am I missing?

Chris Pearse wrote:Hi,

I have just performed a quick test using the camera with a MacBook Pro 17". UltraScope sees the camera fine, I'm not seeing any problems there. Have you made sure to use the copy of UltraScope that comes with the Cinema Camera software? Please try using the uninstaller icon in the Cinema Camera 1.1 software installer package, and then install again. Then try launching UltraScope and see if you see the same thing. If you still don't get anywhere, please do contact your regional support team using the numbers here.

Final Cut Pro X does not have any way to capture from a device such as the Cinema Camera, so I'm afraid that there's no way this can work.

I haven't been able to test with FCP7 as yet, but I don't believe it's supported.

Hello Chris,

I downloaded Ultrascope 1.6 and tried to hook up my BMCC, with no luck. It came up with "Ultrascope could not configure the capture hardware."

Any advice?

You need to use the version of UltraScopes that is installed with the Cinema Camera Utility if you want to use it with the BMCC.

Uninstall UltraScopes. Download the latest Camera Utility (ver 1.4.2) and run the installer. Then launch the version of UltraScopes that this installer installs.

Samjack wrote:I'm aware its been discussed before but has anyone got further info why Apple included an image of a BMCC hooked up to an iMAC in their store website?


Does the new iMAC and Final Cut X an ideal choice for BMCC?

Probably because the black and silver matches their products, no other reason. Most other cameras are black and would not match.

Now that Apple has 120fps video coming out of a phone, they should give BMC some advice on how to get at least 1080/60P out of the Production Camera.

Marcel Beck wrote:
Hello Chris,

I downloaded Ultrascope 1.6 and tried to hook up my BMCC, with no luck. It came up with "Ultrascope could not configure the capture hardware."

Any advice?

Hi Marcel,

Adam's advice to use the version of UltraScope included with the Camera Utility I think should work. But if not, please check that Media Express can see the camera is attached in the 'devices' menu. If it can, close Media Express and try UltraScope again. If it cannot see the camera, then something else could be wrong. In which case I would suggest contacting support.

Thanks Adam & Chris,

Works now, did the update to 1.4.2.


Any updates when Ultra scope goes Fullscreen on MBP Retina? Still get the error that my resolution is incorrect (Even though its 1920x1200)

Marcel Beck wrote:Thanks Adam & Chris,

Works now, did the update to 1.4.2.


Any updates when Ultra scope goes Fullscreen on MBP Retina? Still get the error that my resolution is incorrect (Even though its 1920x1200)

Same here. Would be great to have fullscreen on MBP Retina.

satyablack wrote:

Christian Schmeer wrote:Just wondering, how well is Resolve supposed to run on a 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD? I've tried making adjustments to a short RAW clip from the BMCC and it seems that, unless I am doing something wrong, Resolve is unusable. I don't expect (or even need) real-time playback of 2.5k RAW files, but it takes ages for any image adjustments to show in the preview window. The UI isn't sluggish though, so maybe I just need to tweak some setting?

Wonder if the 15" Retina MacBook Pro / 2.3GHz i7 Quad-Core/ 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD is enough to edit prores files. At least I dont intend to shoot RAW.

I use a 15' Retina 2.3GHz i7 16G / 256GB with no issues at all in Resolve or FCPX

Now the Windows laptops have Thunderbolt, any chance that Ultrascope will work on them? or still a Mac only program.