Blackmagic Forum

When can we expect this feature to become live? I am very excited about the new cams, but I waited a long time for the camera I just got, and I still can't record audio accurately. Could we get the firmware update soon?

Please please please please

+1...
Its all good to have new cameras but Respect your customers. finish your first camera before you sell otherones...

I plan to own the bmpc and the 4k production camera, but we all really need Audio metering.

will that do the trick till we get the vu meters update?
http://www.pinknoise-systems.co.uk/Sign ... --581.html

OMG, I love my BMCC -- but this is plain wrong and a major pain in the ----....seriously...please please put a Audio Meter in my BMCC (all BMCC's) - I bought a BMCC EF 2.5k and I already placed an order for the Pocket Cam...

Vumeter please.

+1

It took them a matter of days to release a firmware update that fixed the DNxHD bug. Admittedly that was a major bug (i.e. it basically "bricked" your camera), but it shows when the issue is big enough, BMD are willing to push out firmware releases REALLY quickly.

Unfortunately it seems not enough people have been vocal enough in telling BMD that they need to URGENTLY fix the frequency response issues in the 1.3 firmware and also release some documentation clearly stating what's going on behind the scenes in terms of gain structure.

They know it's an issue - but there's obviously no sense of urgency to fix it.

Given that 1.2 didn't have any frequency response issues (at least not to the extent of 1.3) - there's no technical reason why they can't push out this release quickly.

I know BMD are probably waiting to fix this along with a big release, with a lot of bug fixes and feature improvements - but personally, I think the audio issues are enough of an issue for them to be able to release an "emergency firmware update" ASAP.

BMD are definitely listening - and the BMC product managers actively monitor this forum.

We just need to speak up. The audio issue IS a major project and we REALLY want it fixed ASAP. Pretty please!

Chris Hocking wrote:The audio issue IS a major project and we REALLY want it fixed ASAP. Pretty please!

+1

Maybe everyone affected by that crappy 1.3-firmware can join the choir here and maybe once the thread is 100 pages long, something is being done. If not, we all then should use the contact-page of BM support and address this issue personally and directly.

Agreed.

See:
http://herefortheweather.wordpress.com/ ... g-working/

The pace of firmware development on the BMCC is glacial. It is just shameful. I write more code in a day than these guys put out in two months. I am including the fact that code has to be tested and corrected when more use cases are checked. You can say that it is firmware, which is close to the hardware, and that is harder. Not really. I have written every kind of code, and you just have to hire a pro who knows how to do it. With code that is 'close to the metal' you have to look at the hardware docs and have good info from the hardware team, and sometimes you have to count clocks for time-critical stuff, and fancy debuggers are used, but pros get the job done, and done right. That is clearly not the case here. I am quite surprised at BMD, who have been in this business for quite awhile, and management just seems incredibly tolerant of non-performance. Now they have a bigger incentive to perform, since now it will be spread over 3 cameras instead of one, and yet -- what? It is just pitiful. I don't like to be so scathing, and I like my BMCC, but I have to call a spade a spade. There is no real output from the firmware team.

Clearly you've not waited for a firmware update from Sony then? The FS100 only had one update in 2yrs.

Although I bet the FS100 had things such as audio meters right from the start

Kyle's original post was in reference to the frequency response issue in the 1.3 firmware.

The lack of meters in the camera is a whole different issue. This is a feature request - something BMD refuse to discuss publicly. As far as I know, BMD have NEVER publicly said that they'lll be adding meters into the camera, so this feature may or may become available. UltraScopes and using the embedded audio in the SDI signal are workarounds for those users who desperately need meters.

Given that BMD have made it pretty clear they won't be discussing future firmware releases - I don't expect to get a response on meters on the camera. This is fine - we all knew from the get-go that the camera didn't have meters, so there is no expectation that meters will ever be added to this product line.

HOWEVER - the frequency response issue on the 1.3 firmware is a BUG. This is a known issue, that BMD have acknowledged, so it's just a matter of time until they fix it. What I'm suggesting is that this BUG should be a priority to fix - and they should release a firmware fix with the same speed as the DNxHD bug. This BUG has major ramifications for workflow and quality - and needs to be addressed.

This is NOT a feature request. This is a request to fix functionality that was originally announced with the camera.

BMD know majority of users want meters - as everyone's been so vocal about this. I think if the hardware can handle this functionality - then eventually this feature will come. But the priority as of today should be to fix the existing 1.3 firmware.

It's nearly been two months now since the 1.3 release. Given that there was no frequency response issue in 1.2, there is no reason why they couldn't release a quick firmware update that addresses this single problem. The only reason I can see why they're holding off is that they're trying to fix and add a lot of things in the next firmware release, which is great - but again, I'd be much happier if they released a quick-fix first, then moved on to other things.

As far as I'm concerned - once the audio performance is fixed, we finally have a fully functioning and operational camera - i.e. the camera that was announced and advertised. At the moment it's only 75% there, so we've all purchased something that's incomplete.

Yes, I'm aware RED and Alexa both shipped without audio initially. BUT, at least they were honest and open about it. BMD have still never released documentation stating that the audio changed from 1.2 to 1.3 - these forums are still the only place to get this information, and they haven't made it clear to the general public that there are ACTUAL KNOWN ISSUES with 1.3.

We're shooting with the BMC EF daily, with on-board audio - and we've found ways to make it work. But - we're making serious compromises to get there.

My 2c.

I don't think we'll see any firmware released until the new cameras ship....

Chris Hocking wrote:The only reason I can see why they're holding off is that they're trying to fix and add a lot of things in the next firmware release, which is great

I think all the firmware people are busy getting the Pocket CC and the Production Camera 4k ready for launch - the lack of demo footage suggests that at least the 4k camera isn't quite ready yet. If they manage to improve the original CC2k5 along the way: even better! But i also wouldn't expect any firmware updates before the new cameras are done.

Mac Jaeger wrote:

Chris Hocking wrote:The only reason I can see why they're holding off is that they're trying to fix and add a lot of things in the next firmware release, which is great

I think all the firmware people are busy getting the Pocket CC and the Production Camera 4k ready for launch - the lack of demo footage suggests that at least the 4k camera isn't quite ready yet. If they manage to improve the original CC2k5 along the way: even better! But i also wouldn't expect any firmware updates before the new cameras are done.

Would be great if someone from blackmagic joins in if this is the case.. so you would think we can expect a firmware update at the end of july? Long way to go

I have the 4K and Pocket on pre-order - so I'm definitely all for BMD busily working away on these new camera.

However... surely ONE TINY BUG FIX isn't too much to ask?

HOPEFULLY they've fixed this bug in the new next major firmware release - so all they would need to do is apply this single fix to the existing 1.3.1 firmware, test and release. This issue did NOT exist in the 1.2 firmware - so it's not like they need to spend hours and hours doing hardcore programming. It should be a simple fix.

Anyway... I'll stop complaining for now and get back to repairing all our existing audio footage in Audition! :)

I'll chime in. I could really use some audio fixes. I can't hear much through my phones from the camera either. Metering would be great! Maybe even better than a BM update, maybe Magic Lantern will jump in here. C'mon guys, help us out!

I just bought my BMCC. I was prepared for the ergonomic downsides that are compensated for by the image you get out of it but the audio is something else, I can't seriously believe things are shipped with audio as bad as mine is. Is this what other people experience? If it is it's a very bad joke...

I find the audio capture itself is not terrible, but the monitoring situation is (visually and audio wise)

Thanks, that makes me more convinced the camera is faulty. I found it difficult to believe anyone would sell it as if it was 'normal'.

You can listen to some of my tests here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7829#p52514

Thanks Chris, started reading the thread but went on forever. Bottom line is if they are selling this with audio inputs they should work. If what other people have is what I have audio should be removed from the camera. I trust mine is faulty. I want it to be faulty because I don't want to send it back because the dynamic range is obviously fantastic and for which everything else is forgiven in terms of the screen, only SDI etc but the audio I am getting is an insult to the intelligence of a dead sheep that was deaf when it was alive.

You don't have to read the whole thread - but the link I gave you is a post with links to audio tests you can download and listen to. Be interested to hear what you think.

Chris Hocking wrote:Given that BMD have made it pretty clear they won't be discussing future firmware releases...

Then why does anyone expect RAW to show up on the Pocket Camera?

josephrose wrote:Then why does anyone expect RAW to show up on the Pocket Camera?

Because COMPRESSED RAW was an announced feature.

Hey Chris. Have you tried the 1.4.1 firmware. I am wondering whether it is getting better low frequency response. I just ran some general tests and felt like something may have changed, but that was only subjective.

Chris: Just saw you post in another thread that you were going to be looking at it...

I will have a vimeo video posted within the next hour that should be a good idea if there are any differences, stay tuned, I will start a new thread.

Steve

I have come to the conclusion I cannot use the onboard mic for anything if this is the way it is. I seem to now be getting, for no apparent reason, better sound plugging the NTG2 directly into the camera but I presume the signal is so low from the NTG2 I just can't hear it on the headphones when recording - although I can hear it on the headphones when I play a clip back. I'm hoping rode VMP has a higher signal and when I get adapter this will be my go to mic and the NTG2 will have nothing to do. Also going to try wireless Sennheiser and hope that works OK. I am clearly in the wrong thread with this anyway, so apologies for that. Yes, some level indicators would be very handy!

I have a side by side coming up, it does seem the inputs are very low now that I have taken the time to compare, no where near accurate, check my thread for comparisons posted in the next hour

+1

Steve DiMaggio wrote:I have a side by side coming up, it does seem the inputs are very low now

Damn, was hoping that the levels were back up to firmware 1.2.1 where you don't need an external pre-amp.

Jules

a pre amp is certainly not needed, as a preamp is made for bringing low impedance to high impedance, I dont expect any camera to have that, but it did seem a bit lower, I am re uploading, for some reason the upload stopped while I was out

here it is