UltraStudio 4K Not Working on New M4 Max Chip

Hey everyone,

I recently upgraded to a Mac with the new M4 Max chip, and I’m trying to get my Blackmagic UltraStudio 4K device up and running. Unfortunately, I’m running into some issues – it’s simply not being recognized by my setup.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

- Downloaded and installed the latest version of the Blackmagic Desktop Video software.
- Verified that I’m using a compatible connection (Thunderbolt, in my case).
- Double-checked that the device works on another machine with a different setup, and it seems fine there.

I’m wondering if anyone else using an M4 Max machine has run into this and found a fix? I’m suspecting it might be a driver compatibility issue since the M4 Max chip is pretty new. Any insights, workarounds, or updates from Blackmagic on compatibility would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Others have experienced similar issues with earlier Mx models, check the forum.

I'm having this issue with M4 Max MacBookPro Sequoia 15.1 and Blackmagic Ultra Studio 4k with Desktop Video 12.3 not being recognised. Anyone having this issue? If there's a solution here, could you kindly point me to it. A search doesn't show anything up.

Maybe you need the new version of desktop studio?
Desktop Video 14.2.1

I have the same problem. Latest MacBookPro M4 Max, Ultrastudio 4k, latest Blackmagic desktop driver and I can't get a picture. "No desktop device detected".

Does anyone have a solution? I can't find anything suitable for the M4 Max in the forum.

Thanks in advance!

Thomas

I'd contact support directly.
I've got the US Monitor 3G, which is on the compatibility list too, working fine here under version 12.4.2.

I too recently bought a Mac Studio M2 Max & tried to connect it up to my old UltraStudio 4K. Since the Studio uses Thunderbolt 3 (looks like a USB-C connector) and the US4K uses Thunderbolt 1 (looks like a mini-display connector), I bought and Apple adapter ($75!!!). No matter what Desktop Video Setup version I tried, none of them worked; the Desktop Video program did not "see" the US4K. The curious part of this was, the Apple system report DID, so the device was communicating, but not via the BMD software, which is required to get the US4K to play my clips via Video ProPresenter.

To verify nothing had happened to the equipment, I connected up an older Mac Mini -- no problem, but the Mini was slow running the older OS software.

Then I realized, if I must use an older computer, why not use my old maxed out Apple Pro "trash can" Mac? It's blazing fast, but cannot upgrade to the newer OS, and it has several of the old Thunderbolt 1 ports.

That's what I did -- I mostly needed the speed, not the newer OS, at least for now. At least now I won't have to purchase a new UltraStudio just because of its comm ports for $2700!

I too recently bought a Mac Studio M2 Max & tried to connect it up to my old UltraStudio 4K. Since the Studio uses Thunderbolt 3 (looks like a USB-C connector) and the US4K uses Thunderbolt 1 (looks like a mini-display connector), I bought and Apple adapter ($75!!!). No matter what Desktop Video Setup version I tried, none of them worked; the Desktop Video program did not "see" the US4K. The curious part of this was, the Apple system report DID, so the device was communicating, but not via the BMD software, which is required to get the US4K to play my clips via Video ProPresenter.
...

Hi

Just a quick question - did you do a complete clean install or did you transfer/restore the data from your previous Mac?

Take a look at the post I did on how to get the monitor and recorder working - when macOS sees them but not the BMD software.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=212394

That’s what worked for me: fresh install on the M1 Pro when I finally went to Sonoma, then Desktop Video, and finally DR. On my older Intel Mac, both the old US Mini Monitor and the new G3 version continued to work when upgraded to Ventura.