UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3 - SD-SDI output artifact

Hi all,

I work in an archival digitization facility where we digitize (almost exclusively) legacy analog magnetic media such as U-matic, VHS, Betamax, Betacam, Video8, etc. We are using a Blackmagic UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3 to digitize. We must use broadcast-grade CRTs and scopes to monitor the video signal during digitization, both at the output of the analog tape playback device, as well as the output of the digitized SDI signal from the UltraStudio 4K. We are using Mac OS 10.15.7 (Catalina), installed on a Mac Mini (3.2 GHz Intel i7, 6-core, 64 GB RAM).

This has worked well for us so far, as long as we don't use any version of Desktop Video above 11.2. If we do, the SD-SDI output of the UltraStudio has a horrible pink artifact in the vertical blanking interval. It's so bright and saturated that I'm worried it may be hurting the phosphors in our CRT monitors. We can't use flat panel monitors for this work. We need to monitor the 59.94 interlaced video signal from the SDI output of the UltraStudio into a interlace scan monitor with overscan and H/V delay functions for QC. We've confirmed with Blackmagic that this is a problem with the driver/firmware, and not a problem with our UltraStudio devices. It happens when we test with different Macs and different UltraStudio hardware. They have no interest in spending time or money addressing this problem.

Last week, one of our Mac Minis died, and we need to purchase a replacement. Will Desktop Video 11.2 work with an M1 Mac running Monterey? Where does the firmware/driver compatibility start to become an issue with newer operating systems? If we must, we will look into purchasing an older Mac. Since Blackmagic Design will not address this bug, we don't have much choice.

Thanks for any ideas or information you can provide!

Last week, one of our Mac Minis died, and we need to purchase a replacement. Will Desktop Video 11.2 work with an M1 Mac running Monterey? Where does the firmware/driver compatibility start to become an issue with newer operating systems? If we must, we will look into purchasing an older Mac. Since Blackmagic Design will not address this bug, we don't have much choice.

Thanks for any ideas or information you can provide!

No, you can't use M1 Macs without being on Desktop Video 12.0 or newer. Did BMD say if the driver/firmware bug is present on Windows or Linux installations?

Hi Jack,

No, they acknowledged the bug existed when I reported it in 2019, but as far as I know, they didn't investigate a fix for this. And I have no idea if they tested on Windows or Linux installations. The niche market that continues to use CRT monitors is likely small, and it probably would not be cost-effective for them to spend engineering/developer time on fixing this. It's a dealbreaker for us though, and a real pain to deal with. I could test with a Windows or Cent OS installation myself, although we're loathe to use them because our workflows are all Mac-based (and in our environment anyway, security protocols are way easier with Macs). Thanks for the suggestion!

I guess we'll have to find an old machine to continue working with this hardware. This is disappointing.

Thanks for your help!

It's so bright and saturated that I'm worried it may be hurting the phosphors in our CRT monitors. We can't use flat panel monitors for this work. We need to monitor the 59.94 interlaced video signal from the SDI output of the UltraStudio into a interlace scan monitor with overscan and H/V delay functions for QC. We've confirmed with Blackmagic that this is a problem with the driver/firmware, and not a problem with our UltraStudio devices. It happens when we test with different Macs and different UltraStudio hardware. They have no interest in spending time or money addressing this problem.

Michael, did BMD say why it can't be fixed? Can I ask why you need to use CRT monitors for QC? Here in the UK broadcast TV is still interlaced and all Grade 1 lcd reference monitors, will handle that - there are no CRT monitors used at all now. I understand you may have very specific reasons (Teletext, VITC preservation?) but VBI, is for and only relevant to a CRT and these monitors are unlikely to have retained Grade 1 QC spec by now - they will increasingly fail too. Can you not use blanking, as we do when incorporating SD archive material in a programme? Is there anything you can do with the TBC, during capture too? Anyway, a Windows pc, as has been mentioned, would allow you to use 11.2, without issue.

I am resurrecting this thread because I missed Steve's message and there is an update regarding this issue. Firstly... Hi Steve! Thanks for your reply!

BMD didn't really communicate with us about the artifact other than acknowledging that it was present in their testing with a similar setup (Mac OS 10.15 and UltraStudio 4K). As for the question "why do we use CRT monitors?", I have an answer, but it might not be satisfying!

We digitize a significant amount of early video art and other types of standard definition NTSC video created in decades past, exclusively for exhibition/display on CRT monitors. Sometimes these works are now viewed on CRTs in art galleries or museums after we digitize them, and other times they are delivered via streaming media infrastructure on computer screens. We maintain our CRT monitors for purposes of "aesthetic authenticity". I have been working with analog video since 1994, and (I hope) I know what a good video picture looks like on a glass screen CRT display. And since we're playing these analog tapes for the last time to digitize them, I want to be able to see them in an "authentic" viewing environment. I like having access to the H/V delay mode in PVMs and BVMs to look at analog sync pulses and other parts of blanking when viewing directly out of a playback deck to diagnose playback problems, and sometimes for making tape path adjustments on the fly (particularly with 1/2" open reel EIAJ). We have a collection of refurbished standalone TBCs we use, and we also do have to worry about capturing/decoding line 22 closed captions. As we're preservation-focused, we want access to similar toolsets that were used to create the tapes we digitize, so that means both the old analog VTRs, analog waveform/vectorscopes and various playback apparatus, as well as CRT monitors. We work with an ex-Sony CRT technician here in California who refurbishes our monitors and maintains equipment to calibrate (and has parts to repair them). It's true that we probably won't be able to maintain CRT viewing forever, but while we can, we want to do that for our analog tape digitization work.

Here is the update. I heard back from our contact in Blackmagic Support that the artifact has been eliminated for users running Mac OS Monterey 12.6.2 and Desktop Video 12.4.1. I tested on Tuesday and confirmed that it is indeed resolved. Good news, because we are planning to update to Mac Studios this month.

Thanks everyone for your comments, feedback and help!!