FCP X With OS X Lion

Hi, I am getting flashing black frames and green/red horizontal lines from the SDI out of my Decklink Extreme HD card. I am running a 8 Core MacPro from 2006 which can't support Mountain Lion that is why the machine is running Lion instead. Desktop Video software is at 9.6.7. As audio playback with Quicktime Player from the Finder is also stuttering from time to time. I have another 12 core MacPro with Mountain Lion and Extreme 3D card and the video and audio output is stable and as per normal. Please help.

[Chris Pearse]

Hi,

The problem you're seeing sounds like it might be a bandwidth issue. Unlike 2007 Mac Pro and onward, the original 2006 model Mac Pro's PCIe slots had to be manually configured.

We always suggest installing a DeckLink card into slot 4 of a Mac Pro. Once you have done this, to configure the PCIe slots you will need to go to System->Library->CoreServices->Expansion Slot Utility. This should give you several options. You want to make sure that slot 4 has the most bandwidth possible.

I think this should solve the problem, but if not I would suggest giving support a call, and they should be able to help you out further. You can find the support numbers here.

Hi

The Decklink card performed with any issues when I was running FCP 6.0 and Snow leopard.
But I will give your suggestion a try. Keep you posted.

Hi Chris,

Based on your post, my Decklink card currently sits in slot 4.
In the Expansion Slot Utility, the current PCI profile says the Decklink Card is running at maximum speed.
When you say Slot 4 has the most bandwidth possible, meaning the bars for slot 4 should read x8 right?

I switch the profiles around and for a few minutes the signal was displaying properly, but after that it flashes black frames and green/red lines again.

[Chris Pearse]

Yes, I think that slot 4 should read as x8, slots 2 and 3 should be x1. But if that's not working, I would maybe suggest trying the card in another slot and try changing the expansion slot profile to give another slot at least x4, and see if this makes a difference. I wonder if there could be something up with the slot itself.

Typically black flashes, or intermittent picture are indications of either a bandwidth issue, or a problem with the video signal. The green and red lines are bit strange, so it's possible we might be looking at something else here. It's very hard to say. If nothing helps, it might be best to try and get the card checked out.

Hi Chris

Just a quick update, managed to solve the flickering and dropped frames and audio by using a much lower version of the Desktop video. 9.5.3 to be exact. I think its a software driver issue. Basically it seems that any versions above 9.6.x will cause problems based on my set up. As 9.6.x onwards has support for Mountain Lion.

Perhaps Blackmagic can look into the driver compatibility again for older system users.
Quick recap my setup is Decklink Extreme, on a 8 core Mac Pro running OX X Lion with FCP X.