- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:23 pm
Hi -
well, I just installed four new Blackmagic Mini Recorders with four Mac Mini computers running OS X 10.8.2. While the Mini Recorder works wonderfully, and is an incredible value at $137 street price, it is NOT Apple Thunderbolt compliant. Specifically, when you plug and unplug the Mini Recorder while the Mac Mini is on (in my case with a Apple Thunderbolt monitor) - the entire computer locks up, and you have to not only shut down the computer (which gives you a black screen, so you can't even tell what's happening) but you MUST shut down the stupid thunderbolt monitor (no power switch) - because it keeps the computer locked up, even after the computer is unplugged. Only after turning on and plugging in the peripherals (Thunderbolt monitor and Blackmagic Mini Recorder) can you properly restart the computer, and have everything work correctly.
While I had access to these systems, I downloaded Divergent Media ScopeBox waveform monitor/vectorscope (free 14 day trial, and $99 purchase price), and there is no question that the cheapest working waveform/vectorscope on the market today is the combo of a bare bones Mac Mini with cheap 1920x1080 LCD 24" Monitor, the Blackmagic Mini Recorder, and ScopeBox software.
It works great. It's not the same quality as an Ultrascope (combo with Mac Mini, and Teranex 2D running Ultrascope software), but it's pretty damn good.
The entire new facility I built was almost 100% Blackmagic/Apple (routers, monitors, tons of converters, ATEM, etc.) - it's amazing what can be done with Blackmagic hardware.
Bob Zelin
well, I just installed four new Blackmagic Mini Recorders with four Mac Mini computers running OS X 10.8.2. While the Mini Recorder works wonderfully, and is an incredible value at $137 street price, it is NOT Apple Thunderbolt compliant. Specifically, when you plug and unplug the Mini Recorder while the Mac Mini is on (in my case with a Apple Thunderbolt monitor) - the entire computer locks up, and you have to not only shut down the computer (which gives you a black screen, so you can't even tell what's happening) but you MUST shut down the stupid thunderbolt monitor (no power switch) - because it keeps the computer locked up, even after the computer is unplugged. Only after turning on and plugging in the peripherals (Thunderbolt monitor and Blackmagic Mini Recorder) can you properly restart the computer, and have everything work correctly.
While I had access to these systems, I downloaded Divergent Media ScopeBox waveform monitor/vectorscope (free 14 day trial, and $99 purchase price), and there is no question that the cheapest working waveform/vectorscope on the market today is the combo of a bare bones Mac Mini with cheap 1920x1080 LCD 24" Monitor, the Blackmagic Mini Recorder, and ScopeBox software.
It works great. It's not the same quality as an Ultrascope (combo with Mac Mini, and Teranex 2D running Ultrascope software), but it's pretty damn good.
The entire new facility I built was almost 100% Blackmagic/Apple (routers, monitors, tons of converters, ATEM, etc.) - it's amazing what can be done with Blackmagic hardware.
Bob Zelin
bobzelin@icloud.com