Blackmagic Forum

Wondering if I have an obvious error that I'm not seeing or if anyone has experienced this issue.

Currently sending an SDI signal though the Auxiliary output from our BMD ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K which ultimately gets converted to a Thunderbolt 3 into a Mac mini and live streamed using Wirecast.

Working Setup:
SDI out from BMD ATEM to BMD (powered) SDI to HDMI Micro Converter. The HDMI signal then gets converted again using a BMD (non-powered) UltraStudio Mini Recorder HDMI to Thunderbolt 2. Thunderbolt 2 then plugs into a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 passive converter and then directly into the back of the Mac mini and when using Wirecast, Wirecast identifies a BMD device and allows us to stream the video source.

Non Working Setup:
SDI out from BMD ATEM to BMD SDI to Thunderbolt 3 UltraStudio Mini Recorder, then Thunderbolt 3 directly into the Mac mini and Wirecast does NOT recognize a BMD device so I can't stream the video source.

So why mess with something that's already working? I am chasing an intermittent static noise in the audio and thought that the BMD (powered) SDI to HDMI Micro Converter could be the cause. So I attempted to simplify this signal path only to discover it didn't work.

I did use a Belkin and Apple manufactured Thunderbolt 3 cable which did not work and then I tried using one of the BMD boxes that I know works, the BMD (non-powered) UltraStudio Mini Recorder HDMI to Thunderbolt 2. I came out of the ATEM HDMI (multiview) into the BMD (non-powered) UltraStudio Mini Recorder HDMI to Thunderbolt 2 and used the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 passive converter directly into the back of the Mac mini and when using Wirecast, Wirecast still did not recognized a BMD device that would have allowed me to stream the source.

Hopefully someone either sees a glaring issue that I'm not or has experienced this themselves. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Rob

I can't account for why your second setup doesn't work, but regards your first configuration with the audio issue, I'd rationalise the convoluted conversion and cabling path and use an SDI to USB 3.0 converter (£120 off Amazon). It's what we use and have zero issues with image or sound and we live stream events up to 12 hours at a time.

AMATRIX also have the UC1118 SDI to USB 3.1 Type-C for about £160. We don't use Wirecast, but find the likes of OBS and vMix instantly recognise these USB input devices, so can't imagine Wirecast being any different.

why U converting SDI to HDMI ? All Ultrastudio Recorders have SDI and HDMI inputs ..

Its better to use second setup .. Dont know why it not works .. Maybe any driver issue .. What are U using ? Windows ? OSX ? What version ? What version of BMD Destkop VIDEO driver ?

At first .. Try BMD Media Express software (included in BMD Desktop Video package) , And Look if it will reccognize Ultrastudio recorder .. If it will works , Try for example OBS .. If it will recognize it , its problem with WIrecast ..

Also wondering if the software is up-to-date - if there might be an older version of the BMD driver installed that doesn't know about the TB3 devices yet?

Thank you Louis, Roman and Frank for responding. A frustrating problem can have the simplest fixes sometimes and in my case it did. After installing the BMD Ultrastudio mini recorder and updating the drivers it just wouldn't work. After re-starting, re-installing drivers etc... its still wouldn't work. All I can say is, in my frustration I went into idiot mode. I am embarrassed to say, when I connected the SDI source, I did not assign the SDI input in the Desktop Video app. I am sorry for wasting your time, but if it wasn't for your responses causing me to re-think things that I already did, it would have taken me a lot longer to figure out that I had the incorrect input assigned.

Thanks guys
-Rob

Thats OK THats normal ..

BTW: Im not sure about Wirecast .. But for example in OBS , u seletcing What do you using .. U will select :

DEVICE : Ultrastudio
and in second field U will select :
INPUT : SDI or HDMI ..

So U do not need to go to Desktop Video APP and select INPUT there ..