Decklink and Camera Control

I'm working on "remote operationalizing" a micro studio 4k camera.
I've successfully controlled the camera using the Atem production studio 4k, and I have also successfully captured video connecting the camera directly to a computer with a DeckLink 4K Extreme.
Looking at the SDK's for each device, I see the in section 8 of the ATEM SDK the ability to control the camera (iris,zoom,etc). I don't seem to see that same ability with the DeckLink SDK. I was hoping to eliminate the need for the ATEM, and just plug the camera directly into the decklink, get minimal controls over camera functionality, and then be able to capture & stream.

Does this functionality not exist? In that case, I guess this is a feature request similar to post:
[url]https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=42409
[/url]
to get ATEM SDK native support on Linux.

Thanks,

Philip

The Camera settings is basically ANC data in the SDI stream, the manual defines what parts of the data stream controls what.

You can generate your own SDI stream using the DeckLink SDK, take a look at using IDeckLinkOutput::CreateAncillaryData in the C++ SDK. There is a demo file in the SDK called VancOutput.cpp that shows you how to use the SDK to emit VANC data, combine that with the specification in the camera manual and you should be able to control the camera as you want.

Yes as Jonas says it's all in the SDK.

Note however that you need 2x decklink devices if you want to capture and control the camera. Any single decklink channel can be either input or output so to send a control feed back to the camera requires a separate device to the one used to capture the video stream.

Alternatively you could use an atem to control the camera. The following resources will help you control the atem from Linux.
https://github.com/petersimonsson/libqatemcontrol

http://skaarhoj.com/fileadmin/BMDPROTOCOL.html

Good luck
Cheers
Tom

Hi,

Jonas and Tom have explain it right. I have developed a CCU/Tally Software for Decklink cards last year.
In combination with a ADAM-4051-BE Interface for the Tally signal we use it with our PANASONIC AV-H450.



Cheers
Thomas

Hi,

Jonas and Tom have explain it right. I have developed a CCU/Tally Software for Decklink cards last year.
In combination with a ADAM-4051-BE Interface for the Tally signal we use it with our PANASONIC AV-H450.



Cheers
Thomas

You should open source that Thomas if it's not proprietary! It looks like a great software package, good work

Hi,

let me clean up the code. Open source is an idea.
We have also support for MIDI Control of our 01V96 include and a X-Key support is in planning.

Cheers
Thomas

Hi,

a non clean first version are online.

https://github.com/tomtom1976/Blackmagic-Decklink-CCU

Cheers and happy tests

Hi,

a non clean first version are online.

https://github.com/tomtom1976/Blackmagic-Decklink-CCU

Cheers and happy tests

Hey Thomas!

Great work and a big thanks from the community, having a implementation to look at helps a lot!
It works for me also so great work!

Hi,

If you have any question, feel free to ask. The project is uncommented at the moment, because we use it internal only.

Cheers
Thomas

I don't suppose the non-programmers among us can get the executable?

I can't actually get Thomas' solution to build. Is there a library from xceed.com that's required, but moved?

I know this is an older topic but I'm hoping to clarify. I too am looking to make some automation via micro Cinema camera from a Deck Link system.

So it sounds like there is no way to send camera control signals through the decklink output while recording.

What about the rs422 output. Are there any protocols that might allow that to be used?

If I were to instead use the Arduino shield as a translator how might I talk to it from a Linux box? Ethernet?

Would the Arduino shield still send/embed ATEM commands into the SDI if there is technically no signal sent to it's input (via the decklink, etc.)??

The Arduino shield will generate a blanco SDI signal if no input is present.

Not embedding data on the output while running Recoding on the input.. That could be a simple case of the wrong card.

Not all cards support seperate in and outputs. Only the higher end models support seperated in and output on the same card. While on the lower end cards the output only acts as loop output when you are ingesting a signal.


I would like to see that software more developed.. But i have too much projects on my hand at the moment.. Hopefully near the summer have some more time to code my way into this.

Not all cards support seperate in and outputs. Only the higher end models support seperated in and output on the same card. While on the lower end cards the output only acts as loop output when you are ingesting a signal.

Thanks. So if I understand you correctly, one could (theoretically) send control signals to the camera through the Decklink SDI out while recording on the Decklink SDI in.... But only with the correct card.

With certain decklink cards you are able to playout video on the sdi out, while capturing another feed on the input.. So i guess you will be able to insert VANC data on thatr output stream as well..

I have not a list with devices that are able to do that.. (Decklink Duo 2 and quad offcoarse..) But i do think some of the latter 4K models do support it..

i am new to this, i had the same idea , would like to know is there any update on how to control the camera directly from decklink sdk?