Blackmagic Reference Input not detected

[ZigZagZig]

Hi,

I have a problem with my BM Decklink Studio 2 card. the ref input is not detected...

My setup is:
Mac Pro mid 2010
PT 11.2.1 HDX with Sync HD
BM DL Studio 2

The reference signal is generated from a rosendahl nanosync (the old one).
it is a sd blackburst signal.

the sync hd is perfectly locked to the signal, but my bm card is not detecting a signal.
i checked the cables, they are working fine!

my question is:
is it a problem having a full hd quicktime in my session playing back, while having only a sd reference signal?
might this be the problem?

greetz
oli

[Frank Kruse]

yes,

you need tri-level sync to genlock an HD image.

SYNC HD and a sync generator that can do it.

[mgoorevich]

This was one of the reason why I switched to Aja LHI.
I had BM SDI and even if it accepted the right reference, in the system preferences BM desktop tab, it showed that the ref signal not detected.
Do the following:
1. Restart your machine. Don't launch the PT yet.
2. Feed the ref input with the signal from your nano sync.
It should now appear in the BM desktop as Video reference connected.

Now. If you start PT, this status will disappear if PT session has set to any other paramer e.g. 1080p 24fps but your sync generates 1080i 25fps.

There is no way for BM to detect the ref sync rather than restarting the machine.

Not sure whom bug it is BM or Avid's, but when I switched to Aja, i have never dealt with this problem again.

[ZigZagZig]

damn

ok-then i have another question.

I also have to sync a second protools (only for stem recording),
there i have the old sync i/o, which only accepts the sd sync.

Frank, you are using a gen10 by aja. This might be the box of my choice.
Is it possible to generate a trilevel and a bilevel sync parallel on different outputs with this box?

In that case, i would be able to sync all my devices as needed!
And it would not be very expensive....

[8dB.co.uk]

The easiest way I've found to get around non-HD kit is to reference everything to AES instead. More accurate than SD black'n'burst anyway.

[8dB.co.uk]

When I used to have to lock an AMS-Neve DFC to an AudioFile, a DA88, two Sony Dash 48trks, and a ProTools, referencing to Word Clock or AES was the only way.

[Postman]

Tri-level sync is the best when you want really accurate sync. There is no frame edge information in AES sync, thus no way to guarantee that audio and video outputs are frame edge aligned. AES sync will prevent drift between devices but that's all.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by 8dB.co.uk

The easiest way I've found to get around non-HD kit is to reference everything to AES instead. More accurate than SD black'n'burst anyway.

You can not sync the BM card to AES.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by ZigZagZig

Frank, you are using a gen10 by aja. This might be the box of my choice.
Is it possible to generate a trilevel and a bilevel sync parallel on different outputs with this box?

In that case, i would be able to sync all my devices as needed!
And it would not be very expensive....

No the GEN 10 can not fully align SD and tri-level sync. You will need something else for that. You can output both sync signals from the GEN10 but they won't be aligned. But even if it did it won't help you.

You will need a new sync box and a SYNC HD for 100% frame accuracy but there's no way to edge sync a 24P video to an SD grid (25fps or NTSC). Not a problem if you never use 24P or 23.976 but for the latter you will need trilevel sync and a sync HD to fully align them.

As been said before AES or WC will not edge align your system 100% to picture.

Frank.

[8dB.co.uk]

A question though. Is the OP trying to lock to any linear kit (a VT deck for example) or is he following a tapeless workflow? And for the second question about locking up a stem recorder, if the recorder is sample accurate to the source, and locked to it's digital input, what's the issue?