Choppy video

[HDXSound]

Hi,

Since moving to PT12 i happily lost the video engine error.
But now after playing back video for about 10 seconds the picture starts getting choppy. As in non fluent video, jumping from one frozen frame to the next frozen frame. After stopping and pressing play again i get the same behaviour.

I use the DNXHD codec and have my video, session and system on different drives. I use the latest PT 12.4.0 HD, and run Yosemite 10.10.5 on a trashcan Mac.
I display the video through a Black Magic Intensity Pro card.
Any ideas?

[Jon_Atkinson]

I'm afraid Blackmagic have completely dropped the ball... It's absolutely 100% a Blackmagic problem.

I was in contact with BM tech support about this, and their position was that there is no issue... However, as you've already discovered, the Intensity is utterly unusable with PT12.

Here's a previous thread, where I wen through the same problem as you: Video Issues with BM Intensity and PT 12
http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=373942

I really really did give BM every opportunity to be involved in a fix for this... But frankly the appear not to really care that their drivers are not fit for purpose.

I'm happy to report however that the AJA card is 100% solid, and behaves as you'd expect.

Mike's advice, is spot on.... Don't even spend another second trying to 'fix' the BM's playback... Just move on.

For what it's worth, desktop playback in PT12 is fine too, if that's any consolation...

[HDXSound]

Thanks Jon, your reply and that thread were a very good read. Amazing Blackmagic drops the ball like this. I am, like your were, a bit hesitant to drop €800 to fix my problem. I think i will have to in order to loose the headaches of Blackmagic.

[Jon_Atkinson]

No problem.
By the way, I ended up getting a used AJA card for around $180
New they are pricey but the used value seems pretty reasonable.
I sold my BM card for not much less than that.

[HDXSound]

Which model did you buy?

[Jon_Atkinson]

I got the IO Express, which is great and has the breakout box....
The Kona LHi is probably the closest to the Blackmagic Intensity in that it's just a single slot PCIe card with an HDMI output.
They both appear to run the same drivers, which are totally rock solid.

[HDXSound]

Thanks! Time to head over to ebay :)

[Jon_Atkinson]

By the way, if you've got a Thunderbolt enabled Mac (and it looks from your signature as though you do... did you have the Intensity in a chassis..?) then probably the T-Tap from AJA is worth a look. If you don't need gen-lock or anything complicated and just need a solid HDMI output then that's a pretty cost effective solution.

[HDXSound]

Hi Jon,
I have an expansion chassis and prefer the videocard in there because my thunderbolt ports are all in use. Found a second hand Express for 175 euros so that sounds like a good deal to me.
Thank you for your thoughts!

[HDXSound]

Installed the Aja Express, no choppy video anymore and works like a breeze!