recommendation for 4k picture playback?

[alexeymohr]

Can anyone recommend the best way to achieve 4k picture playback with the latest Pro Tools Ultimate? Is there a specific video output device that's the best choice?

I'm still limping along with an old 2013 Mac Pro, so I don't even know if the system can handle it.

Would I be best off using Non-Lethal Applications' Video Sync 6 on a separate dedicated playback system?

[tope d]

Originally Posted by alexeymohr

Can anyone recommend the best way to achieve 4k picture playback with the latest Pro Tools Ultimate? Is there a specific video output device that's the best choice?

I'm still limping along with an old 2013 Mac Pro, so I don't even know if the system can handle it.

Would I be best off using Non-Lethal Applications' Video Sync 6 on a separate dedicated playback system?

This article might help
https://avidtech.my.salesforce-sites...e-Type-Support

[zWombat]

BMD card, or i/o box in your case tbh

[alexeymohr]

Okay so I've settled on using Avid Media Composer on a separate system (my M1 MacBook Pro), playing 4k DNxHR SQ video through a BlackMagic UltraStudio 4k Mini to an LG TV. Controlling via satellite link works *almost* perfectly except for one critical flaw that I'm hoping someone knows a fix for!

As long as Media Composer is the foreground app on the M1 MacBook Pro, picture playback with satellite link works perfectly.

However! This is the modern area and some of my clients are remote and are monitoring a stream (that I host from yet another computer using Source Live!)

I need to participate in the stream in order to get their feedback, and I want to do it on the laptop. But if I put Media Composer into the background so that a web browser can be the foreground app, Media Composer instantly stops responding to satellite link and throws an "unable to play" error until I bring it front again. Pretty much a workflow-killer.

Anyone know of a way to get Media Composer to behave as a basic picture playback system for a satellite link setup while being a background application?

[smurfyou]

I've only tried MC as the only program running so I don't know how to get it to work in the background. I'm a little surprised it cares.

If you're comfortable using a separate computer I'd at least demo Video Sync. You might need the higher tier version for 4K but there should be a demo. It's much less overhead than MC and also works with Satellite.

IME 4K is a big drain on PT if you're running internally. It is supported and does work but I see an increase in video engine errors and sluggishness.

[alexeymohr]

I had initially intended to work with Video Sync Pro 6, but I discovered a nasty memory leak bug that makes it unusable, and they told me they're on vacation and won't be able to address it for a few weeks, so I needed another answer ASAP.

It is quite irritating that MC won't respond to satellite link while in the background, but from what I've uncovered it's a known issue. Wish Avid would just change it, seems arbitrary.

[EmilILönneberga]

Originally Posted by alexeymohr

I had initially intended to work with Video Sync Pro 6, but I discovered a nasty memory leak bug that makes it unusable, and they told me they're on vacation and won't be able to address it for a few weeks, so I needed another answer ASAP.

It is quite irritating that MC won't respond to satellite link while in the background, but from what I've uncovered it's a known issue. Wish Avid would just change it, seems arbitrary.

Do you have a second PT license? You can chase with an additional PT system running only the video, your main PT rig via MTC over your network (even Wi-Fi).
I did this many times with my MacBook during recording sessions in other studios and it works without any noticeable delay.
It should also work via satellite but I only tested it via MTC.

I have no idea if this is a viable solution for your workflow, just thought about it when reading your post.
IIRC PT doesn't care if in background or not. It just plays back as soon as TC comes in.

You'd set it up in Audio MIDI Setup - MIDI Studio - MIDI Network Setup.
There's no additional software needed, 'only' the second PT license, everything else is done within macOS.

I never found a good guide but this comes quite close:

https://non-lethal-applications.com/...c%20Option%204

Ironically it's actually for Video Sync.

On your main PT rig you set MTC Generator Port to the new Network MIDI you've created and press the MTC button to generate MTC.
On your MacBook MTC Reader Port - Any is fine. Just set Transport Online and you should be good to go.

You only have to set it up once. After the next reboot you only go to MIDI Studio on your MacBook and hit connect.

Playback will take a little longer to start but as soon as both systems run, there isn't any visible delay. I checked it with a slo-mo video taken with my iPhone, just because I was curious.

I don't know, your post seemed to be urgent and I thought in case you have a spare PT license it's maybe worth a try even though I couldn't provide a solution to your MC issue.