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Blackmagic Intensity Shuttles Suddenly No Longer Working
This is a long shot, but I figure it’s worth a try. I’m on a Mac running 10.9.5 (still using this for many reasons) working on a long-term animation project. I’ve been using a USB Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle to bring camera images into Dragonframe animation software from my SONY NEX-VG30 since 2016. Suddenly all I get is a black screen. I tested the HDMI and USB cables as well as the HDMI output on the camera. All fine. So I found another BM Intensity Shuttle online and bought it, but it too only produces black screens. I uninstalled the BM software and reinstalled, but no change. Dragonframe recognizes the BM device, but there is no image imported. It’s not a problem with Dragonframe because the same device brings no images into Zoom or another animation software I have. Luckily, this cheap HDMI to USB adapter does work, for Dragonframe, Zoom and the other animation software (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z3XDYQ7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
The whole thing makes no sense to me. My question is, why would a type of hardware suddenly stop working on a computer that I have not changed the software on? By “type”, I mean a type of device (the BM Intensity Shuttle). It’s not one individual piece of hardware that no longer works, it’s (apparently) all copies of this hardware (purchasing a second Intensity Shuttle made no difference). Is Blackmagic doing software updates on computers without notifying Mac users?
To make things more confusing, when I checked with Dragonframe, they now claim that the BM device never was supported for the version of their software I’m using! I know it was because I used the BM device in Dragonframe for many shots in 2021.
Any insight or help would be appreciated. I’d like to avoid this problem in the future if there is something I am ignorant of.
Thanks!
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4 Replies
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Hello Tim. Sorry you are having problems with this. It’s difficult to know what might have changed. We have no experience with your software. Using the Desktop Video setup utility, does everything look right there and the proper input selected? One thing to check is run Media Express and see if the input vide is visible there. You didn’t mention resolution and frame rate. Make sure the input video actually is the expected resolution and frame rate. Often HDMI can change what it is sending and you have no way of knowing what is coming out the cable. Some of the later software requires security settings to allow use of the adapter. Make sure Desktop video is allowed in Security. May not be necessary but worth checking. Hopefully you will find something of a clue.
Regards, Gary
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Thanks for the reply, Gary. I’ve learned more since I posted, but it’s still a mystery. I know the problem isn’t with my software, Dragonframe, as I get no video signal in Zoom either with the Intensity Shuttle. Neither do I get a signal when I run Media Express with either my old Intensity Shuttle or the new (used) one I just bought. My video camera is set to 1080 24p. I assume when you say, “Make sure the input video actually is the expected resolution and frame rate”, that you are referring to my in-camera settings (the camera is set correctly to 1080p24). I don’t see how to adjust that in Desktop Video Setup; Input just gives options for type of signal (HDMI, component, composite, etc.). It is set correctly to HDMI. Output format is 1080p24, also correct, though I’m puzzled that on the main page of the Desktop Video Setup, USB is not listed. I’m connecting the Shuttle to my computer via USB, so that is the output. The only things listed on the main page of the Desktop Video Setup are just HDMI (1080p24), Component, Composite and S Video, all of which are greyed out anyway.
Does Blackmagic put expiration dates on it’s software interface for the Shuttle? That’s the only thing I can think that would cause both of these pieces of hardware to not work.
A rep at Dragonframe (the software I’m using) suggested I get the latest Blackmagic software for the Intensity Shuttle. But I’m on a Mac running 10.9.5, and my guess is that the latest software would not be supported by your latest versions of Desktop Video Setup. Or am I wrong?
Thanks again.
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Correction: What I meant to write was: “my guess is that the latest BMD Desktop Video Setup software would not be supported by my old OS (10.9.5).
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It turns out I was mistaken. The issue is that my camera for some reason no longer exports HDMI at 1080p. Once I chose 1080i, it exported through the Intensity Shuttle just fine to my computer. I’m capturing singe frames on my computer for animation, so it doesn’t matter if the output is interlaced or not. Just thought I’d close this thread out!
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