Blackmagic to Betacam SP problem

[Dan Riley]

The first thing I know about the 1800 is it’s finicky and also there are not
very many things you can select on the front panel, thus the lower cost.
Second is, like other Sony pro decks, there should be a menu selection
to reference “input video”. You shouldn’t need a BB generator if you
select that menu item. Do not connect the Y connector to ref.

Dan

[Seth Hancock]

Matias,

You have been given some wrong information here. Yes, you have to go through the Ref Video as a loop through with the UVW-1800. We produced hundreds of weekly commercials and many places still want Beta-SP tapes (don’t ask me why and that’s a question for another time and forum).

I have had a lot of “freaky” experiences with the 1800. When you run the Decklink SP through to the 1800 you have to take the Y connector and hook it through the REF Video then run a BNC from the out of the REF Video into the Y connector in the YUV setup. I know you have already done this as you mentioned. Please male certain your 75ohm switches are set correctly and if it still doesn’t work then try this:

1) disconnect your standard BNC Cable (the one that goes from the REF Video out to the Y connector. Disconnect both ends.
2) Grab a new BNC cable and reconnect the aforementioned
3) Turn off the 1800 and close FCP
4) Turn on 1800 then start up FCP

This should work like a charm; at least it does for us whenever we experience what you are talking about here. Also, make sure your sequence matches your output selected in FCP/Blackmagic codec. If you have an 8-bit sequence but you are outputting a 10-bit resolution then that will sometimes throw off your 1800.

The 1800 is a great deck but is more “touchy” than I have ever experienced with any other deck. I hope that helps.

Seth

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas A. Edison

[Dan Riley]

So there’s no “reference input video” menu setting on an 1800?
This would do the same thing.

Dan

[Holmberg Media]

Thanks for the replies. adguy31’s method seems to work, haven’t got any error messages after that little procedure. The 1800:s sure are picky…

The interference problem remains however, and after digging through Blackmagics support pages i came up with this little piece of information:

https://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/detail.asp?techID=66

I’ll try to change the place of the card, hope that will help. Its either that or i have to start shopping for a nvidia graphics card…

oh well, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it 🙂

/Matias

[Seth Hancock]

Dan,

Unfortunately there is not anything like that in the menu. The 1800 was a bare-bones, yet effective deck. It has been a workhouse but there are A LOT of freaky issues with this deck and you have treat it with a lot of TLC. I would rather have the Panasonic DVCPro decks any day!

Seth

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas A. Edison

[Dan Riley]

Yeah, I don’t usually spout off something if I’m not sure,
but I was at home and couldn’t look at our old 1800 at the office
to check it out. Should have waited until I was sure.
Our DigiBeta 500 is nice because there is a switch on the front panel
for ref or input video. Comes in handy in a pinch.

dr

[Holmberg Media]

Ok, problem solved. I changed the place of the Decklink card one slot to the topmost and threw in a Firewire 800 card in between. Works like a charm.

I realized that i was using an ATI graphics card that was also outputting power to the cinema display. No wonder i got interference with the Decklink card sitting right next to it…

Thanks for the help guys!

/Matias