Layback to tape accuracy

[Kristian Lam]

Hi,

Make sure he’s running the latest drive. Multibridge v6.1 for OS X.

https://blackmagic-design.com/support/software/register.asp?softID=173

regards

Kristian Lam
Blackmagic Design

[Andrew Yoole]

Kristian and all at BM,

I have exactly the same issue as mentioned above – I’ve just spent all day trying to find the cause, and am now certain this has happened as a result of FCP 5.1.4 update and/or Decklink 6.0/6.1 update.

Edit to tape results in a duplicated first frame on tape, pushing the entire program one frame late. I’ve found I can work around it by recording one frame early, then black-erasing the first frame manually with the Digital Betacam deck controls.

I have this error consistently on 3 separate systems as listed:

Mac Dual 2Ghx G5, 4Gb RAM, Decklink Pro, ATTO UL3D SCSI
Mac Quad 2.5 Ghz G5, 4 Gb RAM, Decklink Extreme PCIe, ATTO UL5D
Mac Pro 3Ghz, 5Gb RAM, Decklink HD Extreme, Internal 3-drive SATA RAID

The error occurs using internal SATA drives, internal SATA RAIDs, and Medea external SCSI RAIDs. All projects tested are Standard Def PAL.

This issue was definitely not happening prior to the FCP 5.1.4 & Decklink 6.0/6.1 update.

I don’t need to tell you this is a major headache in our workflow. All assistance GREATLY appreciated!

[Andrew Yoole]

Forgot to add in my previous post, using offset adjustments in Device Presets does NOT solve the problem.

[Troy Murison]

We too have had this condition (1 frame late) on all of our
systems for some time now. Although it is somewhat inconsistent (ie: sometimes
it’s 2 frames late, sometimes it’s right on) but usually 1 frame repeated at
head of either insert or assemble, then program shifted 1 frame late. Audio
remains in sync. Also, this will ALWAYS happen if there is a still/slug/gap/
FCP B&T at the edit in point in the timeline (ie: slate) but is inconsistent
as above if video is the first frame. I’ve searched for solutions and only
found a few references to this problem. Our projects are NTSC (mostly)
but this occurs on HDCAM layoffs as well. Multiple systems, same problem and
has been occuring since I started using them in August. The drivers in Aug. were
v5.6 (I think). Currently on v5.9.2 and every version previous driver has
had the same issue for us. We’ve just learned to live with it and never
insert segments into a master.

-Troy Murison
Seattle, WA

[Chris Paul]

Hm… seems to only apply to PAL as my edits to tape are now exact as of the 6.1 update in NTSC.

Chris Paul
POV

[Baz Leffler]

I don’t know if this will help you guys but I only run Multibridge on a PC but I have a Aja IO on FCP 5.1.4 and the edit to Digibeta is frame accurate 100%. And I am in PAL land.

[Sam Goetz]

I’M HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE.

I called Blackmagic about it almost four months ago and they admitted that it was a bug (first frame of layoff is doubled causing rest of tape to be one frame off… they blamed it on Quicktime), and that a fix was in the works. Since then I’ve been working around it and testing all of the new drivers to no avail.

Blackmagic, PLEASE FIX THIS BUG. It is HUGELY frustrating, and is stopping our facility from laying Digis in a timely matter. I’m seriously considering a switch to Kona based on this one issue alone. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE address and fix this bug.

For clarification, it occurs frequently, but not with every layoff, and many times it will go away if I do a simply system restart. It will happen whether I am assemlbing, inserting, master mode, editing mode, w/ timecode overwrite, w/o timecode overwrite, from any of our Final Cut stations (G5 – FCP 5.0.4), with various different Blackmagic cards (SD or HD), and on either of our two Digi-Beta decks. The issue is always the same. The tape comes in at exactly the right moment, but from that point on everything is one frame off. If you test this more thoroughly you will see that this first frame is doubled. Sync is also not affected. Sync is perfect.

Kristain, please give us Blackmagic users an answer to this frustrating bug. It is driving me and my company crazy.

Thanks,
Sam Goetz

[Jaromir Pesr]

Hi,
I have exactly the same problem in Premiere Pro under Win XP. Several systems, Decklink cards and DBTC (PAL) decks. I have noticed this issue from the first time I ever start to use BM cards, probabaly from 4.8 drivers and PPro 1.5. No preroll times nor delays can solve this. It remains until now with 6.1 drivers and PPro 2.0. I have to admit it is a bit better now but I am always doing following wokflow/workaround: Prepare timeline carefully to export, exit PPro, load PPro and the project again, roll tape slightly (3s) before desired preroll timecode and export. Works 90%.
I’ve posted this problem several times here without ANY reaction from anyone, thinking there is a kind of ghost in our studio but now I see I am not alone.
Trying to solve this directly at BM side leads to one email from tech guy saying it could be a PAL issue connected with Sony DBTC 500 series deck. But I have noticed this with SP ones as well.
I am another one who cry for fix. Please, Blackmagic, do something with it.

Jaromir
i/o post
Prague

[Kristian Lam]

Hi Sam,

I would strongly encourage you to update to our v6.1 drivers. There was some deliberate enhancements in the v6.x drivers which will help in this issue. Please update and then email me at support[at]blackmagic-design.com to let me know if it resolves the insert to tape problem.

The trick is to get the insert to tape down to a constant offset so adjustments can be made in Final Cut Pro’s playback offset.

regards

Kristian Lam
Blackmagic Design

[Kristian Lam]

Hi Jaromir,

We are aware of issues like this with the Mac as there’s an integration between Final Cut Pro and our RS-422 serial port. However, I’m not aware of this issue on the PC but I’ll check this one out and get back to you.

regards

Kristian Lam
Blackmagic Design