Symphony 6.0.1 and DeckLink HD Extreme 3D Freeze on playback

[Alex Maranda]

You need to get to the point where you record FROM the Decklink (Blackmagic) interface, even if you don’t have any video source connected. Do that for 1-2 sec (flashing red button) and then you’re all good. Keep the Capture Tool handy. In 6.0.0 I would keep it minimized and go through the workaround everytime when switching to/from Source/Record — Color Correction.

6.0.1 is…improved (but you need to use 9.0 drivers!), I would generally only do this once. Either Symphony or MC – makes no difference – it’s the same codebase on third party I/O.

BTW it’s not only the top-end card (Extreme 3D+), I also have the Intensity/Intensity Pro and it’s the same story. I expect the entire Blackmagic range to have this issue, which is in fact AVID’s (new code for 3rd party I/O rushed through QA).

[Yair Oren]

Hi Alex and Jacob,
Well I came back from my diller with another Blackmagic card called DeckLink SDI, a small and simple card that worked fine at the lab (with my computer) but at home the freeze came back. You can imagine how desperate I am now. The idea was to let them have some more tests to my Extreem 3D card and for now keep working with the DeckLink SDI. We made some tests to my card with my computer to show them the freezing(my computer “didn’t let me down” he froze after 2 seconds) Then we took some of my editing material to the computer in the lab with my card and it actually worked. It was slow but didn’t freeze. The computer in the lab has I7 Prossecor and 8GB DD3 RAM, I have Quad Core 9550 2.8 Ghz and 8 GB DD2 Ram.I have Nvidia FX 580 card and they have a quite simple GeForce card. I don’t know if the specs difference has any relevance or simply we didn’t check for enough time at the lab to start having those freezes.

[Alex Maranda]

man I keep telling you it’s not BM it’s AVID (or at least BOTH), and it affects the entire range of Intensity/Decklink products.

[Yair Oren]

Hi Alex
You were and are right!
The problem was that I had to let my diller see it for him self and I was after 3 days of trying to fix it and no results, even your way didn’t help me.
I’m still in a dead end situation. My next move before going back to 5.5 is to format my system hard disk, install Windows and Avid only and see what happen.
I’m still waiting for Blackmagic support to give me some answers. They asked me for all of my computer details and the formats I use. The only thing he said was that XDCAM Formats are very heavy on the system. I don’t think it’s true because I’m using the same materials for 4 months now (Symphony 5.5 and 6 before Blackmagic) and never had any problems.
Yair

[Alex Maranda]

5.5 doesn’t support third party I/O at all, so the Decklink would not work there anyway. If all you want is playback (without external monitoring) simply remove the Decklink card from the system and AVID will behave.

There is absolutely no point in reinstalling Windows. Reinstalling AVID *may* help.
Check that you have the following versions:
Quicktime 7.7.1 (latest)
Desktop Video 9.0 (Decklink drivers – only 9.0 works, and NOT 9.1)
MC/Symphony 6.0.1

Sounds like you spoke with a level 1 support guy. XDCAM argument is bogus, at least for playback.