Blackmagic UltraStudio Recorder 3G showing a pixelated capture

Woland

I'm attaching two images, just capturing my own computer running Isadora. In the first image, I'm using Blackmagic drivers, getting this distortion. On the second, I'm using Apple drivers [...]

Wait, looking back at this, it seems you have a somewhat viable workaround in that just using the Apple drivers instead looks fine, no? (Even if the performance and video delay are not as optimal, it is at least functional.)

@d8bit said:

I would like to use Blackmagic drivers for the UltraStudio of course, as I get better performance and lower video delay.

Can you describe the difference in terms of performance and video delay in detail?

This is also quite strange as I worked on a production a few months ago where we used Isadora 3 and six or more BlackMagic UltraStudio Mini Recorder 3Gs without issue.

d8bit

@woland In terms of drivers, the delay with Apple is a little bit higher (around 30-40ms extra), and the % of load indicated is also higher. That's why I was thinking that maybe the Blackmagic driver inside Isadora somehow sacrifices a little bit of image quality in order to improve performance. Also, in Windows, the Windows driver is not working for me with the UltraStudio, I'm getting and error.

Could you tell me, in that production with so many UltraStudio, what configuration were you using? Target frame rate, Display Refresh (only in Mac), General Service, Video Image Processing Default Resolution, option in "when combining videos", OpenGL options, etc?

Woland

@d8bit said:

Also, in Windows, the Windows driver is not working for me with the UltraStudio, I'm getting and error.

Only in Isadora 3, or in Isadora 4 as well?

Woland

@d8bit said:

Could you tell me, in that production with so many UltraStudio, what configuration were you using? Target frame rate, Display Refresh (only in Mac), General Service, Video Image Processing Default Resolution, option in "when combining videos", OpenGL options, etc?

I can't tell you that information unfortunately because I don't have it documented. I wasn't the projection designer, just a consultant.

d8bit

@woland Latest Isadora 4 version, latest Blackmagic drivers, updated Windows 11 (I suppose this card it's not compatible with Windows Media Foundation?):

The video capture works with the Blackmagic driver, but with the "pixelation" effect.

mark_m

I can see a clear difference between capturing an image from Isadora, and capturing from BlackMagic Media Express.

Please see photos below. The images captured from Isadora definitely show a pixellation.

1080p50 source.
Isadora 4.09
Windows 11.

Live capture setting like this:

Isadora preferences like this:

Capture Stage from Isadora like this:

Resultant file is this:

Capturing from BM Media Express gives me this:

If I compare the two files in Photoshop you can see this:

and at 300% you get this:

d8bit

@mark_m At least your pixellation is more subtle than mine

Thanks for all the info and images! Is it possible for you to share also your General tab options?

mark_m

@d8bit

Yes, it is quite subtle, but on a 8m wide projection screen it's going to be noticeable.

DusX

@mark_m

Is there a chance that your projector has izzymap activated?

d8bit

@dusx In my case, no izzymap or any other mapping or corner correction at all. With the most simple video in watcher + new projector simple scene and new project.

mark_m

@dusx

no, this was brand new project, brand new installation of Isadora 4.09, BM software 4.1, Ultrastudio Recorder 3G, and the i9 system below.

Interesting that my pixelation much less than the OPs… it is subtle..