Controlling Blackmagic Cameras with Isadora?

mark_m

I recently got a Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera 4K G2.

You can control these -and lots of other Blackmagic Cameras - using Blackmagic's REST API.

Someone has written a tutorial showing how to use Javascript or Python to control BM Cameras via the REST API.

Does that mean that, in theory, I could send commands to the camera directly from Isadora?

I am not a programmer. For someone who is and yes, @DusX, I am looking at you, how much work would it be to create a BM Camera Control Actor which does the same thing as the BM Camera Control WebUI?

Thank you!

Mark (not that Mark who definitely can program things!!)

Woland

@mark_m

If something has an API it's almost certain one can control it through Isadora using one actor or another (probably Pythoner).

Armando

@mark_m That would be great I have a 6k pro too. They can be controlled by the ATEM software. Now, the ATEM software can be controlled via OSC through Banyan AV (aKA ATEM OSC) In order to control the atem you have do have one but all ot the camera main parameters are controlled by the atem software (even the primary colo wheels, iris shuttere speed and a lot more. All passing from the atem to the camera via HDMY cable (beware the cable ehould be compatible with Consumer Technology Association/Electronic Industries Alliance standars (no all of them are). In other words, if tiu have an atem you might be able to do that today. But for sre it would be simpler to have a python script. Although I don't know how the information would travel through HDMI. If someone comes up with a script I can test it for sure.

All the best

DusX

@mark_m said:

how much work would it be to create a BM Camera Control Actor which does the same thing as the BM Camera Control WebUI?

Depending on the number of control points etc.. I would imagine its a day or two to build this up.

mark_m

@armando said:

Although I don't know how the information would travel through HDMI.

The information doesn't travel through HDMI: it passes via the network. So the camera has to be connected to your network.
I can connect the BM Micro Cinema Camera's USB-C port to a USB to ethernet adaptor, which allows it to join the network.
Then using the API you can control the camera.

If you can connect your 6K Pro to a network, try this:
https://github.com/DylanSpeise...

It works great with the BMMCC4KG2.
But what I'd like would be to bypass the web interface and send commands straight from Isadora.

Armando

@mark_m Sure, but I can assure you that wirh a consumer standard hdmi cable I can control in the cameras drom the atem software in my mac Iris, blackpoint, primary color wheels white balance and iso at least. I an even do macros to change all of this at once (needed in some shows where we passed from vey low light to full powe lits in 2 seconds, Si I am sure the HDMI cable passes this info, plus le timecide (it is the mester and the cameras become slaves) If you purchase atem OSC you shours be able tocontrol okll of this via isadora at minimum.

Armando

@Armando This was told me to me by Sean manton who imports Blackmagic in Canada. I am sure it wirks I tested it end used itfprofessionally for a while in big 7 cameras streamings and hybrid events.

mark_m

@armando said:

consumer standard hdmi cable

And this is the problem: with the HDMI cable you are limited in distance from ATEM to Camera.
I know all this, @Armando, and I have also controlled the camera with an ATEM TV Studio HD which has SDI - so you need two SDI cables but you can us long distances.
If you look on YouTube you will see that people have used the REST API to control a BMMSC4KG2 camera wirelessly, by attaching the BMMSC4KG2 camera to USB -> ethernet adapter -> ethernet cable -> portable access point which joins the network sending the REST API commands, and sent the picture wirelessly using Hollyland 4K transmitter. So that distance is no object AND you don't need an ATEM.

Fred

@mark_m Blackmagic camera controls are sent over auxiliary information paths inside the SDI (and apparently HDMI) signal. The ATEM switchers output the camera commands on some (not all - usually not down converted) outputs. To send camera control you need to embed the control signal in the video signal- there are few options to do this:

1. Use an ATEM switcher to encode the commands into the SDI feed and control the ATEM switcher somehow (you take an SDI output from the ATEM and plug it into the SDI in of the camera - no length limitations like HDMI).

2. Use a reverse engineered protocol and some fancy hardware that lets you mess with the AUX data feeds.

3. Use Blackmagic's Arduino SDI shield that has the camera control protocol published- this was you can send and receive the camera controls with an Arduino and control that however you like without the need for an ATEM switcher. The Arduino shield is here: https://www.blackmagicdesign.c...

mark_m

@fred

Hi Fred,

Thanks, yes, I didn't know about the Arduino shield possibility, but if you read my original post you can see that it is also possible to control some Blackmagic Cameras over ethernet via Blackmagic's REST API.

Therefore you can have exactly the same control of your BM camera as you would with an ATEM without the need for an ATEM. Currently you can do this via a web interface and ethernet. What I wanted to know was whether it was possible to control from within Isadora using the REST API. And apparently it is.

Advantages of connecting your camera via Ethernet means that you could, for example, record from your camera onto an SSD in full resolution and then copy that recording over the network to a local computer. Meaning you could put the camera in inaccessible places and still access your recordings.

All the best

Mark (Not...)

Fred

@mark_m

sorry late night blindness. Of course they do this as they have network connections.

Rest API's are easy - you might even be able to do this with the TCP actors but it for sure trivial in python.

Dump the API info and the Isadora pythoner documentation into chatGPT and it should get you going very quickly.