Blackmagic Desktop Video User Manual Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup

Introducing Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup

Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup provides a central location for configuring hardware settings, plus a real time status display showing the video connected to your hardware’s inputs and outputs.

To launch Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup:

• On Mac OS, click Blackmagic Desktop Video in ‘system preferences’ or you can launch the utility from your ‘applications’ folder.

• On Windows 8, from the ‘start’ page type ‘Blackmagic’ and then click the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup application. The Desktop Video Setup utility also launches from the Windows 8 ‘control panel’.

• On Windows 10, click the ‘start’ button>all programs>Blackmagic Design>Desktop Video and click the Desktop Video Setup application. The Desktop Video setup software also launches from the Windows 10 ‘control panel’.

• On Linux, go to ‘applications’ and then ‘sound and video’ and double click the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup application.

When you first open Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup, the home page displays your connected hardware and provides an overview of all video activity on your hardware’s input and output connections. If you are sending a video signal to your input, it will be automatically detected and the format will be displayed under the Video Input icon.

If you have multiple Blackmagic capture and playback devices connected, you can cycle through them by clicking the arrow buttons on the sides of the home page. To configure settings, simply click on the hardware image, or the settings icon located below the hardware name. The Desktop Video Setup utility only displays the settings that are relevant to your selected hardware, so you don’t have to scroll through pages of menus to find the settings you want.

Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup home page

The following pages of this manual will show you how to adjust settings using Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup.

Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup lets you adjust video and audio input and output settings, apply up or down conversions during capture and playback, and provides information about the driver.

Video Settings

Video Input

Click on a connector icon to set the ‘video input’ connection for your Blackmagic Design hardware. Only the connectors that are built into your hardware will be shown. When a valid video signal is detected, the input and video format will be displayed on the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup home page.

Click on an icon to set your video input connection.

Use XLR Timecode

Select this setting to read timecode from the XLR input instead of the SDI stream.

Enable the checkbox to capture timecode from the dedicated XLR input

Analog Video Input Levels

Drag the ‘video’ and ‘chroma’ sliders to adjust the analog video input levels for component or composite video. Dragging the video slider affects the luma gain and the chroma sliders decrease or increase the color saturation. When using component video, you can adjust the Cb and Cr values independently. Click the ‘link’ icon to connect them if you want to adjust them simultaneously.

Video Output

Select the video standard and adjust other settings for your video output.

General

• Default Video Standard
  To use broadcast monitoring with Final Cut Pro X, set the output format to match your Final Cut Pro X project.

• When Paused
  Click to select whether to display a full frame or a single field on the output when paused.

• Video Playback
  Click to select whether to display a freeze frame or black output when not playing.

• During Capture
  Click to select whether the video output displays the playback video or input video during capture. If you select the ‘video output displays playback video’ option, then your selection in the ‘video playback’ section will dictate what is displayed on your output. If you select the ‘video output displays input video’ option, then the input video will be displayed on your outputs.

• During Playback
  Some Desktop Video products are capable of converting Rec. 601 and Rec. 709 video outputs to Rec. 2020 for TVs and video monitors that may require it. If your Desktop Video hardware supports this feature, select ‘convert to Rec. 2020’ in the setup utility. If your video is already using the Rec. 2020 color space, or is displaying correctly, you can leave this setting set to ‘keep default color gamut’.
  

  

  Select what to display on the output when paused, during video playback and during capture

SDI Output

• Color Space Click to select the color space to convert to. Options are 4:4:4 RGB video or Y, Cb, Cr 4:2:2.

• 3G-SDI Formats
  Click to select whether to output 3Gb/s SDI signals as SMPTE Level A direct mapping or to have 3Gb/s signals sent with Level B mapping.

• 1080p HD and 2K
  Click to select whether 1080p HD and 2K are output as 1080p progressive video, or as progressive segmented frame video.
  

  

  Use the SDI Settings to control the output of your SDI video.

• SDI Configuration
  Select between single link, dual link and quad link for 3G, 6G or 12G-SDI output. Some professional color grading monitors and projectors only accept high bandwidth signals like 2160p60 or DCI 4K 4:4:4 via quad link. UltraStudio 4K Extreme can output quad link 3G-SDI and you can also get a Quad SDI add on card for DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G.

  

  Choose whether to output via single link, dual link or quad link for 3G, 6G and 12G-SDI video signals

• 8K Formats
  8K video is played back via quad link SDI and you can choose your desired quad link output format.
  
  The two options available are:
  
  Square Division Quad Split – The 8K image is distributed as four quadrant 4K images in a 2 x 2 multi view configuration. Each 4K quadrant image is supplied via SDI using a quad link connection and reconstructed at the destination to form a complete 8K image. This is also the selection to use if you want to send each output to a separate display to create a video wall of Ultra HD monitors.
  
  Sample interleave – Alternate pixels from a single 8K image are distributed as four separate 4K images via quad link SDI, then combined at the destination to form one complete 8K image. Therefore, an added benefit of this format is the option to use any of the four outputs as a down converted 4K image.

  

  When using desktop video equipment for 8K playback, set your desired quad link 8K output format

Set Analog Video Output

If your Blackmagic Design hardware has shared analog video connectors, you can choose whether to output your video via ‘component’, ‘composite’ or ‘s-video’ by selecting between the ‘analog video output’ options.

HDMI 3D Output

This setting determines the 3D format for your HDMI monitoring.

• Top and Bottom
  Arranges both left and right eye images vertically with 50% compression.

• Frame Packing
  Combines left and right eye images into a single frame without compression.

• Side by Side
  Arranges both left and the right eye images horizontally with 50% compression.

• Left Eye
  Only the left eye image is displayed.

• Line by Line
  The left and right eye images are carried on alternate video lines without compression.

• Right Eye
  Only the right eye image is displayed.
  

  

  Set your HDMI 3D Output format.

Analog Video Output Levels

Drag the ‘video’ and ‘chroma’ sliders to adjust the analog video output levels for component or composite video. Dragging the video slider affects the luma gain and the chroma sliders decrease or increase the color saturation. When using component video, you can adjust the Cb and Cr values independently. Click the ‘link’ icon to connect them if you want to adjust them simultaneously.

Adjust the video slider to set composite analog video output levels, and the Cb and Cr sliders for controlling color balance when using component video.

• Use Betacam Levels
  Blackmagic Design products use SMPTE component analog levels to maintain compatibility with most modern video equipment. Enable the checkbox if working with Sony Betacam SP decks.

• NTSC IRE Select the 7.5 IRE setup for the NTSC composite video used in the USA and other countries. Select the 0 IRE setup if you’re working in Japan or countries that don’t use the 7.5 IRE setup. PAL and high definition formats do not use this setting.
  

  

  Enable the ‘use Betacam levels’ checkbox when working with Sony Betacam SP decks. Select the relevant NTSC IRE level when using an NTSC composite video format.

Reference Input

The reference adjustment lets you adjust the timing of the video outputs of your hardware relative to the video reference input. This is commonly used in large broadcast facilities where the video output needs to be accurately timed. The reference adjustment is in samples so you can get an extremely accurate timing adjustment down to the sample level.

A common example of how this setting would be used is where all the hardware in your facility has a stable common reference connected and then all the devices would have the timing set so the video outputs all match perfectly. This would then make it possible to switch between devices on a downstream router or production switcher and would eliminate any glitching when switching is performed.

If locking to a reference, adjust this setting to time the video output relative to the reference input.

Connector Mapping for DeckLink Quad 2

If you have a DeckLink Quad 2 installed in your computer, you can input or output SDI signals over 8 independent mini BNC connectors. This gives you the ability to capture or play back 8 separate video streams, similar to having 8 capture and playback devices in a single product. This is why your DeckLink Quad 2 appears in Desktop Video Setup as 8 individual DeckLink Quad devices which makes it easier to configure your inputs and outputs. You can even name each device so you can keep track of which DeckLink Quad device is being used for a specific video signal.

SDI connectors can be mapped to each device using the ‘connector mapping’ settings in the Desktop Video Setup utility, but it’s important to know that specific connectors are dedicated to specific devices. For example, SDI 1 is dedicated to DeckLink Quad (1), and SDI 2 is dedicated to DeckLink Quad (1) and DeckLink Quad (5).

If you have a DeckLink Quad 2 installed, the ‘connector mapping’ setting lets you assign SDI connectors to each DeckLink Quad device.

You can see which SDI connectors are dedicated to each DeckLink Quad device by looking at the table below, where you can also check the mapping options for them.

Mapping Options

It’s worth mentioning that when configuring an SDI connector for a specific device, it will also affect the device sharing that connector. For example, if DeckLink Quad (1) is set to use SDI 1 and 2, DeckLink Quad 5 will automatically be set to ‘none’ because its shared SDI connector is being used. Alternatively, if you select SDI 2 on DeckLink Quad (5), DeckLink Quad (1) will automatically be set to SDI 1. For this reason, it’s important to note which SDI inputs or outputs are being used by each device to avoid accidentally interrupting the input or output of another device.

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TIP If you have an original DeckLink Quad installed in your facility and are using a custom designed SDK application, you can be confident that installing DeckLink Quad 2 will work in your system without having to make any changes to your application. Additional mapping features in your DeckLink Quad 2 will allow you to build on your existing system to provide even more input and output configurations if you need them.

Audio Settings

Audio Input

Click on a connector icon to set your ‘audio input’ connection for your Blackmagic Design hardware. You can select from the following inputs:

• Embedded
  Includes audio channels as part of video signals. SDI and HDMI are capable of carrying embedded audio.

• AES/EBU
  Is a digital audio signal that can carry 2 audio channels over a single connector.

• XLR
  Is a three pin audio connector that is predominantly used by professional analog audio equipment.

• RCA or HIFI
  Is a connector used to connect unbalanced analog audio to and from consumer audio equipment, such as HiFi systems, DVD players and televisions.

• Microphone
  Phantom power supplies power through microphone cables and is a convenient power source for condenser microphones.
  
  Enable the ‘use +48V phantom power’ option if your microphone requires phantom power. If you’re unsure whether your mic needs phantom power or not, it’s best to leave this box unchecked as there is a risk of causing damage to microphones that are self powered. An LED on the front of UltraStudio 4K Extreme will illuminate when phantom power is active. Be sure to wait at least 10 seconds for phantom power to discharge after disconnecting before plugging in a self powered microphone. Older ribbon type microphones and dynamic microphones are not suitable for phantom power usage.
  

  

  Click on a connector icon to set your ‘audio input’ connection.

  

  Drag the ‘input level’ slider to control your microphone input level.

HDMI Audio Output

This setting lets you remap the 5.1 audio channels in your project to match the configuration used by your HDMI monitoring equipment. For example, some home theatre AV receivers require your surround sound audio to be mapped to specific channels. If you are working on a project that uses a different surround sound channel ordering, such as SMPTE ordering, you can enable the ‘Use 5.1 surround channel ordering’ checkbox to ensure compatibility with your HDMI AV receiver.

Enable ‘use 5.1 surround channel ordering’ to ensure compatibility with other HDMI monitoring equipment

AES/EBU

Drag the sliders to adjust the ‘ref’ level, or gain, for the AES/EBU audio inputs and outputs. Press the reset icon to reset the gain to 0 dB.

Drag the ‘output level’ slider to control your AES/EBU digital output level.

Analog Audio Input Levels

• Channel 1/Channel 2
  These settings adjust the gain for the analog audio inputs when capturing. Click the ‘link’ icon to adjust them simultaneously.

• Use HiFi Audio Levels
  Professional XLR connectors are standard on UltraStudio and DeckLink models. If you want to connect consumer audio equipment to the XLR connectors, make sure you enable the ‘use HiFi audio levels’ checkbox as the audio levels between professional and consumer equipment differ. You’ll also need to use an RCA to XLR adapter.
  

  

  Adjust the input channel sliders to control your analog audio input levels. Enable the ‘use HiFi audio levels’ checkbox if connecting consumer audio equipment.

Analog Audio Output Levels

• Channel 1/Channel 2
  These settings adjust the strength of the audio signal, or gain, for the analog audio outputs while playing back video. Click the ‘link’ icon to adjust them simultaneously.

Reset Icon

When adjusting sliders, you may want to cancel your change. The reset icon is the circular arrow located at the right of each settings’ title bar. Press the reset icon in each setting to restore the gain sliders to 0 dB.

Conversions Settings

Input Conversion

This setting enables real time up and down conversion during capture. Select your desired conversion from the ‘input conversion’ dropdown menu.

Input conversion results in up to a 2 frame delay, so you’ll need to adjust your editing software’s timecode offset to ensure frame accuracy.

• Display As
  Select how you would like your converted video presented. Depending on your input video’s original aspect ratio, options may include letterbox, anamorphic, center cut, pillarbox, 16:9 zoom or 14:9 zoom.

Output Conversion

This setting enables real time up and down conversion during playback. Select your desired conversion from the dropdown menu.

Output conversion results in up to a 2 frame delay, so you’ll need to adjust your editing software’s timecode offset to ensure frame accuracy.

• Convert Analog Outputs Enable this checkbox to also perform your conversion on the analog video outputs.

• Display As Select how you’d like your converted video presented. Depending on your video’s original aspect ratio, options may include letterbox, anamorphic, center cut, pillarbox, 16:9 zoom or 14:9 zoom.
  

  

  To set your up or down conversion settings, select your input or output conversion from the respective dropdown menu, and click on the desired aspect ratio selection. Remember to click ‘save’ to apply your settings.

The following table outlines the different aspect ratio selections available during conversions.

Down Conversion	Source Image	Converted Image
Letterbox			Scales the entire 16:9 HD image into a 4:3 SD frame leaving black bars on the top and bottom.
Anamorphic			Horizontally squeezes the 16:9 HD image into a 4:3 SD frame.
Center Cut			This setting cuts a 4:3 SD frame from the 9 HD image. This aspect ratio setting discards a portion from each side of the 9 image.
Pillarbox			Displays a 4:3 SD image inside an 16:9 HD frame. Black bars feature on the sides.
16:9 Zoom			Scales the 4:3 SD image to fill the 16:9 HD frame.
14:9 Zoom			A compromise between Pillarbox and 16:9 Zoom. Minimal black bars with slight crop top and bottom.

About

Driver

The ‘about’ page in Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup provides information about your hardware’s current driver and the last time your hardware was updated.

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TIP You can generate a status report by clicking on the status report ‘create’ button, which lets you save a file containing technical information such as the video format detected on your input and output reference, color space, color sampling and bit depth, driver information, operating system and machine information. This report can be useful if you ever need to contact our technical support team. The file is also very small so can be easily emailed.

Product Notes

Changing the name of your Blackmagic Design equipment lets you identify each unit in the Desktop Video Setup software and keep track of where and how it’s being used. This is useful if you have the same hardware in various locations on a network, plus it can be handy to name the different units for their purposes, e.g., Edit Suite 2, Color Suite 1, etc.

When you enter a name for your hardware in the label field, it is saved to the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup home page and displayed beneath the hardware image.

You can also enter important information that you may want to refer to later, such as the hardware serial number, where and when your hardware was purchased, as well as the seller’s contact details.

The ‘about’ section provides valuable information such as the driver version, user manual and release notes. You can also generate a status report and enter product notes specific to your hardware.