Blackmagic Design UltraStudio SDI, USB 3.0 Connection to PC

The description of this item is EXTREMELY misleading. I purchased this and could not get it to work. I then asked someone in person during the NAB in Las Vegas what the issue could be. The answer I got from the rep was "The Blackmagic-Design" UltraStudio SDI's success rate on PC is slim to none. These were HIS words, other then that I was brushed off and that's when I decided to return the item. I went with another solution from another company after speaking with them about my needs and wants during the same NAB show. I got their item and I have been very happy with it so far.

It is very unfortunate that BMD did not seem to want to listen to my problem at all. This device will ONLY work with very few motherboard and CPU combinations. And they will NOT work with any DELL systems.

I have been using one of these for the past few months and it has worked very well for me with very few issues. I am a Script supervisor and I use the device by connecting it to an on set HD monitor via a BNC cable. For short runs of cable a standard def cable is fine. For longer runs you will need to upgrade to HD cables. It also requires a USB 3.0 connection to work. I have had no problem using it with my PC, but if you haven't upgraded your computer recently you may have trouble. My computer is outfitted with the following: Intel® Core(tm) i7-2630QM (2.0~2.9GHz, 45W) w/6M L3 Cache 4 Cores 8 Threads, 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3/1333 Dual Channel Memory, 60GB Intel® 520 Series SATA III Solid-State Drive, and Windows 7 Premium 64-Bit w/Full Version OEM + Drivers & Utilities. It will also not accept a standard def signal. It must be a true HD signal if you expect to see an image. There is one other issue that needs to be addressed. Under preferences you need to choose the video format that matches the signal you are receiving. I usually consult the Video Tech about this. The other alternative is to go down the list of options trying each one until you find a setting that works for you.

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In Manual I read Renesas Chipset is supported,(I have that!) but the driver or firmware may need to be upgraded. Didn't appear in Device Manager, alone or with other USBV3 devices. So spent 2 evenings upgrading firmware and driver on Renesas USBV3 card. Went from 2.0.26.0 driver to 2.1.39.0, and to firmware 3.0.3.4. This improved the USBV3 hard disk throughput 12Mb/sec, but neither before or after the driver & firmware updates did the "UltraStudio SDI" appear in Device Manager, or work. I tested it at another location, and it works on an Intel Motherboard USBV3, but not on my W7-64 system with the card that the manual says it's spec'd for. DARN!!

If this device is so picky on USBV3 driver and firmware, they should have sold a card with it... It never worked. I returned it.

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