Apple M4 + BlackMagic Struggles

[EmCNabs]

Not vrecord specific...but Anyone else having issues using BlackMagic capture devices with a M4 chip Mac mini?

Been having an issue recently where at sporadic moments during a transfer the Mac mini looses connection to the BlackMagic causing vrecord to freeze.

Mac mini 2024
Apple M4 chip
48 Gb memory
OS 15

BlackMagic UltraStudio 4K
Desktop Video version 14.3

This is the last version of Desktop Video that lists UltraStuio4K as supported on Mac OS, so is this a case of the UltraStudio and the Mac mini being incompatible tech?

Tried updating to the newest Desktop Video version and still had the same issue. The transfer could be anywhere from 2 to 30 min along and suddenly the Mac cannot detect the UltraStudio and vrecord freezes. The UltraStudio will show up as connected in the Mac's System Information but vrecord and Desktop Video show no detected devices

Any suggestions?

[iamdamosuzuki]

Hi @EmCNabs! I'm curious if you were able to get anywhere with this, or if you are still experiencing this issue.

[EmCNabs]

@iamdamosuzuki We never found a permanent fix

We had a temporary fix with:

1. Running brew update && brew upgrade in Terminal to get all updates
2. Uninstalling Desktop Video.
3. Reinstall Desktop Video. Tried the newest software and an older version

• The BM UltraStudio 4K is only listed as a supported device on OS Ventura or Sonoma in Desktop Video up to Version 14.3 (26 Nov 2024)
• Helpful Tip During install, Enable all the Extensions during the Install. When the prompt window pops up, click 'Open System Settings' and when the extension is set to 'On', click 'Done' for that Extension. There are 2 or 3 extensions that have to be enabled now. Verify they are still enabled after restart.

4. Follow computer Restart instructions & UltraStudio software updates if needed.

This fix would work for one transfer or a day before the "disconnection" issue would happen again. Never got a long term fix with the Apple M4 + BM UltraStudio 4K equipment combo.

Ended up upgrading our Blackmagic to the UltraStudio 4K Extreme, and after triple ensuring the Extensions were enabled we did get it to work. It was temperamental the last time I tried it, and this setup is at the NMAAHC museum so it will not be tested again until the gov't reopens.

@bravoalphatango Also had Blackmagick -> M4 connection issues. She called Blackmagic and they were not helpful.

[bravoalphatango]

My issue had to do with a strange glitch related to the Blackmagic extensions you need to enable during the install of the newest Blackmagic Desktop Video. For the Blackmagic UltraStudio 4K Extreme ADC we use there are two extensions. I enabled them during the installation of the software when prompted but the settings didn’t save and I had to go back into settings after everything was installed to enable them for our M4 Mac Mini to be able to recognize the ADC.