28 October 2007 — Number 183

Final Cut Pro 5.1 Compatibility with DeckLink cards

Contents of this support note:

Can the latest DeckLink drivers be used with Final Cut Pro 5.1?

All DeckLink cards take advantage of the new features in Final Cut Pro 6.0 and we highly recommend that users of earlier versions upgrade to Final Cut Pro 6.0 or newer.

If you are still using Final Cut Pro 5.1.4, then the newest drivers which can be used are DeckLink 6.5.1. These drivers were last tested with Mac OS X 10.4.10 and QuickTime 7.2.0.

DeckLink 6.5.1 drivers support the following cards: DeckLink, DeckLink Plus, DeckLink Pro, DeckLink SP, DeckLink SP PCIe, DeckLink Extreme, DeckLink Extreme PCIe, DeckLink HD, DeckLink HD Plus, DeckLink HD Pro 4:2:2, DeckLink HD Pro 4:4:4, DeckLink HD Pro PCIe, DeckLink HD Studio and DeckLink HD Extreme.

Currently supported Final Cut Pro configuations are documented here.

Following are the final DeckLink support notes written in relation to Final Cut Pro 5.1 and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.


MAC OS X 10.4 TIGER, MAC PRO CONFIGURATION

• We recommend the following software versions be used together: Mac OS X 10.4.10, Final Cut Pro HD v5.1.4, QuickTime 7.2 and DeckLink v6.5.1 drivers. Software versions can be found by following these steps.

Recommended memory

Currently we recommend 2 GB of RAM for standard definition and at least 4 GB of RAM for high definition video. This specification may be updated at any time to recommend more RAM if we find that driver, application or Mac OS X updates require more RAM.

Memory modules must be installed in pairs

Memory modules must be installed in pairs in the Mac Pro. If you want to install 2 GB of RAM, you cannot just install a single 2 GB module. You must install either:
• 2 x 1 GB modules (= 2 GB), or
• 4 x 512 MB modules (= 2 GB).

Maximizing memory speed

Memory speed is particularly important for demanding video work such as RT effects. Sets of four memory modules provide increased memory speed compared with using only a single pair of memory modules. While you must install memory modules in pairs, it is even better to install in sets of four memory modules. The Mac Pro RAM configurations which will achieve ideal performance when when running Final Cut Pro are detailed by Apple in the article Final Cut Pro: For best performance on Mac Pro, install memory in risers symmetrically.

Disk arrays - internal or external?

The Mac Pro has 4 disk bays with plug-in disk carriers. You can bolt a SATA II disk to the carrier and push it into place without needing to fiddle with any power or data cables. It's a very clever design.

We ran some tests on this in our lab and mounted 3 x 500 GB SATA II disks into the three empty bays, and striped them with RAID 0 for a 1.5 Terabyte internal disk array. We only used three disks because the fourth disk is used as the Mac OS X system disk. Testing was conducted using the following model of hard disk: Seagate 500Gb 7200rpm 16Mb 3.5" SATA II [ST3500641AS].

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test reported about 170 MB/sec which was easily fast enough for HD uncompressed 10 bit. However this three-disk internal solution is more suited to people needing simple capture and playback of HD, such as designers and effects artists. They just want simple clip capture and playback and the built-in three-disk array is a great solution for them. There are also newer 750 GB disks, which are faster, and so performance could increase further.

For editors who have hundreds of cuts and/or effects in their projects, we would strongly recommend an external disk array with multiple disks.

PCI Express slots - which ones to use

The Mac Pro has configurable PCI Express slots meaning that you can assign more PCI Express lanes to cards that need additional performance. After installing your DeckLink card and starting up the Mac Pro, an Expansion Slot Utility will appear showing that you have a choice of four PCI Express Profiles:
• x16 Lane Graphics Slot + One x8 Lane and Two x1 Lane Slots
• x16 Lane Graphics Slot + Two x4 Lane and One x1 Lane Slots
• Three x8 Lane + One x1 Lane Slots
• Two x8 Lane + Two x4 Lane Slots

Choose between one of the first two options which include the x16 Lane Graphics Slot.

Ideally the DeckLink card should be placed in slot 4 which is the top slot of the Mac Pro. The top slot has at least x4 lanes allocated to it in all PCI Express Profiles and therefore is always suitable for use with HD and SD DeckLink cards. Slot 4 is also worth trying if you find that the DeckLink card is not working in another slot.

Standard Definition DeckLink cards only require a x1 lane slot for maximum performance. Standard Definition is supported in any model of Mac Pro.

High Definition DeckLink cards also support standard definition and require a x4 lane slot for maximum performance. High Definition is supported in any model of Mac Pro.

As a general rule we would recommend that DeckLink users choose the second PCI Express Profile from the Expansion Slot Utility, ie x16 Lane Graphics Slot + Two x4 Lane and One x1 Lane Slots. This will provide two x4 lane slots which is perfect for use with a high definition DeckLink card and a SCSI, Fibre Channel or SATA disk array card (aka Host Bus Adapter or HBA). Most HBA cards require a x4 lane slot. Some 4 GB Fibre Channel cards nominally prefer a x8 lane slot when using all four channels. However in reality, a x4 lane slot should be fine as the disks will not need any more speed than the DeckLink card.

Related technical notes:
• Disk Arrays for Uncompressed SD Video
• Disk Arrays for Uncompressed HD Video
• Storage and Data Rates for Uncompressed Video


MAC OS X 10.4 TIGER, POWERMAC G4 & G5 CONFIGURATION

• We recommend the following software versions be used together: Mac OS X 10.4.10, Final Cut Pro v5.1.4, QuickTime 7.2 and DeckLink v6.5.1 drivers. Software versions can be found by following these steps.

Recommended memory

We recommend 2 GB of RAM for standard definition and at least 4 GB of RAM for high definition video.

Memory modules must be installed in pairs in the PowerMac G5. If you want to install 2 GB of RAM, you cannot just install a single 2 GB module. You must install either:
• 2 x 1 GB modules (= 2 GB), or
• 4 x 512 MB modules (= 2 GB).

Standard Definition DeckLink cards are available in 66 Hz PCI and single-lane PCI Express (PCIe) models. PCI and PCIe slots are physically different to each other and this means you must choose the appropriate DeckLink card to match the slots in your PowerMac.

Standard Definition is supported under the following configurations with at least 2 GB of RAM:

  • dual-processor PowerMac G4/1.25 GHz, or faster. Any slot can be used with PCI cards.
  • any PowerMac G5 with PCI-X slots. Any slot can be used with PCI cards.
  • any dual-core or quad-core PowerMac G5 with PCI Express (PCIe) slots. Any slot can be used with PCIe cards.

High Definition DeckLink cards are available in 133 MHz PCI-X and in four-lane PCIe models. PCI-X and PCIe slots are physically different to each other and this means you must choose the appropriate DeckLink card to match the slots in your PowerMac.

High Definition is supported under the following configurations with at least 4 GB of RAM:

  • any dual-processor PowerMac G5 with PCI-X slots. Any slot can be used with PCI-X cards.
  • any dual-core or quad-core PowerMac G5 with PCI Express (PCIe) slots. Any slot can be used with PCIe cards.

Disk arrays - internal or external?

The PowerMac G5 has 2 disk bays. One is usually used as the Mac OS X system disk and the other is spare. You can use a single disk in the spare disk bay for compressed capture and playback of video formats including HDV, DVCPRO HD, PhotoJPEG AND DV. However a single disk is usually inadequate for uncompressed video and certainly cannot be used for high definition uncompressed video. An external disk array should be used with the PowerMac G5 and uncompressed video.


PERIPHERAL HARDWARE

• Please see our detailed support notes regarding disk arrays for uncompressed SD and HD video.

• An additional RS-422 serial option is not required for deck control on DeckLink systems, as the serial port is built in to the card.

• Some very old, or entry level, decks only provide RS-232 deck control. RS-232 deck control solutions can be used with DeckLink cards.


INCOMPATIBLE CONFIGURATIONS
The following configurations should not be used with DeckLink systems.

• Single-processor G4/1.42 GHz PowerMacs are not an adequate alternative to a dual-processor PowerMac G4/1.25 GHz or faster, even though the clock speed may be higher.

• PowerMac G5's with 33 MHz PCI slots should not be used with DeckLink cards. Please review the latest compatibility information regarding G5's with 33 MHz PCI slots. PowerMac G5's with 33 MHz PCI slots can most easily be identified by counting the number of memory slots. They contain 4 memory slots whereas other G5's contain 8 memory slots.

• Processor upgrade cards cannot be used. It is necessary to use a PowerMac which meets the minimum system requirements in an unmodified state. Do not use processor upgrade cards with a PowerMac which already meets the minimum system requirements.

• Mac OS X 10.3.9 is not supported when using DeckLink cards with Final Cut Pro HD 5.x. We encourage the use of Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger".

• Unshielded graphics cards should be avoided when using a PowerMac G5 and a DeckLink card with analog connections. Unshielded AGP graphics cards have been found to cause electromagnetic interference with nearby analog components and this can lead to the output of interference patterns in analog video. More detailed information is available in this support note.

• Adaptec SCSI cards should not be used as Adaptec has discontinued development of drivers for Mac OS X.

Ask Adaptec: "search by" Answer ID 11052
"Adaptec is no longer developing SCSI drivers for the Mac OS. Technical support is available for those products still in their complimentary support period; however, there will be no new SCSI drivers, firmware, or patches available."
Please note that this support note no longer seems to be present in Adaptec's support pages.

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