Decklink input

This input allows you to stream raw UYVY and PCM data over SDI through compatible Black Magic Design hardware.

warning

Currently these are not available in the open source builds. For more information please on how you can access this feature contact us

DeckLink Core

Every input within MistServer requires a Stream name and Source to understand what these mean exactly we recommend reading up on Stream settings

DeckLink Support Matrix

Category	Support
Input URLs	sdi:
Audio Format	PCM
Video Format	UYVY (YUV 4:2:2)
Subtitle	None
Metadata	None

• Other formats are supported in Passhthrough mode only
• No DVR (buffer) can be set, at most 1 second of stream data will be kept active within MistServer

Decklink requirements

When using Decklink with MistServer you will need to install the DeckLink Desktop Video Drivers. Please follow the install instructions from Black Magic Design for your operating system.

tip

• Make sure the DesktopVideoHelper service is running, or your DeckLink device might not be found at all!
• The Decklink SDK that has been used to build the version is listed. Your Desktop Video Driver must be an equal or higher number!

DeckLink source syntax

Sources can be filled in completely manual

sdi:PORTNUM(/FORMAT)

or after writing sdi: you can select it by clicking the source. The current port state is shown, you can ingest the same port using multiple streams should you wish to do so.

The format within SDI will be autodetected and can be used immediately. Format can be enforced, meaning the card will expect the exact matching format. Should there be a mismatch you will not see any usable output. We only recommend enforcing the format if the auto-detection is failing.

Recommendation: use the connector mapping to ungroup ports (each port its own sub-device)

You can use DeckLink support with the ports grouped, however we have noticed that the inputs work far better if they're considered their own port and are not grouped together. Of course this is only relevant if your card has multiple ports capable of being an in or output.

This does have the downside that passthrough no longer works as each port is separate

tip

• Any port that received a label through BlackmagicDesktopVideoSetup will keep this label

Decklink url examples

Capture SDI from port 1

sdi:1

Capture SDI from port 7, enforce YUV 4:2:2@1080p60 format

sdi:7/YUV 4:2:2@1080p30

Command line - Capture SDI from port 7, enforce YUV 4:2:2@1080p60 and create stream test

MistInDeckLink -s test 'sdi:0/YUV 4:2:2@1080p60'

DeckLink Optional configurations

Option	Description	Type	Default	API	Commandline
channels	Audio channel count.	Number 2,8,16	2	channels	--channels, -C
depth	Audio sample depth	Number 16,32	32	depth	--depth,-D
debug	The debug level at which messages need to be printed.	debug	Inherited from parent process	debug	--debug
format	Requested format, like '10-bit YUV-3840x2160@30.0'. Use the 'query' call to list all options. If left out, auto-detection will be enabled to configure the video track.	String		format	--format,-F
inputtimeout	How long the input should remain loaded without activity.	Number (unsigned integer)	30	inputtimeout	--inputtimeout
Memory page timeout	Listed due to MistServer defaults, unsupported with DeckLink	Number (unsigned integer)	15	pagetimeout	--pagetimeout
enumerate	List detected supported devices and current status in JSON format	Commandonly	N/A	N/A	--enumerate,-e
query	Report requested device capabilities in JSON format	Commandonly	N/A	N/A	--getcapa DEVICE,-q DEVICE
Always on	Automatically starts this stream, regardless of viewers requesting it or not.	Boolean	false	always_on	undefined

DeckLink commandline detection example

MistInDeckLink -e

this returns a list of detected ports and their current status

["sdi:0 port_7 (inactive, detected signal Unknown)","sdi:1 port_5 (ingesting 1080p60)","sdi:2 port_3 (ingesting 525i59.94 NTSC)","sdi:3 port_1 (ingesting 1080p30)","sdi:4 DeckLink Quad (5) (inactive, detected signal Unknown)","sdi:5 DeckLink Quad (6) (inactive, detected signal Unknown)","sdi:6 DeckLink Quad (7) (inactive, detected signal Unknown)","sdi:7 DeckLink Quad (8) (inactive, detected signal Unknown)"]

These devices sdi:1 to sdi:7 or even the whole card through sdi can be used to query the supported formats.

MistInDeckLink -q sdi:0

This returns a list of compatible formats. For the best compatibility stick to the UYVY (YUV 4:2:2) formats.