How I Set Up Scopebox for Color Correction

That was great Patrick. For Resolve you’ll still need a separate Mac to run scopebox, is that right? Can you also touch on the difference between ‘internal’ scopes (Like Resolve’s scopes) Vs. External scopes (Have I used the correct terminology to explain this?)

Vincent,

Correct. On Resolve you need Video I/O to feed the image out of Resolve into ScopeBox. In my case, a Decklink card is going out from my MacPro via SDI, into an SDI Distribution Amplifier that has one input and four outputs. One output goes to my reference monitor, another goes into the SDI input of a 2nd computer (MacPro with Kona 3). But this is all possible using Thunderbolt or HDMI – if you’ve got the right combination of hardware. For instance, a Decklink Ultrastudio.

RE: Difference between Internal vs External Scopes – Internal takes some real-time functionality away since the CPU has to generate and draw the scopes. External verifies that the signal out of the CPU being fed into the display is accurate… since both are getting the same signal.

HML just great tip!

HML rocks!

Oh yes. It took so much guess work out of the image in such short time. Really happy about my scopes.

I want the HML! I was thinking of getting a Mac Mini and running the SDI out from my Flanders into it (via the BMD Ultrastudio) to use Scopebox. Does this seem like a good setup? The one thing I’m worried about is lag, as even the built-in scopes on the Flanders are a little annoying to use because of the delay. (I work in Resolve and use a Decklink SDI to get the signal to my Flanders.)

The setup you describe is very common and should work very well. Any lag you’re seeing now in your external monitor will likely be replicated in Scopebox. I’d investigate the various tick-boxes that may help reduce lag from within Resolve’s Project settings.

BTW – unless you need and Ultrastudio – you can take the output from your Flanders and feed that into the MacMini using the less expensive BM MiniMonitor which takes SDI and turns it into an input for your MacMini (just like the Ultrastudio, but only one way).

Hi Patrick, thanks for this explanation. Do you set the scopes to “RGB” or to “Studio RGB”? How do you chose between the two?

Use RGB, which uses the full bit depth of the incoming signal and is the standard for digital video signal paths. Studio RGB is more appropriate for an analog signal path.

Hey Patrick, is it possible to run scopebox on the same machine as Resolve? Let’s say the configuration is a Blackmagic ultrastudio, a thunderbolt display and a Flanders display. Is it possible or I need something else? Many Thanks

Hi Christopher – At this time the only apps that ScopeBox can get a live feed out of and run on the same CPU is PremierePro, After Effects and Final Cut Pro 10. Outside of those apps, it has to run on a separate computer and you’d either loop out the Flanders to feed Scopebox or pull one of the additional outputs from the Ultrastudio to that second computer.

I am about to make the change to scope box and I want to make sure I have my hardware right.

I have a new Mac Pro which I am using the Decklink Studio 4K which I send one HDMI signal to my client TV. I took one of the SDI and used a blackmagic SDI to HDMI converter and that goes into my HP Dreamcolor. I have an old 2009 Mac Pro tower that is updated just sitting around. Can I add a decklink mini recorder to that old computer to use Scopebox or do I need a different piece of hardware?

Hey Chris,

I’m not a scopebox expert but I think the Mini Recorder will work but make sure you buy the PCI express based version not the thunderbolt version! I actually didn’t know that the PCI express version existed until right now when I looked it up so hopefully it’s shipping!

Robbie or Pat may be able to offer more on this area but I can’t wait to start using Scopebox myself.

Dan

Chris – The mini-Recorder should work just fine. You’re talking the little box, right? Dan has a point about being sure ScopeBox can see the HDMI input for your graphics card. An email to the ScopeBox team should clear up any sticking points. But basically, this sounds correct.

I will say – I decided to splurge on a new Mac Mini to save on power consumption… and save it does! Running just my base rig, my Power Conditioner and Battery Backup runs at 50% capacity with Resolve running. With my 2008 MacPro running ScopeBox, it’s running at 102% capacity. With the new Mac Mini, using the Mini Recorder and Scopebox? 54% capacity.

That’s a lot of power savings and leaves headroom for something like an GPU expansion box for Resolve.

+1 on the mac mini. Chris – you’ll need the PCI version as Dan said NOT the ultra studio mini recorder which is thunderbolt.