Casparcg won't start (decklink duo 2)

General
1

Hi all,
I think I’m missing something and could really use your help,
I have a server machine with a decklink duo 2, driver 14.3,
I’ve tried several casparcg server versions, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.4.1 - same behaviour on all of them
I add a to a channel, all works well - I can load images/videos into it - all is perfect,

when I add the part, it doesn’t provide any errors on startup, the screen shows black, LOAD commands go fine through the server but nothing goes out to the and nothing shows out on the decklink output,
also - when trying to shut down (q/exit) it gets stuck on “video_channel[1|1080i5000] uninitializing” and only way to shut it down is killing it via task manager

config file is the basic that comes with the system,
I’ve added:

<channel>
        <video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
        <consumers>
           <screen />
            <decklink>
                <device>1</device>
                <embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
                <latency>normal</latency>
                <key-only>false</key-only>
                <buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
            </decklink>      	  
        </consumers>
    </channel>

blackmagic media express sends video out perfectly so I’m not sure it’s a blackmagic issue

any ideas for me?

2

What do you mean with:

config file is the basic that comes with the system

Could you please paste your config here. You need a <decklink> part in your config for caspar to initialize a decklink channel.

3

There is a control panel app, that you need to use to setup the card, before CasparCG can use it. You define, what outputs to use and in what mode they run.

4

@didikunz absolutely, all 4 ports on the decklink duo2 are configured (via the blackmagic desktop video setup app to 1080i50 as single channels (not duals)

@ZimeX , I’ve used the casparcg.config that was in the server folder and added the decklink part for the first channel


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<configuration>
    <paths>
        <media-path>d:/media/</media-path>
        <log-path>log/</log-path>
        <data-path>data/</data-path>
        <template-path>template/</template-path>
    </paths>
    <lock-clear-phrase>secret</lock-clear-phrase>
    <channels>
      
<channel>
        <video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
        <consumers>
	<screen />
            <decklink>
                <device>1</device>              
            </decklink>     
        </consumers>
    </channel>
    </channels>
<osc>
  <default-port>6250</default-port>
  <disable-send-to-amcp-clients>false [true|false]</disable-send-to-amcp-clients>
  <predefined-clients>
    <predefined-client>
      <address>10.1.3.94</address>
      <port>5253</port>
    </predefined-client>
  </predefined-clients>
</osc>

    <controllers>
        <tcp>
            <port>5250</port>
            <protocol>AMCP</protocol>
        </tcp>
    </controllers>
    <amcp>
        <media-server>
            <host>localhost</host>
            <port>8000</port>
        </media-server>
    </amcp>
</configuration>

also tried:


  <channel>
            <video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
            <consumers>
		<decklink>
			<device>1</device>
			<embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
			<latency>normal</latency>
			<key-only>false</key-fonly>
			<buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
		</decklink>
	        <screen />
            </consumers>
</channel>
5

By the way: no need post a picture of the XML just select the text (of the XML) and click on the </> button to make it formatted as code.

Can you post the log file, the part where Caspar is starting up?

6

Hi, thanks for the quick reply,
I did not post an image of the xml… at least I don’t think so, still learning the forum and the options here and the content types,

here’s the log file, I don’t have the media scanner running:

Logging [info] or higher severity to log/

[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    ############################################################################
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    CasparCG Server is distributed by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (SVT)
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    under the GNU General Public License GPLv3 or higher.
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    Please see LICENSE.TXT for details.
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    http://www.casparcg.com/
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    ############################################################################
[2024-11-28 14:49:20.914] [info]    Starting CasparCG Video and Graphics Playout Server 2.3.2 f01b1efa2 Stable
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.316] [info]    Initializing OpenGL Device.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.317] [info]    Initialized OpenGL 4.5.0 NVIDIA 553.24 NVIDIA Corporation
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.321] [info]    Initialized ffmpeg module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.321] [info]    Initialized oal module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.321] [info]    Initialized decklink module.[1128/144921.350:ERROR:gpu_process_transport_factory.cc(990)] Lost UI shared context.

[2024-11-28 14:49:21.321] [info]    Initialized screen module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.321] [info]    Initialized newtek module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.371] [info]    Initialized html module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.371] [info]    Flash support is disabled
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.371] [info]    Initialized flash module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.373] [info]    Initialized bluefish module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    Initialized image module.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    "C:/_tomer\casparcg-server-v2.3.2-lts-stable\casparcg.config":
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    <configuration>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       <paths>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <media-path>d:/media/</media-path>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <log-path>log/</log-path>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <data-path>data/</data-path>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <template-path>template/</template-path>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       </paths>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       <lock-clear-phrase>secret</lock-clear-phrase>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       <channels>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <channel>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <consumers>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]                <screen/>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]                <decklink>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]                   <device>1</device>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]                </decklink>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             </consumers>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          </channel>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       </channels>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       <controllers>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <tcp>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <port>5250</port>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <protocol>AMCP</protocol>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          </tcp>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       </controllers>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       <amcp>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          <media-server>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <host>localhost</host>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]             <port>8000</port>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]          </media-server>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]       </amcp>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    </configuration>
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.374] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.422] [info]    Initialized OpenGL Accelerated GPU Image Mixer for channel 1
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.423] [info]    video_channel[1|1080i5000] Successfully Initialized.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.425] [info]    Screen consumer [1|1080i5000] Initialized.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.450] [info]    DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Disabled low-latency mode.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.450] [error]   DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Failed to enable external keyer.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.466] [info]    DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Initialized.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.466] [info]    Initialized channels.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.468] [info]    Initialized controllers.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.468] [info]    Initialized osc.
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.773] [info]    async_event_server[:5250] Accepted connection from 127.0.0.1 (1 connections).
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.773] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: VERSION SERVER\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.774] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:201 VERSION OK\r\n2.3.2 f01b1efa2 Stable\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.774] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: INFO\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.775] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 INFO OK\r\n1 1080i5000 PLAYING\r\n\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.775] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: CLS\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.776] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: TLS\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.777] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: DATA LIST\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:21.778] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: THUMBNAIL LIST\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:25.859] [error]   Failed to connect to media-scanner. Is it running?
[2024-11-28 14:49:25.859] [error]   Reason: Connection refused
[2024-11-28 14:49:25.859] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:501 CLS FAILED\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:29.911] [error]   Failed to connect to media-scanner. Is it running?
[2024-11-28 14:49:29.911] [error]   Reason: Connection refused
[2024-11-28 14:49:29.911] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:501 TLS FAILED\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:29.911] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 DATA LIST OK\r\n\r\n
[2024-11-28 14:49:33.993] [error]   Failed to connect to media-scanner. Is it running?
[2024-11-28 14:49:33.993] [error]   Reason: Connection refused
[2024-11-28 14:49:33.993] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:501 THUMBNAIL LIST FAILED\r\n
7

Seems to be hard to understand, that there is a button with </> on it, that you use to format the stuff. But never mind, you are not the only one, that cannot do that…

I usually use something like this:

<decklink>
	<device>1</device>
	<embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
	<channel-layout>stereo</channel-layout>
	<latency>normal</latency>
	<keyer>default</keyer>
	<key-only>false</key-only>
	<buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
	<custom-allocator>true</custom-allocator>
</decklink>

And you should also run scanner.exe in the same folder, that Caspar is located. Start it before CasparCG.exe

8

I did use it and when I got back to the thread most of the xml was gone…
never mind,
hope i’m doing it right this time, this is the new log after adding the decklink part you suggested, i’ve also added some empty lines before hitting the Q, it doesn’t quit, it gets stuck on the last line “video_channel[1|1080i5000] uninitializing”

I have a feeling something’s wrong with the blackmagic card, although on the media express tool it outputs video properly,
I’ve setup several casparcg machines and I didn’t experience those problems so far, usually it all works fine on first attempt

Logging [info] or higher severity to log/

[2024-11-28 15:08:18.984] [info]    ############################################################################
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.984] [info]    CasparCG Server is distributed by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (SVT)
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.984] [info]    under the GNU General Public License GPLv3 or higher.
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.984] [info]    Please see LICENSE.TXT for details.
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.985] [info]    http://www.casparcg.com/
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.985] [info]    ############################################################################
[2024-11-28 15:08:18.985] [info]    Starting CasparCG Video and Graphics Playout Server 2.3.2 f01b1efa2 Stable
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.387] [info]    Initializing OpenGL Device.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.389] [info]    Initialized OpenGL 4.5.0 NVIDIA 553.24 NVIDIA Corporation
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.392] [info]    Initialized ffmpeg module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.392] [info]    Initialized oal module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.392] [info]    Initialized dec[1128/150819.426:ERROR:gpu_process_transport_factory.cc(990)] Lost UI shared context.
klink module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.392] [info]    Initialized screen module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.392] [info]    Initialized newtek module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.448] [info]    Initialized html module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.448] [info]    Flash support is disabled
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.448] [info]    Initialized flash module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    Initialized bluefish module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    Initialized image module.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    "C:/_tomer\casparcg-server-v2.3.2-lts-stable\casparcg.config":
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    <configuration>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       <paths>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <media-path>d:/media/</media-path>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <log-path>log/</log-path>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <data-path>data/</data-path>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <template-path>template/</template-path>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       </paths>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       <lock-clear-phrase>secret</lock-clear-phrase>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       <channels>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <channel>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <consumers>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                <screen/>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                <decklink>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <device>1</device>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <channel-layout>stereo</channel-layout>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <latency>normal</latency>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <keyer>default</keyer>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <key-only>false</key-only>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                   <custom-allocator>true</custom-allocator>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]                </decklink>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             </consumers>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          </channel>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       </channels>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       <controllers>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <tcp>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <port>5250</port>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <protocol>AMCP</protocol>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          </tcp>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       </controllers>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       <amcp>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          <media-server>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <host>localhost</host>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]             <port>8000</port>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]          </media-server>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]       </amcp>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    </configuration>
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.449] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.483] [info]    Initialized OpenGL Accelerated GPU Image Mixer for channel 1
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.484] [info]    video_channel[1|1080i5000] Successfully Initialized.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.485] [info]    Screen consumer [1|1080i5000] Initialized.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.509] [info]    DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Enabled embedded-audio.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.509] [info]    DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Disabled low-latency mode.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.509] [error]   DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Failed to enable external keyer.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.536] [info]    DeckLink Duo 2 [1-1|1080i5000] Initialized.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.536] [info]    Initialized channels.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.539] [info]    Initialized controllers.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.539] [info]    Initialized osc.
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.882] [info]    async_event_server[:5250] Accepted connection from 127.0.0.1 (1 connections).
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.883] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: VERSION SERVER\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.883] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:201 VERSION OK\r\n2.3.2 f01b1efa2 Stable\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.883] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: INFO\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.884] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 INFO OK\r\n1 1080i5000 PLAYING\r\n\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.884] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: CLS\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.885] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: TLS\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.885] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: DATA LIST\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.886] [info]    Received message from 127.0.0.1: THUMBNAIL LIST\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.921] [info]    Sent more than 512 bytes to 127.0.0.1
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.925] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 TLS OK\r\n\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.925] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 DATA LIST OK\r\n\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:19.938] [info]    Sent message to 127.0.0.1:200 THUMBNAIL LIST OK\r\n"2822411210246854721" 20241128T150402 70709\r\n"2822411210246858821" 20241128T150401 48561\r\n"2822411230246975721" 20241128T150402 98253\r\n"2822411240247010921" 20241128T150402 80575\r\n"2822411240247013221" 20241128T150403 53872\r\n"2822411240247017421" 20241128T150402 68361\r\n"A" 20241128T150404 29774\r\n"B" 20241128T150403 32265\r\n"C" 20241128T150403 59351\r\n"D" 20241128T150404 69011\r\n"TEST" 20241128T150403 1854\r\n"TESTS2" 20241128T150404 87142\r\n\r\n












q
[2024-11-28 15:08:53.774] [info]    Received message from Console: q\r\n
[2024-11-28 15:08:53.776] [info]    async_event_server[:5250] Client 127.0.0.1 disconnected (0 connections).
[2024-11-28 15:08:53.777] [info]    [asio] Shutting down global io_service.
[2024-11-28 15:08:53.777] [info]    [asio] Global io_service uninitialized.
[2024-11-28 15:08:53.892] [info]    video_channel[1|1080i5000] Uninitializing.
9

not sure exactly what solved it, but it’s working now,
doesn’t look like a caspar issue,
I’ve disabled the onboard matrox gpu, then downgraded to decklink 14 driver, then upgraded back to 14.2, now it works…

thank you guys