Use this page when the screen, the projector or the SDI output is black. Follow the steps in order, because they start with the most common cause.
1. Is anything on air?
Look at the panel. When something is on air, the panel shows ON AIR next to the name of the playout, and a red border around the preview.
If there is no badge, nothing is playing: the list is waiting, or a follow action has ended the cue. In that case, arm a cue and press GO.
2. Does the preview show the picture?
If the preview and the output are both black, the problem is in the cue. Go to step 3.
If the preview is correct and the output is black, the problem is in the output. Go to step 4.
Do not skip this comparison, because it halves the search.
3. The cue
| Check | |
|---|---|
| A warning mark on the line | The file has been moved. See a file is missing |
| A media cue that is armed but not live | Video plays only when the cue is live. Press GO |
| A still with transparency | With nothing behind the still, the transparent parts are black |
| A scene | Check that its sources are visible and in the correct order |
| A web page | Check that the page has loaded. Use Operate to look at it |
4. The output
The block in the status bar, at the bottom right, shows what is wrong.
| Text | Meaning |
|---|---|
failed to start | The output did not start. Move the pointer over the block to see the reason |
| Nothing | The output is set to None |
window closed | Someone closed the projector window |
| fps and missed frames | The output is running, and the picture leaves the computer |
0 fps on a DeckLink | The card is not playing out, and the program is restarting the output. See SDI via DeckLink |
screen N | A projector output that is running. It has no frame counter |
If the block shows that the device is in use, two outputs almost always use the same DeckLink port, or another application is using the card.
If the output is running and the screen is still black, the picture leaves the computer, so the fault is after it: in the cable, in the input of the mixer, or in the source selection of the projector.
5. Causes outside the program
Before you search further, check these causes:
- The projector or monitor is set to another input.
- Windows mirrors the second display instead of extending it.
- The mixer is showing a different source.
- Someone has disconnected the SDI cable.
After the computer starts
An output that shows failed to start immediately after the program starts often starts by itself a few seconds later. The program continues to try, so a card that was not ready is used a moment later. Check again before you look for a cause.