ultrastudio mini monitor

[bmoo]

Hi, I just bought the BMD ultrastudio mini monitor to output 1080p 29,97 from Arena 5. It does feed the signal (Prores and Prores Proxy files) but the signal is very choppy and stuttering. If I send the same film layer to my second computer monitor the output is fine. In the Mini monitor app (BMD Desktop video) the framerate is set to 29,97.
If I bypass the Mini monitor and feed the TV screen straight from the HDMI output of the Macbook Pro all is fine, the signal is smooth (except the mac does not feed 29,97 but 30 fps, so it stutters here and there to make up for lost frames…).
Has anyone a better experience with the Mini monitor?
I'm asking before sending it back since my experience with other apps is not better: it crashes FCPX repeatedly and Quicktime cannot have access to it directly…
Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Oaktown]

I use the Mini Monitor all the time and it seems to work fine.

I'm assuming you're outputting HDMI not SDI so have you tried to set it to 59.94?

Also, did you update to the most recent driver?

QuickTime doesnt support devices like this because they are not going through the GPU.

[bmoo]

Yes I am outputting HDMI and set the Mini monitor to 29,97. The latest drivers are installed. I'll give it a try once set to 59,94.
But what's strange also is that it appears as an input in some apps, so I assume it uses a generic driver that is not really optimized thus the problems. On the web, many people seem to complain of crashes with the Mini Monitor. If Apple were supporting non-integer frame rates (29,97) directly from the HDMI port we would not need this.
Looking further I noticed the Intensity Shuttle (TB or USB3) actually do support signals from Quicktime… from BMD page: "Intensity supports QuickTime on Mac, and WDM and DirectShow on Windows so you can capture high quality video straight into other audio or video applications so is compatible with virtually all software on Mac and Windows." Well, they say "capture" but don't mention playback… if I read between the lines, the Intensity may not work either.
Thanks

[Oaktown]

Yes I am outputting HDMI and set the Mini monitor to 29,97.

What kind of monitor are you using?

But what's strange also is that it appears as an input in some apps, so I assume it uses a generic driver that is not really optimized thus the problems

Mini Monitor should not appear as input in any apps since it's a monitoring device for editing. It supports broadcast resolutions and not computer resolutions. It will not show up as a display and only works with certain software such as Premiere, Final Cut Pro and more recently media server softwares when devs include it.

Here is a list of software that work with it:

If Apple were supporting non-integer frame rates (29,97) directly from the HDMI port we would not need this.

Use ProResX and make your own 1920x1080@29.97 but it will still show up as 30:

[bmoo]

What kind of monitor are you using?

I am using a 55" Sony 4K TV. The TV does the job to recalculate the proper dimensions (1920x1080). Works perfectly when fed from the Macbook pro HDMI output.

Mini Monitor should not appear as input in any apps

I know it should not, but I read several reports on the web that indeed it does appear as an input source. (not in fcpx though).

Use ProResX and make your own 1920x1080@29.97 but it will still show up as 30:

I'll follow this advice to solve the question.
On the last installation I made in Québec City, the 29,97 fps fed from Quicktime (and played back from a new Macbook pro), kept stuttering really badly at time so much that it was really bothering. This is the reason why I am testing the Mini monitor. But it does not bring the solution I expected, only new bugs.
ProResX thanks for reminding me. I'll try.

[bmoo]

Here are some screen shots of Quicktime and Modul8 showing Mini monitor as input… I did not go any further in the experiment, like actualy trying to use it as source.
No big deal, just strange.