I do a lot of webcasts and training videos (here’s an example), so I wanted better quality video. Sure, MacBooks come with a built-in webcam, but it’s over the laptop display, and that doesn’t really help much when I’m using a desktop monitor. I’ve tried USB HD webcams like the Mac-friendly Logitech C615, and the results were okay, but not amazing.
My Home Office Setup – 2014
After a lot of experimenting, here’s what worked well for me:
- Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder (around $150)
- Canon Vixia HF R400 HD camcorder (around $300)
- Apple Thunderbolt Cable (around $40)
The UltraStudio Mini Recorder converts an HDMI input to Thunderbolt. If you’d rather take a USB 3.0 approach, try the Blackmagic Design Intensity HDMI-to-USB3 capture device. I preferred the Thunderbolt Mini Recorder because it’s cheaper, smaller, and I have more free Thunderbolt ports on my Mac than I do USB.
The Mini Recorder does not make your camcorder a USB webcam – life is not quite that easy.
Step 1 – Plug everything in.
The UltraStudio is powered by Thunderbolt, but you’ll want to plug your camcorder into an electric outlet if it’ll be running for hours on end.
Step 2 – Turn Off the Canon’s Output Displays.
By default, the camcorder’s HDMI output shows things like the time and the recording status onscreen. That’s ugly. Go into the Canon’s onscreen menus where it says “Output Onscreen Displays” and turn that off:
Canon Menus
Step 3 – Set the UltraStudio Mini Recorder defaults to HD.
After installing the Mini Recorder’s drivers, it defaults to standard definition video. I know, right? Go into Apple, System Preferences, Blackmagic Design, and change the input to HDMI video:
Changing the default to HDMI input
If you don’t do this, the Mini Recorder just outputs a black video stream.
Step 4 – Fire Up Your Webcam App.
In Google Hangouts, for example, when I go to choose a camcorder, Blackmagic is listed as one of the input sources. You have to know the exact resolution, frame rate, and color depth of your input device (camcorder), and choose that from the list:
Google Hangouts resolution list
The Canon Vixia HF R400 outputs 1080i 59.94 in 8 bit color, so when I choose that from the dropdown list of capture devices, I see my camcorder’s output. Same thing with WebEx:
WebEx support for Blackmagic
Unfortunately, not all apps offer native support for video capture devices.
Skype Camera List
Skype’s camera list just shows “Blackmagic” as an input device, with no resolutions or color depths, and it just displays a useless black screen. It appears to be application-dependent – for example, earlier versions of Skype worked, but the current (6.14 as of March 2014) version doesn’t, as shown at right.
Here’s the apps I’ve tested the UltraStudio with on OS X 10.9:
- Google Hangouts – works.
- Screenflow v4.5 and v5.0 – works.
- Skype v7.6 – works.
- GoToMeeting v7.1.5Â – doesn’t work.
- GoToWebinar – doesn’t work.
- Cisco WebEx Meeting Center v29.13.4 – does not work.
If you want to spend even more money (around $500), and you’re willing to put up with high CPU usage, check out Telestream Wirecast. It takes takes the Blackmagic UltraStudio’s input and acts like a USB webcam for most software. It’ll even let you add additional effects live, like removing backgrounds or overlaying text. Unfortunately, during my testing, it constantly used 100% CPU of one core, and I don’t like having my laptop fan going while I webcast.
I’ve also tried a few other software products that purport to do the same thing, like Camtwist and Manycam, but I’ve had really bad stability results. The software has been buggy and crashtastic – the one thing I can’t have when clients are paying me for webcasts.
For now, I still end up with two cameras – my Logitech C615Â for GoToWebinar, and the Canon/Blackmagic combo for everything else.
My Home Office Setup – 2014
About My Office Video Setup
If you read this far, you’re probably interested in the other gear I use:
Blue Yeti USB Microphone – big, heavy $100 microphone with great audio quality. Don’t bother with the Pro version unless you’re hooking it up to a mixer. Appears as just a regular USB audio device to the computer with no drivers required. On the back side of the microphone, set the pattern so that it focuses on the audio coming from in front of the microphone, not behind it.
Cowboy Studio lighting kit – just $60 for 3 lights, tripods, and umbrellas. They’re not spectacularly robust, but I don’t take them out of the house, so it’s not a big deal. I put one on either side of my desk, and then when I’m doing green-screen techniques, I use one to light up the wall and reduce shadows.
LimoStudio 85W CFL bulbs – the bulbs included with the Cowboy Studio kit are alright, but in my new condo, I’ve got one wall of windows in my office. Despite thick blinds, I couldn’t light my office evenly, and these monster bulbs make all the difference. They don’t get hot when they’re on, either.
Rosco DigiComp Blue paint – I used to hassle with a green screen curtain, but taking it up and down was a huge hassle, and it was ugly as hell. When we moved into a new condo, we just painted my entire office wall with this chroma key blue paint instead. The blue is way more attractive than chroma key green, and it works just as well for casual training use like mine. The best way to explain the paint is that it’s incredibly non-reflective; it makes the entire wall look like a very deep sponge, as if you could push it in with your fingers. When I add a chroma-key filter with Screenflow, the wall simply disappears, no tweaking required. (Despite lots of tweaking with the green screen curtains, I had a really tough time getting it to disappear.)
Dolica tripod – gotta set the camcorder on something. This one has easy-to-crank height adjustment so I can quickly switch back and forth between standing and sitting. When I do demos, I sit in front of the keyboard, but the rest of the time I like to stand.
Why go to all this trouble? Well, here’s an example end result. Good stuff.
74 comments. Leave new
Hi Brent,
nice setup.
What Palm Rest do you use for your 15″ MacBook Retina? Had you any problems like describe in this KB: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4384
Best!
John – I use the Twelve South leather one, and I also use a 3M privacy screen protector when I travel. Between those two, I’m sure I’m way outside of the narrow design tolerances, but I haven’t had any issues.
Thanks for this info! I already have access to the Blackmagic recorder so will try this out with Google today and my Panasonic GH4 today!
Hello Keith, I was wondering if you ever got the GH4 to work with the Blackmagic intensity shuttle?
Hi Brent! i have a blackmagic thunderbolt express and a canon vixia HF R500. my goal is to use this setup for livestreaming, but the feed is not showing up in any application, including blackmagic’s own media express. i have everything set on Hdmi and 1080p 59.94, but all i get is a black screen. do you have any tips? its really important that this works. i’ve been contracted to do some livestreaming and it’s naturally not optimal for this to be dysfunctional. Thanks!
-Cody
Cody – sorry, but I can’t really do tech support here on the blog. Your best bet is to contact the vendor.
Hi Brent!
Did you try the ultrastudio with adobe connect?
Thanks for a nice blog!
Best
Jeppe
Jeppe – no, how’s the pricing on that?
Thanks for this post. I was able to get my r500 hooked up to my computer by following this post. I had no idea it would be so difficult and expensive. It seemed like it should be as simple as plugging the camcorder into the computer via USB or HDMI. The video quality is amazing! FYI, if you are having a hard time getting your computer to recognize your camera, uninstall BlackMagic software, restart and reinstall. I had some issues on the first install but uninstalling and reinstalling seemed to do the trick. I tested this with QuickTime 7 and FaceTime and they both work. For some reason, QuickTime 10 doesn’t work.
Star – you’re welcome, glad I could help.
I’ve been trying to make this same set up work with webinars on air using google hangouts but I get a mirror image of the camera video… Has that ever happened to you? Also, seems to be pretty unreliable…sometimes it works and then other times hangouts won’t see the output of the mini recorder. Has it been solid for you?
Rene – sorry, I don’t use Google Hangouts On Air. I’ve had bad experiences with that with video, audio, browsers, crashing, you name it.
Does the UltraStudio Mini Rec. still work after the Webex update?
Andy – it’s working for me.
Thank you so much for your information on this website!!
After hours of struggling with a european Sony HDR-CX550 camcorder, I discovered that I have to reboot the UltraStudio Mini Recorder after each modification on the camcorder (unplug-plug). Otherwise the new camcorder state is not detected by Screenflow nor by MediaExpress.
The image quality is best for me at 720p.
Hangouts works perfectly fine as well.
Hello Carine,
Does your Sony HDR-CX550 output both audio and video on the mini-HDMI connector? I have a Sony HDR-CX450 with a mini-HDMI but all I get is video. I have not been able to get audio output on the mini-HDMI.
thank you
Ricardo
Hi there, I’m also trying to Live Stream using my Canon Vixia HF R42. The website we use to lifestream is upstream.com. If I purchase the BlackMagic Ultra Studio device, and connect everything as you mentioned, would I also be able to record to my SD memory card at the same time of streaming to the computer? Thanks! Need help with this!
You can record to the SD card or not, just as you can view on a monitor using HDMI while you are recording, or not.
Hi there, I’m also trying to Live Stream using my Canon Vixia HF R42. The website we use to lifestream is upstream.com. If I purchase the BlackMagic Ultra Studio device, and connect everything as you mentioned, would I also be able to record to my SD memory card at the same time of streaming to the computer? Thanks! Need help with this!
Jaclyn – I don’t use Upstream, so I can’t really say.
Great information thanks! I have a Canon Vixia that I’m trying to use as a WebCam for the Google chrome capture application. I’m trying to capture a lecture series with the video camera set in the corner of the room and allow screen capture of slides for immediate upload to website for students further review. The Google Chrome capture allows the slides to be recorded via screen capture and a small video box in the bottom right-hand corner for students to follow. Do you know if this capture software would work with your set up? Do you know of any similar software that might work? It’s been pretty hard to find…
Thanks!
You just saved my butt, been searching all day for a way to make the canon vixia hf g20 work with a blackmagic intensity shuttle usb 3.0. My last ditch effort turned up your page!
Hi, Thanks for posting this information. I’m using the same BlackMagic Decklink recorder and Canon R400 camera for GoToWebinar and It’s working fine. I used ManyCam software as the video feed. GotoWebinar recognizes the video feed under the Webcam preferences. I’m able to use the optical zoom (Canon) which is great compared to USB webcams. The only snag so far, is the video feed’s resolution is SD and not HD on the client side. I’m not sure how to fix this.
Kyle – I’d check what’s going on with ManyCam – I don’t use that, and I get HD just fine.
I am currently using a logitech desktop webcam to live stream our pastor. I have just up graded the camera to a VIXIA HF R50. I need to connect this to a mac mini. I am assuming that i would need the blackmagic device. However i need to know if it will work with Flash media live encoder.
Will – I don’t use Flash, sorry.
Hi Brent,
A while back I bought the Canon Vixia HV40, I loaned it to someone one and they were able to live stream with it. They said they used it on google hangouts. I ave not been able to get it to work anywhere. I’ve connected it via firewire and usb, no difference. Any help or suggestions on this? I really don’t want to buy a new camera if I don’t have to.
PR – sure, absolutely. Find that friend and have them walk you through it. 😉
Great article, thanks! I have a question about latency between the Ultrastudio Video recorder and the Yeti USB mic. Is there any delay between the audio and video? I’m looking to stream a live show over youtube using a 7D/Yeti and sync issues seem to be the major problem. Any help would be appreciated!
I haven’t seen any latency or sync issues at all – I’d say that you wanna be using a relatively recent computer, though, because the Ultrastudio Mini Recorder pushes out a *lot* of data. I’m using the current MacBook Pro Retina with a 2.6GHz i7 and PCI Express SSD.
Hi Brent,
I have a Canon Vixia HFS20 and have been trying to figure out how to use it as an input in Screenflow – do you happen to know if I’m able to do so?
Ryan – this entire article is about that. Enjoy!
hey, very useful article. thank you!
has anyone tried zoom.us / zoom presence app with this hardware setup?
Thank you, Brent, for putting this post together. I was looking for a better setup for WebEx video and this did it. The folks on the other end of the connection raved about the video quality and your directions were spot on.
You just saved me hours of testing as I’m embarking to do the same, so appreciate the information. You mention that unit does not work Cisco WebEx Meeting Center v29.13.4, but screenshot shows that capture card is being recognized. Was that a previous version of the Meeting Center? I’m trying to see if version 28.12.20.10001 will recognize the capture card.
Edwin – yeah, I don’t update the screenshots, but I update the blog post version numbers as I try updated versions.
Excellent post! On the point of following your recipe to the word but before I buy the material, hoping you could give your opinion:
We are new-media artists who have often made installations with live camera/computer/projector setup. Recently asked to show an older work (2005) which worked with DV camera connected by firewire to a mac, hoping to upgrade to a HD cam like you show. Our software is “Max”:
Max seems to recognize firewire camera and webcams like the logitech. Am wondering if you think there will be any problem with the Blackmagic? Thanks again for the post. Denis
No, sorry, I haven’t used that software, but I’ve had horrible results with similar software.
Hi Bernt,
how long the battery works?
We have webinars for 1:30 hours long. Is the battery sufficient for this? Or is that possible to charge the battery when broadcasting?
Thank you,
Martin
You can charge the battery whole broadcasting. That’s why I talk about the skeleton case – you can have USB plugged in for charging. Data doesn’t go over the USB port for this.
Great post Brent!
Will the same process work with other cameras such as
Canon LEGRIA HF R606,
Canon LEGRIA HF R68,
Canon HF R306?
I have no access to Canon Vixia HF R400 HD… Thank you!
Pete – I don’t have access to those other cameras, so you’ll need to try yourself.
Thanks for the post Brent.
I have a very similar setup, with a BMD ultrastudio minirecorder + macbook pro + Screenflow… But I can’t make it work (can see the preview, but nothing is recorded by Screenflow). Did you have a problem like this one at the beginning ? I have written to Screenflow’s support and they told me “at this time ScreenFlow does not support capture cards.” Can you confirm that you made it work with a BMD minirecorder ?
Thanks
Charles
Charles – yep, make sure you’re on a current version of ScreenFlow.
Charles, I’m having the exact same problems as you do – I can see the preview, but does not record. I have version Version 5.0.1 (23744) of Screenflow and Mac OS X 10.10.3.
I wonder if it might be related to this?
http://forum.telestream.net/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=42&threadid=16335
Yes Matt, and here is the last answer I got from Screenflow’s Support : “It is in the hands of engineers now. They have the details they wanted.Basically ScreenFlow does not technically support capture cards or devices, but if the video shows in the Video Preview window, it should be recorded.” The BM support helped me to check my BM card was working, but I still can’t connect it with Screenflow…
Hi MP,
it’s now March 2016 and the situation after 9 months seem to not have changed much at. Still no support for Screenflow 5 and the Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini Recorder.
The workaround I have just tested with great success is a downgrade to Screenflow 4, the latest version 4.5.4 seems to be working well on El Capitan 10.11.3, and the video is captured just fine.
Brent, thanks for a great post, I have decided to buy the Mini Recorder after reading it, and my initial tests have been quite successful, except for the snafu with Screenflow 5, which is quite odd.
Thanks,
Luca
Hi
Thanks for the post. if we plug the camera into the HDMI port directly without the blackmagic product, can we use it directly? I am using google hangouts and zoom.us
Right now i record the videos to the sd card and then i upload it to vimeo or youtube but the advantage of streaming with youtube is that you save the upload part
Thanks
Oscar – no, that doesn’t work.
Hi Brent,
I have been using a BMD UltraStudio Mini Recorder with a Sony HDR-CX450 and it works pretty well. My big problem is that I have not been able to get audio out of the HDMI on that camera. I think it only outputs video.
I’m assuming that your Canon has no problem with that, both audio and video are output on the mini-HDMI connector?
Another question, for the a/v HDMI output on your Canon, must you be in record or playback mode, or does it work in “monitor” mode when not doing either of those? I asked Canon Sales and they said it only works in playback mode.
Also, any other suggestions on HD camcorders that have both audio and video working on the HDMI connector?
Thank you
Ricardo
Ricardo – I wouldn’t use the video output from the camcorder. They’re generally not very good, and they’re not close enough to you for good audio. I use a separate microphone when I’m recording video training, or a wireless headset when I’m working with clients.
Ok, thanks. But in any case, does the Canon output audio via the mini-HDMI – if I’m in an environment where the audio pickup is pretty good?
Ricardo – I have absolutely no idea.
Alright, I guess you never tried capturing both a/v on the BMD connected to your Canon then. I have not way of testing other than buying without knowing, I was just wondering if it works.
I don’t think that camcorders output Audio on HDMI unless they are playing a previously recorded video. In the event that you were to connect your tv to your camcorder with the microphone active you would get a feedback loop and maybe blow the speakers on the TV.
This is a problem I have run into with streaming.
Hi
I need immediate help, and would appreciate your response.
I am in Aurora as a matter of fact, so we can possibly meet too!
I need help with the best camera and setup i can have to broadcast a Lecture/class.
My uncle has a class/lecture he give, and wants to broadcast it.. he is doing it using a webcam but the quality is pretty bad, so he wants something he can use so the people watching online can listen to him clearly, and can see what ever hes typing or doing on the board.
Please help me out, need to get this done before friday.
We just bought a Canon Vixia HF G20 but i dont think that is good so might return and get the stuff you have mentioned here. but really looking forward to your help.
Thanks,
Wafi.
Wafi – unfortunately I’m not available this week. Doggone jobs. 😉
oh! thats alright. if you can help me out with this, would be really great.
First i thought of getting a PTZ camera, but didnt think it would fulfil the requirements.
So then went on to get the HF G20.. so theres no way to get it to stream without using the blackmagic thing right? device used for streaming would be a mac and on google hangouts.
Correct. That’s what this post is about. Make sure to read that post carefully. Thanks!
Alright!
Thankyou so much! 🙂
How’s latency, if I may ask?
Dan – that’s a great question! The latency’s invisible to me. It’s gotta be some insanely tuned compression in there.
Just a small point about the “Output Onscreen Displays” setting, that seems to only affect playback, not preview, on my Vixia HFM40, seems odd that it would have a different function than your model.
Just to follow-up, you can clear all onscreeen items by selecting the “decorations” icon in the preview screen (the little hand drawing a swirl).
Hi Brent,
Amazing article by the way, I need expert advice on this. I just bought a Sony HDR-PJ440 handy cam and I plan to use it in both schooling and connecting with friends. I am on a limited budget and would like to know if I can use the Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder and Apple Thunderbolt Cable to connect and use it a webcam. I know the article is about that but I do not have enought money to buy a new handy cam. Thanks
Sabre – sorry, I have no experience with your camcorder.
Hi! I purchased the ultraStudio mini-recorder after reading your article. It arrived yesterday and I’ve been tinkering for the past hour. For the life of me, I cannot seem to navigate to the preferences screen shown in your step 3. I noticed it’s v 9.9.3. Can you kindly update the instructions for v 10.6.1 of their “Desktop Video Utility”. That’s what the icon on the System Settings pane links too. Same app can be accessed from the Applications folder.
HUGE thanks!
Hmm. Strike my last. They’ve dumbed the preferences way down to about 1/3 the options and the UI no longer looks anything like that preferences pane you show.
I was originally testing with Skype but switched over to Screenflow 5 (which is ultimately the app I truly want to use. Skype didn’t recognize a Blackmagic device but Screenflow does. Well at least in the Recording Setup dialogue, it lets me select it and shows a live feed from that camera. Once I actually record, however, it picks up no video track. I’ll keep tinkering. At least I’m closer than I was before. Great article. Thanks for the referral to this Blackmagic product.
OK, great, glad I could help.
Bummer. Looks like this will be a no-go. As of this date, the official response from Telestream is, “…ScreenFlow 5 currently only works with webcams. Please do make the feature request for camera support. I know there’s significant user interest. …”
(Just FYI.)
Hi
With great interest have I red your article about use a video camera as webcam
I bought the converter and use my own Panasonic camera.
Unfortunately I don’t get the same results as you are. ;-(
I have downloaded the drivers. But don’t get that much preferences as you did. ;-(
It works perfect with Skype. So I take the software part is Oké.
But…
Or doesn’t work in Google hangout. Your image shows the possibility to choose a video camera. Where can I find that list?
I know get the webcam from my Macbook Pro.
In facetime I don’t get any video at all. Even not the build in camera.
Maybe you have experienced the same problems as I do now. Our do you have a solution to help me out.
I really hope that you will answer my question.
Greetings
Conrad van Pruijssen
The Netherlands
Be Happy, Stay Happy
Conrad van Pruijssen
De ouderfluisteraar
Download mijn ebook, In 11 stappen op weg naar een Happy Parent
http://www.happyparentshappykids.nl
+31(0)615042410
For the list of videocameras, check with Blackmagic Design’s documentation.
If you don’t get any video with Facetime using the Mac’s built-in camera, head to the Genius Bar for support.
Hi brent
I had hoped for a more in depth answer.
I get video within Skype so the video camera works.
I am looking for a solution why I can’t choose the camera in other apps.
Normally facetime works perfect.
but not when my video camera is connect.
Ah, okay, so if you want to know which apps are compatible with the Blackmagic right now, check out the documentation:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudiothunderbolt/techspecs/W-DLUS-04