Video from Max to Touch

General TouchDesigner Discussion
1

Hello, I was wondering if anybody had a method to stream video from Max to Touch running on the same computer and from other machines.

Also I have a BlackMagicDesign Decklink capture card with DirectShow drivers that does not appear in the Video In TOP. Is their some settings somewhere to get the card to appear.

thanks

Keith

2

Hey, I just query DirectShow and ask it to give me all of the available capture sources.

Try out this sample app from the DirectShow SDK. Does your card appear in the list of available capture devices?
AMCap.zip (23 KB)

3

Hi Malcolm, thanks for the app. I tried the SDK app and the Decklink did show up in the video input list. The Decklink also shows up other directshow software such as Max and Arkaos. I also have a couple of Imaging Source DFG1394’s firewire video input converters and a firewire camera that do show up in the Video In TOP input list. I think it is not showing up because it is a PCIe device.

I wasn’t sure what you meant when you said “I just query DirectShow and ask it to give me all of the available capture sources” . Do you mean to send a command in Touch to DirectShow call query?

keith

4

I mean I’m just asking DirectShow for installed video source devices. The way they are connected (usb, firewire, pci, pci-e) is all hidden from me.

What version of Windows are you running?

5

I’m running WinXP64. I also have Vista64 installed the same machine where Touch also doesn’t see the card.

peace

keith

6

Hey, here’s another test file. Run this with only the BlackMagic box connected, no other capture sources.
It should come up with a message box saying if it was able to get the ‘Device Path’. Let me know what it says.

Malcolm
amcap.zip (72.9 KB)

7

Hi Malcolm. I just tried the second test app and a pop-up window came up before it loaded stating “Unable to find Device Path”. After I press OK the program loads and the Decklink appears in the Devices menu. Hopefully this helps.

thanks

Keith

8

Hey, ya this does help, I think I know why it isn’t showing up for you.

9

I’ve made a change that I think will fix the issue, based on the information I have so far. I’ll be in the next experimental build.

10

that’s great news Malcom. Thanks for all your help. I’ll keep an eye on the download area for the new build

peace

keith

11

indeed great news. hope the intensity will work too.

keith, once the new build is available, could you please report back your experience with the decklink and touch (performance, latency, …). Thanks

12

The new build recognizes the Decklink card! Right now I have SD component video streaming into Touch from another computer. It seems to work fine. I can’t think of a way to accurately measure the latency, the latency does seem decent though (approx 50ms). If I find any issues I’ll post them here.

Thanks Malcom for your attention.

Derivative rocks!

13

A dirty lo-rez way to get video from any other program into touch is to have the video output window from Max open and make the touch window smaller so both fit on the screen. Then put down a screengrab TOP and set its parameters to just fit the Max window. Makes for scary skype sessions too!
rod.