# Blackmagic Libre

Notes and scripts for using Blackmagic Design hardware
with libre software.

No proprietary applications, SDKs, or similar are used.


# Blackmagic Design 6K
Pictures of the Blackmagic Design 6K.

![Blackmagic Design 6K Front.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-front.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Front.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Left.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-left.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Left.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Left Open.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-left-open.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Left Open.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Back.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-back.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Back.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Right.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-right.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Right.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Right Open.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-right-open.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Right Open.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Bottom.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-bottom.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Bottom.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Bottom Open.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-bottom-open.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Bottom Open.*

![Blackmagic Design 6K Top.](img/blackmagic-6k/blackmagic-6k-top.png)
*Blackmagic Design 6K Top.*


# Video
The camera can acquire video in two main formats:

* `.braw`, a proprietary format from Blackmagic.
* `.mov`, a format that can be read freely.

There is some software available to use `.braw` files on Debian,
but they require using the proprietary SDK.

There is one unmaintained hackish project that can read `.braw`
with ffmpeg.


## Video Playback
The camera can be live-streamed out using a "standard" sized
HDMI cable.

Not all settings work for playback via HDMI.

The camera works, in some configurations, with these HDMI to
USB capture devices:

* INOGENI 4K2USB3.
* ANDYCINE USB3 with HDMI loop out.

The camera does live playback, in some configurations,
with the above HDMI to USB capture devices and these
Debian applications.

Confirmed works:

* mpv.
* ffplay

Doesn't work:

* VLC.

Here is an example using mpv with the INOGENI.

```
$ mpv /dev/video0 
 (+) Video --vid=1 (rawvideo 1920x1080 60.000fps)
VO: [gpu] 1920x1080 yuv420p
V: 00:00:02 / 00:00:02 (97%)
```

# Still
The camera acquires still pictures in `.dng` format.

Out-of-the-box neither Darktable or Gimp can read these files.
They can be read by Rawtherapee.


# Hardware
Tested with Blackmagic Design 6K camera, acquired used.


# Software
Tested using Debian Bookworm (Testing).

Various applications used from Debian repos:

* Rawtherapee.
* Darktable.
* Gimp.
* Kdenlive.
* FFMPEG.
* mpv.


# Disclaimer
I'm a computer sysadmin, not a video or camera expert.
This is just to explore how to use a free toolchain.


# Copyright
Unofficial project, not part of Blackmagic Design.
Upstream sources under their respective copyrights.

License: CC By SA 4.0 International and/or GPLv3+ at your discretion.

*Copyright © 2023, Jeff Moe.*