Support

Raptor software subscriptions

Download this PDF document for information about Raptor software subscriptions and the computers you might use.

The current Raptor update is available below. Older Raptor updates are available on the Raptor update server

Raptor64 update v2024.8.3

Release highlights

  • Fixed problem (introduced in v2024.8) where the secondary router controls could cover over the “Clip attributes” box.
  • (Software subscriptions) New supported configuration: Raptor64 can now utilize one or two Ultrastudio HD Minis attached to Thuderbolt ports, while also using an internal Decklink Duo 2 board mounted in a PCIe slot.
  • Reduced the size of regular updates to 1/3 of their previous size.
  • For more details on these and other enhancements, please see the complete list of changes available here.

Notes

  • This update is for installation only on Raptor software subscriptions, On-Set Monitor, Raptor Quad 2 and Dual 2 decks.
  • This is a complete release, so it can be installed over any other Raptor version.

Download update ZIP file, copy contents to flash drive

  • Click this link (Raptor64_v2024.8.3.zip) to download the update file.
  • (Quad 2, Dual 2 decks) Ensure deck is powered by a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) before performing an update.
    • (Quad 2, Dual 2 decks) If deck power is lost during the update process, deck could require repair by us in Burbank, CA. Do not update firmware while in the middle of a job.
  • Open the downloaded ZIP file, and copy every file inside to your freshly-formatted flash drive, and eject drive from your computer.
  • After trashing or ejecting the USB drive from your computer, please don’t remove drive until the activity light on the USB drive stops blinking.

Run _UpdateRaptor

  • With the computer or deck running, plug the USB flash drive into the Raptor.
  • Launch Windows Explorer on the flash drive by (Quad 2 or Dual 2) clicking “Tools” / “Launch Windows Explorer on local deck” or pressing [Windows key] + “e”, then clicking the “D:” or “F:” drive on the left side of the window.
  • Double-click on the _UpdateRaptor application, whose icon is a blue triangle on a gray square. The firmware or application will update, and the deck will restart itself. Please let subscription computers restart Windows.
    • Do not interrupt this restart.
  • After the deck restarts, please verify that the title bar (at the top of the application) reports the updated version number, and remove USB flash drive from deck.
  • The update is now complete.

Here are some changes made to Raptor64 from other recent updates:

  • New “Ins” / “Desqueeze anamorphic by scaling input” item for each video input. Click menu item, check checkbox and drag width and height sliders to scale incoming video.
  • New feature: Raptors now support the use of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th gen USB audio I/O box as the analog audio I/O device.
  • New “Outs” / “Show black on all video outputs” menu item, immediately shows black on every output at once, in either input or output modes.
  • Video codec and audio format information now displayed under each video window in playback mode.
  • New feature: Raptors now have a built-in test signal generator, showing smoothly moving boxes and a flashing background color, which can be enabled instead of using the actual video inputs.
  • Streaming quality can now be changed anytime the Raptor is streaming, not just when it’s in Live. The control is now a slider, rather than radio buttons, and the bitrate (in Mbits/sec) is displayed just above the slider.
  • New feature: Every video channel can be adjusted with proc amp controls either at the video input, so the changes are recorded into the file, or at the output, so changes are only seen in the SDI out and video window.
  • (Software subscriptions, Quad 2 decks) New feature: New Dual Modes – “2 SDI on left, 2 SDI on right”, and “1 SDI on left, 3 SDI on right”.
  • New feature: New Dual Mode window sizes – dual mode windows can now be sized so the left window takes up 70% of the screen width, and the right one takes 30%, or the split can be 60/40, 40/60, 30/70, or the existing 50/50.
  • Dual mode can now be activated with a GUI monitor resolution of 1600×900 or greater.
  • New feature: Raptor file export can now export video and audio from the current in-point to the current out-point, rather than exporting the entire clip.
  • New “Ins” / “Enable processed SDI loopthrough video” menu item allows user to disable SDI loopthrough video from being processed in the Raptor64 application.
  • New feature – camera inputs can now be rotated 1/4 turn right or left, with or without zooming out to see the entire frame. Rotate upside-down is still available, too.
  • New feature – camera inputs can now be mirrored side-to-side, for shooting the reflection of a mirror.
  • New feature – variable Luminance key in VFX. A new slider lets you specify how white or gray or black the luma key is.
  • New feature – “Outs” / “Expand quadrant on output #1” (and 2, 3, and 4) lets user expand any quadrant (top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right) on any output in both input and output modes.
  • New feature – analog and embedded audio can be muted independently. There are separate checkboxes near audio level meters and separate items on “Outs” menu to set automatic muting.
  • New feature: Right-click a clip in the sourcelist shows the “Edit attributes menu”, which lets you rename or delete files, or change their properties, all without cueing them, or changing what the deck is currently doing. This works in Live, or while recording, playing or paused.
  • On-screen display can now show 4 separate framelines, each with it’s own size, position, and color.

Raptor64 is the next version of Raptor for software subscriptions, Quad 2 and Dual 2 decks (it does not run on blue-front Raptors).
As a 64-bit application, it’s able to take advantage of all the memory on the computer to do more simultaneous work, allowing us to add more features in the future.
Installing Raptor64 does not change or disable your existing Raptor (32-bit) installation.

Updates for older decks

The final updates for older decks can be found by clicking the links below, choosing the file you want, then clicking the “Download” button.

Wi-Fi equipment notes

Ubiquiti UniFi Wi-Fi 7 or 6 access points and UniFi UCG-Ultra

As of 2024, this is our favorite on-set Wi-Fi solution.

If your idea of the perfect Wi-Fi setup includes one or more access points mounted on stands positioned around the set, then you will like this Ubiquiti UniFi system. UniFi offers Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 access points, which are managed by the UniFi Cloud Gateway (UCG-Ultra), and powered by PoE (power over Ethernet) injectors.
This setup allows your access point(s) to be positioned right by the Director, Script Supervisor, or other clients who need your Wi-Fi. Since they’re powered by PoE in your cart, each access point requires only a single Ethernet cable back to your cart.
This UniFi network is managed by the UniFi app on your phone or tablet.
As with the Alien routers, multiple UniFi access points can be configured to work together in your Wi-Fi network, and they support a wired backhaul for maximum performance.

➡️ Click here to download our setup instructions for a Ubiquiti UniFi UCG-Ultra and UniFi Wi-Fi 7 or 6 access points.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien router

If you want Wi-Fi gear for Video Assist streaming that offers Wi-Fi 6, performs well, is easy to configure and use, and comes in a single piece, the Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien router might be a great choice. Unfortunately, it runs from AC power, and you can’t disable the Wi-Fi on the unit at your cart, if you only want Wi-Fi out at the director’s cart.
It powers on in about 60 seconds, and has an LCD front panel showing a progress bar as it’s starting.  It includes 4 gigabit Ethernet ports on it’s back for attaching wired Ethernet devices, like your Raptor and Videohub.  Its initial setup and on-set monitoring are done from an app on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone or Android tablet.
The Alien router is a good choice if you want an “all-in-one” device that will live on your cart, and you have room on top of your cart for something 10″ tall and about 4.5″ across that looks like a swollen Pringles can.  It’s internal antennas are built into the top of the router, so works best sitting somewhere up high.  It’s powered by 120V AC, has an internal power supply, and comes with a removable 2-pin AC power cord like a Mac Mini.
If you need to cover more space, multiple Alien routers can be used together in a single network.  It also supports a wired backhaul for maximum performance.

➡️Click here to download our setup instructions for an Alien router.

Ubiquiti UniFi Wi-Fi 6 access points, UniFi cloud key, and EdgeRouter-X router

This is still a good on-set Wi-Fi solution, but the EdgeRouter-X is a little difficult to deal with. If you’re setting up a new system, use the UCG in the first instructions above, rather than this solution.

If your idea of the perfect Wi-Fi 6 setup includes access points mounted on stands positioned around the set, then you might prefer UniFi Wi-Fi 6 access points managed by a UniFi cloud key, and powered by PoE (power over Ethernet) injectors.  This setup also requires an EdgeRouter-X router, and could require a gigabit Ethernet switch.
This setup requires more gear in your cart — the cloud key, PoE injectors, router, and switch will live in your cart — but the access points can be positioned right by the Director, Script Supervisor, or other people who need the Wi-Fi signal.  Since they’re powered by PoE in your cart, each access point requires only a single Ethernet cable back to your cart.
A UniFi network like this isn’t as easy to setup or manage as a network based on an Alien router.  You’d manage the Access Points through the Cloud Key from a mobile browser, and if you need to manage the EdgeRouter-X, that’s also done from a mobile browser.
As with the Alien routers, multiple UniFi access points can be configured to work together in a single network, and they support a wired backhaul for maximum performance.

➡️ Click here to download our setup instructions for a Ubiquiti UniFi Wi-Fi 6 access points, UniFi cloud key, and EdgeRouter-X router.

Ruckus R710 and EdgeRouter-X

NOTE: We no longer recommend the use of the Ruckus R710 AP, as it is no longer competitive with many other Wi-Fi access points. Before finding the Ubiquiti Wi-Fi 6 products, we liked the Ruckus R710 access point and EdgeRouter-X as a Wi-Fi (not Wi-Fi 6) solution for streaming.  We believe that either of the previous Wi-Fi 6 solutions are better than using the Ruckus R710.
Click here to download our setup instructions for the Ruckus R710 and EdgeRouter-X.

➡️Click here to download our setup instructions for the Ruckus R710 and EdgeRouter-X.

FAQ


• How do I control a Videohub with my Raptor?

With the Smart Videohub series (the ones with AC power and a LCD monitor on the front panel), Blackmagic changed the way they’re controlled.  These Smart Videohubs can only be controlled over a LAN connection — the USB connection is there only for firmware updates.

Hook your deck and Smart Videohub together with a gigabit router (our suggested method), or by just plugging a LAN cable between them (if you have nothing else to connect to a LAN), and give them both time to get up and running.

Look in the “Info” panel at the bottom left corner of the Raptor’s GUI, and note it’s IP address.

Using it’s front panel, assign the Smart Videohub an IP address where the first three octets (first three numbers with dots between them  — like 192.168.1, or 169.254.200) match the IP address of your deck.  Then just pick any number between 10 and 250 for the last octet that’s different from what your deck has (I’d suggest using something between 200 and 250).

The subnet mask should remain “255.255.255.0”, and the gateway IP address doesn’t matter.

After doing that, I would power cycle the entire cart a few times, to ensure the deck controls the Smart Videohub each time it comes up.


• Raptor networking and streaming

For streaming to work, a Raptor must be hooked up (via wired ethernet) to a WiFi Access Point or WiFi router.

A DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server assigns IP addresses to all the devices on a network. By using DHCP, you’re able to easily ensure that your TCP/IP addresses will not conflict, and that all of your devices will be able to talk to each other.

NOTE: there can be only one DHCP server on any network.

Raptors, iPads, and most other networking devices support DHCP.  However, Videohubs can’t get their IP address from a DHCP server, so they must have an IP address assigned manually to work on a network.  For video assist needs, the big difference between a router and a switch or hub is that a router has a DHCP server in it.  A Ruckus R710 access point can also be configured to enable it’s internal DHCP server.

If you need to hook two of your carts together making a single network for file sharing, you must ensure there’s only one DHCP server (router) on the entire network.  If each cart has it’s own gigabit router, you should replace one of the routers with a gigabit switch.


• External drive formats

If you need to use an external disk on both a Mac and a Raptor, all Quad and Dual decks come with MacDrive software so they can read and write (non-RAID) HFS+ disks. Older, single-channel decks would need to use exFAT (which isn’t as robust as HFS+).

Also, if a drive isn’t being recognized, try plugging it into both the blue USB3 ports and the non-blue USB2 ports, and be sure to use the drive’s power supply, if it came with one.

If a disk will only be used with Raptors or other Windows devices, NTFS is a great drive format.

NOTE: APFS (Apple File System) is currently not recognized by any operating system other than MacOS, so Raptors cannot read APFS disks.


• Raptors and external drives

When a Raptor looks for files to add to the sourcelist, it first looks on the internal disk (in the E:\RXVideo folder), then it looks in the RXVideo folder on any USB-attached hard drives.  If it finds clips only on an external drive, it shows the camera ID for that clip as a lowercase letter, indicating that it will be played from an external disk.

If you’ve used “File” / “Backup or restore deck” to back up all of your files to a USB hard drive, and then deleted the original files from the internal disk, the deck will find and play your backup files directly from the USB hard drive, with all of the bookmarks, ins and outs, and other metadata.

So, you could back up a few files (or all the files) from the internal disk, disconnect the USB hard drive (so the files on the USB drive can’t possibly be deleted), and click “File” / “Delete all clips from this deck” to clear everything off the internal disk, to give yourself lots of room.

Before you delete any files, however, you should triple-check that you see an asterisk (*) in the “B” column on all of your files in your sourcelist.  That “*” indicates that a file is backed up.

Plus, I’d do a test delete of a few files, just to make sure there are no problems playing the files from the USB hard drive.  And, it’s smart to back up all of the files to a second USB hard drive before deleting any originals from the deck.
Get backup disks large enough to hold everything you expect to need.  Drives are always getting bigger and cheaper, but right now, there are 8TB and 10TB USB hard drives for a few hundred dollars.

If you get a WD external hard drive that works with their “Drive utilities” software, you can install it onto another computer, and use “Drive Utilities” to set the drive to never go to sleep.  That’s very important!  If your external drive goes to sleep, there will be a delay of a few seconds every time you try to play anything from the drive.

This same mechanism lets you back up all of the files on one deck, then move the USB hard drive to another deck, and have instant access to all of those files.

Tech notes

Raptor Quad, Dual, 3D and HD+

Raptor HDx

Raptor X and Raptor 50