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HyperDeck Integration Breaks After Firmware Update — Protocol Must Be v1.8

CONFIRMED BOTH

Summary

Flair's HyperDeck integration only works with HyperDeck Protocol v1.8, which ships with HyperDeck firmware versions 5.2 or 5.3. Newer HyperDeck firmware uses a newer protocol version that is incompatible with Flair. If you update the HyperDeck firmware, Flair loses the ability to communicate with it. Fix: downgrade the HyperDeck firmware to version 5.2 or 5.3 via the BMD setup utility.

Symptoms

  • HyperDeck was previously working with Flair but stops working after a firmware update
  • Flair cannot control HyperDeck playback or record from the run menu
  • Browse of move does not trigger HyperDeck playback
  • Network connectivity to HyperDeck is fine but Flair commands are not obeyed

Systems Affected

BOTH
  • Flair Classic and Flair 7
  • Blackmagic HyperDeck (Mini, Shuttle, Studio — any model that supports network control)
  • HyperDeck Shuttle and HyperDeck Mini confirmed; other networked HyperDeck models should behave similarly

Required Firmware / Protocol Version

Component Required
HyperDeck Protocol v1.8
HyperDeck firmware 5.2 or 5.3
Newer firmware Not compatible with Flair

"The important version is the Hyperdeck Protocol, which is v1.8. Newer versions don't seem to play nicely with Flair. 1.8 comes with either Hyperdeck version 5.2 or 5.3; I can't remember. It's easy enough to do, so you might have to experiment a bit." — Dan Gottesman, 2023-03-01

Fix — Downgrade HyperDeck Firmware

  1. Download HyperDeck firmware version 5.2 or 5.3 from the Blackmagic Design Support Center.
  2. Open the Blackmagic HyperDeck Setup utility.
  3. Connect the HyperDeck via USB.
  4. The setup app will detect the connected device and indicate its current version.
  5. Select the older firmware file and apply the update (downgrade).
  6. After the update, confirm the protocol version is v1.8.
  7. Re-test HyperDeck control from Flair.

HyperDeck VTR Workflow in Flair

Once firmware is correct, the full workflow for multi-pass registration checking:

Initial setup

  • The HyperDeck must be on the root network (the InTime/Flair network), not the standard Windows network.
  • The ATEM or video mixer (if used) goes on the Windows network.
  • Two ethernet cables from the Flair workstation: one to the root network switch (for HyperDeck), one to a second network connection (for ATEM).

Recording a pass

  1. Set up the HyperDeck trigger to Record in Flair's HyperDeck control dialog.
  2. Run the move — Flair triggers the HyperDeck to record on the first frame.
  3. The HyperDeck records the live camera feed during the move.

Setting up playback for comparison

  1. After recording, use the "go to beginning of clip" arrows in Flair's HyperDeck dialog to cue the clip to its first frame.
  2. Press "Set In" — this captures the timecode stamp from the start of the clip into Flair.
  3. The timecode is now visible in the HyperDeck control dialog.
  4. Change the HyperDeck trigger to Play.

Browsing / comparing passes

  1. Put the robot in Browse mode.
  2. Browse the move — Flair drives the HyperDeck at the same speed as the browse, playing back the recorded clip in sync.
  3. On the video mixer / ATEM, switch or fade between the live camera feed and the HyperDeck playback to compare registration between passes.
  4. Adjust the timecode offset by a frame or two if sync is slightly off.

"After you've got your clip recorded, you cue it up to the beginning of the clip by using the 'go to beginning of clip' arrow buttons, and then you hit the 'set in' button, which should grab the timecode stamp from where the HyperDeck is presently (the beginning of the clip). The timecode will then be visible in the HyperDeck control dialog, and THEN browsing and/or playback when running the move will work. You might need to scoot the offset around by a frame or two to get things synced up perfectly." — Dan Gottesman, 2023-04-21

Flair 7 Beta 79 timecode display bug

In Flair 7 Beta 79, there is a known bug where the timecode does not appear in the interface after clicking Set In, preventing browse sync from working. This was reported to MRMC. Check if a newer build resolves this. The workflow works correctly in Flair Classic.

Kit Notes (from the community)

Operators building HyperDeck VTR kits have found:

  • PoE switch can power all components (HyperDeck, ATEM, DA, monitor) from a single IEC cable using PoE splitters — eliminates the need for multiple PSUs.
  • ATEM SDI or Osee GoStream Duet can be used as a video mixer for live/playback comparison.
  • Osee GoStream Duet: has an integrated T-bar (preferable to ATEM for cross-fade control), SDI and HDMI inputs, can handle NDI — but only HDMI outputs. May be fussy about mixing frame rates.
  • ATEM SDI: SDI in and out, but cross-fade requires external software or hardware controller.
  • QTake is an alternative to the entire HyperDeck setup and now communicates directly with Flair — more capable but significantly more expensive.
  • Skaarhoj hardware panels can control both the ATEM and (in development) Flair's API from one unit.
  • Videologix Proteus Essential can insert frame count as a visual overlay on the video signal for comparison.

Source: talk.mrmoco.com — Hyperdeck / VTR kit — Posts by Dan Gottesman, Simon Wakley, jmahood, timTRG, 2023-03-01 through 2024-06-06

Key posts: - Dan Gottesman (2023-03-01): Full kit build description and networking setup - Dan Gottesman (2023-03-01): Protocol v1.8 / firmware 5.2 or 5.3 requirement - Dan Gottesman (2023-04-21): Set In workflow for browse sync - jmahood (2023-04-24): Flair 7 Beta 79 timecode display bug

Revision History

Date Change Editor
2026-05-29 Initial extraction from forum topic 1222 Tom D / Claude Code