Rancho Production

Audio + video
quick start.

Follow these steps in order. Start with the TVs and video switcher, then set up computer audio or microphones.

Start here

Five checks before your event

01

Turn on both TVs

Use each TV remote and set both TVs to HDMI 1.

02

Connect your computer

Connect the computer or Blackmagic video output to an available INPUT on the small HDMI switcher. Keep the yellow-taped HDMI cable in OUTPUT. Its other end stays in the converter's HDMI IN.

03

Select that input

Press the matching input button on the HDMI switcher. The active input light should match the port you used.

04

Bring up the master

The audio console's main master fader must be up before anything can reach the speakers. Start at a low listening level.

05

Turn on both main speakers

Check the power switch on the back of each main speaker. Both must be ON. Look for the blue light at the bottom of each speaker's front.

The golden rule: If nothing is working, turn it off and turn it back on. Fully quit and reopen the software first. If that does not fix it, restart your computer.

Video setup

Get your computer on both TVs

Both TVs receive the same program feed. The HDMI switcher decides which connected device appears on them.

1 Computer Direct HDMI or Blackmagic video output
2 HDMI switcher Source in INPUT. Yellow cable in OUTPUT.
3 Converter Yellow cable connects to Blackmagic HDMI IN
4 Both TVs HDMI 1
01

TV + switcher

Choose the physical input first

  1. Set both TVs to HDMI 1.
  2. Connect the computer's video output to HDMI input 1, 2, or 3 on the small switcher.
  3. Find the HDMI cable with yellow tape on both ends. One end must connect to the switcher's OUTPUT. The other end must connect to HDMI IN on the Blackmagic converter. Do not plug this cable into a switcher input.
  4. Press the switcher's button for the input used by your computer.
  5. Wait a few seconds for the TVs to lock onto the signal.
02

Any computer

Confirm the computer sees the output

  1. Open your computer's display settings.
  2. Confirm the external video output is detected.
  3. Use mirrored output for simple playback. Use extended output when your presentation software needs a separate audience screen.
  4. Play a test video before guests enter.

Using ProPresenter 7?

Route video and audio to Blackmagic

ProPresenter 7
A

Video output

Select Blackmagic for the Audience screen

  1. Open Screens > Configure Screens.
  2. Select the Audience screen. Create one with the plus button if none exists.
  3. Open the Hardware tab.
  4. Under Output, select the device listed under Blackmagic.
  5. Select the configured format for the venue. Do not guess a new resolution or frame rate if the existing choice already works.
  6. Make sure the Audience output is turned on in the Screens menu.
ProPresenter Screen Configuration showing a Blackmagic device selected for an Audience screen
Your Blackmagic model name may differ. Choose the venue's existing Blackmagic output.
B

Audio output

Set Main audio to Blackmagic

Required setting Main Device: Blackmagic

  1. Open ProPresenter > Settings on Mac, or Edit > Preferences on Windows.
  2. Select the Audio tab.
  3. Under Main, open the Device menu and select Blackmagic.
  4. Set Inspector to Listen on Main.
  5. Open Routing and send ProPresenter channel 1 to output 1, and channel 2 to output 2.
  6. Keep the Main level at 0 dB and the delay at 0 ms unless Production has set something different.
  7. Play a video with sound and confirm the last channel on the audio console receives signal.
ProPresenter Audio settings with SDI and NDI audio enabled
This is an example Audio settings screen. Where the example shows EVO8, choose Blackmagic for this venue.

Quick distinction: ProPresenter video is assigned under Screens > Configure Screens. ProPresenter Main audio is assigned to Blackmagic under Settings or Preferences > Audio. If either output stops working, fully quit ProPresenter and reopen it before changing more settings.

Audio setup

Computer sound and microphones

Computer audio and microphones enter the console in different places. Both still need a working channel, the main master fader, and both main speakers switched on.

Check speaker power first: Turn ON the power switch on the back of both main speakers. Each speaker has a blue indicator at the bottom of its front. Blue light ON = speaker ON. Blue light OFF = speaker OFF. If a mic only comes through the sub, check these switches before raising any levels.

01

Computer audio

Use the last console channel

HDMI switcher AUX Stereo 1/4-inch cable Last console channel
  1. Leave the AUX end connected to the HDMI switcher.
  2. Connect the stereo 1/4-inch end to the last channel on the audio console.
  3. Select the correct HDMI switcher input.
  4. Start a test video with sound.
  5. Unmute or turn on the last channel, then bring its level up slowly.
  6. Confirm the main master fader is up.
02

Microphones

The stage snake is one-to-one

Snake input 4 = Console channel 4
  1. Connect the microphone's XLR cable to any open input on the stage snake.
  2. Find the channel with the same number on the audio console.
  3. Use that matching channel to set gain and volume.
  4. Repeat with a different snake number for each additional microphone.

Analog console basics

How to get signal through a channel

Work from the top of the channel strip down. Make one change at a time.

  1. 01

    Connect and power the source

    Plug in the mic or playback cable. Turn on the microphone or wireless receiver. Confirm fresh batteries when using a wireless mic.

  2. 02

    Start with safe positions

    Set EQ knobs to the center. Set PAN to center. Pull the channel fader down before raising gain. Leave AUX and FX controls down unless you need them.

  3. 03

    Unmute and assign the channel

    Turn the channel ON or make sure MUTE is off. If the console has an L/R or MAIN assignment button, press it.

  4. 04

    Set gain while someone speaks

    Have the person speak at event volume. Use PFL or SOLO if available. Raise GAIN or TRIM until the meter stays green and reaches yellow on louder moments. Keep it out of red or CLIP.

  5. 05

    Set the master near unity

    Raise the MAIN, MASTER, or L/R fader to the 0 mark. No channel will reach the speakers if the master stays down.

  6. 06

    Raise the channel slowly

    Bring the channel fader toward the 0 mark until the room reaches a comfortable level. Use the channel fader for normal volume changes.

Hearing feedback? Pull down the problem channel first. Keep microphones behind the main speakers and point the microphone away from them.

Does this microphone need phantom power?

Most handheld dynamic microphones and wireless mic receivers do not need phantom power. Some condenser microphones do. Only turn on +48V when you know the microphone requires it. Pull channel and master levels down before changing phantom power.

Quick fixes

Check the simple stuff first

TV / video

Computer connected, but no picture?

  1. Find the HDMI cable with yellow tape on both ends.
  2. Plug its switcher end into the port labeled OUTPUT, not INPUT 1, 2, or 3.
  3. Keep its other end plugged into HDMI IN on the Blackmagic converter.
  4. Your computer connects to a switcher INPUT. Select that input and set both TVs to HDMI 1.

Previously fixed: The yellow-taped cable was plugged into a switcher input. Moving it to OUTPUT restored video.

Microphones / audio

Mic only coming through the sub?

  1. Keep the channel and master at a low listening level before switching the speakers on.
  2. Check the power switch on the back of each main speaker.
  3. Switch both main speakers ON.
  4. Check the blue light at the bottom of each speaker's front.
  5. Test the mic and confirm sound comes from both main speakers. Raise the level slowly if needed.

Blue light ON = speaker ON

Blue light OFF = speaker OFF

Previously fixed: Both main speakers' rear power switches were OFF. Turning them ON restored sound through the mains.

Nothing is working
  1. Quit the software completely, then reopen it.
  2. If it still does not work, restart the computer.
  3. Turn the affected device off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
  4. Recheck HDMI 1, the selected switcher input, the yellow-taped HDMI cable in switcher OUTPUT, both main speakers' power switches and blue lights, channel mute buttons, and the main master fader.
  5. Contact Production only after you have completed these checks.
The TVs say "No Signal"
  • Confirm the yellow-taped HDMI cable runs from the switcher's OUTPUT to the converter's HDMI IN. It must not be in a switcher input.
  • Confirm both TVs are on HDMI 1.
  • Confirm the HDMI switcher is on the same input number as your computer's cable.
  • Confirm the computer detects an external display or Blackmagic output.
  • Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends.
ProPresenter preview works, but the TVs are blank
  • Open Screens > Configure Screens.
  • Confirm the Audience screen uses the Blackmagic output.
  • Confirm the Audience output is turned on.
  • Check HDMI 1 and the switcher input again.
  • Check that the yellow-taped cable is in switcher OUTPUT.
  • Fully quit and reopen ProPresenter. Restart the computer if the output is still blank.
The video works, but computer audio does not
  • In ProPresenter Audio settings, confirm the Main device is set to Blackmagic and verify routing to outputs 1 and 2.
  • Confirm the switcher's AUX cable is connected to the last console channel.
  • Unmute the last channel and raise its fader.
  • Raise the console's main master fader.
  • Confirm both main speakers are ON and their front blue lights are lit.
  • Fully quit and reopen ProPresenter. Restart the computer if audio is still missing.
A microphone has no sound
  • Confirm both main speakers are ON at their rear power switches. Check for the blue light at the front bottom of each speaker.
  • Confirm the mic or wireless receiver is on.
  • Match the snake number to the same console channel number.
  • Unmute and assign that channel to MAIN or L/R.
  • Set gain, raise the channel fader, then confirm the master is up.

Production support

Troubleshoot first. Then contact Production.

Please complete the steps below before calling or texting. Start with software restarts, cable connections, input selection, and speaker power.

Before you contact us

  1. Fully quit and reopen the software.
  2. Restart the computer if the problem remains.
  3. Check HDMI 1, the selected switcher input, and the yellow-taped cable in switcher OUTPUT.
  4. Check both main speakers' rear power switches and front blue lights, the correct audio channel, and the main master fader.
  5. Test again after each change.

If the system still does not work after these checks, call or text Production. Tell us which room you are in, what you connected, what you already tried, and what is not working.

Important before you call

If the AI assistant answers, answer every single question it asks.

If a Production team member cannot answer, the AI assistant will answer the call. Do not skip questions or end the call before the assistant finishes. Your answers give Production the information needed to understand the problem, see what you already tried, and help you faster when a team member becomes available.

Call (951) 319-4273 Text Production Email Production

Support may not be immediately available outside Rancho business hours.

ProPresenter screenshots and setup references are provided by Renewed Vision.