DaVinci Resolve Blank Target Display — Troubleshooting

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Summary

This article covers troubleshooting steps for a blank target display in a Dolby Vision monitoring setup. It addresses signal configuration, dual monitor setup considerations, and eCMU-specific checks.

Who this is for: Colorists, post-production engineers, and technical operators using Dolby Vision monitoring setups with a color corrector and an external reference display.

Symptom

The target display shows a blank or black image during a Dolby Vision session.

Checks and Resolution

1. Check the signaling

Verify that the monitor input settings match the output settings of the color corrector's video output signal. Confirm the following parameters are aligned on both ends:

• Signal format
• Signal range
• Color space
• EOTF
• Resolution
• SDI infrastructure: single, dual, or quad link

2. Dual monitor setup (HDR and SDR) using an iCMU

Note: Dolby doesn't recommend a dual monitor setup for color grading. This configuration is more suitable for demo and educational purposes.

If you're using a dual monitor setup for simultaneous HDR and SDR monitoring, ensure that the Dual SDI output function is enabled in the DaVinci Resolve project settings.

Note: Some Blackmagic video I/O devices don't support "Dual SDI output" when using RGB 4:4:4 and 12-bit. This option also requires twice the output resolution. For further information, please visit the Blackmagic Support Center.

3. Using an eCMU

Important: The Dolby eCMU was discontinued in early 2024, and no further updates will be provided for this product.

If you're using an eCMU for tone mapping, check the following:

Check the status of your CMU:

• Is the CMU in black-out mode? If yes, switch it to normal mode.
• Is the CMU in HDMI tunneling mode? If yes, switch it to SDI mode.

Summary

If your target display is blank, work through the checks in order: verify that all signal parameters are aligned between the color corrector output and the monitor input (including color space and EOTF), confirm that Dual SDI output is enabled if you're using a dual monitor setup, and check the CMU operating mode if you're using an eCMU. Keep in mind that dual monitor setups aren't recommended for color grading and are better suited to demo or educational use.

If you have any questions about blank target display troubleshooting, feel free to post them in our Dolby Vision Forum or share your findings with the Dolby Creators Community on Discord.