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Author Topic: HDMI(DVI)->SDI converter Ben Edwards Film Handler Posts: 17 From: BRISTOL, CITY OF BRISTOL,ENGLAND Registered: Apr 2014 posted 01-25-2016 12:38 PM                        Hi. As this is to connect to a Cinema Projector posting here, sorry if I should be posting to the Afterlife forum. Looking for a gadget to convert a output from a laptop/PC (HDMI or DVI) to SDI. Ideally that embeds audio so it can be deembeded at the other end (we have a box to do this). We are a volunteer run non-profitcinema so be good to keep the price down but realise this is pro kit. Ben  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-25-2016 02:10 PM                     Blackmagic has a dandy one. I'm sure they have a UK distributor. I'm up to my knees with their various boxes, it's all solid stuff.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-25-2016 04:43 PM                     One issue might be HDCP  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-25-2016 07:04 PM                     Gordon is correct...HDMI to SDI can be tricky if the content has the HDCP flag set. Given the choice of AJA or Black Magic on the same sort of box, I'll go AJA every time, they seem to work more reliably. Black Magic often takes shortcuts to get their stuff cheaper and it can bite you...like on their AES de-embedder, it will change the clock rate and you lose Dolby-E capability. So for a non-HDCP to SDI, AJA has their HA5-Plus: https://www.aja.com/en/products/mini-converters/ha5-plus LYNK Yellowbrk stuff also is known to work well http://www.lynx-technik.com/en/products/yellobrik-products/LynxController/Product/LynxAction/show/LynxProduct/35/LynxCategory/1/  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-26-2016 11:34 AM                    Why do you want SDI? What kind of DC projector?  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 01-26-2016 09:05 PM                     I keep a Roland VC-1-DL in my 'bag of tricks'. They're a little pricy at almost $750-800, but they are rugged (since I often lug it around to different venues) and IMO worth every penny. Also, they are bi-directional, broadcast grade, and can do frame synchronizing and a few other signal processing functions, which is probably a bit more than what you are looking for. The next model down is the VC-1-HS, which does HDMI to SDI only, with either embedded or separate audio. ("RCA" type Aux inputs) They're only about $500 list price, but you might be able to find them for less if you shop around. quote: Gordon McLeod One issue might be HDCP I discovered a couple of years ago while setting up multiple monitors at a major convention, that some HDMI "splitters" will pass the signal to non HDCP compliant devices as long as there is at least ONE compliant device connected to one of the output ports. Not ALL HDMI splitters will do this, apparently some do. So you could feed your HDCP enabled signal into one of these splitters, then take one of the outputs and run it into an HDMI-->SDI converter as long as you had an HDMI compliant monitor connected to one of the other outputs. Just for fun, I recently bought a semi-professional HDMI 4X4 matrix switcher ($400) and while I haven't used it on a job yet, I discovered while testing and 'playing around' with it that it works the same way. (Will route input signal to "anything" as long as there an HDCP compliant device connected to at least one of the outputs.)  |  IP: Logged Magnus Eriksson Expert Film Handler Posts: 121 From: Stockholm, Hägersten, Sweden Registered: Jan 2011 posted 01-27-2016 05:04 AM                     quote: Jim Cassedy Will route input signal to "anything" as long as there an HDCP compliant device connected to at least one of the outputs Call the HDCP police  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-27-2016 05:34 AM                     The original poster asked about taking the HDMI output of a PC to SDI. I have NEVER seen HDCP be an issue out of a PC.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-27-2016 06:46 AM                     It all depends on what the material it is playing. Note, if the "PC" is an Apple product, they default to HDCP on, even if non-flagged content is playing. However, via EDID, it can be "told" to deactivate HDCP for non-flagged content. It is a common A/V issue.  |  IP: Logged Andrew Tiberia Film Handler Posts: 1 From: York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Registered: Jan 2016 posted 02-06-2016 07:58 AM                     HDCP will still be an issue with PCs, I've tried and any legitimate BD software will have HDCP and will not allow playback.  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-06-2016 08:44 AM                     From his post in another thread, I gather that the original poster is asking about running self and locally-created content on a PC. In this case HDCP should not be an issue.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-06-2016 01:23 PM                        Get this (not one that looks just like it) and your HDCP worries will be a thing of the past. At least mine strips HDCP.  |  IP: Logged

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