Monitor for between Blu-Ray and projector/IMB

[Carsten Kurz]

We use a simple HDMI switch between Player and projector and a 24p capable flat screen. Every standard TV flat screen nowadays will support 24p. The switch makes sure that the signal can only be either on the monitor OR on the projector. I prefer this over splitters, which may not prevent player menus to be shown on screen. I prepare everything on the preview monitor, then pause and switch over to the projector. Then continue with the dowser.
A standard TV type flat screen also has multiple inputs, so we use it as a preview screen for computer content, satellite dish live transmissions, etc.

One drawback of the switch course is, you can not follow the program showing on the monitor. But who cares, I just peek out the booth window.

If I absolutely need to have both signals, I do have a cheap splitter at hand of course, but that is rarely needed. One of my active HDMI extension sender devices also has a splitter function.

Depending ob the behaviour of your HDMI source(s), you may need to try out different devices. Some do the negotiation gracefully, some not.

There are also some Bluray players with twin HDMI outputs.


HDMI is a beast. It's certainly not a bad idea to have a Hdfury Vertex2 in the booth. Get a cheap TV flat and save the money towards a Vertex 2.

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Good gods, HDMI..How Dummies Make Interconnections....

In my installs for UC Irvine (and many home screening rooms on the Bel Aire Circuit) the ONLY semi-reliable interface between HDMI and a D cinema projector was (is? they may still make a compatible model) a Kramer Scaler/Switch (the exact model number escapes e at the moment, I just spent 12 hours in 100 deg heat watering a motocross track.)

And I say semi reliable as even with the Kramer handling the HDCP chat with the player, it still on rare occasions would blank out for a second or two.

Sadly, many "pro" dvd/BluRay players can't (won't, actually) strip the HDCP and region security. (Although certain Denons can be "hacked" after the fact to strip the region restrictions, but I have never found any to strip the HDCP handshake.)

I did warn all of my clients that the equipment will do its best to to deal with HDMI, but as it is a non professional protocol there is no 100% glitch free solution. Thankfully most satellite receivers and some high end VCRs and many gaming systems had Component Video outputs, which were rock solid and good enough for most clients. A simple inexpensive switcher and stand alone scaler (and in one case years ago, I found a Component to SDI converter that worked well) I could easily interface Alt content.

[Ryan Gallagher]

One drawback of the switch course is, you can not follow the program showing on the monitor. But who cares, I just peek out the booth window.

Another drawback would be those pesky blu-rays that bounce to a screensaver after like 5 minutes. Having a live monitor in the booth is a great way to protect against that while you are sitting there with the dowser closed or on a pre-show alt input and no way to see what the player is doing.

[Marco Giustini]

We use a simple HDMI switch between Player and projector and a 24p capable flat screen. Every standard TV flat screen nowadays will support 24p. The switch makes sure that the signal can only be either on the monitor OR on the projector. I prefer this over splitters, which may not prevent player menus to be shown on screen. I prepare everything on the preview monitor, then pause and switch over to the projector. Then continue with the dowser.

If this works for you, Carsten, then happy days. But it's not something I would recommend to anybody. I guess it depends on how good the switch is. If it's a basic switch with no EDID management, the display/source will have to handshake the signal every time - it's not something I'd love to do ahead of a show!
If it has EDID management, then the SWITCH is doing the handshake and then just passing the resulting signal to the display - and we are going back to the idea of having a proper matrix with EDID management, the switch would just be a simpler version of it.

What I am trying to say is that HDMI is not like VGA or Sound that you can split and it'll just work. It's a beast as you say and was never designed to be split or shared So a cheap switch will likely cause more damage than not. When I used to install projectors we went for all sort of "cheap alternatives" to manage HDMI and none worked reliably. Things have improved a lot over time of course.

*If I remember right you work with Sony projectors, Carsten, and if I also remember right, Sony projectors were "happier" when it came with HDMI? Probably because of the vast experience Sony have in the consumer marker with the protocol?

[Barry Floyd]

We have a "Digi-Scal 11X2" scaler / switcher in our rack on Screen 1that has two mirrored HDMI outputs. I have one of the HDMI outs going directly to the GDC SR-1000, and the other going to a wall mounted booth monitor on the wall. I specifically use the monitor to "cue up" Blu Ray content when we do (but rarely) play it, and also monitor any alternative content feeding into the projector. We shoot a lot of music videos here, and the production crew usually has some type of video feed they want projected on screen when they're out in the lot with the bands. Our wall monitors are just big computer monitors with HDMI inputs.

I have a Kramer VP-729 scaler / switcher in the rack on Screen 2. Does the same thing. We rarely ever use it.

[Carsten Kurz]

We use an AP20. Never had issues with negotiation, not in 12 years. Of course we also have a range of splitters, repeaters and an active matrix in the booth. So far, I like the switch better because it makes sure that when I see something on the preview monitor, it can never be on the auditorium screen.