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Author Topic: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter  (Read 6617 times)

Ray Aberle

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #10 on: August 17, 2018, 02:35:07 PM »

Thanks all for the great input thus far!  I am definitely more of a buy once, cry once type guy, though I take value into large consideration.  So it sounds like with that in mind, the Decimator MD-LX may be the way to go.

With that said, I was looking at a BMD that could take 1 HDMI input and output it to up to 2 SDI outputs: BMD Micro Converter HDMI to SDI (longb&hlink)

This is so that I can take 1 HDMI output from a computer, and use the 2 SDI outputs to run to the screen on each side from the same box.   It didn't seem like the MD-LX could do that?  Is there another affordable Decimator product that could do this, or is there another good way to do this affordably but also reliably?
You are right in that the Micro Converter will output to two SDI things at once... but to be candid, be redundant. Get an SDI D/A (BMD has a 1x8 that's pretty affordable) to keep on hand as well. Otherwise, what happens when one output fails...

-Ray "raging levels of paranoia" Aberle
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Taylor Hall

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2018, 04:56:17 PM »

We use the Decimator MD-HX. Rock solid performance and the ability to manage them via USB is nice too. Sure it's more expensive than the BM micro or the MD-LX, but it's damn near a swiss army knife as far as converting and scaling is concerned.

You can convert HDMI and SDI in any combo you like, and will also split the output up to 4 ways. They handle audio as well, though you start to get limited slightly in routing.
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brian maddox

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2018, 04:57:19 PM »

Everyone else's comments are well considered, so i won't add much other than that i've used the BMD stuff a LOT and overall the reliability has been pretty good.  The Decimator line is better though, in most ways for most of their products.

I've also had reasonable success with the ultra cheap off brand SDI-HDMI converters that you can find on amazon and elsewhere.  They can often be had for 20-30 bucks.  Good for using consumer monitors at the end of a SDI run. 

Remember to pay attention to how many "G's" the converter will handle.  Some can do up to 4K and will handle nearly anything you throw at them.  Other's top out at 720p.  Just an inconvenient gotcha to look out for.
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brian maddox
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Joris Jans2

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #13 on: August 18, 2018, 05:17:30 AM »

Thanks all for the great input thus far!  I am definitely more of a buy once, cry once type guy, though I take value into large consideration.  So it sounds like with that in mind, the Decimator MD-LX may be the way to go.

With that said, I was looking at a BMD that could take 1 HDMI input and output it to up to 2 SDI outputs: BMD Micro Converter HDMI to SDI (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1247783-REG/blackmagic_design_convcmic_hs_micro_converter_hdmi_to.html?sts=pi)

This is so that I can take 1 HDMI output from a computer, and use the 2 SDI outputs to run to the screen on each side from the same box.   It didn't seem like the MD-LX could do that?  Is there another affordable Decimator product that could do this, or is there another good way to do this affordably but also reliably?
use a couple of these in some media server applications & they have been flawless for me. heard some issues with the mini-converter (previous, bigger generation with audio) but the micro converter is perfect for what i do (touring theater show)
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Erik Jerde

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #14 on: August 18, 2018, 09:02:38 AM »

Thanks all for the great input thus far!  I am definitely more of a buy once, cry once type guy, though I take value into large consideration.  So it sounds like with that in mind, the Decimator MD-LX may be the way to go.

With that said, I was looking at a BMD that could take 1 HDMI input and output it to up to 2 SDI outputs: BMD Micro Converter HDMI to SDI (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1247783-REG/blackmagic_design_convcmic_hs_micro_converter_hdmi_to.html?sts=pi)

This is so that I can take 1 HDMI output from a computer, and use the 2 SDI outputs to run to the screen on each side from the same box.   It didn't seem like the MD-LX could do that?  Is there another affordable Decimator product that could do this, or is there another good way to do this affordably but also reliably?

Decimator MD-HX.  It’s got HDMI in/out, sdi in and 4x sdi out grouped in pairs.  It also has an up/down/cross converter built in.

If you’re doing 1080p or higher you get into a more complicated realm of SDI where there’s type A and type B.  Decimator does both.  BMD just does type B.  It’s not a big deal if you stick with everything from the same company but that’s hard to count on.
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brian maddox

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #15 on: August 18, 2018, 12:40:56 PM »

...
If you’re doing 1080p or higher you get into a more complicated realm of SDI where there’s type A and type B.  Decimator does both.  BMD just does type B.  It’s not a big deal if you stick with everything from the same company but that’s hard to count on.

This^^

The A and B thing can get pretty infuriating when you're mixing and matching various manufacturer's products, so that's another interesting gotcha.
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"It feels wrong to be in the audience.  And it's too peopley!" - Steve Smith

brian maddox
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'...do not trifle with the affairs of dragons...

       ....for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup...'

Joris Jans2

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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2018, 04:41:16 PM »

Decimator MD-HX.  It’s got HDMI in/out, sdi in and 4x sdi out grouped in pairs.  It also has an up/down/cross converter built in.

If you’re doing 1080p or higher you get into a more complicated realm of SDI where there’s type A and type B.  Decimator does both.  BMD just does type B.  It’s not a big deal if you stick with everything from the same company but that’s hard to count on.
BMD micro converter does A & B, but only switchable with PC software...
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Re: Good Value HDMI to SDI (And SDI to HDMI) Video Converter
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2018, 04:41:16 PM »


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