Which Converter Do You Need? [EVERY Blackmagic Model, Explained]

0:00 - Intro
1:51 - Micro Converters 3G
3:50 - HDMI Mini Converters
6:01 - Analog Mini Converters
7:04 - Audio Mini Converters
9:22 - Optical Mini Converters
11:28 - SDI Mini Converters
14:14 - Teranex Mini 12G Converters

*For a detailed list of converters, and how to know which one you need, check out the new "Converters" page in the Gear Guide listed below!

Church Video School Courses and Resources:

*may contain affiliate links. You get the same deal, we get to keep doing this for free!

SyncID: MB01YDYUGXDIMQQ

[watch-me-fail]

You don't know how helpful this video is to me who is learning this stuff...LIKED!

[TerenceKearns]

This is fantastic. even a year later this video provides a great platform to get church volunteers up to speed. Im gonna set up a wiki for my church at some point and this video is going straight into the AV section. Thanks for all your work.

[thriftygamer]

You have gained a new follower my usage for video and technologies capture is built on retro gaming. From my era of big hair and bigger heels the 1980’s to the era of about 2005.

[norbertcsonka]

Amazing video! I’d have a question.. What about if I have a 1080p output with video and audio. Is it possible to use the Mini Converter HDMI to SDI, get the 2.0 sound from the jacks and video from the SDI output? Or maybe another solution is to use the Micro converter HDMI to SDI 3G and get the sound from the 2nd SDI output and de-embed into a Mini Converter SDI to Audio? Are one of these feasible?

[uduogah]

Thank you. Awesome video and very informative!

[PlymouthSorrentoSDA]

I have a BMD Bi-Directional SDI/HDMI 3G converter.
1) This works fine when I connect a video source to SDI IN and HDMI OUT to Monitor #1.
2) It also works if I connect a laptop to HDMI IN and SDI OUT to Monitor #2 with BMD Micro Converter SDI to HDMI.
This also works if I have the above plus HDMI OUT to Monitor #1.
It also works if I replace this second monitor with a different monitor. This will be important in a bit.

3) The problem occurs when I connect the video source to SDI IN and SDI OUT to Monitor #2 and HDMI OUT to Monitor #1.
What I see is that both monitors flash on and off. The same thing occurs if I replace Monitor #2 with another monitor. If I disconnect Monitor #2, the other Monitor (#1) works just fine. If I have Monitor #2 connected and disconnect Monitor #1, the problem is still there.

I bought a second BMD Bi-Directional SDI/HDMI 3G converter and it did the same thing.
Monitor #2 is not the problem as I tried a different monitor in step 2) with good results, and the problem repeated itself in 3).
I also tried a two other SDI to HDMI converters (BMD and cheap Chinese model) at Monitor #2 with the same results.

To summarize: If I connect a video source to SDI IN and SDI OUT goes to Monitor #2, I get both Monitors flashing. If I disconnect Monitor #2 from the SDI connection, Monitor #1 works just fine.

Any ideas what is wrong or something else I need to try?

[seanpaulmoss]

Awesome, Thankyou. This really helps. 👍🏼

[JStevensdk]

Awesome video, best I have ever seen on this topic thank you so much. One of these decades I pray and hope that BMD will create a 1U or 2U multiport conversion and embed/de-embed converter. This would have say 12 SDI, 12 HDMI, 6 or more TRS and then just like a smart video hub, allow you to convert from any port to any port, and embed and de-embed to any port preferably with MADI and Dante support backed right in. Right now to accomplish all of this required multiple stand alone converters and in setting up racks or rolling cases, really is inefficient and kind of annoying with all of the power cables required to power them all.

[johnabney]

Thank you for the info. The Teranex Video looks very cool, maybe someday. In the meantime, we are thinking of getting four Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G @$65 each. Any ideas about building one or two AC to DC power supplies to avoid the mess of cables and mounting devices? Like a 19" single or double rack with only a single 120v AC input.

[faithhouse]

Thanks. So this is how I can plug a Komodo in and the hdmi out will go to my Mac / E camm.

[VickersDoorter]

Any idea which Jesus prefers, 12G SDI or HDMI? I'd hate to use the wrong one and our congregation is screwed when it comes to eternal salvation, particularly if they're buying it via weekly credit card donations.

[derechoalacita]

Hi, thanks for your video. Is there any difference in image quality between the "mini converter updowncross hd" and teranex mini sdi to hdmi for SD to HD conversion? I have read that the mini converter uses Teranex logarithms... but is it ultimately the same as Teranex mini? Can the teranex mini sdi to hdmi deinterlace an SD to HD?

[ReganMcCullough]

Do the Teranex mini's (or micro converters) work with HDCP? I.e. Can you connect a non-camera source like an Apple TV or Nvidia Shield to the models that have an HDMI Input?

[billzidis]

That's an amazing video. My question is which HDMI to SDI will allow my Ursa Oled viewfinder to be used on my P6K Pro? Any idea?

[elchristianpodcast]

Hi, I have the Atem 1 m/e production 4k and I'm ingesting my cameras well with SdI at 2160p 30fps so SDI 6G, but when I try to connect my macbook laptop the image won't appear, I have tried using the Hdmi to SDI 4k converter, but somehow nothing shows. Any advice, thanks so much! Blessings!

[stevejackson]

Hey Spencer I appreciate the information about converters, great job. We are using an old (but good) JVC HD 200 camera. We need to convert the component output to HDMI to use with our livestream, any recommendations? Thank you

[kvnsgl]

If i want to use Camera Control of multiple BMD Cameras, is it possible to have 1 output from the switcher and distribute it with the SDI Distributor to multiple cameras? Or do i need multiple Outputs directly from the switcher?

[KaveloyNoDrama]

Thanks for the tutorial! I have a question? If the SDI input already has 2 channels of audio embedded and I want to use the Audio to Sdi 4K Mini converter to embed 8 different audio inputs, is it possible? And how will be the setup?

[Reedith]

Great video no tarynx bidirectional that's interesting

[afolabioluwafemi]

I have a question. If I live stream in 720p and I have a 4k camera. Which one do u recommend