Macbook Pro HDMI to SDI problems

[Braden Bergman]

WE have used the BM dvi to sdi, sdi to hdmi and hdmi to sdi converters for a while now. we own several different switchers for High res systems and HDSDI broadcast. These BM converters have been reliable with Macs and PCs both with every switcher system we own and routers with the exception of Panasonic 410’s and 400’s. with my mac hooked up HDMI to the BM converter i am set to 1080i@60 i am coming out sdi to a HD and going to a ForA, a Panasonic 410, a Analog way pulse, a Screenpro 2 a Encore, Pandora input card, a Barco sdi router and a BM sdi router and coming out sdi from a router to BM sdi to hdmi into monitors. all systems set to 1080I@59 and all see the computer and are able to lock except the Panasonic. this sounds like a issue Panasonic should be able to fix with a software upgrade.

[Sarah Reinold, cts-d]

I would think its because of HDCP…..Mac’s typically output HDCP unless told not to, and HDCP can’t be passed through SDI. There for the computer is like, nope, im not outputting video because the switcher i am going to is not HDCP compliant.

[Chris Sorenson]

Hello Sara and Everyone else,
I have a solution that will resolve the issue of converting you Mac’s video output to SDI. The frame rate of the Mac’s video signal is the problem. If you use a DECIMATOR MD-HX Miniature HDMI/SDI Cross Converter with Scaling & Frame Rate Conversion, you can effectively re-clock the frame rate of the MAc’s video output to the proper timing for your SDI input. I was dealing with the same issue and this is the only device that I have found that can resolve this video issue reliably. The MD-HX can be purchase from Amazon for $295.00 and it is worth every penny!

[Bob Zelin]

excellent follow up post.

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Andreas Claesson]

So, and sorry for the perhaps dumb question, but this works from a MacPro HDMI to HD-SDI? It didn’t have a genlock in.. does that pose a problem when hooking it up to a switcher?

[Chris Sorenson]

No that doesn’t pose a problem, I am connecting to a Panasonic AV-HS410 live switcher and it works great. I am currently have two in use on my system.