Problems getting HD-SDI Signal from HD Connect LE to Xena LH

[Tim Kolb]

Have you tried checking if you have an analog output from the HD Connect?

Also…what format are you using? 1080i? 720p?

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

[Jeron Coolman]

Hi Tim,

I’m feeding it a 1080i signal from a Sony HVR-M1U connected via firewire to the HD Connect LE.

I’m able to view the signal out of the the analog component connectors of the HD Connect LE.

Machina keeps giving me the no video signal in the capture area (bottom right) of the capture tab.

If I could figure out how to check if there is a signal coming out of the HD-SDI connector it would help. I just don’t have any other SDI equipment.

Anyone out there have a Xena connected to an HD Connect LE with a 108I signal via Machina that can post a screenshot of their Machina Capture settings? Or at least list them? I’m not sure I have the correct settings in Machina…

Anyone know of any cheap SDI signal testers?

I wish I could justify buying a piece of equipment that accepts an SDI input…

Thanks,

Jeron

[Tim Kolb]

OK…

First, what are your Machina settings for input?

Second…the HDSDI spigots on the back of the Xena card are not labeled… Is there a chance you have an input/output mismatch on the back of the board?

…I deal with AJA boards frequently and I still occasionally get my cabling switched in the back.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

[Jeron Coolman]

Hi Tim,

I’m not in front of my editing machine, I’ll post the settings tonight. I tried quite a few different settings, even setting the HD Connect LE to convert and output 720p. I’ll post the one I think should be working.

I’m using one of those Aja “breakout boxes” that are rack-mount. I forgot what they call it, but it is the box that fits in the rack on my editing desk that the Aja board plugs into. The connections are clearly labelled on it. I’m plugging the HD Connect LE into the SDI In on that.

(I used to plug cables into the wrong place too, like you mentioned, which is why I bought the “box” – I’m glad I did, makes life easier.)

I’m hoping someone will pop into the discussion here with a link to a $50 device that will test an sdi signal. I’d love to have a little box that I can plug the HD Connect LE’s SDI into that lights up if there is a signal. Or maybe some sort of universal A/V signal tester that isn’t too expensive?

I might have to buy one of those SDI to HDMI converts for $500. I’d just hate to do that, just to test the signal. (I can find a use for a box that converts HDMI to HD-SDI, but I don’t think that will help me)

You’d think I could use a voltmeter or oscilloscope and test the presence of a signal.

I didn’t get much help from the HD Connect LE support. They are saying it must be a setting on the Aja (which I understand, but I was hoping for a suggestion from them, for a way to test the presence of a signal on the HD Connect LE’s SDI out)

I haven’t heard back from Aja support. I’ll give them one more day before I send another email to them.

Thanks,

Jeron

[Tim Kolb]

If you are getting an analog signal out of the HD Connect, chances are pretty good you don’t have anything fundamentally wrong with the signal path there…all outputs should be live on that box.

You didn’t make any changes on the breakout box? It’s still configured from a point when you were using it without issue?

…and you have the latest/appropriate drivers for the Xena card right? I just talked with someone who had similar issues that simply needed to update the Xena drivers.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

[Jeron Coolman]

Hi Tim,

I figured it out.

My assistant who mounted the “breakout box” didn’t connect the SDI cables. He thought that all you needed to do was connect the one “big ‘snake’ cable” that the “breakout box” replaced. Every connection is handle with that except the SDI.

Thanks for the help though. No wonder it was acting like there wasn’t a connection 😉

Jeron

[Tim Kolb]

Yup…it doesn’t even matter how experienced we all get over time. It still ends up being something fundamental most of the time…

I’m glad you got it solved.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,