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question on simultaneos HD and SD monitoring
Hello!
So, I just bought the 4:4:4 dial decklink hd card… I plan to buy the HDLink and an Apple 23′ display (or Dell 24′, still undecided)
For SD monitoring, I have a CRT monitor: the JVC TM-H1750c. Right now I am monitoring only composite, but this monitor can be upgraded with 1) a component card 2) a SDI card.
Of course, HD will be on the Apple display through the HDLink, and SD on the JVC.
My question is: since I can monitor SD and HD simultaneosly with the decklink card, do I need to upgrade my JVC monitor to the SDI input card (expensive)? Or using the component output of the decklink and one of the SDI outputs for HD would do the trick?
In other words, it is ONLY through the SDI outputs that the decklink card can do simultaneous monitoring?
Thanks.
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2 Replies
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Hi,
DeckLink HD Pro 4:4:4 can perform split hardware down conversion on newer versions of the card. HD-SDI output is sent to the deck while down-converted SD-SDI video output is sent to the monitoring output along with 2 channels of audio. Down-converted SD output is also sent to the analog video outputs. This is useful if you want to connect via HD-SDI to a deck but monitor using a SD monitor. The monitor can be an SDI or analog monitor. Split hardware down conversion can be enabled or disabled with a software switch in the System Preferences>Blackmagic DeckLink. Split hardware down conversion of HDTV720 is not supported.
You don’t need to buy an SDI or component card for your monitor as the down converted analog output can be switched between component and composite video output. However if you were to buy a card, I would suggest the component card if it is cheaper. When you add an SDI card to a monitor, it does not really make it an SDI (“digital”) monitor as all CRT’s are analog. The card simply performs a digital-to-analog conversion in the monitor. The DeckLink HD Pro already does this for you at no additional cost so you might as well take advantage of the component or composite analog output of the DeckLink card and save youreself some money. I haven’t checked on the price of the optional cards for your monitor but traditionally SDI cards were very expensive options for CRT monitors.
There would be no downside to using the DeckLink card for analog video output as it is already performing that function regardless of whether or not you choose to use it.
Regards,
Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design -
I got (almost) everything and thanks for the advice! I will go and buy a composite card for my monitor, only about $250.
What I didn’t get, are there already newer versions of the decklink hd 4:4:4 card out with optional functions? My dual link hd card was bought in the beginning of August. Are there some new features that I’m missing?
Thanks.
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