Is SDI to HDMI simply a matter of cabling?

[Paul Cascio]

I was under the impression that the signals are the same except that SDI has more audio channels, but I could be completely misinformed on this.

[Richard Crowley]

They are completely different things. The only thing they share is that they are digital (vs. analog). There is no simple (passive) method of converting in either direction.

SDI is unbalanced, serial and uses traditional coaxial connectors and cable (i.e. BNC). SDI is pretty much exclusively a professional standard and is found only on pro and broadcast equipment. Serial digital interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HDMI is a quasi-parallel (4-bits wide) balanced interface (plus some additional sideband things like USB). It was designed for consumer digital video equipment HDMI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Steve Gibbons]

We use the nanoConnect all the time at our facility for converting HDMI to HD-SDI passively.

More info here:

Convergent Design, experts in HDMI, SD, HD, and HDV

[Paul Cascio]

Steve, I'm looking to convert SDI to HDMI. Thanks.

[Garrett Low]

Paul, it isn't a passive operation but if you Google SDI to HDMI converter you'll get several options. Black Magic, AJA, Data Video and Gefen are a few companies that make boxes that do the job.

Garrett

[Adam Stanislav]

Originally Posted by Paul Cascio

Steve, I'm looking to convert SDI to HDMI. Thanks.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/558911-REG/Blackmagic_Design_CONVMBSH_Mini_Converter_SDI_to.html

[Richard Crowley]

Originally Posted by Steve Gibbons

We use the nanoConnect all the time at our facility for converting HDMI to HD-SDI passively.

More info here:

Convergent Design, experts in HDMI, SD, HD, and HDV

Steve, "passive" means using something that is not an active electronic circuit that requires power. Like a BNC-RCA connector adapter or cable. Or one of those gadgets with a 100pF capacitor that kinda' converts between Y/C and composite video, etc.

The example you posted is clearly not a "passive" device. it requires power and likely has several times more circuitry in it than the TV you watched as a kid.

[Steve Gibbons]

Originally Posted by Richard Crowley

Steve, "passive" means using something that is not an active electronic circuit that requires power. Like a BNC-RCA connector adapter or cable. Or one of those gadgets with a 100pF capacitor that kinda' converts between Y/C and composite video, etc.

The example you posted is clearly not a "passive" device. it requires power and likely has several times more circuitry in it than the TV you watched as a kid.

Acknowledged - I was thinking more in terms of a real-time solution rather than some sort of transcoding based one.

[Hal Protter]

Both Geffen and Amazon.com have reliable converters at a very reasonable price.

[Marc Myers]

I've used three of the Aja units for a couple of years. Work great.

[Tim Kolb]

I'd second the recommendation to take a hard look at the AJA converter. I use several AJA converters and they're solid.

I have a Nano too...though I never thought about using it as a converter...

I don't have any experience with the Gefen or the BlackMagic units.

[Greg Kiger]

one caveat - if you are thinking of using it with a Canon 5dm2 / SDI monitor there are issues, as I am only now discovering - ugh. Anyway, see the 5dm2 section if this is the case :)

good luck

[Allan Tabilas]

Hey Greg, can you go into further detail regarding the 5D Mark II and any HDMI-->HD-SDI converter like blackmagic or aja or nanoconnect? We were thinking of using that DSLR and a converter on a project.

I know the 5D only kicks out what basically is 480p out via HDMI, so it's not full resolution, and there are bars on the side, as if it was 4:3 or so. Not sure about the HDMI output from the 7D and T2i. The output would be used basically for a live internet stream, but we would of course have the actual h.264 MOV files from the compactflash cards.

Thanks,
Allan