Blackmagic Design-Hdlink pro wrong function

[Arlano1]

Hi,
I'm trying to use an Blackmagic HDLink Pro (with HDLink Utility 3.3.1) as an HD-SDI to DVI/HDMi converter for a consumer Benq 24" FP241W LCD (also have Dell 24" 2407WFP).
The tested device is a RED One camera system with this firmware build :
Test-A: 17. v3.4.1., Test-B: 20. 20v.1.3, Test-C: 21v.21.02.

Blackmagic Design HDLink Pro it does not work with the RED HD-SDI signal......
We're working in 720p (25Fps.). But the LCD won't recognize the signal coming from the HDLINK at this setting. 720p. HDLink Pro drop of signal every seconds!!!!
I also have an 2 AJA-downconverter (1. Hd-sdi to analog, 2. Hd-sdi to Hdmi) which does work feeding 720p to the Lcd......and works perfectly with Aja!
How I would be able to solve this problem?

pet.

 

[Christian Berg]

I have been in contact with both Blackmagic and Red about this problem. Blackmagic says the SDI stream coming from the camera have to much jitter. Red said they would look into this, but that was in end of july. I didn´t hear anything from them since then.

I bought the HD link for this use too...
/Christian

 

[filip kovcin]

i think this is output problem (from RED)


here is what i found when using DOWNconverter from 720 to PAL:

what i i understood is that red is using 720/60p signal to deliver output in 24 or 25 frames - OVER THIS 720/60p frequency!!!!

so this is the reason why picture is jittering (i am not an engineer, just user) - converter THINKS that signal is PAL but it's sent over NTSC frequency. THIS sounds weird, but if you try (i tried) you can see that DOWNCONVERTED signal is NOT properly interpreted as PAL.

BUT,

if you switch to NTSC (i.e. on your recording device) - you are ok.

but if you need to RECORD PAL signal - you are lost. but there is weird solution to this:


i was in situation where downconverted signal from RED is needed as DVD recorded signal on PAL DVD.

i found that usually following strange combination of equipment works in PAL when you use ONE DVD desktop recorder (standalone, not inside computer) and use it as a PASS THRU unit. but you will need ANOTHER ONE DVD recorder as real recorder!!!!

for unknown reason to me first DVD recorder works as some kind of "stabilizer" of that weird downconverted signal

(red-->downconverter to PAL--> first "stabilizer" (pass thru) PAL DVD).

connect second one DVD recorder, and you will recieve proper PAL signal on that second machine.

(red-->downconverter to PAL--> first "stabilizer" (pass thru) PAL DVD --> second PAL DVD - recorder).

the obvious problem is that you need TWO DVD recorders on the set, one of which is de facto useless (works as "stabilizer" only)

maybe this weird configuration may help you in the meantime. worked for me.

filip

 

[Mark Pugh]

I purchased a third-party HD-SDI recorder for use as playback.
It couldn't pick up a signal from the Red One.
The manufacturer tested with another R1 unit, and found the output from the Red to be very much below spec.
It cost me $600 USD in un-refundable import duty.

Hopefully industry standards will be followed more carefully with the Epic and Scarlet.

The HDMI output on the R1 is also not full HDMI spec, despite the use of the official HDMI logo.
It's DVI.
Hence the problems many people find when trying to use HDMI monitors.

 

[Arlano1]

Fully Digital HD Monitoring

HDLink connects SDI video direct to your display using DVI-D or HDMI, so you get a fully digital connection to the screen. This totally eliminates noise and other analog limitations to your monitoring. Because a 1920 x 1200 resolution LCD monitor can display the 1920 x 1080 resolution HDTV image direct, you can actually see every single pixel in the HD image. That means you get full resolution and full digital HD monitoring for unprecedented clarity of image. Even a 23 inch CRT monitor cannot show full resolution HD because of natural frequency roll in the shadow mask. LCD monitoring is ideal in environments where you need full resolution HD monitoring, without afterglow and other annoying CRT problems.
Flexibility for High End Production

The SDI video standard was designed for total flexibility. All equipment connects together using simple coax BNC cables with connections of up to 100 meters or 300 feet apart. SDI doesn't use compression so you can record video to any kind of broadcast or high end consumer deck completely independent of the tape format. Modern equipment such as Videohub allows for switching between standard definition 270 Mb/s, high definition 1.485 Gb/s or 2K 3 Gb/s video rates, so newer HDTV equipment can be integrated into existing systems. Unlike DV which is only 4:1:1 color sampling with only 1-red and 1-blue video sample per 4-luma samples, SDI is 4:2:2 and has twice the color resolution. However, when doing feature film work or other high end multi-layer video editing, HD-SDI allows two connections for full 4:4:4 video where full color resolution is available. When running Dual Link 4:4:4, or single link 3 Gb/s SDI 4:4:4, you can connect video using the RGB color space instead of the normal YUV color space, which is perfect for feature film work. Blackmagic Design also supports 16 bit rendering where possible, so full bit depth is always persevered. Although SDI was previously expensive, Blackmagic Design has singly changed the industry making SDI affordable for everyone. Blackmagic Design has helped to make SDI the production format of choice for high end, corporate, on-location and live broadcast video worldwide.

 

[Arlano1]

HD Format Support

via DVI-D 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60, 1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60, 1080p50, 1080p59.94, 1080p60, 2048 x 1556p23.98, 2048 x 1556p24 and 2048 x 1556p25.
HD Format Support
via DisplayPort 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60, 1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60, 1080p50, 1080p59.94, 1080p60, 2048 x 1556p23.98, 2048 x 1556p24 and 2048 x 1556p25.
HD Format Support
via HDMI 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60, 1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080i50, 1080i59.94 and 1080i60 , 1080p50, 1080p59.94 and 1080p60.
SD Format Support
via DVI-D 625/25 PAL and 525/29.97 NTSC.
SD Format Support
via DisplayPort 625/25 PAL and 525/29.97 NTSC.
SD Format Support
via HDMI 625/25 PAL and 525/29.97 NTSC.
SDI Compliance SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 296M, SMPTE 425M-B, ITU-R BT.656, ITU-R BT.601 and SMPTE 297M for Optical Fiber SDI.
SDI Video Sampling 4:2:2 and 4:4:4.
SDI Color Precision 4:2:2 10 bit and 4:4:4 10 bit.
SDI Color Space 4:2:2 YUV, 4:4:4 YUV and 4:4:4 RGB.
SDI Audio Sampling Television standard sample rate of 48 kHz and 24 bit.

 

[Colm O'Rourke]

the signal from the camera needs to be reclocked before going to the hdlink. Use a simple hd-sdi reclocking box.

 

[RivaiC]

the signal from the camera needs to be reclocked before going to the hdlink. Use a simple hd-sdi reclocking box.

Is that the reason why AJA box work while BM doesnt ? HD-SDI 720p supposed to work with any device that support it, unlike 1080P and 1080PsF

 

[Bastiaan Houtkooper]

The unstability in the RED signal gives trouble to the new devices from BM, all the small converters work fine. The HDlinkPro does support the 720 output of the RED. Blackmagic is currently looking into it if they can adjust the HDlinkPro to work better with the RED.
It seems the combination of RED not being completely up to specs and BM with a little too critical input circuit.

If I know more I will post it here, let's hope that BM finds a solution and RED will bring the EPIC up to specs.