Operation Manual Broadcast Converter Mac OS X™ Windows™ October 2008
Contents Overview Contents Welcome Introducing Broadcast Converter 2 3 4 Using Broadcast Converter Installation Blackmagic Software Supported Connection Formats Troubleshooting 5 7 12 13 Connection Diagrams Broadcast Converter connectors overview Connecting to a Betacam SP analog deck Connecting to an SDI digital deck Sharing analog video in a digital facility Connecting to an HDTV Connecting to an NTSC/PAL monitor Connecting to S-Video equipment Connecting to a YUV component monitor 14
Welcome Thank you for purchasing Broadcast Converter! We hope you share our dream of making the television industry a truly creative industry by allowing everyone access to the highest quality video. This instruction manual contains all the information you’ll need for installing your Broadcast Converter for use as a video converter. Before you install Broadcast Converter, please check our website at www.blackmagic-design.
Introducing Broadcast Converter Broadcast Converter is a bi-directional converter which combines many of the Blackmagic Mini Converter features into a single 1 rack-unit chassis. Broadcast Converter is a complete solution for connecting analog decks, such as Betacam SP, to SDI based systems in a compact rack mount design. If you’re already familiar with the Blackmagic Multibridge series, you’ll immediately be at home with Broadcast Converter.
Installation The Broadcast Converter is a standalone, bi-directional, digital-to-analog and analog-todigital converter. The default settings allow SDI to analog conversion while simultaneously converting analog in to SDI with both audio and video. These defaults can be changed to various combinations of conversion options, and you can choose which SDI audio pair are de-embedded or embedded into various audio connections on the converter. Requirements Supported systems • Run Mac OS X 10.4.11, Mac OS X 10.5.
Installation Installation procedure 1. Install the Broadcast Converter software package by using the Multibridge software installer. This can be downloaded from www.blackmagic-design.com/support Reboot after installation. 2. Start Multibridge Utility by clicking on the Multibridge Utility icon. Mac 6 Applications > Blackmagic Multibridge Utility Windows Start > All Programs > Blackmagic Design > Multibridge > Blackmagic Multibridge Utility USB Power Connect USB and power cables. 3.
Blackmagic Software Interfaces Workflow View Workflow View enables users to graphically configure and depict analog-to-digital and digital-to analog workflows. Select SDI In to obtain both Analog and HDMI output. Select Analog In, or HDMI In, to obtain SDI output. By connecting an SDI cable from the SDI Out to the SDI In, analog input can be converted to SDI output while simultaneously converting the SDI signal to both HDMI and analog output.
Blackmagic Software Workflow example 1 – Connecting analog deck to SDI system This workflow example shows how to connect a Sony Betacam SP™ deck in and out, via Broadcast Converter for connection to an SDI based system. You can place Broadcast Converter right next to your analog deck to “turn it into an SDI digital device” in your system, or on your routing switcher. To begin, power on Broadcast Converter and launch Multibridge Utility software. 8 Analog to digital connections 1.
Blackmagic Software Workflow example 2 – Multiple sources to a Broadcast Converter Destination: SDI capture device. Scenario – A Video Editor has three sources for video material. A Betacam SP™ deck (analog), Digital Betacam™ deck (SDI) and a video camera with HDMI output. Using the Broadcast Converter, the SDI capture device is now able to capture video and audio from these varied sources. 9 1. Connect the Digital Betacam SDI output to the SDI Input on your Broadcast Converter. 2.
Blackmagic Software Device names Device Names provide a naming convention for identifying Broadcast Converters. Multibridge Utility can connect to many different types of Blackmagic Design converter models on a single USB connection. Using the custom name, you can set names to make sure you select the correct unit when changing settings in complex systems. Names can be in Unicode, so you can use non Roman character sets such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Arabic and many more.
Blackmagic Software Video Levels Although Broadcast Converter’s analog outputs are automatically voltage calibrated at power on, by selecting Set Levels you will be able to configure and adjust the output of your Broadcast Converter to suit your equipment. This can be useful when you need to compensate for cable length to equipment connected to the Broadcast Converter analog outputs. Analog input and output sliders allow individual color bias adjustment.
Supported Connection Formats Video SD/HD-SDI 4:2:2 input and outputs Analog HD or SD, YUV Component video input and output S-Video input and output Composite NTSC or PAL input and output HDMI input and output HD Format support: 1080 lines at 23.98PsF, 24PsF, 50i, 59.94i and 60i 720 lines at 50p, 59.94p, 60p and VariCam SD Format support: 565/60(NTSC) and 625/50(PAL) SDI Compliance: SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 296M, ITU-R BT.656 and ITU-R BT.
Troubleshooting There are four steps to getting help: 1. Check out the Blackmagic Design website www.blackmagic-design.com/support for the latest support information. 2. Call your reseller. Your reseller will have the latest technical updates from Blackmagic Design and should be able to give you immediate assistance. We also recommend you check out the support options your dealer offers as they can arrange various support plans based on your workflow requirements. 3.
Connection Diagrams Broadcast Converter connectors overview 14 Connection Diagrams
Connection Diagrams Connecting to a Betacam SP analog deck This example shows Broadcast Converter connected to an analog deck. The SDI connections of Broadcast Videohub can be used to directly connect the analog deck to an SDI-based editing system, such as a DeckLink card. Alternatively the SDI connections could be connected to a video router, such as Broadcast Videohub, so that legacy analog equipment can be shared by multiple SDI-based users in your facility.
Connection Diagrams Connecting to an SDI digital deck This example shows Broadcast Converter connected to a digital deck in 4:2:2 SD mode. The analog video connections, and the analog audio connections can be used to connect the deck to analog equipment or monitors. The HDMI output can also be used for local monitoring.
Connection Diagrams Sharing analog video in a digital facility Broadcast Converter makes it easy to incorporate legacy analog equipment in an all-digital SDI facility. This example shows a Betacam SP (analog) deck connected to an SDI video router via a Broadcast Converter. Broadcast Converter provides the simultaneous component analog-to-SDI and SDI-tocomponent analog conversion to make this possible.
Connection Diagrams Connecting to an HDTV This example shows Broadcast Converter connected to a consumer HDTV via HDMI. Broadcast Converter will automatically switch between HD and SD if the analog or SDI video input is changed. Connect the HDMI cable from the HDTV to Broadcast Converter‘s HDMI output.
Connection Diagrams Connecting to an NTSC/PAL monitor This example shows Broadcast Converter connected to a Sony PVM monitor via composite analog video. You can monitor the SD-SDI input on the composite output of Broadcast Converter. Broadcast Converter will automatically switch between NTSC and PAL if the SDI video input is changed. Many composite monitors only support NTSC or PAL but not both. Multiformat monitors support both standards.
Connection Diagrams Connecting to S-Video equipment This example shows how to connect BNC connectors, on Broadcast Converter, to mini-DIN connectors used commonly on S-Video equipment. Inexpensive S-Video to BNC cables can be used to connect to Broadcast Converter. Standard definition SDI video input can be monitored via the S-Video output of Broadcast Converter. Broadcast Converter will automatically switch between NTSC and PAL if the video input format is changed.
Connection Diagrams Connecting to a YUV component monitor This example shows Broadcast Converter connected to a Sony BVM monitor via component analog video. Broadcast Converter will automatically switch between HD and SD if the SDI or HDMI video input is changed.
3 Year Limited Warranty Blackmagic Design warrants that this product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 36 months from the date of purchase. If a product proves to be defective during this warranty period, Blackmagic Design, at its option, either will repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product.
