Is there any loss in picture quality to be expected when using a (HD)SDI to HDMI conversion box instead of a direct SDI input on a videoprocessor ? It seems as HD-SDI isn't really getting out of the box and the popularity of SDI inputs on current videoprocessing systems is decreasing as well.

Especially in the broadcast market there are lots of SD/HD-SDI to HDMI boxes available and they are not really this expensive ($500). I think the HD-SDI Upgrade for the VP50pro (just as an example) is about the same price, but you wouldn't be able to keep the connection when switching the processors.

So, I'm just wondering, if there are any users out there (and I'm sure there are) which have seen both solutions in action and could state if there's a visible difference in picture quality when swiching from a processor's SDI input to a SDI-HDMI conversion box (e.g. the Aja Hi5). I'm sure there are at least some people who have used SDI DVD players on their non-SDI processors (Lumagen Radiance comes to mind)

Any input would be highly appreciated !!

Thanks!

there shouldn't be, but don't count on it, the whole point of SDI is no conversions and cleanest purest path, SDI needs to be used as SDI :)

-Gary

FYI, the Aja box you cite, at least according to their website, doesn't accept 480i. It seems it would be useless for an SD-DVD player with SDI out...

Several months ago when I got my radiance I looked for a good SDI-HDMI box to use with my SDI Denon 2910 and I came up empty (since then I think some people found a few). The pro boxes I located wouldn't pass 480i without deinterlacing (some examples were Aja and Blackmajic) and the Algolith box (which does 480i pass through) didn't do BTB and converted color space to RGB. I ended up using a Oppo 980H with 480i to the Radiance for SD playback. Cost effective and adequate enough for me for a legacy solution.

I know that on the other side of Gary's argument is Lumagen who says that they can do it with no problems. Their box (an accessory for the Radiance) is forthcoming and is reported to cost around $700.

Here was a post confirming that the Aja HDMI box works with 480i:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13159969#post13159969

I think you might have looked at the specs of the Aja SDI to DVI box. They don't work with interlaced material, but the SDI to HDMI ones do (I guess).

these boxes add in HDCP don't they?

-Gary

they surely don't as the low-cost HDMI editing cards for PCs & MACs aren't HDCP compliant anyway and this would neglect the sense of the SDI-HDMI box in the first place.

Remember they aren't made for the AV Entertainment people, but are made to get tape-based players (Digi Beta etc) connected to HDMI PCIe editing hardware.

I am not sure, HDMI doesn't exist without HDCP that I know of, may be part of the HDMI org. spec required to be met etc., I would make sure ;)

-Gary

The manual of the Hi5 converter states that no HDCP is added and that it's part of the official HDMI specification that un-encrpyted streams have to be supported. Otherwise DVI-HDMI from older PCs wouldn't work as well.

Garry: It is perfectly possible to have an hdmi output that has no HDCP on it. HDCP need only be applied when the source material is copyprotected I believe

I am not sure, HDMI doesn't exist without HDCP that I know of, may be part of the HDMI org. spec required to be met etc., I would make sure ;)

-Gary Gary, the HDMI specs don't mandate HDCP, but simply recommend it as an available option. In practice, consumer HDMI sources and sinks do support HDCP, though that doesn't mean its always there. The copy protection is applied when the disc etc requires.

Nick

Gary, the HDMI specs don't mandate HDCP, The copy protection is applied when the disc etc requires.

Nick

Well one thing I do know is that sdi completely strips hdcp from any dvd player when the dvd player has an sdi out and a processor has the input for it to be scaled , Also I have read that in some cases hd-sdi and sd-sdi has no real visible difference and that both have a superior image over hdmi or dvi because the signal comes directly out from the video encoder/processor which is what the whole thing was invented for.
Now if I can sell this extra DVDO sdi card Real cheap I will be able to get me a new lamp for my Projector.:D

if they have no HDCP then that is fabulous for sure, enjoy if you need one! ;)

-Gary