Thunderbolt/USBC best Video Device for QLAB

[JHora]

Hy 

Hope you’re all fine.

I need suggestions to buy a thunderbolt 3(USBC) Video output device, that can play four  independent videos on SDI @ 1080p25 minimum.

This set should be config on a MACPRO with QLAB, to project on 4 different video screens  at the same time.

Any clue? Tks in advance.

Cheers

[Sam Kusnetz]

Hi J

You will get the best possible performance here if you use native GPUs (graphics cards) in the Mac Pro with HDMI or DVI output, and then use HDMI-to-SDI or DVI-to-SDI adapters outside the Mac to convert the signal to SDI.

If that’s not workable for some reason, you could use a Blackmagic Design DeckLink Duo card which has four 3G-SDI connections that can be configured as four independent outputs.

Please be advised that using Blackmagic devices for output requires more processing overhead, so you will definitely get better performance with the first solution. But, since you’re planning to use a Mac Pro, you might have CPU power to spare.

Best
Sam

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[Greg Leeper]

In my world people often use one output at 4K, then quadspllit it to 4 separate outputs using a Datapath FX4.  They have several versions, including one that is native SDi out, but like Sam said you can convert HDMI or DVI to SDI without noticeable latency pretty cheaply these days- probably cheaper than the cost difference on a FX4 with native SDI out vs. HDMI or Displayport out.

Another option: the 16" MacBook Pro will support 4x 4K displays using each of it's 4 Thunderbolt 3 with an output adaptor... again it would be to HDMI and then you convert to SDI with a small box from Black Magic, or AJA, or generic.....?   Your throughput would depend on how complicated your program is, number of layers, etc...

[João Hora]

Hi Guys,

Tks a lot for your suggestions. 

i received a quote from an AV supplier for an AJA  IO 4k Plus. It seems the right tools, but it's a bit off budget. Any one with experience on this AJA hardware?

About Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI output as Greg wrote...any suggestion? I see many "Aliexpress" around this product...it's a bit scary.

tks

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[Sam Kusnetz]

Hi there

QLab does not support AJA hardware directly, so that should make the decision easy!

It’s something we’d like to explore for the future, but there are no definitely plans at this time.

For what it’s worth, we have never received any negative reports about Blackmagic hardware at all. I know AJA has a lot more cachet in the US and Europe, but I think Blackmagic gear is absolutely great as well.

Best
Sam

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[jimsta...@zoho.com]

As little as I like "dongles", been using Caldigit hubs which have two HDMI outputs.

Believe they're this one. (10 months since seeing the rig)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1434941-REG/caldigit_500374_thunderbolt_3_mini_dock.html

Jim

[Freddy Komp]

Hi Sam,

I started using an AJA HA5-4K https://www.aja.com/products/ha5-4k on a 2019 MacBook Pro with a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 adapter; in QLab, it is perceived as a 4K display, and you can do both - have a surface that spans all 4 Quadrants, or make 4 surfaces that cover a 1080p area each (this works for me at up to 60Hz, both on the 4K and the FullHD side).

The input of the device is a HDMI 2.0 port, and the outputs are 4x 3G SDI. Slightly cheaper than the Datapath products, or for that matter the new Quad HDMI device from Matrox, and is handy if you have/are happy to convert to SDI anyway to run it longer lengths. just need the AUD 85 Blackmagic 3GSDI to HDMI converters at the 4 ends, if you need them.

With all that in mind, can you elaborate on the statement that QLab does not directly support AJA products?

Cheers,

Freddy

[João Hora]

Thanks Sam. 

best

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[João Hora]

Tks Jim. Do you think it hangs two of that?

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[João Hora]

Hi Freddy,

Good solution. I'll try it for sure. 

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[Sam Kusnetz]

The input of the device is a HDMI 2.0 port, and the outputs are 4x 3G SDI.

With all that in mind, can you elaborate on the statement that QLab does not directly support AJA products?

Hi Freddy

If the device you’re using appears as just a normal display to the Mac, then QLab supports it no matter what it is or who makes it.

What I mean when I say QLab does not directly support AJA hardware is that AJA makes a variety of hardware that connects to the Mac as a USB, Thunderbolt, or PCIe device, not as a display. To work with those devices, QLab needs to include support for the API of those devices.

Best
Sam

[jimsta...@zoho.com]

J:

Take it you meant "...handles two"...

Since we have two of the Caldigit hubs I could try, but first would need to be in the same time zone as the equipment.

Sorry, but unsure when that will happen!

Jim

[Greg Leeper]

Freddy that sounds like a killer workflow to get one 4K transcoded into 4x 1080P SDI quadrants!

Jhora I have had good success with T3-HDMI dongles from Warky, Apple, Anker, and in the past with T2 Monoprice.

There are also several reputable companies doing Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort or HDMI Adapters by people like Sonnet, OWC, Startech, and CalDigit if you still want to try doing 4 discreet outputs (which would be HDMI that you then need 4 boxes from someone like Blackmagic to convert to SDI  - HDMI actually has more color information than SDI but that comes with shorter distance limits.....)

[João Hora]

👍

João Hora

No dia 24/01/2021, às 22:31, 'jimsta...@zoho.com' via QLab <ql...@googlegroups.com> escreveu:



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[João Hora]

Hi

Stupid question....    and NDI running on QLAB?

I work with a big NDI network, with birdDogs conversion at the end. If we could get QLAB working like OBS already does....

cheers

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[João Hora]

Syphon to NDI works amazingly!

cheers!