Buying new equipment, but have some questions

[doyenblair]

I am the video manager for a small church.

We are looking at going to live video switching and I had a few questions that I can't seem to find the answer for.

We are looking at purchasing this ATEM: ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher by Black Magic.

We have one camera now that has HDMI out. We would like to hook up our computer as well via HDMI.

What I would like to use is SDI cables out of the ATEM to go to our various projectors. Two of them have HDMI inputs and two have VGA inputs.

Question is, how do I go from SDI to HDMI or VGA? I have been looking at this stuff for two days. Maybe I am just confused!!

[Brad Weber]

BlackMagic also offers some "Mini Converters' that include an SDI to HDMI box, but there is no SDI to VGA box, the closest would be SDI to analog component video. AJA, Extron, TV One, Kramer Electronics, Gefen, etc. offer similar products.

Since the ATEM 1M/E switcher only has one SDI output you'll also need an SDI/HD-SDI Distribution Amplifier in order to feed four projectors. Most of the companies noted above offer such units.

The ATEM does have HDMI inputs for your computer but read the fine print as the HDMI inputs are limited in the resolutions and scan rates they will accept so you'll have to configure your computer to provide one of the compatible resolution and scan rate combinations.