Capturing via HDMI Port - Is it possible?

FilmingPhotoGuy wrote on 11/28/2008, 1:41 AM
Has anyone successufully captured HD footage via and HDMI port?

This was discussed briefly on an OT post about the Canon D5 MKII.

From what I have read, I understand that it can't be done because HDMI uses the HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) protocol which ensures the data cannot be copied to DV format. Although you can see your HD footage on an external screen via an HDMI cable, you wont be able to capture it.

Any thoughts?

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 11/28/2008, 2:27 AM
Depends on what type of HD content you are looking to capture... If it's an HDCP protected source, like the output of a Blu-ray player, then no. However, if it's from a digital camcorder, like the Sony V1u HDV, the the Blackmagic Design Intensity card can capture from HDMI quite nicely. Of course, you'll need to convert to standard-def DV format after the fact if that's what you ultimately want to do.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
baysidebas wrote on 11/28/2008, 5:06 AM
You may want to check out what's going on at Adobe regarding this:

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?128@@.3c05e82e
GaryAshorn wrote on 11/29/2008, 10:54 AM
John or any one else. Have you been successfully capturing and PTT back to decks with Vegas and the Intensity pro? I am guessing instead of trying to do the frame accurate PTT with the other models, just use the Intensity Pro to capture from my analog decks as needed and then also the newer ones with HDMI, edit in Vegas and then out put as needed to customers the finished product where it be DVD, Web based formats or even to tapes in SD or HD. So which version of Vegas is being the most successful for the BMD card and OS? Thanks
Gary
Coursedesign wrote on 11/29/2008, 11:41 AM
Gary,

Once the footage is on tape, it is crippled by the HDV codec (instead of 1920x1080 4:2:2, you get at best 1440x1080 4:2:0). No gain using HDMI to shuffle that.

Regarding the Adobe forum post:

There are many other formats besides uncompressed full raster (which can be 8-bit or 10-bit, also affecting the bit rate) that keep nearly 100% of the uncompressed quality, but at much lower data rates.

Examples: Avid's DnxHD, Apple's ProRes, Cineform's Neo HD, etc., and in a slightly different category, the BitJazz Sheer codec.

I have BMD Decklink Extreme HD cards in my setup and those come with their own capture utility.

Doesn't BMD's Intensity Pro also come with this?

Then at least you can get the footage into your computer, missing out only on the special features in OnLocation, while waiting for Adobe to get things together.

The Intensity Pro is a fairly new card, and the CS4 release probably overtaxed Adobe's development resources 110%.

Now that the release is out and it seems to work mostly OK, they can start doing stuff like Intensity Pro support.

GaryAshorn wrote on 11/29/2008, 4:59 PM
I have to handle all video formats from clients and mine own. So I want to bring in the Betacam SP, DVCAM, DV etc by way of component signals from my existing UVW1800s etc. I will eventually maybe get a newer deck for the component tapes when I can afford. I also want to be able to bring in the HD items from clients newer systems such as using the HDMI etc. I also have to deal with all other format forms from VHS, Beta, SVHS etc. We still even do 8-track audio repair work here. So I have to be able to handle it all, bring it into Vegas and then output as the client needs. Just looking to get what I can into Vegas the best way I can.

Gary
farss wrote on 11/29/2008, 5:55 PM
From the UVW 1800 a BMD card with component inputs is probably your best bet.

Most of the other analog tape formats could also be captured using the same BMD card although you'd need a way to wrangle the audio into balanced.

DV, DVCAM and HDV just use firewire.

Bob.
GaryAshorn wrote on 11/29/2008, 8:08 PM
Yes but I also have a Panasonic AJD650 so the balanced in is not an issue. I can handle most all older formats with component and balanced out to a card. I even have an old DS850 for the SVHS for play back out to component and balanced. I think going for the more expensive BMD card for time code insert editing is now a waste. My old VM/Plus DPR was great for that but Vegas is not that type of system.

So most using 8.0C or going to 8.1? I am running Vista 64.

Gary