Level 1

1 points

hdmi from video converter to thunderbolt input

I'm trying to get my new Macbook Pro to recognize an incoming signal from the HDMI output of a video converter. Signal is coming from composite cables from a DVD player, through the converter to an Apple HDMI to Thunderbolt cable. The system report says there is no device connected to either thunderbolt port. Seems like this input should show up in Quicktime, VLC, or even ustream broadcaster. Anyone had any luck with this?

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Mar 18, 2016 10:07 AM

26 replies

vbck Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 18, 2016 10:51 AM in response to Duane

then how do you hook up an external camera, the functionality for which has been available for years?

Mar 18, 2016 10:52 AM in response to vbck

This should be the same as connecting an external camera to broadcast on ustream, for instance.

If you want You tube-like videos, that can be accommodated through FireWire.

If you want to feed live display data onto the Web, the part you are missing is a video data digitizer.

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What is your 15-year old Mac, and what Hardware add-ons is it using?

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Mar 18, 2016 10:55 AM in response to vbck

You need both a device which provides the digitized information correctly and software which understands and communicates with that device.

Stringing together adapters just isn't doing the proper digitization that you are looking for.

vbck Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 18, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The old Mac brought the camera signal in from an audio/video converter with a firewire output, which I ran to a firewire input on the Mac. When I would open Ustream, for instance, it would recognize the input device and use it to stream audio/video. Can't get the thunderbolt port to do that, even though its supposed to be two-way and I've got HDMI coming into the thunderbolt port with an apple HDMI to thunderbolt cable.

vbck Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 18, 2016 12:03 PM in response to Duane

Well, the purpose of the converter is to provide the correct digitized output for HDMI, and the purpose for the HDMI thunderbolt connection is to provide the signal to the MBP. The software which understands and communicates with that device should be Quicktime, Ustream's web broadcaster, VLC, etc. No?

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Mar 18, 2016 1:38 PM in response to vbck

According to Ustream (https://support.ustream.tv/hc/en-us/articles/207852277-Live-video-webinar-produc tion-Equipment-list) you need the following:

vbck Author

Level 1

1 points

Mar 19, 2016 7:15 AM in response to Duane

Yeah, I've watched some of the ustream instructional videos. You can actually use almost any camcorder. I may spring for the Blackmagic box, but its expensive and doesn't get very good reviews. Seems like other boxes should work. The advantage of the Blackmagic is that you can get a thunderbolt output without adapters. I may have to try that.

Jun 29, 2016 9:27 PM in response to vbck

Open iMovie and press the command I keys. Or select the arrow key on the window for import. The window that opens should have in a list "cameras" near the left upper corner. You can import live video from here. I do this with a mac mini over the firewire port. I take an analog feed from a security camera and pass it through a Conopus analog to digital converter to get the firewire out signal. Hope that helps.

Nov 10, 2016 10:27 PM in response to vbck

I'm having the same issue as I just bought the Blackmagic SDI / HDMI in and this was what the Mac reps said I needed but no dice.

scfw0x0f

Level 1

10 points

Nov 25, 2016 10:36 AM in response to vbck

Have you looked at the Intensity product from Blackmagicdesign?

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/intensity

iptashi

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2017 1:18 AM in response to vbck

I don't have the answer to that, but a suggestion if you want to output video from a pc to your macbook, you could stream it via a 3rd party app like Remote Desktop Connection on LAN or teamviewer.

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hdmi from video converter to thunderbolt input