Blackmagic Design Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 12G (without PSU)

Camera control and tally

Bidirectional conversion carries Blackmagic Camera Control and tally between ATEM switchers and Blackmagic cameras. A Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with HDMI output can work with an SDI ATEM switcher, which then controls color correction, tally and recording. It also works in reverse – SDI cameras with an HDMI switcher such as ATEM Mini.

Full-size HDMI 2.0

A dedicated Type A HDMI 2.0 input and output make both conversion directions available at the same time. The HDMI input cannot capture copy-protected content (HDCP).

USB-C power

A power supply is not included. The converter draws only 5 W, so it can be powered from the USB-C port of a television or computer, a phone charger or a power bank. The original Blackmagic Micro Converter Power Supply is available separately.

Bidirectional 12G conversion in detail

The Micro Converter 12G family of compact video converters lets you use HDMI equipment in professional studio infrastructure built on the SDI standard. The Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 12G supports simultaneous conversion in both directions – you can convert SDI to HDMI and HDMI to SDI at the same time. It also supports the SDI Camera Control Protocol for controlling cameras such as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera from professional SDI ATEM switchers.

The new Blackmagic Micro Converter 12G models are compact yet highly durable and feature a 12G-SDI interface supporting all standard SD, HD and Ultra HD formats up to 2160p60. The converters can be powered via USB-C – directly from televisions or laptops – and are available with or without a universal power supply. The electronics ensure full compatibility with modern television standards, and future updates are a matter of course.

Top-quality hardware
Unlike most competing compact converters, Blackmagic Micro Converter models feature high-quality hardware and software and a very rugged metal body. Each converter has high-quality SDI and HDMI connectors, a USB-C interface for power and configuration via the macOS and Windows utility, and LED indicators for power and video status. If required, a set including a universal 100–240 V power supply with four socket adapters is available.

Blackmagic Micro Converter models offer high-quality signal processing, very low SDI jitter for reliable transmission over longer distances, and support for 8 and 10-bit RGB or YUV formats up to 2160p60, including the 1080p24, 1080p47.95, 1080p48, 4Kp24, 4Kp47.95 and 4Kp48 film rates. Embedded audio and timecode are of course supported.

Settings can be changed and the software updated via USB-C with the free utility for macOS and Windows. The software lets you change the converter’s internal name and the level A or B of the 3G-SDI output and, on the bidirectional model, set the camera number within the production infrastructure.

3D LUT correction
The Micro Converter SDI to HDMI 3G/12G and BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 12G models also offer 3D LUT correction for a color-accurate video preview. Users can apply their own corrections, for example when previewing footage on location. LUTs can also be applied to the SDI output, so the Micro Converter SDI to HDMI can work as a 3D LUT processor. The feature can also be used to color calibrate the target monitor or for creative work with the image. 3D LUT files are easy to create with the primary color corrector in the free version of DaVinci Resolve, for example to emulate the look of film stock.

Remote camera control
The Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G/12G models support camera control data, so they can be used with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera models and ATEM SDI switchers. ATEM switchers send camera control commands over SDI, and the converter can replicate this data on HDMI. Once the converter, switcher and camera are connected, you set the camera number in the utility and can then remotely control the camera’s color correction, the tally light and recording. The reverse also works: SDI cameras can be connected and controlled from HDMI switchers such as ATEM Mini.

HDR support
Micro Converter 12G models have everything needed for HDR workflows. Simply connect a monitor, projector or television with HDR support and you are ready to work. Static PQ and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) metadata are identified from the VPID and handled according to the ST2108-1, ST2084 and ST425 standards. Micro Converter 12G models are fully compatible with ST425, which defines two new bits in the VPID to indicate the SDR, HLG or PQ transfer characteristic. The ST2108-1 standard defines how static and dynamic HDR metadata are transported over SDI. There is also support for ST2082-10 for 12G-SDI signals and ST425 for 3G-SDI signals. Both Rec.2020 and Rec.709 color spaces are supported.

Wide standards support
Further advanced features of the Micro Converter 12G converters include timecode support in SD, HD, Ultra HD and 4K, conversion of timecode from HDMI devices to SDI and reclocking on the SDI output.

The converters support all common formats, including the 12G-SDI standards 2160p23.98, 2160p24, 2160p25, 2160p29.97, 2160p30, 2160p47.95, 2160p48, 2160p50, 2160p59.94, 2160p60, 4Kp23.98 DCI, 4Kp24 DCI, 4Kp25 DCI, 4Kp29.97 DCI, 4Kp30 DCI, 4Kp47.95 DCI, 4Kp48 DCI, 4Kp50 DCI, 4Kp59.94 DCI, 4Kp60 DCI, 4KPsF25 DCI, 4KPsF29.97 DCI and 4KPsF30 DCI.

Micro Converter 12G features

• Miniature design
• Software updates via USB
• 3D LUT correction on the SDI to HDMI models
• HDR metadata support on SDI and HDMI
• Timecode support on 12G-SDI and HDMI
• 12G-SDI technology with reclocking
• Camera control data from ATEM switchers
• Support for all common NTSC, PAL, 720p HD, 1080 HD and 2160 Ultra HD standards
• Available without a power supply or in a set with a power supply