hdmi switching

[ladislav]

I am feeding the output of two camcorders (on standby) into a hdmi switcher (with remote control) and thence to a projector.  When switching from one cam to the other, the image on screen flickers and the signal drops out for half a second before the second cam comes in.  The context is thus;  the two cams are looking at the consoles of two organs and the object is to switch as the organist moves from one to the other.

Are these symptoms typical of hdmi switchers?

Your comments appreciated.

Edited December 28, 2021 by ladislav
more info

[david.elsbury]

Yes, because the display device will have to resyncronise the video from the new input.

you need to use a seamless switch which will lock the inputs together and give you a clean transition.

 

theres many options; this is one of the cheaper ones

https://feelworld.ltd/products/feelworld-livepro-l1-v1-multi-camera-video-mixer-switcher-4-hdmi-input-usb3-0-live-streaming?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiYmh5LyH9QIVN5RmAh2aUAYcEAQYASABEgLAWvD_BwE

 

hope that helps 🙂

[Dave m]

Another option is to make a dowser for the projector.

basically a flag that obscures the lens, so any picture wobble/flicker is hidden.

one way is to use an old cd drive from a pc with card where the cd lives. Option two is the cheapest DVD player that Amazon do?

but the best way is a switcher

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackmagic-Design-SWATEMMINI-Atem-mini-Noire/dp/B07XZKRDLB/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=92263513430&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkJCS0JSJ9QIVg8x3Ch14PgElEAAYAyAAEgLAVPD_BwE&hvadid=410103371642&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007247&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17623899851957142348&hvtargid=kwd-820264674878&hydadcr=19363_1749095&keywords=atem+mini&qid=1640786128&sr=8-2

[richardash1981]

One other thought is that "presentation switcher / scaler" devices capable of doing the same job (but intended for conference facilities etc.) seem to get resold second hand in quite large volumes and at relatively low prices. If you can live without TV-style transitions and physical control surface they may offer another option for switching without the glitch. The term you need is "seamless switching" and may mean some research on potential equipment (Kramer, Extron etc. tend to have manuals on their website even for discontinued equipment) as ebay listings are usually minimal information apart from the model.

[ladislav]

Thanks for your responses; I am looking into your suggestions.

[Whiskers]

You are in danger of adding further delay to the video output with the switcher, you state you are relaying an organist, the screen may be noticeably out of sync, close ups of fingers could be very obvious, make sure this is acceptable before committing to the project.    

[timsabre]

If you use an atem mini as suggested earlier it doesn't add a noticeable delay, max 1 frame I think. The projectors will probably add 1 or 2 frames delay as well. 

[adamburgess]

On 1/3/2022 at 4:50 AM, Whiskers said:

You are in danger of adding further delay to the video output with the switcher, you state you are relaying an organist, the screen may be noticeably out of sync, close ups of fingers could be very obvious, make sure this is acceptable before committing to the project.    

If it's a pipe organ, depending on the distance from the manuals to the pipes, the sound may end up being in sync with any delayed video!

[Dave m]

First off - a camera "on standby" will likely turn itself off. Check it works or stick in a very big SD card.

I imagine this is for video relay (silent) and live sound?

If not -an HDMI camera carries the sound with video so sync should be fine. The ATEM does have an audio delay within it's software settings, or send better mics to an audio mixer.ATEM inputs. Easiest is to use an audio injector to the camera feeds.