We’re now offering multiple Blackmagic Design SDI input cards as an option in the A10 media server. Below is a little video presenting this setup, read more for the details.

We have the following setup for the video above:

• One standard A10 media server
• One custom A10 media server with:
   
• 2 x Blackmagic Design DeckLink Duo™
• 1 x ATI six output Card

Our standard A10 media server outputs in DVI to a Folsom Image Pro that converts the DVI signal to an SDI 720p 60 Hz signal, and this three times.

Then we capture these three SDI outputs from the Folsom Image Pro with the two DeckLink Duo™ cards in our custom A10 media server.

The connections on the DeckLink Duo™ cards are represented on diagram below:

So, with these DeckLink Duo™ cards, the A10 media server gets up to four simultaneous SDI input signals, which means that you can simultaneously see in MediaMaster Pro or Express four cameras in your library folder “254_cameras”.

From there, if you right-click on the camera icon in the library folder, you can access the Blackmagic Design setup menu, where you can select the inputs and chose your desired captured resolutions.

The different supported resolutions are listed there – such as 720p, 1080i or 1080p – in various frequencies, here we have used 720p 60 Hz

The advantage of such a setup is that it makes it possible to capture inputs (i.e. from cameras) directly without the use of an external video mixer. In other words, you’re saving time and money because you do not necessarily need to invest in an additional video mixer to fade, control, or switch from one input to the other.

And of course, you can also use these inputs programmed into a console or lighting desk so everything will run time coded or in a cue.