Blackmagic Design Mini Converter Analog to SDI

The device will convert analogue video (composite, S-video and component) with stereo audio to SDI. It requires a clean stable video input. With an unstable video, which is common for old video tapes, the picture drops out often (black image).

On the box it says "Mini Converter Analog to SDI is small enough to be placed right next to analog equipment and features built in time base corrector for unstable analog sources such as VHS players". I find this misleading.

I normally use a Snell & Wilcox TBS180/TBS185 time base corrector which will take an analogue input and provide stable SDI output that can be fed to a video capture unit (such as Blackmagic Design UltraStudio 4K Mini). However my Snell & Wilcox unit has an intermittent fault with the S-video input (and units like this are no longer manufactured) so I thought I would try the Analog to SDI converter given it apparently includes a time base corrector. If it does include time base correction, it is not very effective. The Snell and Wilcox allows all available video to pass through with very little loss of video, and audio and video remain synchronised so you get no lip sync issues. The Analog to SDI mini converter results in loss of large chunks of video with many frames lost, you end up with a blank screen flashing on and off with bits of the video captured in-between. It can be unwatchable. Obviously the Snell and Wilcox TBS180/185 was very expensive when they were made, even second hand they can cost a lot. It is a shame Blackmagic Design does not offer something equivalent because there is still a need to transfer old analogue video to digital and not many options available to purchase new reliable equipment.

I am still testing it and trying it with tapes in different condition but based on my experience so far I cannot recommend it even though it was very reasonably priced.

I can recommend Videoguys Australia though having purchased equipment from them for well over a decade.

Dubbing videos from old analog equipment can be difficult, but this Mini Converter allows you to bring your old videos into the digital world with the minimum of fuss. Just plug your analog video equipment in and you are ready to go.

This converter does exactly what it says converts analogue audio and vision, into an SDI output. Its easy to use, and adjust in the field.What you need to do is work out wether or not you need to send the audio as embedded, or not. If you do, the input is a 6.5mm phono jack, so you may need a converter plug if your leads are RCA.The price was better than anywhere, including the US.My ONLY criticism is at BlackMagic, for not having a DV/Firewire/IEEE1394 input to SDI output converter, as broadcast news cameras all have a firewire out, and editors require the quality of the original digital signal.