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Anders  
#1 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 8:46:45 AM(UTC)
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Hi,

I'm looking to built a few compact rigs based on laptops with vMix. I need 3 SDI inputs, and was wondering if it is possible to use 3 Aja U-TAPs? I could go for the new TB3 Io 4K Plus, but that's more than twice the price of three U-TAPs, and I don't really need the extra features of the Io 4K Plus.

So would it work with 3 U-TAPS?

Thanks!
DWAM  
#2 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 8:55:26 AM(UTC)
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Hi Anders

working with USB3 is really not a safe solution. First it depends on your computer and how many USB controllers it has. In general 3 1080p feeds are not supported simultaneously due to bandwidth limitations on USB.

However, there is a cheaper solution for you if you have a Thunderbolt port:
- use a PCI-e to TB enclosure like the Sonnet or the Akitio
- feed it with a BMD Decklink Duo 2

Et voila! For around $800 you have a rock-solid and fast system with 4 SDI inputs.

Hope this helps (this setup is discussed in the forum by many users, please search for more details)
Guillaume
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Anders on 10/6/2017(UTC)
Anders  
#3 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 9:30:38 AM(UTC)
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Yes, that would work, but the rig would'nt be as compact any more.
I'm looking at the new Dell Inspiron 15 G7 with GTX1060. It has one tb3/usb-c and three USB3 ports. If the three "old" ports had two separate controllers, could it hope for this setup?
I could swap one for a BM Mini Recorder on the TB port, but that port isn't the issue if I understand correctly.

I wish we would see more of the four input pci-e cards in a TB3 form factor...
DWAM  
#4 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 9:35:09 AM(UTC)
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Quote:
If the three "old" ports had two separate controllers, could it hope for this setup?

I guess so... Still I quite don't like USB for production but that's personal...
Quote:
I could swap one for a BM Mini Recorder on the TB port, but that port isn't the issue if I understand correctly.

That would be a much better option: 2 USB3 + 1 TB3 is certainly more likely to work well
Quote:
I wish we would see more of the four input pci-e cards in a TB3 form factor...

There are many models on the market as well as 8 SDI inputs solutions. I just mentioned the cheapest.
Anders  
#5 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 9:57:01 AM(UTC)
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DWAM wrote:

There are many models on the market as well as 8 SDI inputs solutions. I just mentioned the cheapest.


I know, I just wish the could stick their decklink cards in a small Ultrastudio enclosure with a tb3 port.
SportsNetUSA.net  
#6 Posted : Friday, October 6, 2017 8:32:31 PM(UTC)
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The base price for an AJA U-Tap is $345 US. Buy three (3) and you've spent $1035 for capture.

Go with Guillaume's Sonnet/Akitio/BMD Decklink Duo 2 suggested package, and you've spent $800 for 4 SDI. Consider saving money and get more reliable performance.
thanks 1 user thanked SportsNetUSA.net for this useful post.
Anders on 10/7/2017(UTC)
Anders  
#7 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 3:13:23 AM(UTC)
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SportsNetUSA.net wrote:
The base price for an AJA U-Tap is $345 US. Buy three (3) and you've spent $1035 for capture.

Go with Guillaume's Sonnet/Akitio/BMD Decklink Duo 2 suggested package, and you've spent $800 for 4 SDI. Consider saving money and get more reliable performance.



Yes, I'm considering this now. I didn't know they had the more compact one half size card pci-e expansion cases. The size isn't really that bad.

The smallest one I can find is the Sonnet Echo Express SEL but it doesn't support the Decklink duo 2 according to their compability chart.
However it does say that it supports the Aja Corvid 88 which is huge compared to the decklink.
Does anyone know if the Decklink would still fit in the Echo Express SEL?
Gyapi  
#8 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 5:08:03 AM(UTC)
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Anders wrote:
SportsNetUSA.net wrote:
The base price for an AJA U-Tap is $345 US. Buy three (3) and you've spent $1035 for capture.

Go with Guillaume's Sonnet/Akitio/BMD Decklink Duo 2 suggested package, and you've spent $800 for 4 SDI. Consider saving money and get more reliable performance.



Yes, I'm considering this now. I didn't know they had the more compact one half size card pci-e expansion cases. The size isn't really that bad.

The smallest one I can find is the Sonnet Echo Express SEL but it doesn't support the Decklink duo 2 according to their compability chart.
However it does say that it supports the Aja Corvid 88 which is huge compared to the decklink.
Does anyone know if the Decklink would still fit in the Echo Express SEL?



Yes, I use DeckLink Duo 2. Sonnet echo express se 1, thunderbolt 3 port. Flawless!
Maximus  
#9 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 5:14:46 AM(UTC)
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I use the Sonnet Echo Express SE I with decklink duo 2 and it works perfectly. I am not sure what are the differences between SEL version and SE I.

Maxi
Anders  
#10 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 6:19:32 AM(UTC)
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Maximus wrote:
I use the Sonnet Echo Express SE I with decklink duo 2 and it works perfectly. I am not sure what are the differences between SEL version and SE I.

Maxi



The SEL version is just smaller and only supports low profile cards. I don't know exactly what makes a card low profile, but some of the cards listed as supported seems larger than the Decklink duo 2 to me.
I'd like to minimize the size of the rig, so it would be great if I could use the SEL version.
I've asked Sonnet if it will work, hopefully they have an answer for me.

DWAM  
#11 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 9:33:29 AM(UTC)
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Here's a low profile bracket PCI card next to a full height bracket.

UserPostedImage

I'm not aware of any low profile capture cards

Guillaume
zenvideo  
#12 Posted : Saturday, October 7, 2017 12:34:03 PM(UTC)
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DWAM wrote:
I'm not aware of any low profile capture cards

Maybe not quad ones, but the Magewell Pro Capture Dual cards (both HDMI & SDI versions) are low profile and come with both types of rear brackets.
Anders  
#13 Posted : Monday, October 9, 2017 5:26:29 AM(UTC)
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DWAM wrote:

I'm not aware of any low profile capture cards

Guillaume



Sonnet say that "...even the BlueFish 444 Epoch 4K Neutron video card can be accommodated."
Looks like it can do 3 sdi + 1 hdmi in, but quite expensive card...
hellokitty  
#14 Posted : Friday, October 13, 2017 11:37:16 PM(UTC)
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buy a used kona 3G and a sonnet echo express 3 d thunderbolt 2 version, pick this stuff on ebay used. and you will have what you need. I own the stuff it works. https://www.aja.com/products/kona-3g
http://www.sonnettech.co...oduct/echoexpress3d.html
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