Some cards from Blackmagic-Design require you to set the connector mapping to support some features.
Here is what the default connector mapping of the cards allow you to do:
- with a Decklink Duo 2, you will have maximum 2 in and 2 out
- with a Decklink Quad 2, you will have maximum 4 in and 4 out
- with a Decklink 8K Pro, (drivers 11.1 and later) you will have maximum 1 in or 1 out
So if you want to use 4 individual inputs on the Duo 8 or 8K Pro, or 8 individual inputs on the Quad 2, you will have to change their connector mapping.
What is the "Connector Mapping" for ?
The main reason for this option is that Blackmagic-Design wanted to do 2 things:
- have a card with configurable in/out
- have the possibility to do internal and external key (which requires to "group" connectors)
- have the possibility to have a "passthrough" when using an ingest application such as MovieRecorder (so when you start MovieRecorder, the incoming signal is sent to the other connector for monitoring purposes).
- maintain compatibility with the previous versions of Decklink Duo and Quad cards (this is why the card is configured by default with the connectors "grouped")
Where do I change the "Connector Mapping"?
To change the connector mapping, start the application “Blackmagic Desktop Video Utility”, then:
- In the default view, use the left and right arrows to select the "Device" you want to configure.
- But maybe the easies is to select the list view at the bottom right:
- Then you can view all the "sub-devices":
- Depending on the connected device, you will see more or less of them:
- For a Decklink Duo 2, you will have 4 "devices" named by default "Decklink Duo (1) -> Decklink Duo (4)
- For a Decklink Quad 2, you will have 8 "devices" named by default "Decklink Quad (1) -> Decklink Quad (8)
- For a Decklink 8K Pro, you will have 4 "devices" named by default "Decklink 8K Pro (1) -> Decklink 8K Pro (4)
- Once you have selected the device you want to configure, click on the settings icon, or in the list view, click on the corresponding settings icon:
- Then click on the "Connectors" section:
- This will open the setting page for the “Connector Mapping”. Depending on the device that you use, the connector mapping will be different.
Connector Mapping for the Duo 2 and Quad 2
- By default, for the first device, it should be set to Connector: SDI 1 & SDI 2. This means that the connector number 1 and connector number 2 are "grouped".
- To be able to use the 8 individual inputs of the Quad 2, you should change the Connector mapping to "SDI 1" for the Decklink Quad (1), and do the same thing for the devices 2, 3 and 4:
Connector Mapping for the 8K Pro
- (a quick reminder that this will work only with drivers 11.1 and later)
- By default the selected connector mapping is "SDI 1&2 In, SDI 3 & 4 Out".
- To be able to use the 4 individual 12G 4K inputs of the 8K Pro, you should select Connector Mapping "SDI 1 In or Out". No need to change anything else on the other devices, the changes will be automatic.
What is the recommended configuration for Softron ?
In most situations with our software, you will want to change the connector mapping so they are NOT grouped, and each device is independent. So for example,
- for the Decklink Duo 2 or Quad 2, for device "Decklink Quad (1), set the connector mapping to "SDI 1", etc... This will allow you to really configure the inputs and outputs the way you want.
- for the Decklink 8K Pro, select "SDI 1 In or Out"
You will only want to "group" the connectors in the following cases:
- with our playout applications, if you want to playout using the keying feature of the card. See below for more explanations on this.
- with our ingest applications, if you want to have a passthrough of the incoming video to the output connector
- with the 8K Pro, if you want to ingest/playout in 8K
Devices capabilities depending on connector mapping
Depending on the connector mapping selected, the capabilities of the device will be different.
In the tables below, we'll use the example of the device "Decklink Quad (1)" of a Duo 2 or Quad 2 card. Also the capabilities are set if you change all connector mappings the same way, but you can have 2 connectors grouped, and the other ones remain individual, it's not a global setting for all connectors, except for the Decklink 8K Pro as in this case the connector mapping of one connector impacts all connectors.
Decklink Duo 2
| Connector Mapping (for device 1) | SDI 1 | SDI 1 & 2 |
| Profile | 4 sub-devices* | 2 sub-devices* |
| Maximum number of in/out | 4 in or out* |
|
| Number of devices seen in Softron | 4* | 2* |
| Duplex modes | Each device is in or out. If you use device 1 in MovieRecorder you can not use it in OnTheAir Video. | Each device is in AND out. If you use input 1 in MovieRecorder, you can still use output 1 in OnTheAir Video. |
| Loop through | NO | YES (when using input 1, the signal will be looped through output 1) |
| Keying | NO | YES |
* If all devices are set the same way... But you can use any combination. You can configure 2 connectors as "grouped", and the others will remain independent.
Decklink Quad 2
| Connector Mapping (for device 1) | SDI 1 | SDI 1 & 2 |
| Profile | 8 sub-devices* | 4 sub-devices* |
| Maximum number of in/out | 8 in or out* |
|
| Number of devices seen in Softron | 8* | 4* |
| Duplex modes | Each device is in or out. If you use device 1 in MovieRecorder you can not use it in OnTheAir Video. | Each device is in AND out. If you use input 1 in MovieRecorder, you can still use output 1 in OnTheAir Video. |
| Loop through | NO | YES (when using input 1, the signal will be looped through output 1) |
| Keying | NO | YES |
* If all devices are set the same way... But you can use any combination. You can configure 2 connectors as "grouped", and the others will remain independent.
Decklink 8K Pro
| Connector Mapping (for device 1) | SDI 1 In or Out | SDI 1 In, SDI 2 Out | SDI 1& 2 In, SDI 3 & 4 Out | SDI 1 to 4 In or Out |
| Profile | 4 sub-devices | 2 sub-devices | 1 sub-device full-duplex | 1 sub-device half-duplex |
| Maximum number of in/out | 4 in or out |
|
|
1 in or out |
| Supports 8K? | NO | NO | NO | YES |
| Number of devices seen in Softron | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Duplex modes | Each device is in or out. If you use device 1 in MovieRecorder you can not use it in OnTheAir Video. | Each device is in AND out. If you use input 1 in MovieRecorder, you can still use output 1 in OnTheAir Video. | If you use the device in MovieRecorder, you can still use it in OnTheAir Video. | You can use the device in OnTheAir Video or MovieRecorder. Not both at the same time. |
| Loop through | NO | YES (when using input 1, the signal will be looped through output 1) | YES (when using device 1, the signal will be looped through connector 3) | NO |
| Keying | NO | YES | YES | YES |
Examples and cabling guide for Quad 2
When using connector mapping "SDI 1 & 2"
When using connector mapping 1 & 2, you won't be able to use the device "Decklink Quad (5)", as that device would otherwise use the connector SDI 2.
Indeed, if you configure the devices 1 to 4 to use "grouped" connectors, then the connector mapping will look something like this:
As you can see you can thus have maximum 4 inputs and 4 outputs. Not 8 simultaneous inputs.
Keying with our playout applications
With our playout applications, if you:
- enable internal keying , the input will be made on the connector SDI 1 and the output on the connector SDI 2
- enable external keying, the Fill will be made on connector SDI 1 and the Key will be made on connector SDI 2:
When using connector mapping "SDI 1"
In that configuration, you won't be able to do keying with our playout applications, but you will be able to use connector SDI 1 and SDI 2 independently. And thus, if you configure the devices 1 to 4 to use "independent" connectors, then the connector mapping will be this:
Note that the order of the connectors can be quite confusing...
Connector mappings with the Decklink 8K Pro
The Decklink 8K Pro has multiple configurations available. In very short:
- SDI 1 & 2 In, SDI 3 & 4 Out: allows 1 in AND 1 out at the same time. Supports Single or Dual Link.
- SDI 1 to 4 In or Out: allows either 1 in OR 1 out - the only mapping that supports 8K. Supports Single, Dual or Quad Link.
- SDI 1 In, SDI 2 Out: allows 2 in AND 2 out at the same time. Supports Single Link only.
- SDI 1 In or Out: allows 4 in OR out at the same time, with configurable in/out. This is the most flexible configuration, but does not support ARGB. Supports Single Link only.
Below, we explain on which SDI signals will be received or sent. You can refer to the following connector mapping to know which SDI is which. When looking at your Decklink 8K Pro card, make sure to spot the ref in connector, which is a little bit aside, next to it is SDI 1.
SDI 1 & 2 In, SDI 3 & 4 Out
In this case, you will have 2 individual signals: one for input, one for output. You will not be able to receive 2 different inputs or 2 different outputs. Even if 2 connectors can be used; it's for dual link signals, not for individual signals. In your Softron application, only one output/input will be available - Decklink 8K Pro (1)
Input:
- single link: input only on connector SDI 2
- dual link: input on both SDI 1 & 2
Output:
- YUV 8bit/10bit:
- single link: Output mirrored to SDI 3 & 4
- dual link: Output split to SDI 3 & 4
- ARGB Key off:
- single link (up to 4K60p): Output mirrored to SDI 3 & 4
- dual link (up to 4K60p): Output split to SDI 3 & 4
- ARGB Internal Key:
- single link: Input on SDI 2 - Output mirrored to SDI 3 & 4
- dual link: Input split on SDI 1 & 2 - Output split to SDI 3 & 4
- ARGB External Key:
- single link only: Output Key to SDI 3 - Fill to SDI 4
SDI 1 to 4 In or Out
This mode is for quad link ingest or playback (either 4K or 8K). You will be able to either playout one signal or record one signal, thus only one output/input will be available - Decklink 8K Pro (1)
Input:
- single link: input only on connector SDI 4
- dual link: input on both SDI 1 & 2
- quad link: all SDI 1, 2, 3 & 4 are used
Output:
- YUV 8bit/10bit:
- single link: Output mirrored to SDI 1, 2, 3 & 4
- dual link: Output split to SDI 3 & 4
- quad link: Output quadrants to SDI 1, 2, 3 & 4
- ARGB Key off:
- single link (up to 4K60p): Output mirrored to SDI 1, 2, 3 & 4
- dual link (up to 4K60p): Output split to SDI 3 & 4
- quad link (up to 8K DCI30): Output quadrants to SDI 1, 2, 3 & 4
- ARGB Internal Key:
- Not working
- ARGB External Key:
- single link only: Output Key to SDI 3 - Fill to SDI 1,2 & 4
SDI 1 In, SDI 2 Out
This mode allows you to have up to 4 individual channels, but it will be 2 inputs and 2 outputs, so connectors are assigned to a function.
Input:
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Input on SDI 1 (SDI 2 can be used for YUV output)
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Input on SDI 3 (SDI 4 can be used for YUV output)
Output:
- YUV 8bit/10bit:
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Output to SDI 2 (SDI 1 can be used for video input)
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Output to SDI 4 (SDI 3 can be used for video input)
- ARGB Key off:
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Output to SDI 2 (SDI 1 can be used for video input)
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Output to SDI 4 (SDI 3 can be used for video input)
- ARGB Internal Key (Up to 2160p30):
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Input on SDI 1 - Output keyed signal to SDI 2
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Input on SDI 3 - Output keyed signal to SDI 4
- ARGB External Key (Up to 2160p30):
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Output Key to SDI 1 - Fill to SDI 2
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Output Key to SDI 3 - Fill to SDI 4
SDI 1 In or Out
This mode allows you to have 4 individual inputs and outputs. Each connector can be used as either input or output. This mode does not allow ARGB keying.
Input:
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Input on SDI 1
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Input on SDI 3
- Decklink 8K Pro (3): Input on SDI 2
- Decklink 8K Pro (4): Input on SDI 4
Output:
- YUV 8bit/10bit:
- Decklink 8K Pro (1): Output to SDI 1
- Decklink 8K Pro (2): Output to SDI 3
- Decklink 8K Pro (3): Output to SDI 2
- Decklink 8K Pro (4): Output to SDI 4
- ARGB not available
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