External capture device that has SDI and XLR AES/EBU inputs?

[digicube]

Can someone recommend an external USB/Lightning capture device that has SDI and 2 XLR AES/EBU (4 channels) inputs?

[ozymango]

https://www.aja.com/products/ki-pro-go

[digicube]

That device only do analog audio in, not digital audio in.

[ozymango]

https://www.aja.com/products/ki-pro-ultra-12g

[digicube]

I assume I need this cable. https://www.amazon.com/Mogami-AES-TD-DB25-XLR/dp/B0002E280O

[digicube]

What about legacy internal capture cards for cheaper price? I only need SD capture.

[dellsam34]

Look for BM SDI cards, Though not sure about AES input since SDI carries audio and most SDI players do have audio embedded in the SDI output, You are not considering those devices linked above, are you?

[digicube]

No, too expensive. Budget is under $500. The cheaper the better. Hopefully $150 for legacy cards. I need something that can mux SDI video and XLR digital audio together.

[ozymango]

I must admit I was being somewhat facetious in linking to a $4K video/audio capture device, it's just that you want a hell of a lot in one package (no offense) so if you've got the $$$$$$, why the heck not have fun?

Anyway depending on how serious you are, how resourceful you are, how cheap you are -- realistically you need two devices, one for SDI input and the other for audio, you can save $$$$$ by buying used devices and tweaking your own setup ... but also realistically if you're the kind of person who really would consider that an option, you wouldn't be asking if someone can recommend an external USB/Lightning capture device that has SDI and 2 XLR AES/EBU (4 channels) inputs because that's a unicorn magic device that'll set you back $4K.

I personally think it would be a lot of fun to custom-build a system that would do what you want, and you could probably put one together for a whole lot less than $4K -- and that would be for an entire workstation, as I wouldn't use USB for my capture device(s), I'd use PCI-E/PCI devices in a full-size computer case, dual monitors, audio mixer, etc.

[digicube]

True but for SD capture, today's laptop is more than powerful enough.

[ozymango]

True but for SD capture, today's laptop is more than powerful enough.

Not a question of power, it's a matter of allocating my resources to get the most bang for the buck.

[digicube]

Here's a cheaper external device I found. https://www.aja.com/products/3g-am

[dellsam34]

Not so fast, The mini USB port is for control only not for capturing, The device is just an Audio embedder serializer, You still need another SDI to computer interface. It's no different than this.

[digicube]

Good catch and find. That's a much cheaper alternative. I have a Blackmagic UltraStudio Express so I can connect the Audio embedder serializer to it. Thanks.

[digicube]

Will a XLR to 1/4" adapter such as this work for digital audio? https://www.switchcraft.com/Product.aspx?ID=6907

[dellsam34]

Used is even cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackmagic-Design-Audio-to-SDI-Mini-Converter/174678780474?ha...gAAOSw8HpgSvqH

[Cornucopia]

No. There is no form of digital audio that uses that connector, whether on input or output, whether balanced or unbalanced.

The common forms of digital audio (unattached from video):
AES3 (using xlr connector)
Spdif electrical (using rca connector, but different impedance than standard analog rca cables, sometimes uses bnc)
Spdif optical (aka TOSlink)
Adat lightpipe (looks like toslink but holds 8 ch instead of 2)
Madi (uses optical connector similar to adat lightpipe, or uses electrical connectors similar to spdif using bnc - usually in bunches for many channels)
Dante/AES67 (using ethernet cabling & similar packet networking protocols)

That's basically it.


Scott

[digicube]

But the blackmagic design device uses 1/4" connector for digital audio, so how do I connect to it from a XLR connector?

[Cornucopia]

Odd. Does it come with some pigtail adapter? Possibly done as a space-saving measure. In that case, if one is not included, you might get by with something like what you mentioned. Just make sure it is TRS, not just TS, and make sure pin2 is hot.


Scott

[dellsam34]

Pro digital audio for video is different from pro audio, It comes in different plugs and connectors, Some are Phoenix quick snap connectors or screw in wiring, some are DB25, 1/4 inch single channel and dual channel, BNC, XLR and some other proprietary connectors that use breakout cables. So it depends on what piece of hardware you buy.

For that adapter, You would need to figure out if the 1/4" plugs are single or dual channels, then find out if you can simply use the ground and hot or you have to short out the ground to the cold pin.