Video Scalers-How and When To Use Them

We receive lots of questions on a weekly basis of how to make computer and other signals work with professional video switchers. Frequently, when connecting a computer signal to a video switcher the signal must go through a scan conversion. Professional video switchers operate off of a frame rate usually of 29.97 or 59.94 rather than 30 or 60. This is a holdover from legacy TV systems where an offset was left to make room for color information so the signal could still be compatible with black and white. When you connect a computer signal using a simple HDMI to SDI converter it outputs 60p frame rate instead of 59.94 which makes it unable to be understood by the switcher. In order to fix this you need a scan converter. Even more useful would be a scan converter/ scaler combo. We have pictures of several of these useful devices from @datavideo @atomos and #blackmagicdesign. Message us if you have other questions on the very detailed and techie topic of getting video signals to work in your professional video switcher!  ​