The Video Source combines and video device and an audio device.

Adding video sources to mimoLive

Most Macs come with a built-in webcam. Apart from that most standard configuration does not contain a built-in video capture device. There are many devices available reaching from simple USB HDMI Grabber to multi-channel professional video capture devices.

Using HDMI Video Sources

Using a camera with HDMI output, like a video camcorder, a DSLR or grabbing the video output of a PowerPoint presentation using a laptop requires the use of an HDMI video input device.

HDMI Video Input via Thunderbolt

The following devices are great for capturing HDMI through Thunderbolt:

  • Blackmagic Design DeckLink Mini Recorder
  • Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder
  • Blackmagic Design PCI cards in a PCIe expansion box (for example Sonnet Technologies)
  • Magewell Pro Capture cards in a PCIe expansion box (for example Sonnet Technologies)

HDMI Video Input via USB 3

There are now a number of USB 3 devices that don’t require a driver to be installed:

  • Magewell USB Capture HDMI
  • AJA U-TAP

DSLR Cameras

If you plan to use a DSLR camera, please make sure that the following applies to the model you want to use:

  • It provides a “clean” signal via HDMI, meaning a video signal without menu overlays. For many DSLR vendors, the HDMI output is for connecting a larger viewfinder so it is easier to operate the camera, but not for live video output.
  • It is built to provide a video signal for a longer time. Many DSLRs overheat if the sensor is active for too long and turn off the live video to cool down.

Using SDI Video Sources

Using 8 HD SDI Sources with a Blackmagic Quad 2 card in a Sonnet Technologies Echo Express box.

For SDI cameras, you will also require a capture device. The following devices work quite well with mimoLive:

  • Blackmagic Design DeckLink Mini Recorder (Thunderbolt)
  • Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder (Thunderbolt)
  • Blackmagic Design PCI cards in a PCIe expansion box (for example Sonnet Technologies)
  • Magewell Pro Capture cards in a PCIe expansion box (for example Sonnet Technologies)
  • Magewell USB Capture SDI (USB)
  • AJA U-TAP (USB)

Using 8 HD SDI Sources with a Blackmagic Quad 2 card in a Sonnet Technologies Echo Express box.

Using USB Webcams

Most USB Webcams work with macOS out of the box without requiring a driver. That makes them the fast lane in getting started with your video productions.

Using FaceTime HD Camera

iMacs and Mac laptops are equipped with a front-facing webcam called “FaceTime HD Camera”. This camera is used as the default camera when creating a blank mimoLive document. Because it has a decent quality it is often used to do capture yourself while recording with mimoLive.

Capturing VGA or DVI sources

When capturing presentations it may be possible that a presenter connects its presentation computer to a projector to be able to show their awesome PowerPoint presentations. The projectors often have a secondary video output where you can grab the signal from the projector again. We recommend the grabber hardware by Epiphan: DVI2USB . With a simple VGA to DVI adapter, you are able to use this device to capture a VGA signal as well.

Using Firewire SD cameras

Because Apple kicked out the FireWire port a long time ago you need to have a FireWire extension cable to be able to plug in your FireWire camera to the Mac. Once you have the connection mimoLive will be able to pick up the signal as well.

Using Analog cameras

If you happen to have a PAL or NTSC analog video camera you can get the video to USB grabbers to bring in the video to mimoLive.

Setting Up The Video Device

In the Video and the Audio popup, you can select which video or audio hardware device you are going to use in this video source. The action gear buttons right next to each popup let you configure the settings of the associated device. They will look different for each type of hardware device you have selected.

For the Video Device you have several parameters:

  • Format: Here you can select the video format that is transmitted from the video hardware.
  • Frame Rate: Some devices may provide different frame rates. The popup let you select one.
  • Pixel Aspect Ratio: By default, the Pixel Aspect Ratio is set to “Automatic” in will work in most cases. However, sometimes the pixel aspect ratio may vary (e.g. for an analog NTSC signal) and can’t be correctly detected by mimoLive, then you can force a certain pixel aspect ratio for this video image.

Setting Up The Audio Device

Refer to the Audio Source for more information about configuring audio.

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