# Blackmagic Design Video Source

Source: https://mimolive.com/user-manual/sources-input/local-sources/blackmagic-design-video/  
Last updated: 2023-03-10  
Section: Sources (Input) › Local Sources  

From the user's perspective, this video source works exactly like the [Video](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/sources-input/video/) source, but uses a Blackmagic Design device via the Blackmagic Desktop Video SDK. This means it has very low latency, high video quality and a small performance footprint. It is perfect for capturing video from HDMI or SDI cameras and devices.

It is available automatically if mimoLive detects a Blackmagic Design device connected to your system.

#### Using the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup

> **Important:** BMD Desktop Video Setup vs. Desktop Video Utility
>
> Please note that they are two different applications that look almost exactly the same. However, the setup described below is only possible in the `Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup`. You can download the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup from [https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/de/support/family/capture-and-playback](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/de/support/family/capture-and-playback)

If you are using a *Black**magic De**ckLink* capture card, you will want to make sure that it is properly configured. To do this, download and install the ***Desktop Video Setup*** application. Most cards like the ***DeckLink Quad*** are preconfigured to use their 8 channels as 4 channels, each with a separate throughput. (e.g. channel 1 uses connectors 1 and 2) This can be useful to capture 4 HD-SDI signals while sending the signals to another device.

The more common use would be to use all 8 channels as separate inputs or outputs.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/f6b8d169-2ac3-4ddf-92da-53be109d031d.jpeg)

Step 1: Click on the menu button to show an overview of all connected BMD devices.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/b075a6f6-8e25-4f07-b192-462abb4331a5.jpeg)

Step 2: Click on the options button behind the channel you want to adjust.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0cfed646-94fc-4495-bbfc-d26009a3ba41.jpeg)

Step 3: Select the single channel from the drop-down menu.

> **Important:** Selecting a single connector for one channel automatically assigns the other.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/d4f15ae2-2565-4077-8f56-4b6aa6577069.png)

Step 4: After selecting `Blackmagic Design Video` in the sources section of mimoLive, you are able to assign each channel separately.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/34f857d9-7edb-463a-ae90-b64173874ed2.png)

Step 5: If you want to use the DeckLink card for HD-SDI playback, you can assign a channel in the playback menu.

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/5c7490af-a6bd-429d-8743-0ee772c4cf35.jpeg)

The connectors are mapped alternately. The rightmost one is for reference.

In this setup we are using 8 HD SDI Sources with a Blackmagic Quad 2 card in a Sonnet Technologies Echo Express box:

![](https://mimolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/b9bf20b9-97eb-4e6a-9af2-6d8765835af2.jpeg)