Planning Your Videohub Installation
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Planning your Micro Videohub Installation
Micro Videohub is a tiny router and is perfect for locations where minimal space is available, such as outside
broadcast trucks. It features 16 SDI inputs, 16 SDI outputs, reference input, a universal power supply and
powerful Videohub routing control software for Mac OS X and Windows.
All SDI connections support auto detection of SD, HD or 3 Gb/s SDI, and reclocking on all SDI inputs.
Simultaneous routing of 2K, HD, SD video and DVB-ASI are supported with Micro Videohub.
Remote router control is performed via 10/100Base-T Ethernet, serial or USB 2.0 and then shared over an IP
network in much the same way as USB printer sharing.
If router control is performed via Ethernet, the integrated “Videohub Server” is used and you need only
provide an Ethernet cable to connect Micro Videohub to your Ethernet network switch.
If router control is performed via USB 2.0, you must nominate a computer to be the “Videohub Server”
and to perform Videohub sharing via USB. You can use almost any computer for the Videohub Server, such
as an editing workstation, and you don’t need a dedicated or powerful computer for this task. However
the Videohub Server computer must remain powered on at all times so that Videohub settings can be
modified. If your Micro Videohub is too far away to connect via USB, or if you do decide to use a dedicated
server computer, this could be a great use for an old Mac OS X or Windows computer which is no longer
fast enough for other work. Alternatively you could use a very small computer, such as a netbook or Mac
Mini, which can be hidden in an equipment rack along with your Micro Videohub. You will need to provide
a standard USB 2.0 type A-B male cable to connect Micro Videohub to the server computer.
Third party router controllers can control Micro Videohub via Ethernet, or as an RS-422 slave device, for
router crosspoint switching. The Videohub Ethernet protocol, RS-422 protocol and RS-422 pinout diagram
are documented in the Developer Information section of this manual.
Occasional firmware updates can be downloaded from the Blackmagic Design website. Programmable
firmware can provide new features, compatibility with new hardware and support for new formats. The
Videohub firmware update utility runs on Mac OS X and Windows computers and uses a USB 2.0 connection
to Micro Videohub. You will need to provide a standard USB 2.0 type A-B male cable.
Micro Videohub is 1 rack unit high and less than an inch thick. You will need to leave enough space in
your equipment rack to install the Micro Videohub hardware. You can rack-mount Micro Videohub facing
forwards or reversed, or even mount it in the rear of the rack to leave space for other equipment. If you don’t
have a rack, then you can leave it in a safe place on the floor!
The Micro Videohub includes a universal power supply, with thumb screw fasteners, for use in all countries.
You will need to provide a standard IEC cord, with a C13 connector, and a mains power socket. A second
power socket will be required if you decide to use a dedicated server computer.
