HDMI

Nick has a camcorder with HDMI out and he wants to know if he can run Wirecast with a tablet. Leo says probably not. He'll need a computer because tablets don't have HDMI in, only HDMI Out. He'd also need HDMI live as a feature in the camcorder. If it will only be live in playback, then it won't help. Do any notebooks have HDMI? Leo uses Canon Vixia's with a Blackmagic converter to run into the computer. Imogen also makes an HDMI Input card.

Ed would like to connect his Windows laptop to a 40" TV. Leo says that if the monitor has an HDMI connector, and his laptop has HDMI, he's golden. He may need to go into his display settings to mirror the image out through HDMI to the monitor. That way it's sending it out.

If he's on a later version of Windows, the key stroke is + P. If he's changed the settings and the TV doesn't adjust, he should try unplugging the port to the TV and plug it back in. That will reset it so the TV will read it. He may also need to change his resolution to a lower setting.

Ron's son has an account on The Cube, a high school sports streaming site. Ron would like to use his DSLR to stream live to it, but it won't work via USB. Leo says that USB isn't designed for a live video feed. Live video could be used via HDMI. So if that works, then he'll need an HDMI converter or video capture device to then be able to convert it for the stream. If his computer has HDMI in, then he's golden.

Michael has one HDMI port going to his receiver that acts as a kind of switcher. But his antenna goes into coax. Leo says that Michael needs to get a digital box now because nobody really broadcasts in analog anymore. Leo says a TV with digital out could be routed to the tuner, but there will be audio sync issues.

Bob wants to use his Canon Rebel T3i as a webcam. Leo says he would need HDMI passthru. He'll need a miniHDMI to HDMI cable, then he can connect it to his TV. But if his computer doesn't have HDMI, then he'll also need a video adapter. But for all of the effort required, he should probably just get a good HD Webcam. Leo likes the Logitech C920. It'll connect via USB and will work great.

Oscar wants to get the Roku 3 and run it through his home theater, but he doesn't have any available HDMI ports. Leo says that's a problem. That means he'll need an HDMI switcher, and frankly, they don't work as well. The Giz Wiz says that the Monoprice HDMI switcher works great.

John wants to play stuff from his computer to his TV, but it doesn't have HDMI out. Leo says that if you have DVI Out on your computer, you can buy an adapter that will allow you to connect it to your TV. Other options include

John would like to connect his computer to an HDTV and he's not really interested in 4K. What's the best TV? Leo says that there's not much content for 4K and even if there was, computers can't take advantage of it. A 1080p HDTV with HDMI will work just fine. And for gaming, a 60hz set will be sufficient.