Looking for a DAC to convert HDMI to analog (yes, yes, I know... HDCP) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 02:55:54 pm
content: Hi all-Yeah, I know that HDCP is problematic here. Still, I have a need for just such a device.My home has an older multiroom signal routing system based entirely on component video. I want to add a Roku as a new source into the existing video matrix. So I need to convert the digital Roku output to analog video & audio. Is there any way to actually make this work in the real world?Thanks.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 04:19:36 pm
content: $10 at Walmart. But I'm sure there are plenty to choose from out there:https://www.walmart.com/tp/hdmi-to-rca-converter

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 07:58:33 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on September 05, 2017, 04:19:36 pmThose convert to composite video. OP wants component video (three video jacks and two for audio, all RCA). Like this:https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=hdmi%20component%20converter&typeahead=hdmi%20component

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 08:04:00 pm
content: OK, $20 then. Still at Walmart, though.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 08:19:07 pm
content: You can convert any signal you want to whatever you want. You gotta pay tho, often a lot. There are HDCP "Strippers" as some HDMI splitters unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) strip the HDCP from HDMI. These devices are not technically legal to sell (breaking the DCMA's law against circumventing copy protection mechanisms, at least in the US), but you can still buy them, it's just gonna be hard to locate them.For me if I had money I would purchase something that could convert RGB directly into YPbPr so I can use SCART connections on my American television equipment. I also have a Commodore 1084 monitor with Analog RGB that it can theoretically sync to both to PAL and NTSC in colour.It's a dream of mine, in particular, to never have to deal with converting signals ever again, and to be in a position where I can not care about what a device outputs/inputs, and that I can deal with it in near perfect quality.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 08:29:59 pm
content: If I had the money I'd would convert everything toSDI. It's brilliant technology used extensively in professional video.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 09:34:38 pm
content: I haven't looked into this recently, but don't some HDMi splitters strip the HDCP?Another option migt be an HDMI to VGA adapter.I'm not sure what resolution you're looking at distributing, 1080p at 60fps is doable (and about the limit) over VGA.I haven't had much luck myself with HDMI splitters beyond 1080p/60fps, even those that purport to be HDMI 2.0, so 4k/UHD might be "experimental" shall we say.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 11:01:19 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on September 05, 2017, 09:34:38 pm

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 01:21:54 am
content: I bought two different HDMI splitters a few years ago and both worked as HDCP strippers out of the box. I actually bought the first one with the intent of hacking it into a HDCP stripper for fun...

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 01:57:03 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on September 06, 2017, 01:21:54 amThe thing is that it's not always gonna do that. I even think stuff like HDMI 2 has a new version of HDCP that has not been broken, but idk about that, pure speculation.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 03:05:01 am
content: HDMI DACs will work with HDCP content on properly designed players, it's just that the output will be down-sampled to 480p by the source video device. If the source video device can't do this, then it will just refuse to output a video signal as in the case of many cheap consumer AV hardware. You will have more luck with commercial players here, some of which may output 1080i in component analog already. As for using a PC or media player to output HDCP flagged content without seeing a HDCP enabled monitor, patches exist for windows which will make you PC always see a HDCP screen even if you use analog VGA out.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 03:16:41 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on September 06, 2017, 02:02:30 amI would not count on this...In fact, it should only be possible if the splitter has been pirated or it is an illegal one.Legal splitters re-encrypt....