Magewell Pro Convert PTZ Camera Control Setup

The Magewell NDI Pro Convert supports PTZ Camera Control w/ a 8-pin mini din serial output. In our last video, we left off still wondering how this feature worked? You may have read our original review for this product here. The StreamGeeks are one of the first companies in the USA to receive this product for evaluation. So we rushed through initial testing which all proved that this product really does need little setup for NDI video over your Local Area Network. With that being said, the PTZ controls for serial based 8-pin mini din cameras was a little less obvious.

Magewell Pro Convert HDMI PTZ Control

With a little more testing the StreamGeeks have discovered that the Magewell Pro Convert HDMI 4K will easily support VISCA controlled cameras using a serial connection through NDI Studio monitor. That means we can control our PTZ cameras from anywhere on our local area network using the NewTek NDI Studio monitor. But that’s not all. We share how you can use the NDI Studio monitor with a PTZ Joystick controller enabled using an XBox controller as well. This is a very interesting workflow for various needs using the NewTek NDI.

NewTek NDI Studio Monitor xBox controller

NDI Studio Monitor PTZ Controls

With the instant integration with the NDI Studio monitor, the Magewell NDI Convert products really make network video easy to use. The NDI Studio monitor is available as part of the NDI tools and it now supports integration with PTZ camera controls. Usually, by default, you can use your mouse to drag around the pan, tilt and zoom of your network controllable camera that is connected to the NDI Studio Monitor. But we take it a step further in this review video and show how you can use an xBox controller to move around the PTZ Camera. There is zero configuration needed other than simply enabling your USB based xBox controller inside the NDI Studio monitor. Now I will mention that we do not believe PTZ is supported in the NDI Studio monitor version available for Mac users.

8-pin mini din NDI Control Port

8-pin mini din NDI Control Port

This is the first time we have ever seen a serial camera control port available over the network for the NewTek NDI. This serial control port uses what is called an “8 Pin Mini Din” cascade cable which is sold by PTZOptics in lengths of 25′. You can find the PTZOptics PTZ camera control cascade cables here. The only thing that you may want to think about is setting up your PTZ camera with the correct camera address and baud rates. It was funny to see a “Baud Rate” inside an IP networking world but this is what Magewell does best. Providing products that help bridge the gap between analog products and the digital IP world. So one you have your camera set up with the correct VISCA camera address and baud rate everything should work perfectly for camera control including with matching information in the Magewell NDI Convert Dashboard.

HDMI Loop Through NDI Capture Card

Conclusion:

We also really love the HDMI loop through capabilities included in this 4K NDI and HDMI conversion box. Magewell has done a great job and this product fits perfectly with PTZOptics cameras and the entire product line. We are sure to see much more from Magewell when it comes to the NewTek NDI world and how it will evolve.

More Magewell Video Production Equipment Reviews Here