HDCP issues with Blackmagic products

Hi Forumers,

So I'm setting up a moblieish broadcast system and the boss just decided he wanted one more feature, split a laptop (Macbook Pro 2014) with graphics to the ATEM switcher and a Television in the background of the shot. The problem comes when I try and use an HDMI switcher and splitter in one. I am using the StarTech 2x2 Matrix (VS222HD4K) and I have tested all cables and input/outputs, everything works correctly, I can even send a signal from a camera (HDMI out) to the Switcher/Splitter (HDMI IN and OUT) to both a TV (HDMI in) and the ATEM (either HDMI in or SDI in via Blackmagic HDMI to SDI converter), but it won't allow me to send a signal from my laptop (HDMI Out) even when I have no programs open and am just showing the desktop (Either mirrored or extended) yet at the same time it will allow it to feed to the TV! I have tried plugging directly in the the ATEM, through the HDMI - SDI converter, from the converter to an SDI monitor, and directly into the Ultra Studio Mini Recorder (Both via HDMI and converted to SDI), none of them allow the laptop to pass a signal. From everything I have read and tested and all the tech support people I have spoken with, both at Blackmagic and StarTech, it seems that the issue lies with the EDID of the Blackmagic devices, and/or the HDCP. Probably the Switcher/Splitter thinks this is advice that can copy and so is flagging it's copy protection protocols, or some such (Not an expert on this aspect of everything!) I think I can probably bypass this problem by buying a separate HDMI Splitter to feed directly from the laptop to the ATEM, and split to the Switcher for the TV, but I would rather not buy anymore hardware for this as this StarTech device should do what I need, and does for every other aspect. Anyone know how to get the handshaking to work right for this? Is there something on the Laptop end I can do? Is there anything on the Blackmagic device end I can do to affect the EDID and/or HDCP? Thanks for any help, and I hope this can help others with similar issues!

UPDATE: After more time on the phone with tech support reps and testing it looks like the problem lies somewhere between the splitter/switcher and the ATEM. The Macbook Pro works perfectly if I feed it directly into the ATEM (Either HDMI or SDI), as well as to the TV through the Switcher/Splitter, but it still allows no signal if it is running through the splitter/switcher to the ATEM. If there is no software or firmware around this, then is there a splitter that anyone can recommend that will allow the signal to pass from laptop to ATEM? I've tested the KanexPro HDMI 1x4 Mini Splitter (powered) and it allows stops the signal from reaching the ATEM. It seems that on it's own there are no HDCP issues, yet once it enters another powered device it gets thrown off.

Try feeding an Apple TV to the splitter. See if that way you get images to both TV and ATEM.
That's how we get Mac mirrored trough our matrix/splitter to multiple TV's and the ATEM without problems.

The splitter may be negotiating a different mode than the ATEM is set at. Check the display preferences on the Mac while everything is connected and make sure or set the display setting to your ATEM mode.

Regards,

Dave.

Hello Trufin, thanks for your reply. I have tried Apple TV, but in our setup it wasn't totally reliable, especially when using the switcher to change between sources for the monitor.

Hi Dave, thank you for that. I have fiddled with the settings, and the Laptop works great when fed alone to the ATEM, it's only when it hits the splitter/switcher first that there is an issue.

I'm thinking I just need a splitter to go to the ATEM directly from he laptop and the other splitter will run to the, now just, switcher to the TV. Can anyone recommend a splitter that will FOR SURE send an HDCP source signal to the ATEM?

What about a Decimator MD-HX type solution?

It's a splitter / converter that could help you, and be of other future use.

Connect the laptop in the HDMI - in
Have it set up to loop HDMI out to a TV, and have a SDI cable connecting it to the ATEM. In this mode you can convert the signal to the ATEM at anything free of matching your TV.

There are devices on the market that are able to suppress the HDCP in an HDMi signal as long as you accept a slight degradation of the overall image quality. I can't make names "in clear" but, if you will send me your e-mail, I will contact you.

There are devices on the market that are able to suppress the HDCP in an HDMi signal as long as you accept a slight degradation of the overall image quality. I can't make names "in clear" but, if you will send me your e-mail, I will contact you.

there are devices on aliexpress that will do hdmi->sdi while "forgetting" about HDCP...