Decimator MD-HX for Progressive-to-Interlaced Preview - Accuracy vs. Export?

[Peter Reef]

Decimator MD-HX for Progressive-to-Interlaced Preview - Accuracy vs. Export?

Hi Adobe community,

I'm dealing with a workflow challenge and hoping to get some real-world experience from those who've used hardware converters for interlaced preview.

My Situation

I need to edit UHD 50p footage in Premiere Pro but deliver final output as HD 50i. Working directly in a 50i timeline destroys my MacBook Pro's performance - effects like Warp Stabilizer become unusable and playback stutters constantly.

Proposed Hardware Solution

I'm considering this daisy chain setup:
MacBook Pro → Blackmagic UltraStudio Mini Monitor 3G → Decimator MD-HX → External Monitor

• Step 1: Mini Monitor 3G downsamples UHD progressive to HD progressive

• Step 2: MD-HX converts HD progressive to HD 50i for accurate preview

My Key Questions

1. Interlace Accuracy: For those using the Decimator MD-HX or similar hardware converters - do you find that the real-time hardware conversion shows similar interline twitter, aliasing, and motion artifacts as your final exported interlaced file?

2. Preview Reliability: Can you actually rely on these hardware converters for accurate interlaced preview, or are there significant differences between what you see on the external monitor vs. the final export?

3. Alternative Workflow: Has anyone found a better way to work in progressive timelines while getting reliable interlaced preview?

4. Specific MD-HX Experience: If you've used the MD-HX specifically for progressive-to-interlaced conversion, how does the quality compare to Premiere's software interlacing on export?

Technical Context

• Source: UHD 50p footage

• Timeline: Working in UHD or HD progressive for performance

• Delivery: HD 50i final export

• Platform: MacBook Pro with Premiere Pro

• Budget: Under $500 for hardware solution

I really hope the hardware conversion will look similar to the exported file - otherwise this whole approach won't work for my client deliverables.

Has anyone dealt with this specific workflow challenge? Any insights on whether hardware interlacing matches software export quality would be hugely appreciated!

[John V Knowles]

In theory, the Decimator should work (provided it can indeed output 50i). I haven't used that model before but I have used a Decimator in the past and it was rock solid; you may want to install the software and keep it plugged into USB so you can modify the output without using the on-device buttons (which can be difficult to navigate).

I would skip the UltraStudio Mini Monitor 3G though -- that model can only output HD. If you're trying to monitor 4K then you need something like an UltraStudio Mini 4K or a Decklink card in a Thunderbolt breakout box. 

[Peter Reef]

thanks for your help. @John V Knowles Some users in other forums told me, that the output can definitely look different than the final export, to hardware interlacing will just give an estimation about how interlacing will look like. Guess its better to export, monitor and then export again with different settings if it does not look right - even if this takes longer in the first place maybe with some experience I will find the right sharpening or motion blur footage that will work on my footage.

As interlacing exists only for HD i have to convert to 1080i anyway, so an UltraStudio Mini 4k will not help me unless its able to convett UHD to 50i HD on the fly, is it?

Usually I review my raw footage in UHD on my monitor without breakout box and only in the last step for CC I will connect the Mini Monitor to convert to HD as it adds latency and a slight lag while scrubbing. 

So in this case I will do it this way:

Monitor and edit in UHD - apply effects like warp stabilizer.

CC with Mini Monitor 3g for accurate colour while real time converting to 50p HD.

Export final 50i.

Reimport to 50i timeline in premiere and check on Mini Monitor 3g in 50i HD.

If theres interline twitter, moire, aliasing go back and re-export.

Any other suggestions?