HDMI

[Marrk]

This is regarding a 14-in. MacBook Pro (2021) running OS 12.6.3.

1) Tell me anything about the HDMI port on my machine.

2) How well will it work with this (see image)?

Thanks.

 

[ferrarr]

This is regarding a 14-in. MacBook Pro (2021) running OS 12.6.3.

1) Tell me anything about the HDMI port on my machine.

2) How well will it work with this (see image)?

Thanks.

It should work perfectly well.

 

[Marrk]

This is what I hope to do:

MacBook Pro + LG Slim Portable DVD Writer = Show a DVD on an A/V system at work.

The A/V system is a PC with an overhead projector.

Will this work?

 

[ferrarr]

Your OP was about the HDMI cord, what is the cord connecting to?

 

[Marrk]

Your OP was about the HDMI cord, what is the cord connecting to?

As in Post 3, it's connecting to a system that is comprised of an overhead projector and a PC, but, as I reflect on this, I think the answer your question is that it goes to the overhead projector. Just not sure.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Correct, the content comes from the DVD writer which is connecting over USB. The output will come out the HDMI port through the HDMI cable to the projector.

You would not connect the output of the MBP to the PC since that's also meant for output only, not an input.

However, the HDMI port on the projector, like a TV or monitor, is an input ONLY.

 

[Marrk]

Would this work if I need a backup plan:

The PC appears to have USB ports. I think I can plug the DVD writer directly into the PC and use the PC to project the DVD.

Two possible problems:

1) I don't know what software is on the PC to play the DVD.

2) I don't really know how to use PCs very well.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Yes, you can plug the DVD writer to the PC. If you are going to play a commercial DVD on there, putting it into the DVD player will automatically launch the Windows Media Player which will play the content.

You don't need to know how to use Windows, just how to click on Start->Programs->Media Player and you're done.

 

[Marrk]

Yes, you can plug the DVD writer to the PC. If you are going to play a commercial DVD on there, putting it into the DVD player will automatically launch the Windows Media Player which will play the content.

You don't need to know how to use Windows, just how to click on Start->Programs->Media Player and you're done.

If the DVD writer is using a USB cable, then the speeds will be limited by that, regardless of the speed of the HDMI 4K. Correct?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

There is no "speed" associated with HDMI 4K.

That writer supports USB 2.0 which yields 480Mbps (60Mbyte/s) speeds. The writer will have a buffer to cache some data and the media player on Windows will provide additional caching.

So, if you are using a DVD with 4K content, and use the HDMI 4K cable and the projector supports 4K. Everything will be at 4K.

 

[Marrk]

UPDATE: I was able to plug the HDMI cable into my MacBook Pro and use it to play the DVD off of the LG Portable DVD Writer. The only point of failure was the audio, so everyone had to listen to the speakers on the MacBook Pro. I do not know if this was due to the fact that there were no speakers in the A/V system or if I failed to select something.

NOTE: The A/V was connected to a PC. The PC had USB ports but no DVD drive. I plugged the DVD Writer directly into the PC, but the system did not recognize it. The only media player on the PC was VLC (with the orange traffic cone symbol). I was unable to select the DVD through VLC.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

UPDATE: I was able to plug the HDMI cable into my MacBook Pro and use it to play the DVD off of the LG Portable DVD Writer. The only point of failure was the audio, so everyone had to listen to the speakers on the MacBook Pro. I do not know if this was due to the fact that there were no speakers in the A/V system or if I failed to select something.

Every version of HDMI, even the oldest versions (HDMI 1.0 being the oldest version, we are currently up to HDMI 2.1, your Mac and cable likely support HDMI 2.0) can handle audio, so the problem wasn't due to the version of HDMI your devices/computer/cable were using.

Generally when audio doesn't play when you've attached things via HDMI, either the proper audio output was not chosen in System Preferences/Settings on your Mac, or the proper audio input was not chosen on your monitor/TV.

 

[Marrk]

... the proper audio output was not chosen in System Preferences/Settings on your Mac

Ugh! I forgot all about that!

Thanks.

 

[Slydude]

Ugh! I forgot all about that!

Thanks.

Been there. Done that. Didn't die due to embarrassment, so I guess all good.

I once spent about an hour or so testing four or five mics with 3.5 mm connectors to see if any of them were worth keeping. I connected each of them on turn to my G5/Mac Pro tower. None registered.

I thought it odd/unlikely that none of them worked so I kept looking for answers. Then it dawned on me that on that Mac the 3.5 mm port I was trying to use was a line in port rather than a mic port.

Color me embarrassed.

 

[pm-r]

Color me embarrassed.

I'm sure you are not alone and certainly won't be the last either.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Slydude]

Whenever I tell Mrs. Slydude that one of you guys called me a genius she reminds me of some of my more memorable electronics-related failures.

 

[Slydude]

I toyed with asking forum members to flood a thread with assurances that I am, in fact, a genius. Her rebuttal of course is that we have been married for decades and she has a pile of evidence suggesting that I am not the genius I think I am.