Video & projection
Decimator MD-HX troubleshooting
The Decimator MD-HX problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called Decimator Design MD-HX, Decimator HX, MD HX, MDHX). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common MD-HX errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Unknown presenter laptop HDMI source causes bad image on Decimator MD-HX input, can't access laptop drivers
Likely cause: The EDID emulator intercepts the display handshake and tells the laptop to always output a fixed, Decimator-compatible timing/color format, bypassing the laptop's own EDID negotiation and the Decimator's flaky RGB input handling.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Decimator MD-HX shows no/bad signal from laptop HDMI but works fine with other HDMI sources and into a capture card
Likely cause: The MD-HX's HDMI input only reliably supports certain pixel encodings (RGB 4:4:4 or specific YCbCr modes), so forcing the GPU to output RGB matches what the unit expects.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Audio on wrong channels / need to shuffle pairs
Likely cause: The MD-HX can reorder embedded audio pairs internally, fixing channel-mapping mismatches in-box.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Firmware currency / UCP software (v3.0.4)
Likely cause: v3.0.4 unlocks VESA/2K input and built-in diagnostics that older firmware lacks.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
3G-SDI output will not lock on downstream gear
Likely cause: Level A and Level B are different 3G-SDI mappings; the receiver must be set to the same one to lock.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
HDMI wrong colors / no picture (RGB vs YCbCr)
Likely cause: The converter only accepts specific HDMI color encodings; an out-of-spec GPU mode gives wrong color or no lock.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Isolating a signal-chain fault with no test gear
Likely cause: A clean internal reference signal splits the chain so you know which side of the box is at fault.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Need extra SDI feeds off one source
Likely cause: The four SDI outs are independent buffered drivers, so it works as a DA with no extra gear.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Unit will not power or resets over USB
Likely cause: Under-powered bus ports cannot supply the MD-HX draw; the wide 5-32V input lets you run a proper supply.
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HDMI source gives blank/black output (HDCP)
Likely cause: HDCP-encrypted HDMI cannot legally be re-clocked to SDI, so the converter mutes the output.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
720p60 (or other) HDMI input drops / intermittent
Likely cause: Most intermittent HDMI locks trace to cable/EDID or old firmware rather than a bad port.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the MD-HX
- 1. Pick the Decimator MD-HX. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.