Can you connect microphone through HDMI?

ByJael Lawler

What is HDMI?

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a digital audio/video interface standard used to connect devices like TVs, monitors, projectors, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles etc. [1]

HDMI was developed in the early 2000s to replace analog video standards with a digital alternative that could handle higher quality video and audio signals. The interface combines both video and multi-channel audio data into a single digital signal, eliminating the need for multiple cables between devices.

HDMI implements the ANSI/CTA-861 standard, which defines video formats and waveforms, transport of uncompressed video, audio and data encodings, and device responses to commands and inputs. [2] This allows HDMI devices from different manufacturers to interoperate seamlessly and ensures a consistent quality of experience.

Overall, HDMI provides a simplified cabling solution for home theater and entertainment systems, enabling higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and more advanced audio capabilities compared to legacy analog connections.

HDMI Audio Capabilities

HDMI is capable of transmitting high quality digital audio alongside video signals. According to Axion Audio [1], HDMI supports up to 8 audio channels, allowing for surround sound configurations like 5.1 or 7.1.

The HDMI specification also allows for uncompressed PCM digital audio to be transmitted. This uncompressed audio provides higher quality sound compared to compressed formats like Dolby Digital or DTS. HDMI is capable of transmitting uncompressed audio at sample rates up to 192 kHz [1], exceeding the sample rate of CD quality audio.

By combining high bandwidth video and multi-channel digital audio into a single cable, HDMI provides a high quality A/V connection that is convenient for home theater setups. The audio capabilities make it well suited for watching movies, TV, playing games, or listening to music.

  1. [1] https://www.axiomaudio.com/blog/hdmi

Connecting Microphones to HDMI

HDMI ports cannot directly accept microphone inputs. This is because microphones output analog audio signals, while HDMI carries digital video and audio data. In order to connect a microphone to an HDMI port, you need some type of audio interface to convert the analog microphone signal into a digital format that can be transmitted over HDMI.

There are a couple options for audio interfaces that allow microphones to connect to HDMI:

  • USB audio interface – This device has an analog microphone input and USB output that connects to a computer. The computer can then take the digital audio from the interface and output it over HDMI.
  • HDMI audio extractor – This device splits out just the audio from an HDMI source signal. It converts the digital audio to an analog output that can accept a microphone.

So in summary, the analog signal from a microphone needs to be digitized before it can be carried over HDMI. And audio extracted from an HDMI source needs to be converted back to analog before it can accept a microphone input. This conversion requires some type of external audio interface.

Using Audio Interfaces

External audio interfaces like mixers can be used to connect microphones to HDMI. These devices provide microphone inputs and convert the analog microphone signal to digital audio that can then be output over HDMI.

Dedicated audio interfaces offer features tailored for microphone use, such as phantom power for condenser mics, gain control, and low-latency monitoring. Many models also include digital audio outputs like HDMI that can send the converted microphone signal to other devices.

For example, the Soundcraft MTK12 Mixer provides 12 microphone inputs with phantom power as well as HDMI output. This allows you to connect multiple mics and mix their signals before sending the final stereo audio over the HDMI output.

Another option is the Aten VE66DTH 6×6 Dante Audio Interface with HDMI. This interface accepts 6 balanced mono microphone or line level inputs with phantom power. It then converts these signals to digital audio using the Dante protocol. The HDMI output can send up to 6 channels of digital Dante audio to an external device like a computer or camera.

Using a dedicated audio interface like these provides high-quality microphone preamps and AD converters optimized for voice, music, and audio production applications. The HDMI output makes it easy to integrate external microphones into workflows involving HDMI-equipped mixers, capture cards, cameras, or other gear.

Microphone to HDMI Adapters

Special adapters are available that allow you to connect microphones directly to an HDMI port. These adapters contain a built-in audio interface and microphone preamp, which takes the microphone’s analog signal and converts it into a digital audio signal that can be transmitted over HDMI.

Some popular microphone to HDMI adapters include:

These adapters allow you to connect any standard XLR microphone to an HDMI input. They provide phantom power for condenser mics and usually have gain controls. This makes it easy to get high quality audio into a computer, TV, or other device with HDMI.

Microphone to HDMI Setup

Connecting a microphone to an HDMI port requires an audio interface or adapter that can convert the analog microphone signal to a digital HDMI output. Here is a typical setup:

  1. Connect the microphone to the input of the audio interface using an XLR or 1/4″ cable.
  2. The interface converts the analog microphone input to a digital signal and outputs it via HDMI.
  3. At the destination device (TV, camera etc), the HDMI audio is extracted and the microphone input is added to the audio mix.

Popular audio interfaces like the Focusrite Scarlett are designed for this purpose. Using an interface provides control over gain staging and audio quality compared to basic adapters.

Uses for Microphones with HDMI

Connecting a microphone to an HDMI output allows you to record high-quality audio while capturing video through the same HDMI cable. Here are some common uses cases for microphones with HDMI connections:

Recording voiceovers, podcasts, or vocals along with HDMI video – Having a microphone connected via HDMI lets you record narration or vocals cleanly without also picking up ambient noise from the room. This is useful for recording voiceovers for videos, podcasts paired with video, or vocal performances timed to a video track. The audio and video stay perfectly in sync since they travel through the same HDMI cable.

Live streaming gameplay, broadcasts with commentary – Gamers and streamers often connect their gaming consoles or computers to capture cards via HDMI to stream or record gameplay video. Adding a microphone into the HDMI chain allows the streamer’s commentary to be recorded or streamed in high quality audio synced to the video. This avoids sync issues that can occur when commentary is captured through a separate mic input.

Video conferencing with a dedicated mic – For video calls or conferences, connecting a dedicated external microphone through HDMI allows you to upgrade from lower quality built-in mics. The external mic captures your voice clearly for video calls while allowing the HDMI video feed to stay in sync.

Overall, using a microphone through HDMI is beneficial anytime you want to record or stream high-quality audio perfectly timed to an HDMI video source without ambient noise. It keeps the audio and video transport synchronized and consolidated through a single HDMI cable.

Considerations for HDMI Microphones

When using microphones with HDMI, there are some important factors to consider that can impact your audio quality and latency:

The audio quality will depend on both the microphone itself and the components used to interface it with HDMI. A high-quality studio microphone will capture better source audio than a basic webcam mic. The analog-to-digital converters and other circuitry in the interface device will also affect quality. Using pro-level gear typically gives the best results.

Latency, or delay, can potentially be an issue when using microphones through HDMI, especially for real-time monitoring applications like gaming or live streaming. There will always be some latency in converting the analog mic signal and transmitting it digitally over HDMI, though using quality components can minimize it. The latency may or may not be noticeable to the user depending on the use case.

Testing different microphone and interface combinations is recommended to find the optimal setup for your needs in terms of both audio quality and latency performance. Paying attention to buffer sizes and software settings can also help manage latency.

Alternatives to HDMI Microphones

While HDMI microphones provide convenience, there are other options for connecting microphones that don’t require HDMI conversion. Two of the most common alternatives are XLR or USB microphones.

XLR microphones use balanced analog connections which are less prone to interference than HDMI. Professional studio microphones typically use XLR connections. The main downside is that longer cable runs may need to use DI boxes to maintain signal quality. But for many home studio uses, XLR mics provide excellent quality without needing HDMI conversion. Popular XLR microphone options include the Shure SM7B and Audio-Technica AT2020.

USB microphones have become a very popular option for computers, gaming, and podcasting. They connect directly to a USB port which provides both power and data transmission. USB mics like the Blue Yeti and Samson Q2U provide high quality recordings without requiring an audio interface. One downside of USB mics is that they are limited to USB cable lengths of around 16 feet.

Beyond XLR and USB options, there are analog audio connections like RCA or 3.5mm which can also be used instead of HDMI. While these analog connections are more prone to interference, they allow interfacing with an wide range of non-HDMI devices.

In summary, there are several microphone connectivity options that don’t require HDMI conversion. When choosing alternatives to HDMI microphones, consider the use case, quality needs, cable distances, and devices being interfaced with.

The Bottom Line

HDMI does not directly support microphones or have the capability to transmit microphone signals. This is because HDMI is designed to carry digital video and audio signals, not analog microphone inputs. Microphones produce an analog signal that needs to be converted to digital before it can be transmitted over HDMI.

To connect a microphone to HDMI requires some type of audio interface or converter. An audio interface will have mic inputs to plug the microphone into, then convert the analog signal to digital audio that can be output over HDMI. There are dedicated microphone to HDMI converters that serve this purpose as well.

Without one of these audio interfaces, there is no way to directly connect a microphone to HDMI. The HDMI cable itself does not transmit the microphone signal. This is an important limitation to understand if you need to capture microphone audio alongside video over an HDMI connection.

Overall, HDMI support for microphones is indirect. An intermediary device is required to convert the microphone’s analog signal to digital audio for HDMI. But with the right audio interface, it is possible to connect microphones to an HDMI source.

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