I Need Advice On Connecting My MacMini To Multiple Sources

[Lucidity]

I've been to several places, third party Apple stores and the official Apple store, to ask how to do this, but no one truly knows. My hope is that someone here can solve this "puzzle" for me. I am trying to start a website where I can post video reviews. My MacMini needs to be able to take in recorded information from a third party product, the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme, while also staying connected to a T.V. so it can be used as a monitor. Here is the most ideal way to set it up so far:

1. Xbox 360 HDMI cable to the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme HDMI In port.
2. Blackmagic Intensity Extreme HDMI Out port connected to the MacMini.
3. MacMini HDMI to T.V.

The problem is that the MacMini has only one HDMI port. I am able to connect the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme to the MacMini, but without a second HDMI port on the MacMini, I won't be able to record and watch it on my T.V. at the same time. There have been a few discussions on the web about buying a HDMI splitter for the MacMini, but most solutions do not work or are unpractical. I know that I can record and have the T.V. monitor working together, but that would require changing step 2 above by connecting the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme to the T.V. instead of the MacMini. I really don't want to do it this way because everytime I need to transfer the information to my MacMini, I will have to unplug the HDMI cord from my T.V. and then connect it to my MacMini from the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme.

Thanks for any help I can get from you MacMini geniuses.

[Smithcraft]

Could you let us know what model of teevee you have, and which mini you have?

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Lucidity]

I have a 37 inch LED LG - 37LE5300 and the latest $600 2.3GHz MacMini.

[Smithcraft]

Can you connect the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme to the mini via the Thunderbolt port?

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Lucidity]

Connecting the Intensity Extreme to my MacMini through the thunderbolt ports was an idea originally suggested to me by a manager working at one of the third party Apple stores. I was a little skeptical about the idea, so I drove to the nearest Apple store to ask them the same question. They told me that the thunderbolt port wasn't designed to transfer information like that back and forth. At least not yet and I have been given bad advice before by the Apple geniuses that worked there. I will probably buy the thunderbolt connection anyway to try it out once the Intensity Extreme comes out.

[Smithcraft]

I would be curious to know what the Thunderbolt port was designed to do?

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Lucidity]

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know a lot about computers. Having said that though, it seems like Thunderbolt was made to transfer files at high speeds from one source to another and probably wasn't designed yet to send a constant video stream.

[jb]

[Lucidity]

Awesome! Now I just need to come up with a $1000 to pay for it! Someone please show me a less expensive alternative.