Mixer of a different flavor....

[Howie J]

I'll apologize for the non audio post, but I know some of you guys do a lot of video related work as well.

Video Mixers:

As I've stated before, I'm a tech director at a HS here in the Twin Cities. We have two assemblies each week that range from speakers to music performances. More often than not, we have projections of some sort. Words for songs, DVD clips, You tube on computer, iTunes/iMovie clips, etc. and from up to 3 sources since that's the limit of our big projector.

Media is the bane of my existence there. I have thought about programs like Qlab, which is great but we would need a newer comp in the booth to run it. A hardware video mixer seems somewhat viable. I've just started with "real" video in the last couple years and have little info to start this search. Any advice on a basic direction to look would be great. I didn't have much luck on ControlBooth forums, which was surprising.

Thanks in advance.

Howie J

[BenFranske]

Another Twin Citian! I think the biggest problem is that doing video well is tremendously expensive...much more so than upgrading a computer would be. I was just working on a project for another twin cities area high school regarding a new projector and video system they're installing. Depending on what you expect your switcher to be able to do you may be able to get away with a less expensive switcher/scaler such as the Kramer VP-728 which is designed specifically for coordinating and scaling a variety of sources for projection purposes. It would probably do a better job than a more traditional live video switcher as well...unless you spend a lot more money.

[Howie J]

Hey Ben,

Thanks for the reply. Love to see fellow TC folks here. Who doesn't love our balmy climate huh??

I think you might be dead on with the switcher. Basically I'd like something that I could plug all three sources in and have smooth switching between sources. Being able to preview each source would be amazing.

We have a couple year old Mac Mini in the booth now, but I could probably push for an upgrade. I got $5700 for a light console last summer. I've been discussing it with one of my really knowledgeable tech students and we kind of leaned toward the hardware side. Nothing set in stone yet though.

I agree with the pricey side of video. Getting into RED cameras and render farms make even some of the "high end" audio look like pocket change.

Howie J

[surflounge]

have you checked Markertek - Audio and Video Equipment - Professional Broadcast Studio Equipment
go Vikings!

[david335]

I am going to second the push for a scaler because in general hardware switchers are extremely expensive. A project I just finished for a university used a $15k switcher and it only did 3 HD inputs. You would want a hardware switcher when you need to make, controlled, fast, and frequent changes between camera. Their most frequent use is in live event and television production. A scaler with switching is much more of an A/V piece of equipment that is meant to do almost exactly what you are asking. also check out B&H because they have a wide variety of scalars for you to look at. If you are looking for more of a live video production type-of setup then post back here or pm and I can point you in the right direction.

[See and Hear]

If you want a simple easy SD setup buying used
Panasonic mx 70 3000
Scando pro scaler (vga to composite) 300
Scaler- Kramer (bnc to vga) 1200
4 input Monitors 500
program preview 750

Total 5750

SD is really coming down in prices

Darryl

[hbphotoav]

We've just been through the upgrade from SD 4:3 (Sony FXE-120 switcher; onboard conversion to Y/C from the presentation computer) to 16:9 component (SD) utilizing a 720P front-end (1280x720). We're still using the same Sony DXC-D30 and -637 cams, just cropping to 16:9 within the Ross Crossover switcher. Not inexpensive ($35K for the switcher and analog-to-SDI converters) but very workable until we can afford to move up to true 16:9 HD cameras.

In the AV production side of my business, for years I ran ScanDo's and composite live SD video through a couple of FXE-100s. When that became inadequate (as the PowerPoint world moved to XGA and small type-on-screen at composite/VGA 640x480 rez became unreadable) I picked up a Sony 1024HD scan converter to up-rez the live video to XGA output. The look was good (and tweakable) but the switching was glitchy... something I've also noticed from the Kramer and Extron switcher/scalers. There's always a frame of two of glitch or black while the frames are synched. My solution was to pick up a Roland Edirol V440HD... four upstream SD (composite and Y/C) inputs, scaled to match the four downstream HD inputs (my "normal" use is blending XGA output from PowerPoints with live IMAG). It is seamless. It is versatile. It was about $10,000.

So... if smooth transitions with variable and scalable graphics/video inputs is your quest, the $6-10K range for a scaling hardware switcher is where you're headed. If you can live with 4:3 SD video resolution, there are a ton of bargains as lots of perfectly usable SD switchers and down-rez converters are dumped as folks go to some form of HD video.

There are a ton of options... Panasonic, For.A (FOR-A Global - HD/SD Portable Video Switcher HVS-300HS/300RPS), Ross (Ross Video :: Production Switchers), Edirol, Grass Valley, Sony... but best to define your goal, then your budget, then the path to get you to a liveable solution.

Good luck!

[Howie J]

Originally Posted by surflounge

have you checked Markertek - Audio and Video Equipment - Professional Broadcast Studio Equipment
go Vikings!

I always forget about Markertek. Have one of their catalogs floating around but never remember to reference it.

Vikes---Um...I'll defer that one for another couple months.

Thanks for the references. I'll do my homework now on the mixers, scalers, and switchers. Seems like the monitoring might be where the price moves a bit more. Could have used one this morning.

Any brands to really stay away from with this stuff?? Is there a Behringer of video components?

Howie J

[BFSound]

From the Cities as well thumbsup Not related to the Op's post but man we're putting together an DV project for recording live shows with multiple camera's with wireless sound for overdubbing and its quite fun

Any advice from you other guys on doing good recording's of live stuff in general? Sound advice etc...

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by Howie J

I always forget about Markertek. Have one of their catalogs floating around but never remember to reference it.

...

Any brands to really stay away from with this stuff?? Is there a Behringer of video components?

Howie J

Videonics has always been a disappointment to me... but they were inexpensive. Sony, Panasonic, For-A, Ross and Edirol... worth the money, when you purchase what you need to accomplish the tasks you have.

Sooo... Decide what you need... "want" usually moves the decimal point at least a place to the right... Determine what you can afford... Discover a good local resource person to help you bring the two together.

Try really hard to avoid buying less than what you need. You'll just spend that money at least once again, and be frustrated until you do it.

HB

[BFSound]

Like i said were getting camera;s to film our live shows. What are your thoughts on something like a consumer canon hf10 Hd or something like that vs a miniDv like the canon Gl1, 2 stuff like that?

Thanks

[videoteque]

Video mixer for four inputs, with preview monitor of the four inputs:
Edirol V4

Camcorders to record concerts: Go HD in any case. Nobody will ever buy you concerts on SD, unless we are talking U2 and Lady Gaga... Even 3 to 5 Sony Camcorders as this one on Gorrilapods can make a decent video!!!

[BFSound]

Thanks, Sorry guys i didnt mean to jack this thread with my questions...

I was just hoping some of u local guys would have some advice!

Thanks again