Our video system is a mess--HELP!

[pastorn8]

This is my first post--just reading this site has helped tremendously. Unfortunately, our video setup is such a convoluted mess, I haven't been able to get every answer I need. Here's the rundown:

We have 3 cameras (really just glorified security cameras) in the sanctuary.90% of the time we use these for cctv in our overflow/viewing room. These 3 cameras are fed into a 4 channel switcher (we'll call this SWITCHER A). THe main out of the switcher runs to a tv/preview monitor. The signals are also ran to another 4 channel switcher (call this one SWITCHER B). This switcher is used to select which shot the folks in the overflow room are seeing. The fourth channel on this switcher sends whatever is on our projector in the sanctuary to the overflow room.

We have a cheepo 4 channel signal switcher (though not really the same kind, for clarity we'll call this one SWITCHER C), into which is fed dvd, vcr, camera/video (from the first 4 channel switcher mentioned above), and computer video. We run EW via a vga output, through a scan convertor (a REALLY cheap unit). The output of this switcher is split (just using a simple rca female to 2 male jack). One output goes directly to our sanctuary projector. The other output goes to SWITCHER B (the fourth channel I spoke of earlier). There is a small signal amp (a dreaded RS model) in line between SWITCHER B and the overflow projector.

This whole mess has been assembled a bit at a time, on a shoe string budget. This is really a case of not having a clear vision of what we wanted out of the system. Once we got the cameras installed (they work great) we decided we also wanted text to the overflow room, oh and how about we add a dvd, and so on. I know that none of the video sources are as clear & vibrant as they could be, but all are functioning ok. I feel like ripping everything out and starting over. Any suggestions?

God Bless,

N8

First of all, Welcome to CMN! You'll find all the answers you ever need here, well, the ones you can't find in the bible at least

About your situation, I suggest taking it all apart and putting it together a way you understand and like. If you don't have a budget, then don't go out and buy anything new, just rearrange the stuff you have so you can use it efficently and understand it.

Goodluck!

[Johnnycat]

For a very simple (1 box solution) have a look at this:

http://www.altinex.com/Products/Spec.../AP445-103.htm

This should do what you want.

If this is an interest to you, contact Bob @ www.viscountvideo.com he is great to work with and will go out of his way to help.

umm... I got lost about half way through...

I think your set-up is an example of why we should have a clear long-term vision for our media ministry and technology purchases, and should always have expansion/upgradeability in mind.

That being said.

It sounds as if everything is functional... (as long as you dont add another camera.... or a FOH projector for your choir... hehe)

So your problem, I am assuming, is image quality / clarity, and I would imagine color degradation as well... from your description of your converters and such.

Start out by creating a wiring diagram... perhaps you could post it here so we can have a clearer sense of what is going on within this mess...

Next step is to sit down with the church staff, and determine what the future of the ministry is going to be... obviously it wouldn't be a good idea to replace your stuff if a new sanctuary with a new media system is in the works for the near future...

Third... you need to determine what possibile additions you might want to make in the future... think BIG... try to encorporate every possible use for your system and be sure your new technology plan has the ability to encorporate all of these ideas with relative ease... one of the biggest mistakes made by churches in technology installation, is the lack of vision for the future... (if we only use 8 audio channels now, then why would we need a 36 channel mixing console... so they run 12 channel snake to a 12 channel board, and a year and a half later have to rip it out and start over with a new system)

Your problem isnt quite that bad, as your system is working for you now... So when you get this diagram up, we can take a look and determine the best places to make changes, providing the greates effect of change for the money... My guess is a larger vid mixer that will accept all of your inputs, and has several outputs so you dont have to use 3 video mixers at once... but that is just a guess.

Well... Hope this helps... Good Luck! Blessings!

kkniskern beat me. I guess I shouldn't have let work interfere with my response....

It seems there are but a couple questions that should be answered before weighing solutions.
1) How much longer will the overflow be in use, is there a new facility in the works?
No use dumping a bunch of money to a system now that doesn't necessarilly go to the new facility, you'd likely want to only invest 'just enough to tie you over'. If there is a new facility then it will be helpful to know what aspects of the system need to transition into the new facility. If there is no facility on the horizon then q2 becomes a focus for you to say; this is what we have, this is what we want, how do we get there?
2) If you are keeping the overflow scenario long enough to upgrade it. What do you want to do with it? The 3 cameras and a projection feed? Or something else as well?
3) What are you presenting with in your overflow, regular T.V.'s, Plasmas or LCDs, Projector(s), and is that going to be staying as is?
4) What about your main system how much of that is needing or are you wanting to address?
and lastly
5) Is there a ragged shoestring, a new shoestring, or a whole shoe for the budget?

There are of course other questions but atleast those will help get things started. I think that I would feel the same way if I were in your shoes about ripping it all out. Maybe you are going to end up ripping it all out to make things a bit better for both the operators and the viewers, but maybe you need to do so in phases. Phases can work, but my experience is don't start with something that is a huge improvement for the viewers, start with steps that make the improvements behind the scenes, that way your project won't be as vulnerable to losing momentum.

[sempei13]

One man's convoluted mess is another man's MacGuyver-esque masterpiece.

Okay so it's:

cam1\
cam2->switcher A >preview & switcher C
cam3/

cam1----------------------------------------\
cam2-----------------------------------------\ switcher B >overflow room (via signal amp)
cam3-----------------------------------------/
Switcher C(dvd,vhs, ew, or cams from A)/

switcher A (cam1,2 or3)\
DVD-----------------------\switcher C>projector & switcher B
EW via scan converter---/
VHS----------------------/

So you can send video from any of your seven sources to either overflow or projector provided you don't want to send EW or DVD or VHS to both places? It's really rather ingenius.

To improve, one thing you could do is get a switcher scaler to replace switchers A & C (provided you get one with 7+ inputs). Then scan-convert one of the two identical outputs (as in Analog-Way's Octofade) and send it to Switcher B. This eliminates a switcher and keeps your computer signal natively (SVGA, XGA, etc.) higher rez. Your signal to the projector will look brighter and sharper. The overflow signal stays the same. You get one less switcher.

Paul

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by pastorn8

I feel like ripping everything out and starting over. Any suggestions?
N8

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Keywalker4God]

I have to say that you appear to be ahead of the game if all is functioning ok. The only thing that I would suggest to achieve more clarity would be better equipment. Quality costs though.