Switchers

We have been using a MXPro as a mixer and it performed well for us. We used 2 Canon XL1s cameras (one manned and 1 fixed), a PC with Media Shout for songs and videos and a PC with PPT for sermon notes. We also used the CorioGen Eclipse downstream to allow overlays on the signal when we wanted to place titles and some lower thirds over live video. To provide better previews of the cameras and video, we added a preview monitor for each source and by splitting the S-Video signal prior to going into the MXPro - great improvement for the person doing directing/switching!
This all worked well if you understood all the components and had 4 hands.

We recently moved to a Trinity video system (upgraded to Global Streams S/W version) and absolutely love it! The system is easy to use and much more flexible. Plus we eliminated about a mile of cabling and connectors in our booth that were always a mess. Now everything can be run with only 2 hands and the quality of the projected image is improved.

[Bryan Surrett]

I have spent countless hours reading posts and articles on this topic, but I still have not figured out my answer, so I'll post a question. We are currently only using video recordings for shut ins, and for sending a video signal of the worship service to the lobby and nursery. We have one camera, our pc and our dvd/vcr for inputs. We will be adding a second cam early in 2005. What is a reasonable video switcher/mixer that will accept at least 4 inputs and allow us to preview all inputs clearly and easily? This is not for IMAG, so conversion to svga for projection is not necessary. Thanks for your help. (Our current method of switching is punching the input 1,2,3, or 4 buttons on our Wal-Mart variety video switcher and hard crashing the signals...UGLY, UGLY, UGLY!)

[davidbarnes]

For what you are trying to do, the MX-1 is fine. The small previews leave alot to be desired, but you can select an input to preview and put it into full screen to get a good preview, i.e., for queuing up a tape/dvd.

[Bryan Surrett]

Thanks, David. I am wondering if anyone has had experience with the Edirol v-1, V-4, or LVS 400? I know the good Panasonic boards are out of our range, so I am looking at the Edirol or Videonics products. The preview ability is big for us, along with smooth transitions. Cool wipes and effects are not nearly as important.

[davidbarnes]

Bryan,
I have not had and experience with the others. I am using the MX for two different applications. 1) Selecting DVD, VCR, Computer and 2) Selecting between 3 different cameras for IMAG. The MX1 is great for the first app. You can easily set it to where the preview is whatever input you have pre-selected for live send. If you want to que the DVD which is on input B, then hit B and you can see the DVD on the monitor (full screen/quality). When using the 4 small preview screens at the top, it is really poor for live switching, such as in app 2. I then usually just use the same method as mentioned above. I have not found a mixer that has good preview of all input on one screen. The solution would be to use separate monitors for each input (which is too expensive for me).

[NdEd]

We have one of the new Videonics MX-4 switches for our contemporary services. I have grown fond of the "quad screen" mode, where the preview monitor is divided into 4 equal windows (2 X 2 matrix), giving a great preview for live mode productions. This is much better than the small windows across the top of the monitor.

[1stAGSt.JamesMo]

Originally Posted by Bryan Surrett

The preview ability is big for us, along with smooth transitions. Cool wipes and effects are not nearly as important.

Hey,
May I suggest that you also include the Datavideo SE-800 in your review. We recently choose it over other low end switchers due to the reasoning you mentioned above.

Terry

I have some experience with the mx-1, and realize the monitoring problem. An idea might be to build a small monitor array out of LCD from wal-mart or someware that are made to go with car DVD player. you need a way to split the video signal though, by using a distrbution amp or something like the www.pro-x1.com, which adds a 2nd video output for preview monitoring purposes, among many other capabilitys.

ron

we split the video signal with a box from radio shack called the "4-Way A/V Distribution Amplifier" ($45). we came in svideo and then fed out svid to the MXPro and also composite to a small TV (13"). One of these RS boxes and a small TV for each incoming signal worked well.

[ats65]

Our church use a 4 in 2 out matrix switcher that we purchased from Ebay for under $100. With that you can connect a video monitor to the second output and select which 1 of the 4 inputs you want to preview independent of what is being output to output 1. It accepts composite (RCA) or S Video inputs but will not convert S-Video to Composite.

[Elec R. Winner]

Hello,
I recently came into the position of Director of Technical Ministries at the church I've been the sound guy at for about 4 years. As my predecessor left (with 2 days notice) He mentioned our MX-50 was dying. The DSK wasn't working, so I decided to replace it with the new model, the MX-70. Unfortunately, where the MX-50 had y/c and other inputs for the external key that seemed to be sync'd, the 70 has only bnc inputs for the ext key, and it isn't sync'd. The company we purchased it from has loaned me a Hotronics video synchronizer, but the image quality is pretty bad. We use EasyWorship and take a non-sync y/c output from our tvone scan converter. We had a tech from the retailer come out to try to help and he gave me no solution. as well as insulting my intellegence... nice... How do I make the DSK button work well. Right now the keyed image is really awful and doesn't contrast against the background video, washing out the keyed image. Does anyone have a positive solution to keying an image on an MX-70? Panasonic tech support is horrible... I'm about to throw this $6000 board in the dumpster... Do we need a different keying device? Will that function without the built in DSK of the mixer? I really wish the tech I spoke to was a bit brighter... Please Help... I hope this doesn't sound too desperate... but it is.

[Tim Simms]

Originally Posted by Elec R. Winner

Hello,
I recently came into the position of Director of Technical Ministries at the church I've been the sound guy at for about 4 years. As my predecessor left (with 2 days notice) He mentioned our MX-50 was dying. The DSK wasn't working, so I decided to replace it with the new model, the MX-70. Unfortunately, where the MX-50 had y/c and other inputs for the external key that seemed to be sync'd, the 70 has only bnc inputs for the ext key, and it isn't sync'd. The company we purchased it from has loaned me a Hotronics video synchronizer, but the image quality is pretty bad. We use EasyWorship and take a non-sync y/c output from our tvone scan converter. We had a tech from the retailer come out to try to help and he gave me no solution. as well as insulting my intellegence... nice... How do I make the DSK button work well. Right now the keyed image is really awful and doesn't contrast against the background video, washing out the keyed image. Does anyone have a positive solution to keying an image on an MX-70? Panasonic tech support is horrible... I'm about to throw this $6000 board in the dumpster... Do we need a different keying device? Will that function without the built in DSK of the mixer? I really wish the tech I spoke to was a bit brighter... Please Help... I hope this doesn't sound too desperate... but it is.

Hey Elec --

Several of us in the community have MX70s -- we've had ours for almost 2 years -- and can share plenty of ideas and tips for getting the most out of your switcher. First let me agree, Panasonic tech support is useless for trying to get things configured right. Our "Panasonic Rep" has been non-existent in helping us sort things out. But we've managed to band together here on CMN to help each other out!

As for your particular issue, the solution depends on how much you're willing to spend or how much flexibility you demand. One way you can fix your problem is to feed a composite (or the Y part of the S-Video) into the "Ext Key" input. In Easy Worship, then, use a black background and white letters, and you can effectively "key out" the white parts on the screen. Adjust the slice and slope to get the brightness how you want it and to get it opaque. Set DSK to Key Ext and Fill BordMatte (using white as the color)

Or, get yourself a component output scan converter with Genlock (many of us use the TV-One model), and a composite D/A. Hook Y-r and Y-b directly into the "Ext Fill" In, and the Y into the D/A with outputs to the Ext Key In and the Ext Fill (Y jack) in. In this fashion, you can use colored backgrounds, and adjust the slice/slope to make the parts where the words are to be translucent. There are other threads that talk about the genlock hookup and settings. This way requires you to use DSK settings: Key Ext and Fill EXT.

Other way to do it is to feed in a graphic from MX-Navi software, and use that to create your "keyhole" (DSK settings Key Title, Fill EXT), which can set opacity, etc. This can be useful if you have a full screen background (set in Easy Worship), but you want to specify which parts of the backgound are seen -- a good example of that is if you have a "Jumpback" that is full-screen, but you just want to use the part in the lower third -- you can create a .psd that specifies the keyhole in the lower third (and even feather it in photoshop, etc.), and use it without editing the jumpback itself.

Hope this helps -- if you have further specific questions, feel free to PM me, or maybe we should start a new thread. Don't throw away $6k!