Review on 🎥 Enhanced Video Switching with Roland V-1SDI 3G-SDI Switcher: Unleash Your Creativity by Dee Parson

At the time of writing, this new switcher from Roland was introduced to the world last month (October 2016) with little fanfare or publicity. I came across this here at Revain while looking for a cheap camera switch. The switch's big brother, the Roland V-1HD, has been around for a while and costs about $500 less (again, at the time of this writing). However, there are many good reasons why this new Roland V-1SDI switch costs a little more, and most of them focus on what I call user versatility and flexibility. I can personally attest that this goes well beyond switching, and rather than forcing me to write a ton of details (often getting carried away with digressions), I suggest you search YouTube for that model number, where oddly enough it is gives some decent videos of merchandise sellers. Yes, probably biased videos, but at least you can get a visual overview of the Switch's features and capabilities that are way more compelling than my printed words. did everything from writing to field and studio production to editing blah blah blah; including the technical control of the switches that make this Roland look like a cookie crumb on the floor. However, I can honestly say that this Roland has the guts to do exactly what I was looking for: SDI inputs, SDI outputs (and HDMI multi-frame preview), DSK (down key including green and blue color key), this frees the A/B bus (big brother doesn't have DSK), adjustable HDMI scaling input to #4 (very very good) which I use to input the HDMI output from a laptop PC that I'm running Use PowerPoint to create and display CG type lower titles, full screen graphics and even video pack playback in a PowerPoint presentation (PP is a phenomenal companion for this switcher) as PowerPoint automatically sets the HDMI output as "screen" of the presentation and fills it out in full size PP-Show. Okay, look, I digress. Anyway, Zoom input #4 allows you to input e.g. HDMI output from a PC or Mac and adjust the picture to fill the screen (crop, full screen, letterbox, horizontal and vertical size/placement etc. ). By the way, it's worth noting that this is a hardware-software switch. It has a USB output for connecting to a computer with installed Roland switcher software (free download) where you can set up menu functions in the hardware switcher or use the software's screen to do all the switching if the hardware switcher is in a Hidden is Rack (take it, Blackmagic). I personally prefer a hardware switch. The handy buttons and T-bar give (at least to me) more certainty about what's going to happen in the Switch compared to a mouse click that can skip the on-screen icon during a "live" event. You should definitely read about the operating menus (on request also displayed on a multi-screen monitor and nothing disturbing "live") in the user manual. Another suggestion is to check out all the goodies at Proav "dot" Roland "dot" Com where that toggle is currently the home screen splash page. Dig around and you can find user guides and reference guides. My specific point about the Operations menu is the same as I said at the beginning: the versatility and flexibility of this thing far exceeds my initial hopes. I like audio settings that not only have EQ and compression/limiting for each input, but "follow" or not - meaning that when I'm using PP and playing pre-rendered video packs, the audio can either be "hot" all the time or "hot" only when input #4 on the program bus is "active". The same applies to all other inputs. Audio from camera sources is sent over SDI and is 'hot' all the time through the mixer ('hot' only when 'live' is adjusted on the PGM or the menu driven volume from louder to quieter to full mute at 0dB). SDI SDI SDI. Yes, if you have cameras and other devices that only have HDMI and not SDI, you probably think this switch isn't for you, or it's going to cost a lot to upgrade your devices to SDI or your camera outputs with an HDMI convert to SDI Blackmagic box. . guess again And yes, some SDI fans will despise HDMI as a consumer version of video quality. OK What the heck. Here's a great inexpensive solution that I'm using today for the SDI inputs of this switcher: Excelvan 1080P MINI 3G HDMI to SDI Video Converter. It's a product here at Revain Excelvan 1080P MINI 3G HDMI to SDI Video Converter for Home Theater, PC, Laptop, HD DVD and costs less than $40 (currently). I bought three for my three Panasonic AG-AC90 cameras and ran a 25ft HDMI cable from the camera to the Excelvan converter and then another 50ft SDI cable to the mixer (you can even use a much longer one Use SDI cable, but it is not recommended to go any additional HDMI cable). The video quality on the switcher is perfect. In addition to the new PGM and Multi View monitors (inexpensive) I have a Blackmagic Video Assist 1080p monitor that sits on top of the switcher and uses these Excelvan converters to show flawless images from any camera. O? Worried that the Excelvan converters require a power adapter (you need them) and a power strip along your camera cables to create clutter? Well, dear co-inventors, try it because it works: Sony NP F550 batteries (7.5VDC) and battery adapter baseplate (the baseplate even has a matching Excelvan converter input) found here at Revain: Andoer® Lilliput Monitor Battery Adapter Base Plate for FEELWORLD Monitors Compatible with Sony NP-F970 F550 F770 F970 F960 F750 Battery. The Excelvan converter runs from 5VDC to 12VDC and the F550 battery does the job! For many hours of uninterrupted "on" time. Damn, I talked a lot. But those who seriously need credentials and permits (or daggers) usually, like me, want as much detail as possible, especially when you're spending close to $1,500 (at the time of writing this article) for what you want. do. while unpacking. This is the one. I can't think of any faults with this purchase. I haven't found any bugs or flaws yet. Oh wait, I told Roland I'd like to find a way to power the camera LEDs, even the external 5V DC LED widgets mounted on top of my cameras. This blender and others in this price range have NO indicator lights, damn it. Anyway, that's my suggestion now. If you buy this V-1SDI I am sure you will love it. Also, it's damn better than the "old days" of sync, sync and reference black to match NTSC inputs (oldtimers will see what I'm talking about).