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Video Review: Ross CrossOver Solo Production Switcher (Full Length Version)
Original product review not edited for print length
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With churches moving to multi-site video venues and overflow rooms instead of creating larger and larger worship spaces, video production is playing an important role in how churches are reaching their communities. If you’re using more than one video camera in how you are capturing and broadcasting your services, then you will be using some sort of video switcher in production environment. In this review, an expansion of the First Look article that ran in the CPM April 2011 issue, we’re checking out the Ross CrossOver Solo production switcher. It should be noted that as a CrossOver Solo wasn’t available at the time, Ross provided a functionally identical CrossOver 12 – the same system, but in two separate pieces instead of the one integrated unit found in the CrossOver Solo.
The CrossOver Solo is a multi-format SDI (serial digital interface) switcher with 12 inputs and three keyers. It features a 10-input multi-viewer for viewing inputs, preview and program on one monitor; three aux bus outputs; two DVEs (digital video effects); four frame synchronizers; dual animation stores with dedicated alpha channels; chroma keying capabilities; a variety of wipe patterns; and a sync generator. It also is available in a six-input and a 16-input frame.
For broadcast-style character generator/graphics support, you can add the Xpression character generator. The Xpression provides the ability to create broadcast-quality graphics and render them directly into the Solo’s internal media store without the need to consume any of the switcher’s video inputs.
My first impression of the Solo is that it is a powerful switcher for the price, and is very fast – it had no problem keeping up with fast input selection changes, no matter how fast I toggle the inputs. Its learning curve was pretty shallow for a switcher – after a couple hours I had a pretty good feel for how it operates. The setup menus were also intuitive, and it didn’t take long to understand where to find things in the menu structure. Accessing the menus is also easy – when you go into setup mode, the transition selection buttons turn into menu selection buttons, allowing for quick traversal of the menus.
With three keying inputs available simultaneously, it’s possible to have four layers of video going at one time – not bad at all for a one M/E (mix-effect engine) switcher.
All three aux outputs are independent, and can be fed from any input as well as preview and program signals. If you want to send a lock-down camera feed to your overflow room’s main screen, while independently sending the program IMAG feed via another aux send to the overflow room’s side screens, you can do it with the Crossover Solo.
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MARK HANNA is video director at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, N.C. When he’s not working at Hope, he’s...well, asleep! Mark can be contacted at markh@gethope.net.
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