With churches moving to multisite video venues and overflow rooms instead of creating 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 for capturing and broadcasting your services, then you will be using some sort of video switcher in the production environment. In this “First Look” article, we're checking out the Ross CrossOver Solo (MSRP $9,995) production switcher. [Editor's Note: The CrossOver Solo wasn't available at the time of this review, so Ross Video provided a functionally identical CrossOver 12—the same system, but in two separate pieces instead of one integrated unit.]
The CrossOver Solo is a multi-format serial digital interface (SDI) 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 digital video effects (DVEs); four frame synchronizers; dual animation stores with dedicated alpha channels; chroma keying capabilities; a variety of wipe patterns; and a sync generator. It is also available in a six-input and a 16-input frame.
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 rather shallow for a switcher. After just a couple of hours I had a solid feel for how it works. The setup menus were intuitive, and it didn't take long to understand where to find things in the menu structure. Accessing the menus is also pretty simple. 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 mix-effect engine (ME) switcher.
The Xpression character generator is also optionally available, which 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.
It is worth reiterating that this is an SDI switcher—all inputs are SDI (both HD and SD signals are supported, making it a multi-format switcher). If you want to bring in a non-SDI source, you will need to buy signal converters. If you want to bring in a standard VGA computer signal, you'll need a VGA to HD-SDI scan converter. So, if you're looking to replace your current switcher and none of your existing video equipment is SDI, this may not be the best solution for you.
Bottom line is that this switcher is a powerful system for the price and would serve any house of worship that's doing IMAG or broadcast very well.
See full length version at www.churchproduction.com/fullrossreview.
