Ross Video has recently announced another extension to the widely popular Carbonite line; the Carbonite 10. Whereas previous models included control panels with 16 or 24 source select buttons with one or 2 MLE control, the new model is a single MLE with 10 source selects. This is good news for churches who have had their eye on a Carbonite, but felt the price tag was beyond reach.
As with all the Carbonite switchers, the new control panel can connect to any of the three chassis in the range, all of which can support 16 or 24 inputs. The Carbonite 10 looks remarkably like the CrossOver control panel, which I suspect it is externally. While it may lack some of the dedicated buttons on the larger control panels, you can still access all the functionality of the switcher using configureable buttons. Also included is the LiveAssist and MediaManager GUI for external control of the unit.
The Carbonite line has been very popular both inside and outside the church, and for good reason. It includes incredible processing power; plenty of inputs; multiple DVEs, frame synchronizers, and keyers; plus the ability to be upgraded with new functionality via software. Because the system is based on a powerful FPGA central processor, new features that would have required a hardware swap a few years ago are now a software update away.
Like other Carbonite models, the 10 includes dual multi-viewers, four media store channels and is multi-definition. That last feature is great for churches who are mixing multiple camera formats in a single system. It's not uncommon to have a mix of SD and HD cameras as many of us are still working through a full HD transition, and those format converters make it a lot easier to stretch that transition out a few years to soften the budget impact.
With 16 or 24 inputs available, the Carbonite 10 is going to be perfect for churches who are running six to eight SD and HD cameras, plus a computer input or two for graphics and/or video playback. It's small size means it won't take over your tech booth, and even the chassis is only 2 RU.
Because the control panel is separate from the I/O and processing of the chassis, a church could start off with the Carbonite 10 using 16 inputs and a single MLE. As the need arises, upgrade to a larger 1M or 2M panel, accessing a second MLE (via software update) and eventually upgrading to a full 24 inputs (again, via software update). This ability to scale helps future-proof a church's investment in video hardware, which is a major selling point for church leadership.
With a list price of $18,995—$6,000 lower than the previously lowest-priced model—the Carbonite 10 is a tremendous value. Compared to all-in-one, six to eight input switches, it's certainly more expensive; but the wealth of features, processing power, scalability and system expandability is unmatched in this price range. Additional options include aux select panels (up to 8 per system), shot boxes, Expression LiveCG, and redundant power supplies.
The Carbonite made a big splash when it was introduced a few years ago (over 1,000 systems have been sold to date), and the addition of the Carbonite 10 makes the power and flexibility of this ever-expanding ecosystem available to an even broader customer base. Any church that takes its video production seriously should definitely consider the ever-expanding Carbonite lineup.
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Ross Video Launches More Affordable Carbonite 10 Video Switcher
Ross Video Introduces Carbonite Multimedia C2X Control Surface
