Roland VR-4HD
Roland VR-4HD High-Definition AV Mixer
LIST PRICE: $2,795 | Roland
One of the dominant trends in the video switcher market is the movement toward smaller, entry level-priced products. Roland has been out ahead of the market in this category, with a range of products that that are small and affordably priced. The latest addition to the family is the VR-4HD High-Definition AV Mixer. This switcher is going to be a superb fit for small churches and churches that want to do a dedicated “broadcast/webcast feed.” The intuitive control surface and user-friendly menu system make the VR-4HD very easy to use and great for volunteers. But don’t let the small size fool you; there are some features in this product that are not typical in the small switcher category.
Audio
Just looking at the console you can see one factor that separates the VR-4HD from many other small switchers—the full audio console integrated on the control surface. While most video switchers accept audio, very few have the control surface to do it. Usually the audio control is hidden in menu settings or in a drop down and once you get to it, what you can control is very limited. Rarely do video switchers handle more than just a program audio, but the VR-4HD has an 18-channel digital audio mixer with XLR, TRS and RCA jacks along with embedded audio from HDMI inputs and the USB port for Skype audio. This makes the console great for streaming because one operator can handle making a separate audio mix for broadcast. It also features a USB 3 port for streaming or recording straight to your computer hard drive.
The on-board 18-channel audio mixer makes the VR-4HD great for streaming because one operator can handle the separate audio and video mixes for broadcast.
Video
On the video side, the VR-4HD has three HDMI ports for 1080p, 1080i and 720p video resolutions. The fourth HDMI input features a scaler that supports both video and computer resolutions, as well as analog RGB and component inputs. This is great for legacy equipment because it doesn’t require an external converter. It also features HDCPsupport, so content from your Blu-ray disc player functions as desired in an HDMI workflow. One of the things I really like about this switcher is the menu system. When selecting menu-based control for inputs, the menu shows the I/O diagram of the console and highlights the section you are working on. This ensures that changes made to an input on the menu are actually on the correct physical input. There is also a built-in multi-viewer on the switcher that functions as a touch screen. The multi-viewer is also available on an HDMI port so it can be distributed to an external HDMI monitor, as well.
Compositing and effects
Effects like downstream keying (DSK), picture-in-picture (PinP), split and quad split are effects that typically require a mix effect (M/E) and therefore are traditionally not seen on smaller switchers. However, the VR-4HD can do a news-style compositing of background, DSK, PinP for a three-layer composite. The result is much like the shot of the weather guy at your local TV station. The split and quad split are standards from corporate production where multiple people and a PowerPoint presentation need to be seen all at once. The DSK itself is capable of Chroma (blue/green) or luminance (white/black) keying. There is also a suite of video effects like colorize, posterize, negative and monochrome, to name a few.
Firmware
The firmware update process from some manufactures should be considered a violation of the Geneva Convention. It’s rarely an easy process. One of the first things I had to do for this particular review was to update the firmware to version 1.5 on our Roland VR-4HD review unit to check out some new software features. The firmware update process was not complicated, nor was it terribly intuitive. Thankfully, the process was well documented and the new firmware expanded the mixer’s capabilities by adding control for still image capture, sending still images from a computer, and it added a size value of 1/3 to the PinP control.
Pleasant Surprises
One of the more unexpected features on the VR-4HD was its ability to be remotely controlled. Using the VR-4HD RCS app gives you full control of the console from a computer, touch panel, or other external control device through RS-232C. It also features a D-Sub nine-pin Tally/GPIO connector for sending tally signals or sending and receiving RS-232C control. These features are typically only found on larger production switchers. The fact that they are included on this switcher is a testament to Roland’s commitment to quality and value.
Not-so-pleasant surprises
While the VR-4HD is a powerful piece of gear, there are lots of features crammed onto a very small surface. This means the control, while intuitive, is a little lacking. Many of the controls for compositing and VFX, for instance, should be set up well in advance, and would be tough to do quickly and correctly on the fly. The split effects also lack transition control, making them a little jarring when used. The PinP effect can fade on or cut, but not wipe—same for DSK. The DSK effect is also lacking in control; while pulling a clean chroma or luma key is possible, setting it up is not a quick process.
The options for keying control are limited to: gain, color, hue and saturation. This is great for defining the color of the key, however, there are no advanced controls for compensating the color in the key source. The selections are also based on a number range rather than a color picker, making the selection process very “hit or miss.” As a result, keyed text can sometimes have rough edges. Roland recommends using bold fonts or a lower third background matte to ensure smooth looking text. In short, some of the more advanced keying features found in Roland’s higher-end switchers are missing. However, I give Roland points for pushing the envelope, and providing a rich set of features on such a small switcher.
In conclusion
Overall, the VR-4HD is a great value. It is powerful for a small, entry-level switcher. At a retail price of $2,795, there are numerous features on this product I would not expect to find. While the keyer doesn’t quite have all of the controls were looking for, with enough time dedicated in setup, those stumbling blocks can be overcome. Churches that are looking to step-up their streaming presence should certainly include the new Roland VR-4HD on their short list of switchers.
Mark Hanna is a regular contributor to Church Production Magazine.
