Roland has announced the V-8HD HD Video Switcher, offering management of eight HDMI audio/video sources with up to 1080 pesolutions for live events, education, worship, live streaming, corporate presentations and esports.
The V-8HD features a professional toolset that streamlines production, increases creativity and reduces total system costs as all inputs support low-cost HDMI solutions versus more expensive SDI-based sources. At about 4lb/2kg, the V-8HD comfortably fits into a backpack, luggage and tight set-up spaces.
As a hardware unit, the V-8HD’s five-layer effects engine and built-in 18-channel audio mixer with effects eliminate issues with computer setup and crashes, allowing eight HDMI sources with Full HD support to be mixed, even when sources have mismatched frame rates and colour spaces. With the built-in scalers on two of the HDMI inputs, operators can also quickly connect the V-8HD with client-provided sources like computers, smartphones, gaming consoles and legacy 4:3 devices.
Presenter confidence monitors, live streams and recording feeds often require different visual content from the main program output. The V-8HD assignment buttons send any connected input devices to a dedicated aux output without affecting the main feed. It’s also possible to synchronize the aux output with the programme output, creating a built-in distribution amp.
Storing and recalling unique looks is also possible with the V-8HD’a eight preset memories and a powerful composition effects engine. The bright 4.3-inch multiviewer display also means less gear to buy and haul to the gig and the ability to monitor all video inputs, PGM, and PVW plus menu overlay from a single screen that shows the status of a connected camcorder.
Additional V-8HD features and benefits include three technology assisted automatic switching modes to make the gig easier, the ability to trigger Atomos recorders to start and stop recording via HDMI and a dedicated free remote-control app that turns an iPad into a V-8HD touch interface, and optional Hands-Free Switching & Control using a Boss single or double footswitch to execute over 100 different switcher commands.
The Roland V-8HD HD Video Switcher is available now for US$1,995.
