OT: Need advice on video switcher

smhontz wrote on 1/10/2004, 7:13 PM
Our church has a MAC and a PC, a single scan converter that feeds into a switcher that then allows us to switch our projection screens between cameras, dvd/vcr, and the current computer in use. Right now, we only have one scan converter, so if we want to use the MAC, we plug the VGA output from it into the scan converter; if we want to use the PC, we disconnect the MAC and plug the VGA output from it into the scan converter. Then, if a guest brings in a laptop with a presentation on it, we have to unplug our computer, and plug the VGA from their laptop into the scan converter.

It would be nice if we had a 3x1 switcher, with audio, that lets us choose which computers (MAC, PC, or laptop) video and audio gets fed downstream through the scan converter and to our house sound system. I've trolled the Internet and have seen such devices such as the Comprehensive CVG-VP32 Switcher at B & H Photo which looks like it might fit the bill. But I don't know what to look for in terms of specs. We want the picture to look good.

Any recommendations?

Comments

farss wrote on 1/10/2004, 9:16 PM
Wouldn't a KVM switch before the scan converter do what you want?
They are pretty cheap. I Don't know of any that handle audio as well bu there's so many to choose from I'm sure someone does one. The quality coming out of PCs is much higher than what comes out of the scan converter so the KVM is the least of your worries.

What would be nice is to get rid of the scan converter and feed RGB from the computers straight into the projector if it can handle it.
smhontz wrote on 1/11/2004, 12:41 PM
The computers are just part of the picture. They feed downstream to a switcher that handles the live video cameras and a DVD/VCR, and then goes to the projector. There's a few TBC's in there, too. So we can't feed the projector directly.

I guess here's another way to phrase the question. For people like Spot, who do presentations a lot, what tool do you use if you have, say, three separate computers up front with different people doing presentations, so they all want to keep their computers separate (i.e., not share a single screen and keyboard and mouse as with a KVM) and you need to easily switch from one to another, including the audio, so that ultimately a projector and a sound system are showing the video and playing the audio of the selected computer? I'm thinking there's probably some nifty little box somewhere but I just don't know what it's called.
J_Mac wrote on 1/11/2004, 1:06 PM
Radio Shack carries the switch you want @ about $25. It is billed as 1 import and 4 exports, but works both ways. That is 4 imports switched thru the scanner outport to the display. I have mine hooked up with 1. Analogue camera, 2. VCR, 3. DVD, 4. DV Cam, connected to the 's' video in on my video card. So I push the button to display which ever I,m working with. You would plug separate your source into, 1. Mac, 2 PC, 3. notebook, 4. etc., and your scanner plugged for the single output to your display.
They have different models with different A/V hookups and prices. Good Luck John.
farss wrote on 1/11/2004, 1:14 PM
smhontz,
I see the problem. If each one of them wants to keep using their PC then a KVM switch will not do the job. Firstly you need to split the VGA feed then go into the KVM switch but use the KVM swicth for just the VGA signal and then into the scan converter. If you want the conventional vision switcher to do the job then you will need more than one scan converter and at around $A 6000 for the Sony one it would be expensive.

Also though checkout Datavideo, they do a digital vision switcher that I think will take VGA style RGB in directly.
farss wrote on 1/11/2004, 1:16 PM
BTW,
that's one reason Powerpoint is so universal. Pretty well most types of media can go into it. You then only need one PC and it doesn't matter if the PP is from a Mac or a PC.