any one use video mixers ?

[novastorm]

Any one ever used or experienced using video mixers? Like a Roland V4 EX

What do you think about them ? Are they easy to use? Or worth getting one?

[dhicks]

Any one ever used or experienced using video mixers? Like a Roland V4 EX

 

What are you considering using a video mixer for - do you have a requirement for live-streamed video of some kind? I've considered one for our new stage setup - have four cameras around the hall to film a play / event, and someone sitting making a live edited-together recording of the event. It would save time on video editing afterwards - at the moment we record an event, then collate all the video footage and edit it together, and the whole process can take a fair bit of time. However, a live mixing solution is less flexible - you can fade between shots and that's about your limit, whereas with an editing suite you can add whatever effect you like in. The V4 EX only seems to support 480p video on 3 channels - fine currently for YouTube or DVD quality video, but might start to look a bit limited quite soon. You also wind up with HDMI cables run around the hall.

 

For the money a video mixer costs I can buy 4 GoPro cameras to place around a hall, editing the footage together afterwards. If you need to actually live-stream video then you'll need a mixer, although I'd try and find something that can handle higher resolution than the V4 EX if possible.

[antlear]

If you are looking for a solid piece of equipment then the Roland is that. If you want. From a connection point the Roland has lots of options. What the Roland lacks as already mentioned is the resolution which is downgraded to 480p.

 

If you want a unit which can do full hd and even 4k then the Blackmagic Atem range is brilliant, the only downside, every input needs to be the same, so if you have one camera set at 1080p 25fps they all need to be that. The question is what do you want to achieve with a vision mixer.

 

If you are looking to switch between various inputs and resolutions say for a projector then a Seamless switcher from say Kramer is what you would be after. These units take multiple inputs at various resolutions and can upscale them and downscale them to various resolutions.

 

The question still lies what do you want to do/achieve with a vision mixer. Knowing a bit more will help with giving advice.

 

Hope you find what you are looking for.