Robert Reed from Roland reviews the M-400 Digital Mixing Console, the V-8 video mixer, the VC 300 & VC 200 multi format video converter box, the R-44 field recorder and the P-10 video Play back device.

Craig Yanagi from JVC reviews the GY-HD250 and GY-HD200 cameras using Fujinon’s box lens, JVC’s MR HD200 Hard Disk recorder and Vintens System 8 Tripod.

Do you have high definition cameras? Are you looking for some? To get the full benefit of HD cameras you need an HD video mixer and Panasonic has answered the call. With the introduction of the Panasonic AV-HS400 video mixer we now have a cost effective way to do HD production at full broadcast quality.

As high definition becomes a reality for more and more churches we’ve found that although camera technology has continued to improve and drop in price, the rest of the equipment in the high definition chain remains out of reach for all but a select few customers. That leads us to using HD cameras in their standard definition mode with SD switchers and monitors or something like a presentation switcher that will switch camera sources but was not intended to do so in a full video production environment.

There have been “multi-definition” video mixers on the market for a few years now by companies such as Ross, Echo Lab, and Grass Valley but once you get these switchers fully configured with the inputs and outputs you need you’re looking at an entry price of $40,000 or more. Then on top of this price you will need HD monitors so you can keep an eye on all of your video sources. In case you haven’t noticed, true HD monitors can be very pricey.

With the introduction of the AV-HS400, Panasonic has brought HD video production “to the masses.” A fully equipped video mixing system based on this mixer runs between $15k and $20k including monitoring. Obviously there are other pieces to a system like recording and distribution but the core functionality of the video mixer has come down in price dramatically.

This mixer features several high-end features such as HD-SDI inputs and outputs, both Program and Aux outputs, a Down Stream Keyer, chroma and luminance keying, and optional DVI inputs and outputs. All of this is in addition to a brand new feature Panasonic calls MultiView. This saves a lot of money when it comes to monitoring. By using a single HD monitor you can view Program, Preview, and up to 8 input sources on this single display. This saves money since you don’t have to have a separate monitor per signal, saves space because you are using a single monitor versus several, and saves energy since, again, you’re only using a single monitor.

Features like these are what make this mixer a real winner for the church market. Cost efficient, compact, and packed full of features are characteristics that every church can benefit from.

Neil Wittering from Christie reviews the HD+30K projector, the LW600 projector, the CP2000-M DLP cinema projector and Vista’s video processing systems.