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Grass Valley 110 Newbie Sync Issues?
First let me appologize as I am totally new to actually setting up a Grass Valley 110 switcher. I have worked with other iMag switchers, none of which have timing features. So forgive me if this is totally obvious, but I appreciate any helpful tips.
My problem is I am trying to use the Grass Valley 110 to switch live DV cameras. I get a picture fine through the preset and program bus, but any transition or mix creates a “jitter” on the program (an unstable picture). I suspect it is a timing related issue, as it only occurs when switching between two different live cameras. I see there are two “Sync” ports on the back of the 110–do I need a sync generator (such as this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=300834&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation)? Or what exactly would solve my problem?
Thanks so much in advance for any pointers. I am fairly experienced in working with switchers, just not installing and hooking them up.
JP
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8 Replies
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Hi
The GVG 110 is the component version of the 100. Both require an external sync generator with the sync signal being fed to all units in the broadcast chain. Hopefully your cameras can take external sync as well.Del
fire*, smoke*, photoshopCS2
Charlotte Public Television -
OK- that is extremely helpful information. So I think my problem is the cameras themselves won’t take external sync–they are just Panasonic AG-DVX100a’s. There is no input or output on the cameras that will take anything other than firewire, audio L/R, composite and Y/C video. So I guess there really is no way for me to use a switcher with timing features like the 110 with my cameras that don’t take external sync (assuming that is another input/output on the camera? I had seen it used in other venues with regular DV “proline” cameras–I guess I made the assumption that I could do the same. Is there a work around? Or a particular sync generator that you think would meet the need? Or do I just need a cheaper “proline” switcher that doesn’t require timing. Again, so sorry for being so naive in this topic. Your help is much appreciated!
Justin
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[jaypep] “Is there a work around? Or a particular sync generator that you think would meet the need? Or do I just need a cheaper “proline” switcher that doesn’t require timing.”
As you’ve found you can not dissovle between non-gen-locked sources with a gen-lock switcher.
Yes, you just need to use a “digital” swithcer.
I recommend the DataVideo below.Panasonic, Videonics (now called Focus) and DataVideo all offer these units.
The switchers can act as effective TBCs because they use internal digital clocks to “create” a stable video signal even from from various “un-sync’ed sources.
So you can feed a DV deck, computer output (that is NTSC compatible) or an unstable VHS (or other source) into the switcher and send the switcher’s “stable” output to a video screen, tape deck or other vdeio input.Panasonic:
https://www.studio1productions.com/vid102.htm
https://www.studio1productions.com/vid100.htm
and othersFocus:
https://www.focusinfo.com/products/mx-4/mx4.htm
https://www.focusinfo.com/products/mx4dv/mx4dv.htmAnd the best of the bunch, DataVideo:
https://www.datavideo-tek.com/products/se_800_main_page.htmCertain of these video switchers can usually be rented from companies that set-up “Hotel Ballroom Events” in most cities.
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Both the 110 and 100 can be composite or component generally the letters CV are added to indicate analog component.
The easiest method to deal with camera which do not have external genlock inputs is to use a switcher such as a panasonic MX-50 or other which has a frame sync on each input. This way you can send it a video signal without having to genlock the sources.
Tony Salgado
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So, just out of pure curiousity, could a device like the Datavideo TBC-4000 sync the sources so that they would work on the 110? https://www.datavideo.us/products/tbc_4000_main_page.htm
It says the TBC-4000…
Re-generates all sync signals to stabilize the video.
All four TBC’s are synchronized together (internal genlock)
No External Genlock input
Frame synchronization with full frame memory.
Wide bandwidth, Y/C in 4.5MHz, composite 3.5 MHz Low noise, S.N ratio > 50dB 8-bit video resolution, 4:2:2 sampling rate.Just curious. Thanks all for the helpful info.
JP
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So are there any reasonably affordable digital switchers that have at least 5 channels? My problem is I really need 5 channels so I can have 4 cameras and a separate “CG” source such as a laptop for graphics–so that would be at least 5 channels. It seems as though all the switcthers under $5000 have only 4 channels.
JP
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You can send the output of the switcher thru a CG unit which would lay its grpahics over the final output.
The problem with these kind of setups is each time you route thru another device it adds noise and decreases the resolution a bit.
OTOH, you MIGHT want to take a look at THIS:
https://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1835230,00.asp
I’ve seen a demo… I’m really on-the-fence about these guys.
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Going through the same issues now with the 110.
And had great success with the Panasonic MX-50,
but it appears that same success won’t be repeated
with the 110.
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