While it’s nice to think there is a magic unit that can handle all those scenarios, the truth is — budgets are shrinking, and technology (with all the bells and whistles), is getting even more in demand. True, a properly outfitted and better-funded scenario is to have the audio folks handle audio, the lighting folks handle lights, and the video folks to switch sources. But this is not always the case in real life. There is a growing branch of products to fill the voids we create when we are under-staffed, under-funded and still in demand.
One of those products is the VR-50HD from Roland. Now, I don’t want to unfairly categorize this piece right off the bat with the aforementioned industry critique. It’s quite the opposite in terms of its capabilities. While I wouldn’t necessarily switch the Oscars with it, it does fill a rather unique need. Read on…
Around the Unit
Roland bills the VR-50HD as a Multi Format AV Mixer, an all-in-one unit that can mix audio and video with relative ease. But, as with all Roland gear, there are quite a few little bonuses. On the back you get a total of 12 inputs for four channels. It has connections for four HDMI, four SDI, two composite and two RGB/Component. For output you get RGB/Component, SDI and HDMI, each with an Aux. The HDMI out also offers the Multiview option. Audio inputs are four XLR/Phono combo, eight Line inputs (RCA or 1/4-inch), plus the ability to mix audio from HDMI and SDI video signals. Channels 5-12 have a number of different configurations, while 1-4 are dedicated faders. For audio output, you get two XLR plus two RCA as an Aux. Also back there is the USB 2.0/3.0 jack for streaming (more on this later).
Up front, the first thing you notice is the 7-inch built-in touch display. This is not only for seven-way or four-way multiview/source monitoring, but also serves as the interface for system adjustments. I liked the “touch and turn” feel to the layouts — the menus were easy to navigate and not overdone. As with almost all touch displays, though, you have to get used to diving 2-3 menus deep to accomplish some things. There are 9 faders on the front that control your audio mix, 1-4 dedicated with their own gain knob, and 5-12 combo with different setup features, plus a Main (with VU meters!). There are also dedicated headphone jacks on the front panel, 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch for those without adapters. For video, there are 5 large buttons for input select with a separate Still. Transition control and fade time are directly accessible above, as are Monitor functions. There is a 3-button bank for compositing and key control to the right. There is also a Main Output Fade.
How’s It Feel?
Switching on the VR-50HD is pretty simple. You can either use the soft-touch buttons or simply press the input quadrant on the touch screen. In Multiview, you see a typical 7-way setup: PVW/PGM on top, 4 sources and Still underneath. You can see your setup for using PIP, Still, or Key, and that’s it. There are dedicated buttons for choosing transition effects and monitor layout. A big plus (in the absence of a T-bar) is the Output Fade button. Compositing is of the 4 layer variety, including PIP, key and still. There are dedicated buttons for this in the Compositing section of the console, and it’s pretty easy going to see what you come up with via that “preview” screen I mentioned before. There is also internal memory for storing up to 4 still captures. Oddly enough, there is MIDI capability. I have not yet tried to control a switcher via MIDI, but it’s Roland, and there’s MIDI everywhere. An imaginative VJ or control freak could easily integrate this mixer into their rig with, say, MAX/MSP or the like. With the proliferation of smarter lecterns and room control panels, I suspect this feature would come in handy.
Noise, Please…
One of the biggest selling features of the VR-50 is the fact that it’s an integrated 24 bit/48 kHz audio mixer. While this feature might not be the most ideal thing on larger switched shows, for a small-to-medium producing house or a direct-to-web set it is outstanding. As stated before, there are four XLR/1/4-inch combo jacks, and channels 5-12 are on a variety of connectors. Audio from HDMI or embedded SDI sources can be assigned to faders, so a quick mix of many different sources can be achieved without a lot of adapters or hassles. You can also assign “Audio Follow” so you don’t even have to think about it when you switch video sources. Streaming plays a big part with the VR-50HD as well. With USB 2.0/3.0 output, you can easily connect to a separate computer running anything from Roland’s own Video Capture for VR software to a dedicated net service like Ustream, Wirecast, or FMLE. Resolutions up to 1080p, frame rate, and video format, as well as audio level can be changed thanks to a dedicated scaler — and a USB volume knob to boot!
Summing Up
There are a lot of great things about the VR-50HD. My feeling is that this unit is going to be a comfortable fit in some key markets — namely education, theaters, H.O.W., direct-to-web production, corporate, and the like. Gear rental companies are already realizing the potential of small, flexible, multi-format switchers, and the Roland VR-50HD is no exception.
Would I use one on a large, multi-screen corporate or live gig? Probably not, but that’s just me. I tend to still fall into the camp of “dedicated gear for dedicated uses.” With shrinking budgets and greater need, there is a growing market for “all-in-one” units. That being said, there are plenty of folks who could make use of the many capabilities of Roland’s VR-50HD.
FEATURES
• 12 input, 4-Channel Video plus still channel Multi-Format Switcher
• Supports 3G/HD/SD SDI, HDMI, RGB/Component, and Composite Video Inputs Up to 1080p (3G SDI)
• Embedding of audio with delay settings
• 12-Channel Digital Audio Mixer with XLR, TRS, and RCA jacks along with audio from SDI and HDMI inputs
• 4 Layer, Compositing of PinP, PinP/KEY, and STILL
• Built-In Preview Touch Monitor (7 inch Graphic color LCD 800 x 480 dots)
• External Multi-View Output through HDMI
• HDCP Support
• USB3.0 Video/Audio Output for web streaming and recording up to 1080p (uncompressed)
Price: $7,499 (street price)
