SECAUCUS, NJ (October 29, 2008) – Panasonic has announced the immediate availability of the new AV-HS400A multi-format HD/SD live switcher. The new HS400A offers all the powerful features of its predecessor (AV-HS400) including built-in MultiViewer image preview, full 10-bit HD processing, an expandable HD/SD architecture with 3D digital effects-and adds a host of new capabilities for improved performance and even greater ease of use. The introduction of two additional I/O option cards further expands the versatility of this powerful and cost-effective live switcher.
Among the HS400A’s enhancements are customizable MultiViewer labeling and border functions, many new keyer fuctions, expanded graphics support, and pan-tilt camera control.
The HS400A’s built-in MultiViewer, which can output four, eight, or 10 images from different sources to a single high-resolution display, now features customizable labels for each window – users can easily create custom input window names of up to 6 characters, or quickly select from a list of common names (e.g. CAM7). They also have the ability to adjust brightness or remove labels or the background “bar”. The HS400A provides control over frame border brightness as well as a green border for Preset tally (in addition to the red-border Program tallies). Window borders can now be turned off for image magnification (IMAG) or video-wall applications, and the MultiViewer’s large windows can display either Aux or Key out, in addition to Preview or Program.
New key functions added to the HS400A include 3D DVE key effects for dramatic transitions, flying key for dynamic titling effects, a full key for a virtual second picture-in-picture, and many other creative tools.
The HS400A’s many new graphics functions include the ability to import files via Ethernet interface for fast access to titles and pictures, alpha channel support, and more. The HS400A includes HS400Tool software (Windows only) to enable automatic import and sizing of imported TIFF (with Alpha Channel), PNG (with Alpha Channel), BMP, GIF and JPEG images. SD card graphic functions now include support of both JPEG and Bitmap files, and readouts for number of files and remaining card space.
Camera control functions include pan/tilt/zoom/focus operation of a single remote camera via joystick directly from the front panel, or switched operation of up to five remote cameras in conjunction with any current Panasonic AW-RP series camera controller.
Designed for studio or mobile production use, the compact HS400A is easy to use and integrate into existing HD/SD workflow. Its modular architecture comes standard with four HD/SD-SDI inputs and four HD/SD-SDI outputs (1080/59.94i, 720/59.94p, or 480/59.94i), and can be expanded to support up to eight inputs and eight outputs with seven different optional I/O boards. These optional boards enable up-conversion of SD signals to HD, downconversion of HD to SD, and scaling of DVI output to 1900×1200. The switcher maintains a built-in, switchable 10-bit frame synchronizer for each input, for glitch-free switching, even with non-synchronous sources such as Blu-Ray DVD players or remote camera feeds.
Other standard features include tally outputs for up to eight cameras, both built-in LCD and On Screen Display for viewing settings, GPI input, RS-422A remote control, and user-programmable function buttons.
The HS400A is available now at a suggested list price of $11,890.
New option cards for the HS400A include the AV-HS04M6 dual analog composite input card (ideal for use with legacy equipment) and the AV-HS04M7 dual HD/SD-SDI output card with high-quality down-conversion-for facilities requiring simultaneous HD and SD output for IMAG, recording, and Web-casting. The AV-HS04M6 is available now at a suggested list price of $1,990; the AV-HS04M7 is now available at a suggested list price of $2,190.
For more information about the AV-HS400A system, please visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.