Portability and Performance of New FOR-A XT Series Switchers Gains Attention of Schools, Churches, Production Cos and Major Broadcasters

Portability and Performance of New FOR-A XT Series Switchers Gains Attention of Schools, Churches, Production Cos and Major Broadcasters

May 28, 2014

Cypress, CA, May 28, 2014 Since its introduction into the market last year, FOR-A's HVS-XT video production switcher series has proven a popular fit for a wide range of applications. Current customers of FOR-A XT Series switchers include: schools, houses of worship, production companies and major broadcasting networks.

The HVS-XT100 comes with a separate main unit and control panel, while the HVS-XT110 features a compact, integrated design. Both units include: mixed HD/SD input, frame synchronization, multi-viewer capability, re-sizing engine, 2.5D wipe effects, DVE and keyer with chroma key. Two freely assignable Keyers and DSKs channels also come standard. A built-in Web server allows users to adjust settings from a PC or a tablet.

Some of the new XT users are existing FOR-A customers looking to capitalize on the portability and performance of these new switchers. Arizona-based Sun Valley Community Church began using a FOR-A HVS-300HS switcher three years ago for its transition to HD production. The church has three locations, and uses the HVS-300HS in its original campus in Gilbert, AZ. When the time came to select a switcher for one of their newer campuses, the church had FOR-A's products in top-of-mind. Sun Valley selected a FOR-A HVS-XT100 and has been successfully using it since last September.

We were very happy with the performance of our FOR-A HVS-300HS switcher, so it was a simple choice to stay in the FOR-A family and purchase another one of their units for our newer location, said Greg Gardner, Sun Valley's Video Technical Director. We went with the HVS XT-100 because of its new features, particularly the ability to assign one of the keys to any of the aux channels and reposition and resize the key as desired. I've also found its Web browser capabilities to be extremely useful in our productions.

FOR-A's HVS-XT series is also being used for higher learning. A computer science institute at the University of California, Berkeley has been relying on the HVS-XT100 since late last summer for production of workshops and lectures, which are streamed and archived online.

I appreciate the ease of use that the HVS-XT100 affords, said Omied Far, UC Berkeley's switcher operator. I've quickly learned the ins and outs of the switcher, and it helps me to provide smooth, live video to viewers around the world.

Broadcast equipment rental and production service company Clark Media has been utilizing XT series switchers to provide its corporate, video production company, and broadcast network customers with custom designed solutions. The Bethlehem, PA-based company recently purchased three HVS-XT100 switchers and one HVS-XT110 unit. Dedicated to providing the top technology to its customers, Clark Media plans to rent the FOR-A switchers out in flypacks.

California-based RBL Engineering is one of many video production companies that count on the FOR-A HVS-XT switcher. Part of RBL Engineering's business is corporate AV event production. The company has been relying on the HVS-XT110 for its multi-camera productions since last fall, and they recently purchased another HVS-XT110 switcher for upcoming projects.

Portability was a key consideration for us in choosing this switcher, said company president Bob Bolling. The size of the HVS-XT110 was a major plus, as we need to be able to easily transport the unit. The HVS-XT110 is the only switcher in its price range that enables dissolve for screen switch, and we appreciate being able to have one switcher control eight outputs with different sources. Its 1080p upgradeable option was also a big perk, as we were looking for a future-proof switcher.

RBL Engineering recently used the HVS-XT110 for camera switching at a keynote to an audience of 5,000 in San Jose, CA. The RBL Engineering team also took the HVS-XT110 on a plane to Hong Kong to provide I-MAG support and live streaming.

FOR-A's Latin American customers continue to rely on its technology with use of XT Series switchers, particularly to benefit their live production environments. Brazilian video services provider Casablanca Online, Argentina's TyC Sports, and Mexico-based mass multimedia company Televisa are all users of HVS-XT switchers.

LINK:	http://www.for-a.com/news_events/news_releases_1405281.html...
	See more stories from fora

Most recent headlines