Panasonic Announces AV-HS6000 Broadcast-Grade 2-M/E Live Switcher

Panasonic Professional Camera Solutions announces the AV-HS6000, a new broadcast grade 2-M/E live switcher. The AV-HS6000 features a highly compact 3-RU size mainframe unit, provides 32 SDI (HD/SD switchable) inputs and two DVI inputs as well as 16 HD/SD SDI outputs in its standard configuration.

With its 3-RU size mainframe unit, the AV-HS6000 is a highly compact live switcher. The new Panasonic broadcast 2-M/E live switcher features a stylish design matched with an intuitive button layout and has an optional 25.7 cm (10.1 inches) touch-operated menu panel, which can also show input and output video, WFM display and multi-view display. The switcher can, alternatively, be equipped with a commercially available VGA monitor. A web server feature enables users to select menu settings on a PC through a LAN connection. Furthermore, a Software Development Kit (SDK) ensures excellent expandability. With the SDK provided by Panasonic, third-party vendors and SI professionals can freely develop plug-in software that adds new functionality to the AV-HS6000.

The AV-HS6000 supports HD and SD multi-format signals. The system frequency of the live switcher is also changeable between 59.94 Hz, 50 Hz, and 24 Hz (or 23.98Hz), enabling operation and digital cinema production worldwide. The standard configuration has 32 SDI (HD/SD) inputs and two DVI-D inputs. 16 input channels feature a built-in frame synchroniser, there are up-converters for 4 channels and colour correction circuits for 8 channels. In its standard configuration, the new Panasonic broadcast grade 2-M/E live switcher also features 16 HD/SD SDI outputs with down-converters for 2 channels and colour correction circuits for 4 channels. There are 16 keyers with 4 downstream keyer channels.

Its combination of input and output channels with two mix/effects (2 M/E) allows the AV-HS6000 to be used in a wide variety of operation scenarios. The numerous built-in effects include standard wipe, mix and cut effects as well as DVE transition effects such as squeeze and slide. A chroma keyer is included as a standard item on the AV-HS6000 with 1 channel for each M/E. This keyer can be expanded to up to 4 channels per M/E. The chroma key compositor employs the powerful Primatte®algorithm[1], which has a proven track record as plug-in software on many high-end non-linear editing systems.

The new AV-HS6000 features the same memory functions as previous models, being: the Shot Memory, the Event Memory, and the Video Memory. The Video Memory is excellent for CG clips as this function allows recording or playback of 4 channels of still images and 4 channels of video clips. In addition, a dedicated module in each M/E of the AV-HS6000 control panel allows users to easily and safely perform memory recall actions.

The new Panasonic broadcast 2 M/E live switcher will be available from the first quarter of 2014 with a pricing to be confirmed. The AV-HS6000 will be on display at Panasonic’s IBC booth, #9.C45, from 13 till 17 September. Alternatively, please visit:http://business.panasonic.eu/broadcast-and-proav.