Church Sound Article Tue, December 02, 2008

The change from front-panel, button-push source selection gives way to the need for dissolving arbitrarily between sources and the need to insert and remove multiple key inputs on the fly. In a very real sense, the more advanced a venue’s video offerings, the more the switchers need to behave like traditional broadcast video switchers.

The difference today is that “video” is no longer such a simple term, with a wide variety of sources including HD (high definition) video, SD (standard definition) video, various computer formats, and the like all vying for display. Hence, Thomson Grass Valley introduced the Indigo A/V Mixer as a sort of intermediate offering for meeting all of those sources on common ground.

An Intriguing Product
The concept behind the Indigo was fascinating to me back when I was invited to look at the prototype over a year ago. Here was a product that tried to bring the familiar video switcher interface and functionality to an A/V mixer, replete with audio mixing controls. I was struck by the beauty of the layout and interface, as it seemingly brought together the two worlds of computer-resolution inputs (which are typically scaled) and video inputs (typically synced via Genlock) into a single chassis.

From the built-in touch-screen to the familiar-looking three rows of buttons (preview, program and auxiliary), I thought the Indigo was well on its way to being the hot product of the year once introduced.

Great Image Quality and Professional Controls
Thomson Grass Valley is renowned as one the most respected companies in the broadcast television market. Many church technical directors cut their teeth switching on a Grass Valley product. The Indigo benefits from this legacy with state-of-the-art and impeccable quality input and output processing. Everything about the way this unit handles HD, SD and computer-resolution content is stellar.

The top-of-the-line 2D and 3D transition and special effects are what any broadcast veteran would expect from Thomson Grass Valley while initiates new to this level of product offering will be stunned by the truly professional control, functionality and quality built into the Indigo.

Utilizing cameras that have tally lights is possible with the Indigo, thanks to the GPI/Tally serial port. There are also three aux monitor outputs, useful for looking at a dedicated source or even key channels. This kind of additional functionality comes straight from the heritage of the venerable broadcast video switcher line Thomson Grass Valley is known for.

Touchpanel Control
A nice inclusion is a touch-panel control pad nestled at the top of the unit that allows for quick saving and recalling of information, I/O settings and user preferences. Every processing control available for an input or output is modified either by touching and dragging on the screen or by using the handy “Digipots” (rotary knobs) that offer multi-function use based on the current information displayed on the screen.

On-screen preview is possible if a preview monitor isn’t available (though I can’t imagine using this product without one). Audio control and setup is also accomplished from this screen with actual control of the audio level handled from the on-board motorized flying faders.

A neat feature is the ability to manage and manipulate external media content with certain devices (such as Thomson Grass Valley’s own iTurbo DDR). Once play lists are created, the user is capable of displaying the clip’s start time, end time, duration and status, a very handy feature. And by saving often played clips as “favorites,” the user can recall one of twenty favorites right from the touch-screen. Also included is the ability to save and recall up to 12 full-screen graphics (a built-in still store) right from the unit’s memory.

Perhaps most interesting for the church market is the ability to set the Indigo to operate in one of three user modes: Two M/E (mix/effects), SD-Flat and HR-Flat.

The Two M/E mode basically opens up the unit to both the SD and HD button assignments. In SD-Flat mode, only SD M/E (Mix/Effects such as wipes, transitions, etc...) are available and SD inputs nine and 10 are replaced by downscaled HD inputs one and two, disabling the HD inputs for configuration for internal SD sources. Finally, HR-Flat mode limits the unit to the HD M/E, and only HD inputs one and two and all but inputs nine and ten from the SD side of the bus.

The value of this, apparently, is that for venues that are exclusively HD inputs (computer and/or HD-video) or SD inputs, the usage of the unit is configurable to allow the most possible input controls.

Why’d They Do That?
The blend of A/V mixer and professional switcher leads to a product that’s not quite either. On one hand, Thomson Grass Valley included a full six channel automated, flying-fader audio control right into the Indigo. My guess is that some will like this for small applications such as a video venue that can be manned by one or two volunteer techs, as keeping the audio-for-video available right in the unit could make for a simpler interface. Yet given the propensity of churches to place audio mixers in every venue, I wonder if the built-in audio mixer on the Indigo will largely go unused.

Furthermore, the analog audio input is accomplished via unbalanced RCA connectors, a questionable choice in context of the professional nature of the product, but which was probably included as a space-saving measure. Fortunately, the line inputs are balanced XLR and/or 1/4-inch TRS, as are the main audio outputs. If the user has the right kind of equipment, digital audio can be utilized by the standard 25-pin AES/ EBU connector.