Roland Systems Group has announced the new Roland VR-3EX, which incorporates an audio mixer, video mixer, touchscreen monitor, and USB port for streaming and recording in a single unit.
It advances the entry model, the VR-3, by adding four HDMI inputs/outputs, built-in scaling with resolutions up to 1080p and WUXGA, HDCP support, full 18-channel digital audio mixer with effects, and over 200 video transitions and effects.
The VR-3EX’s expanded feature set and affordable price point makes it a viable option for a variety of markets including house of worship, education, corporate AV, live production, and sports. The compact design lends itself to portable applications as well as permanent installations, especially when size and space are considerations.
Designed to be a combined live production switcher and web streaming device, the VR-3EX offers audio embedding and built-in audio mixer with delay settings on each input and USB output to allow “lip sync” adjustments to match the video source.
The 18-channel audio mixer is made up of four XLR/TRS with phantom power, stereo RCA, mini-stereo, built-in stereo mics, as well as stereo audio from the four HDMI inputs. A variety of dynamics such as delay, EQ, Gate, and Compressor can be applied to each balanced audio channel.
A built-in stereo microphone on the top of the unit enables the operator to narrate or add ambient audio from the audience into the mix. It also has a main and aux bus output for separating mix audio for the broadcast and the in-house PA system.
Video inputs 1 to 3 provide composite (RCA) or HDMI (SD only), while input 4 accepts HDMI, RGB/Component or composite video. The output offers the ability to scale resolutions up to 1080p via HDMI or component, 1920×1200 (WUXGA) via RGB, or SD (NTSC or PAL) composite. An additional HDMI output is included for an external preview monitor.
The VR-3EX supports HDCP video, allowing mixing copyright protected material such as game consoles and Blu-ray content into a live production. Composition effects such as Chroma key, Luminance key, and picture-in-picture enable title/logo overlay or lower thirds on background video.
HDMI inputs one to three accept video resolutions up to 480p/576p and input four accepts HDMI resolutions up to 1080p and RGB up to WUXGA (1920×1200). Although internal processing is SD-based, the output can be scaled up to 1080p or 1920×1200.
As a USB video/audio class device, web streaming is achieved by simply connecting to a computer running a live streaming service. The output can also be recorded using Roland’s free VR Capture software for Windows or Mac or by using native OS applications such as QuickTime on a Mac.
The Roland VR-3EX is making its public debut at NAMM 2014 (booth 302A), and is expected to be available in March 2014.
