ProSoundWeb Community

Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => SR Forum Archives => Pro AV FUD Forum Archive => Topic started by: Adam Kane on July 28, 2010, 11:49:18 AM

Title: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Adam Kane on July 28, 2010, 11:49:18 AM
Hello,

Looking for a video switcher/scaler that can have the inputs switched via contact closures. Inputs will need to be VGA, s-video, composite, component (if possible) with VGA output. Nothing else fancy required (fade-thru-black would be nice, but definitely not necessary).

Or, a comparatively inexpensive way to do this without going the Crestron/AMX approach...the budget won't allow it.

I've tried searching different manufacturers (Kramer and Extron are the two we use the most frequently) but I've yet to see what I'm looking for...or I've missed it.

If this can't be done within their budget, than so be it...I don't want to cobble crap together just to get the job.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Ken Freeman on July 29, 2010, 12:13:10 AM
Extron 1508.  Runs 232 or via IR, which you can extend.

Ken
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on July 30, 2010, 12:47:06 PM
Hey guys,

Just out of curiosity because I have never heard some of these terms used before.

So you want to use a contact enclosure to do the switching. I assume this allow's remote switching - but I'm unclear on what a "contact enclosure" is.

Upgrade my knowledge please? Smile

Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Brad Weber on July 30, 2010, 05:05:31 PM
Kellen Tyburski wrote on Fri, 30 July 2010 12:47

Just out of curiosity because I have never heard some of these terms used before.

So you want to use a contact enclosure to do the switching. I assume this allow's remote switching - but I'm unclear on what a "contact enclosure" is.

Upgrade my knowledge please? Smile

A dry contact closure is a simple electrical make/break connection, usually a relay or switch.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Adam Kane on July 30, 2010, 10:04:15 PM
Brad Weber wrote on Fri, 30 July 2010 17:05

Kellen Tyburski wrote on Fri, 30 July 2010 12:47

Just out of curiosity because I have never heard some of these terms used before.

So you want to use a contact enclosure to do the switching. I assume this allow's remote switching - but I'm unclear on what a "contact enclosure" is.

Upgrade my knowledge please? Smile

A dry contact closure is a simple electrical make/break connection, usually a relay or switch.


Yes...closure...not ENclosure.

In this case, they have an external device which provides dry closures for different room uses/configurations. They want to be able to have the video source switched by that. The Extron unit that Ken linked to is very similar to a Kramer switcher/scaler I use frequently, but RS232 is out of the question as there's nothing else in the system that uses that.

This is supposed to be a low budget system and I was hoping to find something similar to many audio DSP's that can be set up to recall presets/snapshots via contact closure, but I'm not having any luck finding something that doesn't require some sort of outboard piece of gear.

In the end, if it can't be done for what they want to spend on the project, I'll tell them it can't be done and move on.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Guest on August 05, 2010, 05:46:07 PM
I am working on a system as we speak that does exactly that. The switcher is an Extron unit with contact closure swithing via a DB25 port. It also has 5 volt tally outs on the same connector. Will that fill the bill for you?
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Adam Kane on August 08, 2010, 07:19:36 PM
I'm interested. Model number?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Rob Timmerman on August 08, 2010, 07:45:16 PM
Hall Research has a number of contact closure to RS232 interfaces, if you don't mind a 2-box approach.

http://www.hallresearch.com
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Guest on August 09, 2010, 11:56:10 AM
This is an SW4 VGA. There newer models have RS232 but some with a contact closure to ground are still in inventory. They have a series of thse with 4,6,8 inputs, audio follow video etc.
The DB 25 connector has a switch leg for each channel and when closed momentarily to ground selects the channel. There is a correspondig 5 v tally signal on a separate pinout for each channel.

I used this quite successfully on the older System 8 switcher for the MACworld shows several years ago. I buily 8 controllers that did this switching and incorporated 8 channels of stereo selection audio control in the same device, all outputting to LOz balanced mic level outs.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Ray Cerwinski on August 16, 2010, 01:17:23 AM
Give this a shot. Pair it with the Kramer model of your choice.

http://www.kramerelectronics.com/products/model.asp?pid=536
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Guest on August 16, 2010, 03:42:02 AM
Why use the RS232 device? The OP said he had no ther device that needed RS232 and did not want o use it for one device.The Extron system will work fine as it has contact closure remote control.

I can easil;y build the remote you want. PM me if you are interested.
Title: Re: Video switcher/scaler w/ contact closure control...
Post by: Eric Madson on August 16, 2010, 12:10:50 PM
The Extron DVS304 will get you what you need. No transition effects though.