Video Connection Problems

[DisneyFan25863]

Hi all,

Ok, so I'm setting up the video studio for my new school (which just opened today after years of waiting!)...problem is, we are running S-Video from the cameras to the mixer. However, we also must run a feed of the camera to our preview TVs. On all the mixers I have worked on, an additional output has been provided so you can plug in the preview screens. However, on our new one (Panasonic AG-MX70 (http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=68674&catGroupId=14632&modelNo=AG-MX70&surfModel=AG-MX70) ) none of these outputs are provided, so we must split the source beforehand. I'm looking for S-Video Splitters online, but they don't seem to be carried anywhere. Anyone have an idea on where we can get our hands on one of these?

Also, does anyone know of a TV Tuner that has S-Video outputs? (Basically, we want to take a coax input and tune to a specific channel, and then output that channel over S-Video). I can find RF Modulators that do the reverse (S-Video to Coax) but nothing that is a tuner. Any ideas?


Thanks!
Sean

[Name]

do the camera's possibly have a secondary, video preview out, on the camera that is a lower quality signal, but still useable for camera preview in the control room? Don't think I have ever seen S-video splitters, but I haven't been in the video production business too much so never looked for that type of equipment. Sucks that the mixer doesn't have any video preview outputs on it, seems something that would be used in almost every video production application.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Found this...

http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce/mcm/en_US/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=24-7835&N=4

I'd worry about signal loss with something like that though. S-video is dependent on proper termination, a y-cable isn't going to do that for you. You're much better off with something like this (http://www.hallresearch.com/products/splitters/tv_splitters/tv_splitters.htm#csv-3) that will properly terminate the signal. (there are tons of those out there, just do a search for "s-video splitter"

[Name]

You might try http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=breadCrumb&A=search&Q=&ci=5194 for some ideas of what you are looking for.

[Kevy Baby]

You might try http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=breadCrumb&A=search&Q=&ci=5194 for some ideas of what you are looking for.I'll throw a second on BH Video. I've used them in the past and they are pretty good.

[Name]

seems the best I can come up with for the svideo tv tuner is an ati all-in-wonder card... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=372842&is=REG&addedTroughType=search . Probably would be your best solution anyway, build a cheapo computer, install tv tuner card, and install s-video out card, configure and go.

[mousepod]

I'd go with the S-Video splitter that GD posted (or a similar one) - but as far as goinfrom coax to a tuner and then out to S-Video, have you considered a cheap VCR? If you're going through the board, you can almost certainly pass the signal through the tuner without having to worry about the motor or play/erase heads...

[Kevy Baby]

I'd go with the S-Video splitter that GD posted (or a similar one) - but as far as goinfrom coax to a tuner and then out to S-Video, have you considered a cheap VCR? If you're going through the board, you can almost certainly pass the signal through the tuner without having to worry about the motor or play/erase heads...Good idea. Even a defunct (but not too old) VCR might do the trick if the problem was with the play/record heads - the tuner should still work.

[DisneyFan25863]

I'd go with the S-Video splitter that GD posted (or a similar one) - but as far as goinfrom coax to a tuner and then out to S-Video, have you considered a cheap VCR? If you're going through the board, you can almost certainly pass the signal through the tuner without having to worry about the motor or play/erase heads...

Thats a great idea...it never even crossed my mind! We already have a DVD/VCR combo in the studio for playing back stuff over the channel, so that would work perfectly!

Name: They do, but running RCA to each camera and back to the control room is almost 100 feet, which is like $200 dollars in cable.

And I know the splitters will degrade quality, and the combo amp/splitters are way out of our budget.


Seems our best bet is to run the extra RCA. I'll have to see how much money we have left (I think its around $3000...but we still need to make a set and buy some short cables and connectors and such)