tvONE flagship video processor sparks advanced mixer/controller for creative PC-video applications
Margate, Kent, UK, 19 September 2013 – tvONE (www.tvone.com), a leading designer and manufacturer of cutting-edge video and multimedia processing equipment, has collaborated with live events staging artist, Toby Harris, helping him to create the *spark d-fuser , a compact and affordable DVI mixer designed for live events. The *spark d-fuser is capable of crossfading laptops, tablets and HDMI cameras using tvONE’s 1T-C2-750 Dual-PIP DVI-I scaler.
Harris, an artist with D-Fuse, a London-based audiovisual artist collective, and an innovator in interaction and visualisation, conceived of the *spark d-fuser video mixer to create presentations and effects that no current off-the-shelf mixer could support. “For our kind of theatrical shows, plugging a laptop directly into the projection setup just isn't an option,” Harris explained. “We need video hardware to keep a solid feed to the projectors from early sound check to us walking on stage. We need to have a master fade control for our output, and we need to crossfade between our laptops to mix collaboratively.”
No off-the-shelf SD or HD hardware was able to handle the video generated by several laptops when rendering multiple screens simultaneously, so Harris set about designing an artist-friendly, DVI, VGA and HDMI mixer capable of processing video at all resolutions from VGA to full HD and of supporting theatre-quality immersive visual experiences.
tvONE’s 1T-C2-750 dual-PIP DVI-I scaler provided the ideal video processor for the *spark d-fuser. Its key capabilities enabled Harris to build the innovative mixer utilising its twin picture-in-picture capability to allow crossfade and fade-to-black of disparate sources, full-frame buffering which ensures consistent synchronisation on output even if some inputs are disconnected, and support for full 1080p60 HD as well as custom resolutions allowing dual-head or triple-head resolutions. In addition, the mixer leverages the 1T-C2-750’s EDID management to ensure all connected laptops behave predictably.
The *spark d-fuser controller exposes the functionality of the tvONE 1T-C2-750, giving the user hands-on control of the mixing functions and an intuitive menu honed for live events setup. The 1T-C2-750 that comes as part of the *spark d-fuser package runs custom firmware that upgrades the compositing capability of the processor. Inspired by the fade curves in DJ mixers, Harris and tvONE collaborated on a crossfade blend curve that goes from flat blend to full add, so black and white graphics need not dull mid-blend, and rich imagery can be cross-faded together with just the right tonal balance.
“The tvONE 1T-C2-750 was key to achieving a capable, compact and cost-effective solution,” added Harris. “Since we built it, many friends in the art world and music industry have said it’s exactly what they want. It goes beyond that though, to wherever there is PowerPoint! With its small size and obvious operation, there need be no more lengthy change-overs and desktops shown to the audience. All presenters should try it, and A/V hire companies should make it available to their customers.”
“It has been tremendously inspiring to work with Toby and D-Fuse as the *spark d-fuser has taken shape,” said Alan Greenfield, tvONE Regional Sales Manager for UK & Ireland. “We are delighted that our video scaler provided the best processing platform to realise this completely unique and groundbreaking innovation.”
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About tvONE
A subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., tvONE is a world class solutions provider specialising in video conversion and AV signal distribution. Headquartered in Erlanger, Kentucky, United States, with offices in Europe, USA, Taiwan, China and Latin America, tvONE provides a complete line-up of products and services for the professional AV and broadcast video markets. Following the global merger of tvONE and Magenta Research in July 2013, the new company tvONE now encompasses these two superior brands under one umbrella.
The tvONE brand specialises in video, audio and multimedia processing equipment, based on its proprietary CORIO® video conversion technology. Products include all-in-one system solutions, windowing processors, scan converters, seamless switchers, video scalers, up/down/cross converters, analogue-digital converters (SD/HD-SDI, HDMI, DVI), format converters and standard converters.
Magenta Research is the industry-recognised brand for the transmission, switching and flexible distribution of multi-format video, audio and auxiliary signals over fibre and Cat-X cabling. Products include AV extenders, distribution amplifiers and matrix switchers for DVI, HDMI, VGA, and component, composite, s-video, audio, USB, and RS-232 signals.
To download an accompanying image suitable for publishing along with this news release, please use the following link, it will take you to tvONE’s Product Photo web page: http://www.tvone.com/press_photos.shtml.
For more information, please contact Maria Silva by phone: 01843 873300 or email: maria.silva@tvone.com.
About Nortek, Inc.
Nortek, Inc. is a leading diversified global manufacturer of innovative, branded residential and commercial ventilation, HVAC and technology products. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, Nortek offers a broad array of products, including technology offerings, in audio, video, access control, security and digital display mounting and mobility products. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.
Press contacts:
Maria Silva Beky Cann
TV One Neesham Public Relations
Tel: 01843 873300 Tel: 01296 628180
Email: maria.silva@tvone.com Email: bekyc@neesham.co.uk
Photo caption:
3D Disco mix high-resolution imagery from laptops combined with a tvONE 1T-C2-750 at recent Videocrash event
