WorldStage to Produce Live Events with FOR-A Portable Video Switcher

WorldStage purchased the switcher as part of its overall initiative to build a compact and flexible video production system that optimizes the company’s performance at the many Manhattan area venues it travels to throughout the year. WorldStage already owns two FOR-A HVS-300 video switchers, and found that operators were able to quickly learn how to use the HVS-100 unit due to its similar setup. The company recently began user training with the new switcher.

“We do a lot of computer graphics work, and we wanted to have more bandwidth for high definition work over coax cable,” said Barry Grossman, Chief Engineer at WorldStage. “So the fact that we can have 1080p/3G connectivity on a single coax with our new FOR-A switcher is a major perk for us.”

The built-in Web browser interface on the HVS-100 is another useful feature of the unit for WorldStage. With this capability, operators can remotely control their FOR-A switcher via a computer or tablet. "With the browser interface, we can remotely control the switcher with an iPad. This helps with projector setups,” added Grossman.

FOR-A’s HVS-100 comes with a separate main unit and control panel, which includes dedicated bus buttons, AUX buttons, a fader controller and direct user buttons for various functions. The unit comes standard with eight HD/SD-SDI inputs and four outputs, plus one HDMI output. A maximum of 14 inputs and six outputs or 12 inputs and eight outputs can be freely assigned, and three slots enable the addition of various inputs and outputs.  FOR-A also offers the HVS-110 portable video switcher, which boasts a more compact, integrated design, making the switcher ideal for use in small broadcasting vans and flypacks.