{"id":5783,"date":"2011-06-21T13:42:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-21T18:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/?p=5783"},"modified":"2023-10-05T17:24:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T22:24:05","slug":"datavideo-se-500-video-switcher-an-inexpensive-option-for-studio-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/datavideo-se-500-video-switcher-an-inexpensive-option-for-studio-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Datavideo SE-500 Video Switcher, an Inexpensive Option for Simple Studio Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lots of VPT readers write to me to ask about a simple, inexpensive way to put together a video production studio.\u00a0 The Datavideo SE-500 <\/a>video switcher, which also comes as\u00a0a kit with monitors,<\/a> is a good choice to build a simple and inexpensive studio around.\u00a0 In fact, the SE-500 is one of the simplest and least expensive video switchers on the market, but is enough to get the job done for many of the people who write to me with these questions.<\/p>\n

The SE-500 alone is $960 and the kit runs $2,005 from B&H, which is actually\u00a0less than Datavideo charges for it.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since monitors, of course, are required for the studio production process, most people opt for the kit.\u00a0 Everything is designed to work together.\u00a0 The duel 7″ LCD monitors have a quad function so are real nice. \u00a0(Meaning they can handle 4 inputs, which you can see in the picture.)<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nFirst, if you want to learn more about the pros and cons of studio video production, click this link<\/a>.\u00a0 In short, studio production is a much faster way of cranking out major quantities of video content.\u00a0\u00a0 A studio has multiple cameras and microphones and everything is edited live, on the fly.\u00a0 Compared to basic field production, with one camera and lots of time-consuming post production editing, studio production is fast, easy and cheap.<\/p>\n

Using a switcher is sometimes called spontaneous editing<\/em> and the time savings over post production editing is HUGE.\u00a0 Let’s say you’re doing a 30 minute show.\u00a0 If you’re doing it studio technique, 30 minutes after starting you have a completely finished show.\u00a0 On the other hand, editing a 30 minute show out of raw footage in any video editing program would take hours, even days or weeks.\u00a0 In the professional world, we always allow AT LEAST one hour of post-production time for every finished minute of video.\u00a0\u00a0 30 minute show = 30 hours of editing MINIMUM.<\/p>\n

\"datavideo<\/p>\n

Churches, small eCommerce sites, and schools would all be good candidates for a video studio using a machine like the SE-500 kit.<\/p>\n

WHAT IS A VIDEO SWITCHER, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?<\/h3>\n

A video switcher is the heart of any TV studio.\u00a0 Every single video source in your studio is plugged into the video switcher.\u00a0 The person operating the switcher (usually the director) controls which video source is seen at any one time by punching and controlling the various buttons, knobs and levers.<\/p>\n

The director can also use the switcher to add some basic special effects and either cut, dissolve or select any number of wipes.\u00a0 Some switchers have green screen capability and some do not.\u00a0\u00a0 The more expensive ones include lots of special effects, but the inexpensive one are limited.<\/p>\n

In a large TV studio operations, you would need a switcher with 20, or even 40 inputs.\u00a0 You have all the cameras, multiple graphics generators, special effects generators, multiple videotape decks, multiple weather maps, satellites, etc. all plugged into the video switcher.\u00a0\u00a0 This picture is an example of a switcher with a possible total of 34 inputs, the Panasonic AV HS6000.\u00a0 It retails for a bit under $30K.\u00a0 Here’s a picture of it.<\/p>\n

\"panasonic<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Compare that massive beast to the subject of today’s post, the humble Datavideo SE-500, which has four inputs.\u00a0 Any four video sources can be plugged into it.\u00a0 Let’s say you have two cameras, a graphics generator and a video playback deck for inserting videos.\u00a0 Or, you could have three cameras and a graphics generator.\u00a0 For simple video productions, this is enough.\u00a0\u00a0 A small switcher like this is also limited in terms of special effects, but it doesn’t cost 30 grand either!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"video<\/p>\n

FEATURES OF THE DATA VIDEO <\/strong><\/h3>\n

In addition to the four video inputs, the SE-500 has three audio inputs, two for microphones and the third for a CD player or tape deck.\u00a0 Each input has a slider control.\u00a0 Theoretically, this means you can get by without buying a separate audio board.\u00a0 However, most people do, especially if you are doing talk shows with five or six people who all need a mic.\u00a0 It is also a bit easier logistically to have the audio and video under separate controls operated by two people and not just one.<\/p>\n

BIGGEST DRAWBACK<\/h3>\n

One drawback of this unit is that it only handles SD (standard def) video and not HD (High Definition).\u00a0 However, SD with good lighting looks better than HD with crummy lighting and few people seem to understand that!\u00a0 SD is still good for a lot of things, especially internet use where you do not want gigantic files.<\/p>\n

If you want HD, you can move up to the Datavideo HS-2000.\u00a0 It not only handles HD, it comes with head sets and handles more inputs.\u00a0 Downside to all of that of course is money.\u00a0 The HS-2000 cost about 4 times as much.<\/p>\n

One cool feature is that the SE-500 also has a quad split monitor output.\u00a0 This means the user can preview each input on one single monitor that is split into quarters.\u00a0 This is really convenient, less expensive and takes up less space than\u00a0 having a separate monitor for each and every video source.\u00a0 If you get it with the dual monitor rack that comes as part of the kit, you can have one of those screens show 4 inputs.\u00a0 Look carefully at the pictures above, and you can see that the one on the left is showing 4 inputs.<\/p>\n

MORE FEATURES AND A USER EXPERIENCE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The SE-500 can’t do green screen, but it can do picture-in-picture.\u00a0 Picture in Picture transitions can even be\u00a0 programmed to position in various parts of the frame.
\nHere is a quote from a satisfied user of the Datavideo SE-500 Live Production Switcher:<\/p>\n

Using this in a church setting. Works great. We currently run two inputs, 1) Camera, 2) Media Shout.(Church and worship niche specific software)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Purchased kit with the\u00a0 dual 7″ LCD display panel.\u00a0 The unit has several different abilities for PIP (Picture in Picture), which is nice if you want to place the media shout slides down in one corner as the videos are running through.<\/em>
\n There is an audio control as well, where you can run the audio from say your sound board to the unit as it then heads out of the unit to its final destination (in our case, several Lobby TV’s and an encoding server).<\/em>
\n The slider handle feels good in the hand (some have mentioned it did not feel as if it had “weight” to it). There is enough resistance that it allows for smooth transition.<\/em><\/p>\n

All in all, we are quite happy with it. Would like to have gone with HD (this unit supports SD only), but that bumps you up several thousand more.<\/em>
\n Only down side, the documentation could have been a bit better on hooking everything up for a first time user.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All in all, the Datavideo SE-500 is an excellent choice for folks on a budget.\u00a0 Schools, churches, or small internet operations would probably all be pleased with the results from using this video switcher.\u00a0 Granted it does not have all the bells and whistles, so if you’ve got more money, go with something more advanced. \u00a0But if you’re on a budget, this is a good choice.<\/p>\n

Datavideo is a quality supplier of video equipment and I have used tons of stuff from them over the years.\u00a0 Never had an issue with any of it.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips!<\/em><\/p>\n

Lorraine Grula<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’re looking to set-up a simple but effective studio system to cranks out lots of videos, the DataVideo SE-500 switcher might be a component you’d want to consider. It’s nothing fancy but get the basic job done for folks on a budget.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2616,163],"tags":[1512,2676,1511,1510,1514,1513,1509,1508],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/datavideo-se500-switcher-cropped.jpg?fit=720%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5783"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19654,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5783\/revisions\/19654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}