Panasonic has announced a new compact addition to its popular MultiFormat switcher line-up, the new, IP-capable AW-HS50 HD/SD live switcher. This affordable, portable switcher offers four HD/SD-SDI and one DVI-D inputs as standard, with a built-in MultiViewer display.

With a built-in frame-synchronizer for each input, two HD/SD-SDI outputs and one scalable DVI-D output, the HS50 offers powerful, sub-compact switching capabilities for mobile production, AV facilities, and event video. As a component in Panasonic’s first complete Internet Protocol (IP) production system, the HS50 provides IP links to the new AW-RP50 remote camera controller, enabling automatic selection of the currently controlled P/T/Z camera video on the switcher’s AUX bus.
The HS50’s built-in MultiViewer allows users to see four, nine, or 10 images on a single display via a high-resolution output—significantly reducing the cost, size, and weight of a new HD production system. The adjustable MultiViewer outputs can also be used to provide a multi-image large-screen presentation display. Other advanced functions include dedicated hardware for PinP, a chroma keyer, and auto or manual video transitions.

The switcher’s 10-bit frame synchronizers ensure reliable, glitch-free switching even with non-synchronous sources such as remote camera feeds, small camcorders, and computer graphics.

Additional standard features include camera tally outputs, an OSD (on-screen display) for viewing switcher settings, GPI input, an Ethernet interface for connection to a PC, and one AUX Bus for a versatile production workflow.

The HS50 switcher is designed to provide economical 10-bit, 4:2:2 HD or SD live switching, and supports 1080/59.94i, 1080/50i, 720/59.94p and 720/50p in HD formats, and 480/59.94i and 576/50i in SD.