The ISIS S8400 ENG/SNG switcher has achieved significant success with customers from Mexico to China, as well as with customers in the United States. The equipment was recently granted CE approval for use in those countries which require such equipment certification.

In early 1999 when we embarked on the design of the S8400, we recognized that there was a need in the ENG/SNG market for a device which included not just an audio/video switcher, but also several other key system elements necessary in ENG/SNG mobile vehicles. It was equally important to save as much rack space as possible while maintaining maximum control and functionality of the final product.

With advice and assistance from major vehicle manufacturers and several interested customers, we developed the S8400. At NAB 1999, we were pleased to be awarded the prestigious Editors Pick of Show, and equally proud that it was chosen to be used in a mobile unit to broadcast portions of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia. Since then, we have found that the S8400 is just as comfortable in flyaway applications as it is in the ENG/SNG environment.

So what is this device, what are the features, and what is it that makes it uniquely different? It is an 8x4 switcher; however, it also contains several other products:

The switcher portion consists of an SDI video 8x4, plus an AES/EBU or analog stereo audio 8x4. This allows the customer to define the audio format - AES/EBU or analog stereo audio.

Also included is an NTSC/Pal gen-locking sync pulse generator, which provides four color black outputs for the synchronization of other sources. The SPG also provides a 48KHz tone to synchronize AES audio equipment.

Internal color bar generator which provides 75% or 100% bars - internally selectable. The output of the color bar generator is routed to input 8 of the video cross-point module while a color black signal is fed to input 1. But, this is no ordinary color bar generator. The CBG has a built-in character generator that allows the user to dial in vehicle or location identification. This information is displayed in a keyed hole in the bars signal and can also be internally switched to display in the vertical interval. This allows for the monitoring of multiple vehicles and their location at the receiver. The I/D signal also includes a moving character, so that it is easy to determine that the incoming signal is or is not frozen at the mercy of a frame-sync.

It does not end there! The CBG also includes an audio tone generator that allows the user to select tone at 400Hz or 1kHz. Tone is fed to input 8 of the audio cross-point module while cross-point 1 is allocated to silence. The output of the tone generator includes a one second click, which 'clicks' in sympathy with the moving character of the character generator. We have also included the standard SMPTE left/right identification sequence.

There is an intercom station, which is mounted in the main 8x4 control panel. The intercom station has its own external power supply and is fully capable of interfacing with the RTS or Clearcom intercom systems. The S8400 is also available without the intercom system.

Available options include a second power supply for redundancy, and SDI to analog and AES/EBU to analog converters. These may be installed when the user wishes to utilize an analog monitoring system. There is slot in the frame for an SDI 1x4 distribution amplifier.

This note has been kept intentionally brief, however, we can supply a much more detailed application note upon request. Simply e-mail Bob Stillwaugh or Len Dole. We can send either an e-mail or hard copy of the application note.