The Barco FSN switcher solves delay problems and leverages existing standard definition cameras at large Tulsa-based house of worship to create dramatic, HD-quality presentations. Barco's iLite6BK LED tiles and DX-700 LED processors enhance services through dual 16x9 foot displays.
Image processing and display visualization pioneer Barco is proud to announce that the FSN Series multi-format production/presentation switcher and 6mm LED display walls have been installed at Church on the Move in Tulsa, OK. The hardware and installation were provided by Big Picture Productions of Shawnee, KS with on-site technical support from Barco.
At Church on the Move services, the message is enhanced by lighting, stage sets, audio, and video that rivals big-name rock tours in design and effect. Like many concerts, “image magnification” video of the live performance, fed to large display screens, plays a big part in a Church on the Move service. This element is created by an in-house video system consisting of four standard definition broadcast video cameras, several high resolution computer graphics sources, and a Barco FSN 150 switcher feeding two 16x9 foot LED walls each comprised of 66 Barco iLite 6BK LED tiles.
The iLite 6BK tiles offer an ideal, cost-effective display solution that addresses the Church's needs for high image quality and solid reliability over many years. The LED display boasts a long life span, with low maintenance and power consumption. Additional flexibility is gained with the modular design. The displays can be moved to almost anywhere on a stage full of powerful concert lighting without creating conflicts with the existing stage lighting. In addition to a bright display, the Ilite6BK provides a wider viewing angle. Members of the congregation positioned at an extreme off-axis angle to the screen can still see a clear and bright image.
Prior to the FSN installation, Church on the Move used a switcher and external video special effects generator that introduced an unacceptable amount of delay into the output video. The audience saw events on screen about a half-second after they actually occurred on stage. When Church on the Move could not fix the delay problems caused by the existing switcher, they turned to Big Picture who recommended the FSN switcher.
Barco's FSN is a 3G ready switcher that combines advanced, multi-format production and presentation switching in one highly integrated unit. By seamlessly integrating multiple video and computer graphics formats on a common platform, the FSN series provides a streamlined package that's modular, easy to operate, and highly cost effective.
After the FSN's quick and easy installation, Church on the Move saw immediate improvement. “The FSN cut the delay down to almost nothing,” remarked Andrew Stone, production manager at Church on the Move. “There's also no discernable added delay when we add effects like strobing and colorization to shots using the FSN's built-in special effects package. It's been a really slick way for us to go.”
The FSN's flexible, input and output architecture makes it an ideal fit for a hybrid SD/HD environment like Church on the Move. The Church's four existing standard definition cameras are upscaled by the FSN to a 720p HD output with impressive results. “With the FSN switcher, we can't believe how good our upscaled standard def cameras look,” Stone commented. “We've had pro video engineers come in here and swear that this is an all-HD house, but we're not; we just run our SD cameras in 16x9 mode and scale up through this awesome switcher.” The secret behind the FSN's ability to bridge the gap between SD and HD is Barco's proprietary Athena™ scaler technology. The Athena scaling engine is at the heart of the FSN's scaling and provides exceptionally clear, scaled images, with only one frame of delay.
Stone's remarks are corroborated by Evan French, president of Big Picture Productions. “At Church on the Move we're outputting everything in 720p and it looks phenomenal. I've done a lot of video in a lot of different venues over the years, but I've never experienced the quality that's coming out of these Barco products, from the FSN, to the DX-700,to the iLite6XP LED walls,” French commented.
With the FSN switcher, upgrading to full HD is simply a matter of changing to all HD sources; no extra hardware or software keys are required. As Jed Deame, VP of Image Processing for Barco commented, “The FSN was designed with the House of Worship market clearly in mind as a cost-effective switcher solution supporting SD, HD, and a variety of computer sources. Church on the Move was able to enhance the experience with a switcher that is designed to take them well into the future. Now they are able to take full advantage of their sources, as well as maximizing their LED display investment.”