FOR-A Debuts HVS-38SSAM Adding Video playback Function on Hanabi HVS-3800HS Multi-Bit-Rate Switcher at NAB 2007

FOR-A Corporation of America, a leading manufacturer of video and audio systems for the broadcast and professional video industries, will unveil the new FOR-A HVS-38SSAM, which adds video playback and expanded still store functionality to its groundbreaking SD/HD switchable, multi-bitrate HANABI HVS-3800HS, at NAB 2007, in

Las Vegas from April 14-19 (Booth #C 4234).

The HVS-38SSAM will be available as an option for the HVS-3800 2M/E HANABI model switcher.

The new HVS-38SSAM gives this powerful switcher full-resolution HD video recording and playback functionality without the use of VTRs or DDRs for CG wipe application. In addition to video, Targa files and be sequentially recorded and played back as animation. This new option provides three seconds in each of its two channels in HD mode or 19 seconds in each of two channels in SD mode. With memory expansion, this recording length can be doubled. Support for simultaneous recording or playback of two channels is also provided to allow use of synchronized Fill and Key signals.

The HVS-38SSAM option also adds two still stores to the switcher s standard allotment of four still stores. These can be loaded from the built-in Compact Flash card and used as inputs simultaneously. With the HVS-38SSAM, users realize expanded still image storage due to the increased internal memory. This means that users can store a large quantity of still images for easy assignment to still stores.

The HVS-3800HS is being used in a wide array of applications ranging from master control rooms in broadcast facilities, studio control rooms, Outside Broadcast (OB) vans and mobile units, as well as live events. The expanded features of the HVS-38SSAM enable operators to produce CG wipes and other effects using only the video switcher, making the process easier and more efficient for live productions, said Mr. Susumu Hotta, president, FOR-A Corporation of America. With the availability of this new option, this future-proof production switcher can meet the needs of any HD/SD broadcast customer.

As standard features, the HVS-3800HS includes 16 inputs and 16 outputs for HD/SD-SDI, four still stores, a wide selection of wipe effects, two independent key edge/shadow generators and six key channels (two key layers and one downstream keyer per M/E). The HVS-3800HS also has four advanced chromakeyers -two per ME. The switcher s options include an up-down converter, four split-screen display outputs, color corrector, and touch-panel display.

The HVS-3800HS has the distinction of being the first production switcher on the market to offer a polygon-based HD DVE for creating splashy, full-screen 3D DVE effects. Up to two 3D DVE cards can be installed on the HVS-3800HS. One card can support two channels in SD mode and one channel in HD mode. Two cards provide up to two channels in HD mode and four channels in SD mode. Also, a DVE channel can be assigned to any M/E or key layer.

The HVS-3800HS supports all major SD and HD formats, including 1080i, 24p, 23.98SF, 720p, NTSC and PAL among others. With the intuitive 16- or 24-button control panel, it only takes a few button punches to complete an operation, and you can program it to automatically operate the transition patterns that are used most often.

The HVS-38SSAM will available for delivery at the end of March 2007.