Is This $400 SDI Video Switcher Any Good? - OSEE Duet Review
Summary
TLDRThe OC Ghost Stream Duet is a versatile video switcher designed for quick setup and standalone operation. It offers a balance between simplicity and functionality with its menu-driven interface and tactile buttons. The switcher supports various input configurations, including SDI and HDMI, and features a unique fifth input for SD card, NDI, or USB-C sources. It also includes a physical T-bar for transitions and a playback engine for dynamic backgrounds. Despite some limitations in the multiviewer's flexibility, the device is praised for its user-driven software updates and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for small-scale live streaming.
Takeaways
- 😀 The OC Ghost Stream Duet is designed for quick setup and ease of use, aiming to balance simplicity with functionality.
- 🔄 Modern video switchers are often computer-driven and complex, but the OC Ghost Stream Duet offers a more tactile, hardware-based experience.
- 🔌 It provides both SDI and HDMI connections, allowing for versatile input options without the need for external converters.
- 💻 Despite its hardware focus, the switcher can also be controlled through a computer with the 2.1.1 software update, offering additional flexibility.
- 📼 The fifth input source is unique, supporting an SD card for internal recording and playback, as well as NDI HX sources over the network and USB-C cameras.
- 🎛️ The switcher features a physical T-bar and buttons for program and preview, emphasizing a tactile and straightforward operation.
- ⚠️ Caution is advised with the T-bar as it can accidentally trigger both sources if bumped.
- 🔑 The transition area allows for easy keying on and off the air, which is crucial for clean transitions and is a standout feature.
- 📺 The playback engine is simple yet effective, capable of handling basic playback needs without complex software.
- 🖥️ The multi-viewer display in the software is limited in flexibility, lacking options to rearrange input sources or windows.
- 👍 OC appears to be responsive to customer feedback, as evidenced by the software updates that have made HDMI outputs routable.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of the OC Ghost Stream Duet switcher?
-The OC Ghost Stream Duet switcher is designed to be a standalone device that can quickly set up for live streaming or shows, offering both simplicity and flexibility with its menu-driven operation and computer control options.
How does the OC Ghost Stream Duet differ from older hardware-based video switchers?
-Unlike older hardware-based switchers that required manual menu changes, the OC Ghost Stream Duet has a computer-driven interface, making it infinitely configurable but also more complicated. However, it retains an old school feel with its standalone capability and tactile response.
What types of connections does the OC Ghost Stream Duet support for input sources?
-The OC Ghost Stream Duet supports both SDI and HDMI connections for input sources, allowing for various configurations without the need for converters between the two formats.
What makes the fifth input source of the OC Ghost Stream Duet unique?
-The fifth input source is unique because it can accommodate multiple types of sources, including an SD card for internal recording and playback, an NDI HX source over the network, and a USB-C camera, providing additional flexibility.
How does the OC Ghost Stream Duet's physical T-bar contribute to its operation?
-The physical T-bar on the OC Ghost Stream Duet allows for manual transitions between sources, providing a tactile and immediate way to control the switcher without relying on software.
What is a potential issue with the T-bar on the OC Ghost Stream Duet?
-A potential issue with the T-bar is that if it gets bumped, it can accidentally trigger both sources, creating an unintended transition or overlap.
What features does the OC Ghost Stream Duet have for managing transitions and keys?
-The OC Ghost Stream Duet has a dedicated transition area with buttons to change the background, downstream key, or upstream key, and an on-air light to indicate when a key is active, allowing for clean and controlled transitions.
How does the OC Ghost Stream Duet handle playback of media?
-The switcher has a playback engine that allows for playing media directly from an SD card or through a connected computer, and it can be controlled physically or through software for simple or complex playback scenarios.
What limitations does the OC Ghost Stream Duet have regarding the multiviewer display?
-The multiviewer display on the OC Ghost Stream Duet is not very flexible, as it only allows for changing the order of preview and program, and does not offer options to rearrange input sources or customize the display layout.
How does the OC Ghost Stream Duet's software reflect customer feedback?
-The software updates, such as version 2.1.1, show that OC is responsive to customer feedback by making improvements like making HDMI outputs routable, which was a feature requested by users.
What is the overall assessment of the OC Ghost Stream Duet's balance between functionality and simplicity?
-The OC Ghost Stream Duet is considered to strike a good balance between functionality and simplicity, offering powerful features for live switching while maintaining an easy-to-use interface, although it may lack some flexibility compared to more complex switchers.
Outlines
🎥 Streamline Video Setup with OC Ghost Stream Duet
The OC Ghost Stream Duet is a compact video switcher designed for quick setup and standalone operation without a computer. It offers a balance between simplicity and functionality, with a menu-driven interface and tactile buttons for program and preview. The switcher supports both SDI and HDMI inputs, allowing for flexible configurations without the need for converters. It also features a unique fifth input that can accommodate an SD card, NDI HX source, or USB-C camera. The hardware includes a T-bar for transitions and dedicated buttons for keys and backgrounds, emphasizing ease of use and quick operation.
🔑 Key Features and Playback Capabilities of the OC Ghost Stream Duet
This paragraph delves into the key features of the OC Ghost Stream Duet, highlighting its ability to manage complex setups with ease. It discusses the switcher's physical transition area for managing background and downstream keys, emphasizing the importance of these features for clean on-air transitions. The summary also covers the playback engine, which can be used for simple shows without complex lists, and the ability to load the first frame of a video for instant playback. The user interface is criticized for its lack of flexibility in the multi-view display, suggesting improvements for better source arrangement and menu usability.
🛠️ User Feedback and Software Improvements in OC Ghost Stream Duet
The final paragraph focuses on the responsiveness of OC to customer feedback and the improvements made in the software version 2.1.1. It mentions the initial limitation of non-routable HDMI outputs and how the new version addresses this by making both HDMI 1 and 2 routable. The paragraph also touches on the ease of creating macros for custom output configurations. The summary concludes with a positive note on the device's thoughtful design, powerful features, and the value of simplicity in certain situations, as presented by Carl Larson in the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Video Switcher
💡SDI and HDMI
💡Hardware-based
💡Tactile Response
💡NDI HX
💡USBC Camera
💡Physical T Bar
💡Downstream Key
💡Playback Engine
💡Multi-Viewer
💡Macro
Highlights
The OC Ghost Stream Duet is designed to be a standalone switcher for quick setup.
It offers a balance between hardware simplicity and software flexibility.
The switcher has both SDI and HDMI connections, eliminating the need for converters.
It supports up to five input sources, including SD card, NDI, and USB-C camera inputs.
Physical buttons provide tactile control for program and preview sources.
The switcher includes a physical T-bar for transitions, offering a hands-on approach.
It features an on-air light indicator for keys, enhancing live production control.
The device allows for clean key transitions with dedicated buttons for background and downstream keys.
Playback can be managed directly from the switcher without additional software.
The switcher is well-suited for small-scale live shows with its straightforward operation.
OC has shown responsiveness to customer feedback, as seen in software updates.
The switcher's multi-view display lacks flexibility in terms of source arrangement.
The software allows for macro creation to customize switcher functions.
HDMI outputs are now routable in the latest software version, enhancing versatility.
The switcher is praised for its thoughtful design and ease of use.
While not as flexible as some switchers, its simplicity is seen as an advantage in certain scenarios.
Carl Larson concludes that the OC Ghost Stream Duet is a great unit for small shows.
Transcripts
imagine you're given a few cameras a
laptop and a video switcher and your
task is to set it up as quickly as
possible and be ready for a show how
fast can you do it and what tools would
you need to make that happen well the OC
ghost stream duet is trying to be the
answer to that question this little
switcher is a 4 input five input 8 15
input switcher that is really designed
to operate alone from computer hardware
a lot of older switchers switchers that
I started using early on in my career
were all entirely Hardware based if you
wanted to change a menu setting you just
went into the menu changed it modern
video switchers are really kind of
computer-driven they're almost joysticks
for a larger chassis that takes the
commands from the control surface
they're infinitely configurable but
they're also really complicated this
device has a little bit of an old school
feel to it it's designed and thought out
as a device that can stand alone for
your event so everything is menu driven
and it has a tactile response so it's
designed to be very very simple in its
operation and that comes at consequence
of not being infinitely configurable but
I think this device actually strikes a
really good balance in between
functionality uh on a hardware side on a
Simplicity side and with the new 2.1.1
software it also has the flexibility to
be controlled through a computer giving
you the flexibility that you need so
going back to our original question this
switcher tries to answer the question of
how do I set things up as fast as
possible by offering us both SDI and
HDMI connections so cameras usually come
as SDI connections and with most of the
switchers on the market today you either
have an HDMI switcher or an SDI switcher
and you need to use converters like this
to format convert from HDMI to SDI or
vice versa to get it into the switcher
having the option of input 1 2 3 and
four can either be HDMI or SDI not
simultaneously but one at a time any
configuration of that you could have one
SDI Source three hdmis two and two it
doesn't matter you just plug it in and
it shows up on the switcher so you have
four sources no converters very
convenient very quick to set up that
fifth source is part of what makes this
switcher really unique it's not just a
fifth Source it's actually multiple
sources so the first most obvious use of
it is the SD card slot so you can
actually record internally to the SD
card but you can also play back from
that SD card as well that aux source
button can also control an ndi Source
ndi HX specifically if you have that
device you can bring it in over the
network and that can be your o Source
finally if you have a USBC camera like a
webcam or modern vslr or mirrorless
camera that has a USBC output
theoretically you could hook up 1 2 3 4
as cameras and then if you wanted a
fifth camera you could actually use it
over that USBC Port let's look at the
hardware itself and see why this is
really a standalone switcher that
doesn't require a computer so one of the
first things I love about this I really
love the layout that there are two rows
of physical buttons so our top row is
for program our bottom is preview and we
can see red is on air green is in
preview and then we have a big cut and
transition button so I really like those
because again it's tactile I don't need
to use any software I don't need to know
preview or program or set it all up in
the software it's all physically here
it's telling me exactly what's going to
happen one is on program two is in
preview if I press
transition it will go and transition
another big standout feature from an ATM
switcher an a0 mini pro for example is
that this switcher has a physical T bar
when I first got it I I was like you
know that's a little feels a little
flimsy but the more I've used it I don't
think it's going to break off I think
it's going to last now one of the things
I would caution about is uh the drag on
it feels pretty good it has a pretty
good handle feel to it but the thing you
need to know is that if this gets bumped
at all you can actually trigger both
sources with barely realizing it so we
look at the multi view here I'm on one
I'm just Fading Into there you can see
it but there's certainly a range where
both are on air your mid transition and
it doesn't really feel like it so I
would make sure when you start make sure
that T Bar is all the way up and out of
the way
thirdly I just I wish every switcher had
this I wish every technical director
video director knew how to use this
better this next transition area I can
change the background the downstream key
or the Upstream key and if that key is
on
air I have an onair light so I just cut
my title on there and the preview shows
me what's going to happen so if I have
my background selected and not my
Downstream key my next camera cut which
is camera 2 is still going to show that
overlay transition to that or if I press
both here Downstream key and background
now when I
transition the bug the lower third and
the background will all change and give
it to me
clean this is so big of a deal these
little five buttons are such a big deal
for being able to cleanly bring keys in
and off on the air and I think that's
just really really important it's a
wellth out little piece of the puzzle
here finally playback so a lot of times
if I were to build out a system what I
have on my multi-d doer right now is I
think if we look at it a really really
typical scenario right I have two
cameras camera I'm talking to the
interface camera here and then I have a
third Source input three is my my
presentation computer and input 4 is the
computer software but there's also a
couple different other sources here so
if I a Super Source you can see I have a
two box here and I have that routed up
uh but I can also route I have a
playback engine here and so if I press
play up here that background starts
changing now I have a really interesting
background that's moving while I'm in my
two box a little more visual interest
and if I want to I can still press dsk
and I can transition that on and I can
bring onfly key layer as well so I have
a pretty complex setup here that you
think I'm using a big switcher on but
I'm actually just using this little
switcher all physically based haven't
touched any software and uh that's all I
really need the cool thing with this is
if you only have a couple elements that
you need to playback you don't have like
a really complex playback list uh it's
totally possible to run your show all
out of this one thing so when I put ax
in preview it loads the very first frame
of the video that I have queued I don't
have to hit play soon as I transition
this to air it will just go so I see the
first frame loaded and I hit
Auto and it plays it takes the sound
because I've set that up in the menu and
then whatever is in preview as soon as
it hits the end last frame it's going to
cut to that source so 5 4 3 2 1 and now
I'm on air here and then I can just
start my show from there going to use
that same setup I'm going to go into the
software I'm going to hit repeat video
and then choose pavement background Lo
for
slide let choose that
one press play over here you can see
that I've got my two box going now with
that background again so choose Super
Source and hit plays now let's round out
this review with some areas of
improvement one of my big concerns is uh
the multi viwer isn't very flexible so
let's go into the software again here
and we'll go into switcher that's in
settings actually so going to settings
and multiv view display the only thing
that I can change in the multiv view so
I click here is just order preview and
program that's it I can change the names
of the inputs which is cool but I can't
change the locations of any of these I
can just turn on audio meters turn those
on and off but as far as rearranging the
input sources I don't have that option
and I think it's a real shame because
since this is a hardware based switcher
we want to use this just as software
only soon as I pop open that menu it
covers up input 4 and it covers up my
audio meters if I'm mixing my own show
if I need to do my own thing that might
be really bad and I think it would be
really helpful uh I would see myself
using a Super Source a fair bid I'd love
to be able to rearrange the windows so I
could have 1 two 3 4 Super Source and
then cover up maybe my Stills over on
the side I think that would be a much
more useful thing to cover up on the
menu or maybe it's something that we
could put into preview you know have
this pop up in the preview side and not
cover up any of the sources uh just
having some of those options I think
going be really helpful the last thing
I'd say is I think OC is listening to
their customers um I've been a part of
their Facebook group they're very active
in there and what I see in the software
release here in 2.1.1 is definitely
user-driven and the proof of that for me
was when I first got this unit I was
really kind of bummed about the fact
that the outputs of the hdmis weren't
routable so in earlier versions in the
version I received HDMI 1 was the output
that you could route which means you can
take input 1 2 3 or 4 and put that on
the output or you can put multi view or
program or preview or kind of anything
else you wanted down that output HDMI
out 2 was always the multiv view now in
the new version I've been able to create
a little macro here so to record a macro
it's really simple you press and hold
the memory button here until it starts
blinking so now it's lit up and then I
go into the menu and in my case I wanted
to change uh I'm going to go down in the
settings and then I'm going to
change the
output my Outsource on HDMI 1 I going to
make that inste of multi view I want to
make that let's make this one the ox cuz
I haven't done that yet so I would say
ox and then I'll go back in the menu or
I would just press and hold and I'm good
to go so now I have a button that I can
see the ox Source I can see one I can
see two I can see three I can see four
I'm back to my multi view all that to
say in the new version of the software
HDMI 1 is rable HDMI 2 is rable which
really proves I think OC is listening to
their customers all in all I think this
is a really interesting device it's well
thought out the buttons make sense the
transition area is really good it's
really powerful and I think if you
actually need to switch a little show
this is a great unit to do it it doesn't
have every option it's not as flexible
as some switchers but it comes at the
price of Simplicity and sometimes
Simplicity is better than
complexity I'm Carl Larson thanks for
watching I'll see you in the next video
[Music]
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