Is This $400 SDI Video Switcher Any Good? - OSEE Duet Review

Summary

The 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

00:00

🎥 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.

05:01

🔑 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.

10:03

🛠️ 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.

Keywords

💡Video Switcher

A video switcher is a device that allows multiple video sources to be combined into a single output. It is central to the theme of the video, which discusses setting up a video production system quickly and efficiently. The script mentions a specific switcher, the 'OC Ghost Stream Duet,' which is designed to be standalone and easy to operate without a computer.

💡SDI and HDMI

SDI (Serial Digital Interface) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) are both types of connections used to transmit video and audio signals. In the context of the video, the switcher's ability to handle both SDI and HDMI inputs without the need for converters is highlighted as a convenience for quick setup.

💡Hardware-based

Hardware-based refers to systems that rely on physical components rather than software for their operation. The video discusses how older switchers were hardware-based, requiring manual adjustments through menus, contrasting with modern, computer-driven switchers that offer more flexibility but also increased complexity.

💡Tactile Response

Tactile response refers to the physical feedback a device provides when interacted with, such as buttons that click or slide. The script praises the switcher's tactile buttons for their simplicity and ease of use, allowing for a straightforward setup and operation.

💡NDI HX

NDI HX is a protocol for transporting video and audio over a network. The script mentions that the switcher can control an NDI HX source, allowing for video to be brought in over the network, which is a feature that adds flexibility to the setup.

💡USBC Camera

A USBC camera refers to a camera that uses a USB Type-C connection for output. The video discusses the possibility of using a USBC camera as a fifth source for the switcher, showcasing its versatility in accommodating different types of video sources.

💡Physical T Bar

A physical T Bar, also known as a fader or control bar, is a hardware component used for transitioning between video sources. The script describes the T Bar on the switcher as initially seeming flimsy but proving durable, with a caution about accidental triggering.

💡Downstream Key

Downstream key refers to a feature that allows for overlaying graphics or images onto the main video feed. The script explains how the switcher can be configured to include a downstream key, enhancing the production value of the video output.

💡Playback Engine

A playback engine is a component that controls the playing of media, such as video clips. The video describes how the switcher includes a playback engine, allowing for complex visual sequences to be created without the need for additional hardware.

💡Multi-Viewer

A multi-viewer is a display that shows multiple video sources simultaneously, often used by video directors to monitor different inputs. The script critiques the switcher's multi-viewer for its lack of flexibility, suggesting improvements for better usability.

💡Macro

A macro is a sequence of commands that are automated to perform a specific task. The video demonstrates how to record a macro on the switcher to change the output settings, showing how user-driven updates have improved the device's functionality.

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]