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Barco Screen Pro 2000 or Barco DCS-100


Envoy

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I need advise on whether there's a big difference in terms of delay between computer graphic inputs.

I know that the screen pro offers more options but In my case, I'm only looking for a clean, seamless transition with low delay.

 

I'm looking to purchase a used Barco Screen Pro 2000 or a new Barco DCS-100.

 

Any thoughts from the experts.

 

Thank you.

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To be brutally honest, I don't know the difference in frame delay between the Units.

 

If I was buying today, then I'd get more Screen Pro II's (not 2000 just a double II, and said as 'two'). In my opinion the scaling is better, and the ability to use the controller a must in some situations. They can also be used in multi screen set ups (Wide screen blends and multiple destinations switched simultaneously all driven via presets on the controller), where as I don't believe the DCS can be used in that way.

 

I'd be happy to give you a price on either if needed.

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Have used both and would go for the Screen Pro II over the DCS 100. Realistically you are not going to notice the difference in switching both will be fine but the flexibility gained by having the sceen pro is very useful even if you don't need it quite yet. Bit more of a learning curve setting it up though. Even better, get your dealer to give you a head to head test with the two, both are Barco products.

 

Which is pretty much what Pete has said and he should know.

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I don't often get involved in video discussions, as Pete will tell you I am no expert! :D

However surely these two products are at completely different ends of the spectrum both in terms of flexibility/usage and price.

The DCS-100 is a basic seamless switcher which I come across in breakout rooms in small conferences whilst the SP-II is a signal processor that can happily handles up to 4 layers as well as doing all the swanky stuff Pete mentioned earlier.

My biggest bug bear with the DCS-100 is it doesn't have a preview which in my humble (sound based) opinion makes it pretty useless, if you decide to go down the DCS route consider the 200 over the 100 for that reason.

 

That's my 2p

 

Mark

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downfall of dcs100 is no preview but it does have DVI in/out and SDI in, stay well away from the dcs200 the slowest and buggiest swicher out there!. screen pro II is in a different league and price range fantastic bit of kit.

I'd be looking at the screen pro 2000 if its just rgbhv stuff you wanna switch, fairly reliable, dont notice any delay. we also use extron 506's and in fairness there prob the most reliable switcher we use for all the basic analog stuff.

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Thank you, everyone, for the great advice!

 

 

I'm going out on a ledge here but I'm looking into buying -Kramer VP-730.

The majority of my work involves single screen projection.

However, I'm still not sure as finding reviews on the unit is scarce.

 

I'm also looking at the 747, but again, I probably wont need all the features.

Also, making such an investment only to have it be discontinued, retired or obsolete is something I try to factor in.

 

What I don't understand is the price - it's very under-priced for a supposed versatile machine/ scaler.

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I use Kramer Vp728s all the time which is effectively the same unit with less vgas more video inputs. Its a single scaler, so when you switch inputs they fade through black. Its smooth, but not quick and you cant do half fade effects or anything. that said, you can take pretty much any input other than Sdi and output VGA and DVI / Hdmi in resolutions up to 1920 / 1200 or 1080p. You can do Pip, but not any input over any input {I think} ie you can do a video PIP over graphics only, but that kind of makes sense. It also has an invaluable geometry correction / image anyplace function for extreme distortions and handles audio switching with delay etc.

I generally stick one upstreme of the projector even when its "not needed" as its a very usefull unit that does pretty much any switching and processing you might need. It is an Inexpensive unit, but within the limits of what it does, well worth the money.

 

 

The 747 is a more traditional dual bus unit and combined with the remote control is a decent enough production mixer if your needs are simple. id say that if you do a lot of cammera work, its not the best choice as its a bit laggy , not the worst, but not the quickest either and again its got no sdi,

 

 

Its really down to what you do, if you need to switch between a couple of laptops, a camera and a holding slide with enough plexibility to cope with unusual aspect ratios and resolutions id say the vp730 suits, Id not neccesarily suggest the 747 as you allready say its overspecced, and if thats overspecced sos the Screen pro 2., If you dont know if you need the features , you probably dont so buy the kramer 730, down the line, it may be that there are things you need to do and at that point, you can buy what you need.

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Barco have recently released a new seires of switchers - the PDS series. The pricing starts below the DCS series with the top unit listing at slightly more than the DCS200.

 

Haven't seen them in the flesh, so can't comment on useability, but then you might be able to tap up your rep and get a demo.

 

The kramer stuff is good - we use a range of their switchers and DA's, but then the Barco/Folsom build quality is for the road, where as the Kramer stuff is a little less robust.

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