Testimonials - Synergy 100
BHS Video Services is Impressed with Ross' Synergy 100
David Shulkin
Video Operations Coordinator
BHS Video Services at Bloomfield Hills Schools Bloomfield Hills, MI
The Bloomfield Hills School Video Services department is focused on three basic services for the school district. Our first priority is to manage and produce content for our cable television channel. Our second priority is to produce, manage, and support internal communication / training through media. And our third priority is to support the instructional elements of the district's video / television programs.
Our department produces, on average, 220 video programs a year with the vast majority (86%) for the cable channel and the remaining percent for internal and specialized programming and projects.
In general, my role in the organization is to manage the video technology assets throughout the district as it relates to instruction, the cable channel, and internal communication. Much of this focus involves the internal production of content, managing the facilities, and acting as an internal consultant to the district for engineering, installation, and training of media technologies.
Over the last couple of years, the district needed to find a solution to provide a more effective process for staff training. Growing out of an increased need and the lack of adequate facilities to accommodate this need, the district made a commitment to renovate an existing building for a new staff development center.
The new facility would include media technology integrated with our existing IP network, television / video network and general staff development services.
The television / video elements would include a typical studio control for live switching of programs. Much of the programs produced from this facility would include meetings, speakers, events, and training sessions. Due to the nature of the variety of programming we produce, we required a flexible system that could accommodate analog signals, digital signals, and offer enough flexibility for all of our needs - current and future.
We immediately identified our need to build a facility that would have a good cost to value ratio, a realistic budget, and would allow us to expand for future growth. Ultimately, it made sense to install a digital infrastructure facility based on SDI technologies.
One of the main concerns was what SDI switcher could we afford? Our needs were small, yet we needed the flexibility to accommodate a variety of production situations, numerous input signals, and the ability to expand for future growth.
After considering all of the analog and SDI switchers, the choice became immediately clear: Ross' Synergy 100. Purchasing the Synergy 100 compact digital production switcher would save us about $4,000 over an analog switcher and save us tens of thousands over other switchers that were overkill for our facility.
To sweeten the deal, Ross also offers all the necessary distribution amps, A to D and D to A conversion gear to convert our 6 analog signals and 7 SDI signals at a price that was unbeatable.
Simply put, with the Synergy 100, we could not find a better fit for price, performance, or versatility with any other SDI switcher on the market.
As for the installation, it was a breeze! Scott Snedden, our Ross rep, and Roscor assisted in identifying all of our requirements and suggested the best approach that was both economically responsible and met or exceeded our needs.
Over the last few months we've used the switcher with exceptional outcomes. Not only has it met our demands as a production tool, the ease of training for our staff and students have exceeded our expectations.
As seventy-seven percent of our productions at this facility utilize student crews, the success of the Ross Synergy 100 - outside of its powerful production capabilities - is that students look forward to working on the switcher... could the slot machine function be partly responsible?
Production elements such as the Squeeze & Tease 2D DVE and DSK were not in our original needs, but the ease of use of those features and the power of the Synergy 100 have helped us produce a more effective and visually interesting product. These functions alone have inspired our students to experiment with new approaches that not only add visually interesting elements, but effectively communicate to the audience.
The bottom line is that without the Synergy 100 we would have had to compromise on a product that was more expensive and overkill for our production needs. Rarely in my career have I ever purchased a piece of equipment that solved every one of the facilities' needs, while providing future growth potential at a price that was below the planned budget.
From the four demos I had with the Synergy 100, to the sales meetings with Ross, through to the installation with Roscor, the on-site training, and the actual use of the product, I have been absolutely satisfied - impressed - with this product.