[quote="Mongo"]Really, I'm surprised they're not going with a Kayak, but apparently the discount they're getting is so huge (I've heard 80% off!) they can't pass it up.[/quote] That you are getting a huge discount would make sense... (A) it could be a demo unit...demo units typically get sold at big discounts. (B) With the introduction of the Kayenne switcher, Kalypso sales are probably soon to take a nose dive - this happens every time a new product comes out that supplants the older versions. Thus remaining inventory needs to get sold before nobody wants it...plus, the older models get traded in towards purchase of the new stuff and need to be sold off. (C) With the potential sale of TVG, a company that is still actively selling product is more attractive to suitors. Switchers have typically had very large margins, so selling one at what looks to the customer like a big discount still turns a profit.

Well, we'll have 6 new Sony cams installed over the summer, but I don't know what the timeline will be for installing the switcher (we haven't bought it as of yet). Frankly, I don't know how we'll get it in there without the expander. It won't leave a lot of room for the director. Really, I'm surprised they're not going with a Kayak, but apparently the discount they're getting is so huge (I've heard 80% off!) they can't pass it up. Now all we need is an HD EVS and HD Duet, and that will be a kick-ass truck...

Hey Mongo, is this upgrade happening now (as in this summer) or in the near future??? Since we use your truck for football season was wondering if you could share any details? Thanks, Michael Nice

Another thing that this configuration could be is a 2-M/E panel with 3 M/E's in the frame. The 2-M/E panel can access all of the M/E's in the frame...although having to switch assignments between M/E's is a bit cumbursome. Adding a 4th M/E would just be an additional card in the mainframe...no more space is needed.

Auxes will probably feed the monitors. But the good news is that we're looking to replace the current box with an expander, maybe a double. Gerling (who made our box) can now add expanders to existing boxes. If that happens, then I'm not as concerned about space as I am the extra work I'm gonna have to do (on salary!)...

Some things to talk about with the engineers and T/GV, do you need the Aux panel? You can access the auxes via menu, do you have an external DVE that you will be using? If not, what are you using the auxes for? You can route the SS via menu computer. The menu panel could be a rack mounted PC with a touch screen or a laptop. (smaller profile then the touch screen that is provided.)

We bought a 2 ME Kalypso tub to share the frame with the 4 ME in our main studio (to be used with a virtual set). The 2 ME has 24 crosspoints on it, not 32. And the AUX bus is built in at the top row. So the 3 ME panel is the same physical size as the 4 ME... plus the AUX panel... plus the menu panel... in a 30' box. Hmmmm...

[quote="Bill D"]I believe the 1 ME panel is 12 or 16 crosspoints, no idea what the 2 ME panel is. I also think that yes you can control any ME from a 1 or 2 ME panel. No idea if it is easy to do, but assuming you build some macros or master emems to touch the ME you don't have on the panel at that time, should work for some environments.[/quote] Bill ... thank you. I remember that when we looked at the Kalypso (almost 4 years ago), they brought a 1 ME panel with them, but I didn't play with it that much. Aside from the AUX panels, that is the only one that they make that is a "short board", and indeed, it should be easy to delegate an ME to that (I never tried, and have never had to share MEs) ... they were marketing that to us as a replacement for a switcher in an editsuite that could share our main control room's resources, or for Master Control to have for cut-ins or breaking news when a Director wasn't available. The 2 ME panel looks like the 4 ME panel, but has the AUX built into the same unit (not an extra outboard panel like on the bigger 4 ME). At least on the few that I've seen, it has the same amount of crosspoints available as on the 4 ME, though. Back when we took delivery of our Kalypso (3 years ago), we were told that Grass was making the switchers so that "everything was in the box". Made it easier for the factory, and made upgrades very easy. As far as I/O goes, I don't remember if the cards were there and some of the physical connections didn't work? I seem to remember having more input and output BNC connectors than we could actively use.

[quote="Matt Saplin"]The nice thing about the Kalypso is that everything is in the switcher frame ... even the functionality that you aren't using is there, it just needs to be paid-for and unlocked by a software code. Indeed, the actual quote would have everything that your shop paid for, and what you'll see enabled right out of the box. Bill ... I think you might have a few items mixed-up with the Sony. I know that Sony makes the 32, 24 and 16 crosspoint panels, just for the modular nature of the panel on the 8000/9000 and the need for it fit into different physical configurations. I also know that it's easy to map logical MEs to different physical MEs on the Sony, but I never tried that on the Kalypso ... not sure that they were innovative enough to offer that on the Kalypso way back when... :-) Matt[/quote] I believe the 1 ME panel is 12 or 16 crosspoints, no idea what the 2 ME panel is. I also think that yes you can control any ME from a 1 or 2 ME panel. No idea if it is easy to do, but assuming you build some macros or master emems to touch the ME you don't have on the panel at that time, should work for some environments. The I/O boards and pretty sure the transform engines are boards that need to be purchased. I guess this could have changed over the years, but you could not unlock these things, they were hardware upgrades. Things like chroma keyers were software upgrades for added cost. this is old no idea if it applies at all now

Last I knew, the Kalypso's control panels only came in 4 ME, 2 ME, and 1ME panels. Like Mike noted, I've also seen the 4 ME panel with 3 physical MEs enabled. You'll probably have the AUX panel to accommodate, too. All in all, it's bigger than the Zodiak panel, though ... if memory serves, GVG made the Zodiak panel so it could easily fit into a console where a 200 or 250 once lived. The nice thing about the Kalypso is that everything is in the switcher frame ... even the functionality that you aren't using is there, it just needs to be paid-for and unlocked by a software code. Indeed, the actual quote would have everything that your shop paid for, and what you'll see enabled right out of the box. Bill ... I think you might have a few items mixed-up with the Sony. I know that Sony makes the 32, 24 and 16 crosspoint panels, just for the modular nature of the panel on the 8000/9000 and the need for it fit into different physical configurations. I also know that it's easy to map logical MEs to different physical MEs on the Sony, but I never tried that on the Kalypso ... not sure that they were innovative enough to offer that on the Kalypso way back when... :-) Matt

I am thinking the kalypso panels come in more versions then just 32 crosspoints, probably 24 and 16 as well, this is addition to the number of ME's on the panel. Really need to see full order to find these things out. In and output cards are also all options. You may end up with less then you need on both ends. Like buying a car, a lot of options have to look at what they are buying, I would ask to see the quote from GVG for more info, including transform engines. Also I believe even if you have a 3 Me panel, in the future you could add another ME and keep the 3 ME panel. I think you can delegate lets say ME 1 panel to control ME 1 and ME 2 from that panel. Unless I am getting mixed up with the Sony.

There are a few small trucks that have the full size panels. Crosscreek and Corplex are two examples that I have worked on. On both trucks the director sits to the left of the TD. I was able to not map anything on the left eight buttons so that the director couldn't hit anything.

So it sounds like it could be upgraded to 4 MEs in the future, if we were so inclined? I'm more worried about the space it will take up in our truck... I sure don't need our director accidentally hitting a button.

Mongo, sorry, I was a little vague. The panel I used was a four ME panel with ME1 disabled.

So it's basically 3 physical MEs, not 4 with the top ME disabled? It's replacing a 2.5 Zodiak, and it's a mid sized truck, so we don't need all the auxes and outputs. Thanks

One studio I have worked with has a three ME version and they had the regular four ME panel minus ME1. I guess someone on your end should ask the sales rep which panel they are including in the price. When you buy a three ME frame you do not get all of the auxes or outputs. Engineering should figure that in their plans as some people use auxes to feed monitors or other sources, same with the outs.