Timing, so to speak is everything! :) As fate would have it, the Phillips camera we were using when on the fritz. A Sony camera from studio B was brought in as a sub and it looked superb on both the Sony switcher and the Kayak. The Phillips is in the shop for repairs and a request was put in for it to get a through set-up before being returned to service. Iam guessing the gammas etc are the issue. I did find out that the conversion was RGB to SDI for the Kayak. The Sony 8K was in "clean" key mode not RGB. With the Sony camera subbing in, I've got the key looking pretty decent. It's really difficult to get a good cut. In looking at the key signal in preview to adjust the high and low clips.. you can see the edge isn't super crisp. I have however have got it to looking rather good this morning. The Sony went off line yesterday after our noon show and I had my first on air round with the Kayak this morning at 5am. I had requested the news dept. to scale back a bit on the effects, animations and plama monitor feeds and dissolves... at least for the first couple of shows but that didn't happen. I made it through three straight hours and managed to keep it clean. My stint is over until next week! Thanks to all for the suggestions. Any other thoughts as to anything with the CK and I'll check into them. It's good to get insight of others who've sat in the seat and know what's going on. Have a good day!

There are several things that are key to success when converting analog outputs to digital. Having a GOOD video op is one, Having cameras that are well maintained (proper setups) is another and having properly setup converters is another key. If the converters were put into service without checking them out, you may be fighting a battle that you can't win. When was the last time the gammas and flares were checked on the cameras? What type of inputs did the old DVS8000 have?

I am using an analog camera with a Grass Valley 8950 RGB component to Digital Converter into a Kayak DD switcher with very good results. Luck! Juan. :)

Your problem is the conversion from analog to digital. We had the same problem with a Kalypso, and the only solution was a digital camera. We tried using RGB versus composite but that was minimal help. This is the problem with digital switchers and analog cameras.

[quote="Andrew in Kansas City"]It takes SD inputs and yes, there is an encoder upconverting to SD. I will ask for more info on Wednesday. Wouldn't it be best to go RGB out of the camera to the encoder? Maybe that's what's already being done. I think I remember hearing that there was a A to D converter before it got to the encoder but before I get to confused in the guessing, I'll just ask. What a novel idea. Ha.[/quote] Ask how it was setup old way and now new way. Yes RGB to SD is better then compsoite to SDI.

It takes SD inputs and yes, there is an encoder upconverting to SD. I will ask for more info on Wednesday. Wouldn't it be best to go RGB out of the camera to the encoder? Maybe that's what's already being done. I think I remember hearing that there was a A to D converter before it got to the encoder but before I get to confused in the guessing, I'll just ask. What a novel idea. Ha.

[quote="Andrew in Kansas City"]Yes, the cameras are analog. I don't know if the Kayak accepts RGB or not. I'll have to check with one of our Engineers who installed it. Iam guessing your are right but was thinking that it wasn't being fed any different than it is to the Sony. I was thinking the German Phillips cameras and the German Kayak would work well together. :) I just hate to take a step backwards.[/quote] I am guessing the Kayak takes SD or HD inputs. I am guessing your engineers are upconverting composite to SD with an external converter, or maybe the Kayak is doing the scaling up. Ask engineers how it is wired now compared to the Sony 7K. I am pretty certain Sony 7K probably had an optional RGB chroma key input like the 3K and 4K had.. Place to start with atleast.. Bill

Yes, the cameras are analog. I don't know if the Kayak accepts RGB or not. I'll have to check with one of our Engineers who installed it. Iam guessing your are right but was thinking that it wasn't being fed any different than it is to the Sony. I was thinking the German Phillips cameras and the German Kayak would work well together. :) I just hate to take a step backwards.

[quote="Andrew in Kansas City"]Iam trying to get familiar with the settings in the CK menu on the Kayak (default mode). I have done the sample, adjusted hi, low, primary & sec. suppression, flare and looked at every other setting including core etc and not having much luck getting this key to look as good as the nearly 14 year old Sony DVS 8000 keyer. I've had a bit of luck going into YUV color correction and adjusting the camera as it comes into the switcher but the foreground flesh tones look kinda pasty looking. Though I have a decent cut key... Iam not real impressed with the edge especially around the hair line. Also done the reshape and such. We are using an encoder as composite video wasn't even coming close. Thoughts and ideas are welcomed. Thanks![/quote] Your cameras are analog? You mention composite video that is why I ask. The 4K's allowed you to have RGB chroma key inputs, the Sony 7K probably did as well. I doubt the newer switcher allow that. This could be part of your problem. Bill