First Impression: JVC KM-HD6 Mini 6-Channel Multi-format Streaming Video Switcher
By Jennifer P
Mark Hanna recently posted his first impressions of the new JVC KM-HD6 mini 6-channel multi-format streaming video switcher. With that price point and a no-frills approach to what the switcher can do, this system was built with churches in mind: built for volunteers with limited training and churches with limited resources.
When Mark first started in church production, video switchers were large, expensive pieces of equipment; the term “small switcher” was an oxymoron. There are now software solutions that are essentially free, and hardware solutions that are so inexpensive that they are a consumer product that people like me buy “just in case.” JVC’s new KM-HD6 sits right in the middle of the large switchers and consumer products, threading the needle between the two. It has all the essential features and nothing extra, which means it checks the two big boxes for churches: it’s volunteer-friendly and priced appropriately for the church market.
In February, Joseph D’Amico, Vice President of JVCKenwood USA Corporation, visited the Triangle area of North Carolina and met with representatives from a variety of congregational sizes and technology use levels to better understand the needs of the house of worship market. One of the outcomes of that trip was the JVC KM-HD6, a small-form-factor video switcher designed specifically for churches.
JVC recognizes the need for organizations of all sizes to expand their video production capabilities. The addition of these affordable new production tools will enable budget-conscious studios, venues, and arenas to have high-quality, glass-to-glass workflow solutions. It is our hope that in offering these products, JVC can provide a wider scope of users with price-effective, easy-to-configure equipment and support from a single manufacturer.
Joseph D’Amico, Vice President of JVCKenwood USA Corporation
This small switcher has several significant advantages. First, there are six inputs with various connection types, including four SDI and two HDMI. There is no need for genlock because all of the inputs re-clock, and it can handle HD format conversion, so there is no problem with mixed frame rates, and it will cross convert between 920 and 1080. It has 3.5mm and RCA audio inputs, as well as embedded audio on all video inputs, making it ideal for getting a house mix directly from your audio console.
The KM-HD6 has several output options, including two SDI and one HDMI program. There is also an SDI aux output that can be set as preview out or program out via the menu, as well as one HDMI and one SDI multi-viewer. There is no need to choose between these outputs because they are all active at the same time. There’s also a USB-C program out for streaming to YouTube, Facebook, or any other streaming platform. There are 3.5 and RCA audio outputs, so there are several ways to get audio and video into and out of this switcher. There is also a GPIO port for tally integration if that is important to you.
Internally, the switcher includes all of the standard mix, fade, and wipe effects, as well as a T-bar in the form of a slider for granular transition control. It also includes an adjustable PiP/PoP window. The most important feature of this switcher is the power button, which is sadly missing from other switchers and was clearly inspired by listening to end users.
Finally, because the HM-HD6 is part of the Connected Cam family, it can be bundled with the RM-LP5G Connected Cam PTZ Joystick Controller and a few PTZs at a discounted bundled price determined by the cameras selected. Everything in the Connected Cam family is designed from the ground up to work well together, allowing users to evolve their workflows as their needs change. For example, you can replace the KM-HD6 with something like the KM-IP8S4 while keeping everything else the same, and the system will still work properly.
The ability to bundle the KM-HD6 with other Connected Cam devices makes it a cost-effective and appealing option. With that price point and a no-frills approach to what the switcher can do, this system was built with churches in mind: built for volunteers with limited training and churches with limited resources. JVC did its research to understand what churches require and delivered a product to meet that specific need.
Read the full article from ChurchProduction HERE
Learn more about JVC KM-HD6 HERE
Learn more about JVC HERE