Integrate Review — AVI Apprentice

Mobile production studio integrates well-known components into astreamlined, turnkey system.

Ultimatte AdvantEdge’s toolset is presented horizontallyacross the bottom of the screen. Advanced controls that are initiallyhidden drop down in this new dashboard-style interface.

If you need to produce video from the road, complete yet affordablesolutions are few and far between. Building that dream machine yourselffrom component parts can be a challenge. The new Apprentice portablevideo production studio from Amalgamated Video International might bejust the solution you need.

AVI has integrated off-the-shelf video products from third-partyvendors into a turnkey system, rather than build the technology fromscratch. The company has pulled together tried-and-true components andtaken the guesswork out of the integration. Apprentice is a greatexample of a synergistic product — the whole is greater than thesum of its parts. I also love the turnkey approach: simply buy theproduct, plug it in, and get to work.

There are two versions of the Apprentice: an analog version isdesigned for use with S-VHS sources recording to a Sony SLV-R1000 orJVC HR-S9800U deck; a digital version with IEEE 1394/Firewire andSony's DV-Cam DSR-11 deck which is also NTSC/PAL switchable. At itsheart the Apprentice uses the Videonics MXPro or MXProDV switcher fromFocus Enhancements, one of the most popular switchers for videoproduction ever made.

For multi-camera switching there are four S-Video and compositevideo inputs. The digital version adds two FireWire ports. On the unitI tested, the two 1394 ports had been turned into four via smallVelcro-attached expansion modules.

There's also chroma-keying and a digital video effects library withrealtime transitions that look sharp with few jagged edges. Forcharacter generation and graphics, the analog version uses FocusEnhancements' Videonics TitleMaker 3000, and the digital version usesthat company's FireWriter for creating text. Both CGs are mounted in apull-out drawer that slides in and secures for road productions.

To help you keep track of your video feeds and view the switcherinterface, the unit has six 6.4in. LCD flatscreen monitors from NECmounted in a hydraulically adjustable metal display panel that foldsand locks out of the way for transport. It's so maneuverable you canmove the display panel with just two fingers.

For your audio sources there's the Alesis Studio 12R sound mixerwith 12 channels and a three-band EQ with audio compressor/limiter.Also provided are an LED-ladder volume meter, XLR balanced inputs withphantom power, and a headphone jack with volume control. A lightedpower conditioner helps reduce audio hum and equipment wear byproviding clean and balanced electricity.

I used the digital version of the Apprentice to record some footageof my swing band. Shot with three Sony cameras (two DV and one S-Video)rolling to the DV deck, the footage looked great even after passingthrough the switcher. The titles looked good, too. As for video specs,AVI claims CCIR-601 sampling and RS-170A quality. While that may betrue, I've seen better-looking video from products in this price range— but I've seen worse, too.

The adjustable LCDs are some of the brightest and sharpest I'veseen, even at off angles. Two wing-like shelves fold out of either sideof the unit, adding lots of removable desktop space. It all feels veryfamiliar, well thought out and rock-solid.

But it's in the transportation and setup stage that the unit reallyshows off. To some that might not be too exciting, but it's a godsendif you do a lot of shoots outside the studio. Time truly is money— these days more than ever. Going out to record a gig or specialevent need not be a big production anymore, at least not when it comesto the video acquisition and switching stages. A setup that took anhour can be done with the Apprentice in less than 15 minutes. The unitweighs 155lbs. due to its hard double-wall — but lightweight— roto-molded plastic case. With soft rubber wheels and a largestorage drawer for the extras needed on a shoot, the mobile TV stationseparates into two smaller sections (2'×2' each) for easytransport.

Only a few things made my product-enhancement wish list. While theApprentice has been re-vamped with some improvements (offered asProducer), I'd still like to see AVI get rid of the plastic casealtogether and offer ATA-certified flight casing (metal edges,fold-away handles, etc.) as standard equipment.

Perhaps some of the video and audio inputs could be moved to a frontpanel so that everything can be handled from one side of the unit. A 1RU audio CD player would also be a nice addition, as would agood-quality mic on a gooseneck stand for those last-minutevoiceovers.

For video recording, AVI might want to pitch out the tape decksaltogether and instead use the Focus Enhancements FireStore to roll tosmall FireWire hard drives. But there is enough room in the VTR hangarto add a FireStore and keep the included videotape deck.

The Apprentice is highly configurable, and one can be customized foryour exact needs. Though the price ($15,000 to $20,000 street) may be abit steep for some, the unit I tested was built like a tank and easy touse, so it should eventually pay for itself. How many video productscan you say that about? AVI also helps ease the learning curve withon-site training, dealer certification, and a well-written manual.

For the AVI Apprentice, the whole is certainly greater than the sumof its parts. While you might be able to piece together somethingsimilar, I've known many who have tried and failed. Making a unitthat's truly capable of standing up to the rigors of the road is muchmore difficult than it looks. My own experiences in putting together aroad case for live audio work have convinced me of this. If you arelooking for a mobile video production workstation that's rugged enoughfor the road and sets up in only a few minutes, the Apprentice justmight be your ticket to ride.

Company: Amalgamated Video International (AVI)
Sacramento, Calif.; (916) 383-4054; www.avisource.net

Product: Apprentice Mobile Broadcast Studio

Assets: Turnkey solution for portable multimedia production;capable of producing high-quality live audio and video; includes aprofessional switcher, VTR, CG, and audio mixer.

Demographic: Video road warriors who value ruggedness andease of setup.

Price: Analog, $18,995; digital $25,995

To comment on this article, email the Video Systems editorialstaff at vsfeedback@primediabusiness.com.