ALTINEX, Inc | Product Review

Product Reviews

MultiTasker

By: Anthony D. Coppedge, CTS

Church Media Consultant

Originally published in the October 2005 volume 10 issue3 of the Church Media Hotlist newsletter.

Does your church desire a distribution amplifier? Searching for a scan converter? Seeking a scaler? Researching a router? Mulling over a matrix? Do you need it all or just some of it? ALTINEX thinks they have the answer for every one of those questions, plus quite a few more with the fully flexible MultiTasker.

Modular and scaleable

The concept behind the MultiTasker is to provide an empty enclosure that can be populated with various inputs, processing, and output modules to fit the exact needs for the application. I demoed the 4-slot enclosure, but ALTINEX also makes 8-, 12-, 19-, and 20-slot versions.

The demo system was outfitted with the following:

MT100-106 (4-slot enclosure) - $325
MT104-107 (3-IN; 1-OUT BNC + 1 S-video) - $275
MT104-106 (3-IN; 1-OUT VGA expansion) - $295
MT109-100 (8-IN Unbalanced; 1-OUT balanced audio) - $225
MT106-103 (4-IN 15-pin Computer, 15-pin component, S-video and 1 BNC; 1-OUT VGA) - $995

For a total list price of $2115, the demo system was ready to have the following connected input and outputs:

4 VCRs (composite)
4 Cameras (S-video)
1 DVD Player (Y, Pb, Pr)
4 Computers (15-pin)
8 Audio Inputs (or 4 stereo pairs)

That’s a lot of connections for a device that only measures 3.5” (H) x 8.5” (W) x 12.25” (D). Plus, with the MT106-103 card, I was able to loop the outputs from the three other cards into it, thereby creating a scaler (up-converting video to PC) with more than twice the number of inputs available in scalers costing the same amount.

Buttons, buttons everywhere!

I found that the front panel interface (MT101-106), which includes 25 programmable buttons, to be both a blessing and a curse. For those with the patience to assign buttons through the MTSetup software and take the patience to pop off the clear plastic covers one at a time in order to insert the pre-printed button labels for each button, one-touch access for any function you need is helpful. However, I’m not that patient.

To my chagrin, the pre-printed button labels were all attached in small, scored sheets that require you to carefully pry each one free. This frustrating experience led to ripped labels which didn’t fit evenly into the buttons. Though it would cost more, I’d gladly pay for a redesigned front panel that included LED electronic labeling, as found on many production switchers.

Fortunately, impatient people like me can choose to order a front panel that only includes the standard RS-232 (9-pin) connector. This means all control for the inputs, processing and outputs is handled exclusively through the PC software (MTSetup), which I will gladly leave running on a PC in the room.

And for those who just love buttons, you can get the 20-enclosure unit with up to 36 programmable buttons, you sick freaks.

Nearly unlimited configurations

The whole point of the MultiTasker is to give the user a wide selection of options for configuring the exact system you need.

With the small unit I demoed, I chose to route the output of the video switcher card, VGA expansion card and audio switcher cards to all go directly into the fourth scaler card. In this way, I had a nine input scaler with full audio control. With a few quick changes in the MTSetup software and a fast reboot of the MultiTasker, (turn it off and back on), I was able to reconfigure it to be a 6 input video switcher, 3 input VGA switcher, 8 input audio switcher and 3 input scaler. In this configuration, I sent the video switcher’s output to a video monitor; the 3 VGA switchers to an LCD panel; the audio switcher to a mixing console; and the scaler to a projector.

Lots of cards: Audio Switcher, VGA Switcher, Video Switcher, and a Scaler.

Remember, I did all that with the smallest enclosure version of the MultiTasker. It’s possible to build out a 20-enclosure unit with up to five 16x16 video matrixes!

In order to help categorize the input cards, ALTINEX uses an effective model numbering sequence:

MT100 series are the enclosures
MT102 series are front panel + enclosure combinations
MT103 series are video and UTP/Twisted Pair (CAT-5) distribution amplifier cards
MT104 series are video and VGA switcher cards
MT105 series are video, video and computer, or computer matrix switcher cards
MT106 series are signal processing cards
MT107 series are versatile matrix switcher cards
MT108 series are audio distribution cards
MT109 series are audio switcher/mixer cards
MT110 series are audio matrix switcher cards
MT112 series are control cards
MT113 series are audio power amplifier cards

With so many options, it’s hard to imagine a solution where a MultiTasker card combo couldn’t fit the bill.

A 20-slot enclosure unlocked, but loaded!

Too much of a good thing?

If you only need a computer distribution amplifier, for example, it’s easier to use a single-purpose device such as the ALTINEX DA1222AT. The value of the MultiTasker is when you can afford to have a centrally located unit that can serve multiple functions. Plus, adding new cards is a quick and easy process.

So is the MultiTasker too much of a good thing? It could be if either you don’t need that kind of flexibility or you are more comfortable with single-purpose devices.

In my opinion, the only real downside to a MultiTasker is that if the enclosure’s power supply fails, you lose the functionality of all of the installed cards, too. But if you have a 19- or 20-slot enclosure, you can always add the MT200-106 back-up power supply! I’m telling you, the options are nearly endless!

WEB: www.anthonycoppedge.com | EMAIL: anthony@anthonycoppedge.com |
PHONE: 817.819.7288 | FAX: 817.887.3700

Anthony Coppedge provides consulting to Churches for developing and growing a Media Ministry, building teams, casting vision and even choosing the right equipment. He lives in Bedford , Texas with his wife and two daughters and can be reached at anthony@anthonycoppedge.com