ISS 608
The ISS 608 is an eight-input seamless switcher for the dynamic presentation of HDMI and DisplayPort content at resolutions up to 4K/60. It combines true seamless switching with advanced Vector™ 4K scaling technology. To enhance source switching and facilitate use in live environments, it provides multiple seamless transition effects, an independent preview output, and intuitive front panel operation. RS‑232 and Ethernet are additional control options. Logo insertion, video keying, and PIP capabilities complement primary content, and audio de‑embedding simplifies integration. Matrix Mode adds automatic, seamless transitions to matrix switchers with HDMI outputs. These features and capabilities enable the ISS 608 to deliver a true seamless digital signal switching solution perfect for high-end, live presentation environments.
ISS 608 Features
Seamless Switching
Multiple, seamless transition effects deliver clean, professional switching performance that is perfect for high-end presentation and live events.
- Seamless Cut — A cut provides an immediate, seamless switch between sources, eliminating distracting jumps, glitches, and delays from your presentation.
- Dissolve — The dissolve, or cross-fade, effect between sources delivers elegant transitions with selectable duration. Both sources can be live, video, frozen content, or a combination of the two. You can also dissolve between video content and a stored image file.
- Wipe — Draws attention to the changing content. The ISS 608 provides hard edge and soft edge wipes, with selectable wipes in four different directions, as well as user-definable wipe durations.
Try it yourself: Click on a blue button to see the switching transition
Preview & Program Outputs
Independent video buses for Preview and Program outputs enable the operator to confidently control the presentation by reviewing sources on a local monitor before switching them to the Program output for the viewing audience. This is beneficial when synchronizing video content such as computers and Blu-ray or media players, starting from a specific point in a slide presentation, and orchestrating camera angles.
The operator can select between cut, dissolve, and wipe transitions when switching sources to the Program output, providing a professional touch to live presentations.
Preview
Program
4K/60 4:4:4
With a maximum data rate of 18 Gbps, the ISS 608 supports computer and video resolutions up to 4K/60 with full 4:4:4 chroma sampling. The Extron-exclusive Vector 4K scaling engine applies precision 30‑bit processing and maintains 4:4:4 chroma sampling to ensure pristine image quality at the output. This level of processing retains fine image and color detail such as single pixel lines and text in computer content.
Competing scalers commonly process in the YCbCr, or component domain, employing 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. This decreases the bandwidth required to process the signal, at the expense of reduced color detail. Chroma subsampling may be acceptable when processing full-motion video content, but with computer-generated content, subsampled color can negatively impact the clarity of the image. Vector 4K 4:4:4 color processing retains the fine color details present in the original source.
4:2:2 chroma sampling
4:4:4 chroma sampling
Internal processing at full 4:4:4 color sampling preserves color detail for image-critical applications
Picture in Picture
Picture-in-picture — PIP mode facilitates insertion of a PIP window that can be sized and positioned dynamically anywhere on the main display, including side‑by‑side. It can be transitioned into and out of the main display using the dissolve effect. The 128 user-definable layout presets and 16 PIP presets provide fast access to commonly used configurations and transitions.
Your adventure awaits...
Image storage and keying
A company logo or other custom graphics can be stored and recalled for insertion into any presentation. A wide variety of video keying options enable the operator to overlay live content or scrolling text onto another source to enhance on‑screen messaging.
Video Keying
Title information or other content from an input source can be displayed over the program image. Input switches to the Program output can be made behind the video key, incorporating freeze/fade or freeze/cut transitions.
Logo Storage
Logo graphics in BMP, JPG, PNG, or TIFF format may be uploaded to the unit. Up to 16 logo images can be stored. In addition, up to 16 logo presets are available to store the image file, position, and key settings for quick recall and switching between multiple logos.
Image Keying and Transparency
A logo can be inserted over live video using level keying, RGB color keying, transparency, or an alpha channel as supported by the graphic file format. Flexible positioning controls allow placement of the logo anywhere over the active video.
Try it yourself: Drag and move the logo on screen to desired position
Matrix Mode
Matrix Mode provides production-style switching effects for any HDMI matrix switcher. Connect two switcher outputs to inputs 1 and 2 on the ISS 608 to automatically apply a transition effect between the video sources when a switch is detected.
Audio Management
Embedded multi-channel HDMI and DisplayPort audio is switched, along with video, to the Preview and Program HDMI outputs. During a dissolve or wipe, the switcher performs an audio fade down/fade up transition for the duration of the video effect. The ISS 608 includes convenient balanced/unbalanced analog audio outputs on captive screw connectors for sending de‑embedded two‑channel audio to a sound system or other audio destination. Audio output muting can be independently selected for both analog and embedded digital outputs.
Program Audio
Preview Audio
Flexible System Control
The ISS 608 features an easy-to-use interface with discrete source selectors for preview and program outputs, effect and preset selection buttons, and a front panel LCD menu system with navigation controls for quick access to configuration settings. RS‑232 and Ethernet are additional control options, and USB and Ethernet can be used for system configuration.
The ISS 608 can be configured using Extron's PCS - Product Configuration Software, which provides a user-friendly GUI that is very easy to navigate. This software application allows for expedited setup and commissioning, real-time monitoring, plus the ability to configure several ISS 608 units in the same session.
Configuration and Monitoring
Operation and Monitoring
Operation, Configuration, and Monitoring
Exclusive Extron Features
Vector 4K Scaling Technology
The Vector 4K scaling engine incorporates Extron-engineered, multi-tap, bicubic interpolation, which creates a new pixel by averaging adjacent pixels above, below, to the sides, and diagonally of the new pixel. This produces sharp, accurate output, preserving single-pixel detail that other scaling methods lack.
Vector 4K algorithms continually and dynamically adapt, ensuring optimal processing for upscaling, downscaling, or 1:1 pass-through applications. Two less robust alternatives to bicubic interpolation are “nearest neighbor interpolation,” whereby a pixel is duplicated to an adjacent pixel, and “bilinear interpolation,” which creates a new pixel by averaging adjacent pixels above, below, and to the sides of the pixel being created. Both of these methods can produce substandard output, resulting in data loss that may render the content unusable.
Everlast Power Supplies
We design and manufacture our Everlast Power Supplies in-house, employing premium-quality components and highly efficient, modern topologies for thermal management, transistor switching, energy dissipation, and virtually every other critical aspect of the power system. Each Everlast Power Supply is built with the same care and meticulous attention to detail as our award-winning high-end video products.
AV hardware manufacturers typically use generic off-the-shelf power supplies from 3rd party vendors. These mass-produced power supplies are frequently designed to meet a low price point, employing the least expensive components meeting the minimum manufacturing spec. Using a plastic fan assembly instead of a superior metal alternative, or a cheap diode vs. an efficient transistor, or a 10 cent capacitor instead of a 20 cent version might save some pennies in manufacturing costs, but those savings can turn into expensive liabilities when the product fails to power up. These high-volume, low-cost power supplies often employ older design principles and dated topologies.
Product Information
ISS 608
The ISS 608 provides six HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort 1.2 inputs that support signals up to 4096x2160 at 60 Hz with 4:4:4 color sampling. HDCP 2.2 compliance and Extron technologies such as Key Minder ensure compatibility with high value, encrypted 4K content. The switcher’s multiple transition effects eliminate distracting jumps, glitches, and delays for clean, seamless source switching. Prior to sending content to the main display, separate Preview and Program HDMI outputs enable the operator to audition PIP, video keying, logo insertion effects, and much more.