The MCX-500 is an affordable, uniquely user-friendly and flexible production switcher that makes it simple for a single operator or small team to produce a broadcast quality live event. Multiple video inputs include professional 3G-SDI, HDMI, Composite Video plus dedicated DSK mean you can mix and match kit as needed for each production.
New opportunities
Live events increasingly rely on video to attract customers, enliven presentations and turn a profit via live streaming or selling recordings. The MCX-500 is ideal for a wide range of live and recorded applications, from pop concerts to weddings, educational seminars to corporate presentations, and meetings at houses of worship. Using the MCX-500, you can go beyond simply capturing an event to transforming it into an experience that engages everyone.
Meet any challenge
Today’s event might be simply mixing together multiple video inputs to support a presenter’s on-stage presentation. Tomorrow’s event might be creating a program for distribution across multiple screens in a vast conference hall. Next week’s event might be live streaming, either via PC or Mac or directly from the MCX-500 itself using Ustream® with a router*. Whatever the event, it’s simple to give your customer an immediate recording of the event, thanks to a built-in SD Card slot – no external recorder needed or time lost assembling a post-event cut.
*In regions where Ustream® is not available, alternative services may be supported. Please consult with your local Sony Professional Solutions Dealer.
Events that excite and engage
Keeping an audience’s interest during an event can be challenging. The MCX-500 puts at your fingertips a set of features to easily transform any event: cut between multiple cameras with a wide range of broadcast-quality transitions, mix in a secondary video feed with picture-in-picture, put a presenter in front of live or recorded video using Sony’s broadcast standard chroma key technology. 8 video inputs, plus a dedicated DSK channel (total 9 inputs) for on-screen graphics and a 5-channel audio mixer give you everything needed to wow an audience.
Working smarter
To minimize your workload, the MCX-500 offers hassle-free integration with camcorders such as the HXR-NX5R. The lightweight RM-30BP remote controller allows you to control all the key features of suitable camcorders while sitting at your control desk. It also allows tally signals to be sent to connected camcorders, so a camera operator knows when each camcorder is on-air. Work faster, more efficiently with MCX-500’s advanced workflow.
Go solo or team work made easy
The MCX-500 makes it easy for a single operator to run a professional live event. Multi-view monitoring puts all your sources on a single display. To keep your eyes on the action, all the main functions are accessible via physical controls that are easy to operate without looking away from the action for a second. More advanced features can be tuned to your exact workflow requirements and mapped to an LCD touchscreen control with customizable ICON buttons. You can even remote-operate or extend the control functions of the MCX-500 via PC, Mac or Tablet over Ethernet or WiFi*.
*External WiFi router required.
Smart controls with configurable LCD touchscreen
If you’re running the show on your own, you need controls that suit the way you work – intuitive and yet somehow also fully featured. The MCX-500 achieves this by carefully thought-out physical controls that you will find easy to operate without looking away from the action for a second.
More advanced features can be tuned to your exact workflow requirements and mapped to an LCD touchscreen control with easily recognizable ICON buttons. Trigger the sophisticated effects you’ve pre-defined with a single touch on a user-defined ICON. It’s a robust, user-friendly system that’s easily extended to bring in additional team members as productions grow.
Mix between 8 video sources + 1 Title (total 9 inputs)
The switcher is designed to expand your operations for full control of a multi-camera shoot. There is no need to worry about swapping out inputs during a production – the MCX-500 features no less than 8 video inputs (plus dedicated Title input) to easily accommodate any small- to medium-sized production. Inputs include professional 3G-SDI (x4), standard HDMI (x2) and even composite video (x2), allowing you to connect a wide variety of cameras and other equipment. A dedicated RGB Title input allows you to connect a PC or Mac to use as a dedicated source of titles for your production.
Gallery
Multi-view monitoring
See all your sources simultaneously on one display. The switcher’s multi-view output makes it easy for you to see all your sources and outputs on a single screen. Monitoring on the multi-view is always four inputs.
The MCX-500 allows you easily to create advanced video effects such as Chroma key, transitions and PinP (Picture in Picture).
Cut, Mix and Wipe effects allow you to select the pattern, timing and more of each transition. The switcher lets you set up your transitions beforehand or do it manually on the fly. You can also easily add effects and titles with a one-button operation both before or after a transition.
Superimpose a presenter over a background video or static image with pin-sharp accuracy using chroma key technology developed for Sony’s MVS Series broadcast switchers.
To insert a second picture into your main footage, simply choose its size and position, then push live.
Down-stream key (DSK) function will automatically erase the white background and overlay the title for you. A dedicated RGB (DSK) computer input allows you instant access to titles stored on an external computer to overlay onto your video, freeing up your other eight inputs for camera.
Your logo data can be uploaded from an SD card and using the logo function you can overlay the graphic on the screen.
*Logo function requires version 2.0 firmware.
All on-screen graphics simulated, for illustration purposes only.
Manual transition
For complete control over transition effects, select this option and use interactive slider to make the transition effects as quick or slow as you like.
Requires version 2.0 firmware.
Stream content live over the internet
The MCX-500 is ideal for live streaming events and productions. The switcher allows you to live mix the output of multiple sources with direct streaming in real time using services such as Ustream®. Share scenes as they happen with high quality picture and sound, direct from the MCX-500 to a router via Ethernet – no PC required.
PC, Mac and Tablet integration
The MCX-500 is designed to allow you to control multi-camera shoots in the most flexible way possible. Plug in an Ethernet cable or WiFi router to open up a fully functional control interface that can be viewed on a standard web browser with PC, Mac or Tablet. Use browser tabs to click between the Switcher’s main control panel and advanced settings, including the simple setup of easily recognizable ICON buttons.
Worldwide full HD support
MCX-500 is a global model allowing you to record a variety of HD standards depending on your needs. You can record AVCHD Full HD 1920×1080 60i/50i or 1440×1080 60i/50i. Even higher quality is available with advanced XAVC S codec with progressive recording at 60, 50, 30 and 25 fps options at 50 Mbps.
| Format | Colour space/bit rate | Max rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD | XAVC S (50) | 4:2:0/ 8bit | 50 Mbps* |
Record direct to SD memory card
An internal memory card slot means all you need to record your production is an SD card, affordable and widely available with no need for an external recorder. As soon as the shoot wraps, you can provide the customer with a high quality AVCHD recording to archive, re-broadcast or even re-edit into a highlights package on any leading non-linear editing software.
Audio mixing of up to five channels, including XLR
You can perform a sophisticated multi-channel stereo audio mix in the MCX-500 with no need for an external audio mixer. With a stereo XLR (left/right) interface for external sources, the audio mixer function allows you to mix XLR inputs and four channels of embedded audio. You can control all five stereo channels individually, including intuitive audio level control on the LCD touchscreen control panel, mixing channels and also linking the audio to the video. Pre-Fader Listen (PFL) allows you to monitor each audio source before executing the mix.
Seamless integration with Sony camcorders and PTZ cameras
The MCX-500 works with some of the most popular Sony compact camcorders such as the HXR-NX5R and also remote cameras including BRC Series PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) HD camera.
Synchronized recording of connected cameras
You can trigger the recording of connected camcorders through the MCX-500 and record the output on SD memory card in the switcher.
Affordable tally system
Tally signals can be sent to the connected camcorders so you always know which camcorder is live on-air. A tally indicator will automatically appear on each camcorder’s LCD panel and Electronic View Finder — a red icon indicates when the shot is live (PGM) while green indicates preview mode (PVW).* *Compatible camcorders only.
Tutorials
View the videos below to see how simple it is to operate MCX-500.
