Video mixers

[Colin McDonald]

Looks like I'm going to have to know about live video mixing in a hurry 
(long story don't ask!)

Anyone had any experience with either the Edirol LVS-400 4ch Video 
Mixer/Live Switcher
<www.edirol.it/europe/details.asp?code=316&id=12&la=UK>
or the Videonics MXProDV Digital Video Mixer?
<www.focusinfo.com/products/mxprodv/mxprodv.htm>

Its my impression (so far) that the quality from the MXProDV will be 
better as it can deal with (2 anyway) DV inputs so a live mix to tape 
stays at DV quality whereas with the  Edirol LVS-400 the inputs are 
composite or S video so there will be loss compared with what I'm used 
to (separate DV cameras recording on to their own DV tapes).

Against that, there is the problem of cable length with FireWire DV 
cameras - anyone had experience with the special "Distance DV" cables
<www.focusinfo.com/products/ddv/distancedv.htm>
from Focus Enhancements (33, 66 or 164 feet).

Colin McDonald