This option does come at a cost, however. However, the VR-50HD has an HDCP mode that allows the device to input and switch HDCP-protected content a unique feature at a time when HDMI inputs are becoming standard on switchers and HDCP prevents them from being utilized. HDCP will prevent content being passed from a source like a Blu-ray player to anything but a TV, preventing commercial content from being edited or copied. Typically, having HDMI on a switcher is mostly useless because of High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). In fact, the input assignments are so easy to do, it's a very real option. That said, there is nothing stopping really industrious users from plugging in 12 inputs and reassigning them as needed, live. Inputs one and two can be any of the four available choices, inputs three and four can only be SDI or HDMI.
Since it's only a four-channel mixer, most of these inputs are shared. The input list includes four HDMI, four 3G/HD/SD-SDI/SDI, two RGB/COMPONENT, and two composite. The Roland VR-50HD is a multi-format, 12-input, four-channel video mixer, making it a good option for churches that have a mixture of legacy gear and newer formatted gear. Many of the features on the VR-50HD make it a good option for small churches, multi-sites, and student venues. However, the VR-50HD does a good job of giving you enough options on both the audio and video fronts to be very usable, but not so many that you need an advanced degree to it. Typically, this is the type of product I would steer very clear of-my thinking being that anything with that small of a form factor boasting that much functionality has to be too good to be true. A recent addition to the all-in-one product market is the Roland VR-50HD A/V mixer, which combines a small video switcher and small audio console. Streaming devices are recording locally, audio consoles have band monitors available via iDevice, and switchers are now coming equipped for streaming. Lately it seems there is a huge movement in the technology market to make products that combine solutions that, in the past, have required end users to employ multiple products for.