Review of NewTek's high-definition TriCaster 850 by Matt Drabick, president of DigiTek Systems, and a user of NewTek products since 1988. 

The TriCaster 850 represents a quantum-leap forward for NewTek. Not only is the TriCaster 850 the most capable TriCaster that NewTek has ever released, it is also the most expensive at $24,995.00. While this might take your breath away if you are the owner of an older TriCaster 100 that cost $5,000.00, the new TriCaster 850 is light-years ahead in performance and capability versus any previous NewTek or competitor's product.

Unlike the previous  TriCaster 300, which is limited to working with up to three external sources, the TriCaster 850 works with up to eight external, "live" video sources. This includes, but is not limited to, video cameras, VCRs, DVD and blu-ray players and includes both hi-def and standard video sources. Video inputs include standard-definition composite, Y/C, component and SDI sources plus high-definition component and SDI sources. A multitude of XLR and BNC connectors are provided for bringing in analog and digital audio sources.

The TriCaster 850 is designed to fit in a standard equipment rack and includes front-mounted rack ears and optional rack rails. All of the  TriCaster 850's connectors are rear-mounted (except for an extra pair of front-mounted USB connectors, useful for connecting the included keyboard and mouse). Dual (redundant) power supplies are included, along with a large, front-mounted case fan for keeping the unit cool.

You need a monitor that works with the rear-mounted DVI port to view the TriCaster 850's software interface. Ideally, the monitor should work with a 1920 by 1080 pixels display but the TriCaster 850 also works with a 1440 by 900 pixels display. Anything less and part of the interface will be cut-off or missing.

A second monitor can be connected via the other rear-mounted DVI port. Instead of the software interface, various displays can be selected including all sources, external sources (all 8 external sources on one monitor, allowing you see each video camera without the need for costly, dedicated preview monitors for each camera), preview output, program output (live switch including cameras, effects, titles, graphics, video clip playback, virtual sets, etc.), waveform and vectorscope displays, and more. While a 1280 by 1024 pixels monitor will work with the second DVI port, I recommend using a monitor that accepts higher resolutions. If you use this port to send the live switch (program output) to a projector or large monitor for speaker support or IMAG, you still can see the cameras and other sources on the primary software interface, but just a little bit smaller.

Besides working with up to eight video cameras, several items really impressed me with the TriCaster 850. Two DDRs (instead of the one DDR found with the TriCaster 300) allow you to playback video clips with one DDR and playback animated titles and titles with the other DDR. Like the TriCaster D300, you can select any of the video souces (cameras, DDRs, computer feeds, titles and framestores) as an overlay source with each of the two DSK channels, but you can also rotate each DSK through the X,Y and Z planes, allowing for keystoning and other effects. Sports production fans, note that you can finally shrink and position a camera on the game clock and have more than two other cameras following the game.

While the TriCaster 850 rests very nicely on a tabletop, the unit begs to be rackmounted in an equipment rack or in a portable road case. I purchased a very nice case for my dealer demo system with removable ends for accessing the rear-mounted connectors and exposing the front-mounted power switch and case fan. The case includes two handles for easy carrying by two people plus a detachabale handle with wheels which allows one person to easily roll the case across a level surface. The TriCaster 850 slides into the case and is surrounded by sturdy foam and secured to the case with four rack screws.

Like the TriCaster 300, the TriCaster 850 has virtual inputs but more of them. Think of a virtual input as a mixed-effects or ME bus found with a traditional switcher. You can use the included virtual sets or double-box effects found with each of the eight virtual inputs to create eight different shots. Each virtual input has its own DSK channel. Like the two primary DSK channels that overlay (lay on top of) all of the external and internal video sources (including the virtual inputs) you can select a live video camera, DDR, external computer feed, title or framestores as the virtual input's overlay source and scale and position it anywhere you like. This means you can actually work with three separate DSKs when using a virtual input. Because the DSK is assigned to the virtual input, if you cut to a live camera or other video source, the DSK disappears when you switch away from the virtual input.

All in all, the TriCaster 850 is a highly-effective hi-definition video switcher that allows you to record the live switch to hard drive, stream to the internet and feed multiple monitors and projectors all at the same time.