The LKEY HD is ideal for keying graphics over any video source.

Not only does this versatile linear keyer work with all common HD formats, it also works with SD making it suitable for multi-standard environments or if you’re planning to upgrade at a later date.

Use it for the downstream keying of logos, captions, scoreboards and other graphics, or use it upstream before the mixer – the choice is yours.

What sets LKEY HD apart is its size. Not a cumbersome box, this one. Instead the double height 100mm x 266mm module fits in the standard frames, sitting alongside any other board in the Crystal Vision range – including an HD chroma keyer and video delay. The ability to fit six HD linear keyers in 2U makes it the obvious choice for multi-layer keying.

It’s amazing just how many features have been packed into a product that’s so small.

Choose how you generate the key. The external key mode uses the luminance of a key signal to cut a hole in the Background programme, while in self-key mode the luminance of the Foreground graphic is used to generate the key – useful if you don’t want to use a dedicated key input.

Fill video is then inserted, usually the Foreground signal or a colour produced by the internal matte generator.

LKEY HD offers both additive and multiplicative linear keying, allowing you to choose a method to suit the graphics you’re working with.

Further flexibility is provided by two internal mask generators which can force areas of the picture to Foreground or Background, overruling the key signal.

You can mix between the Foreground and Background inputs, while the inclusion of eight simple wipes (horizontal, vertical, horizontal blind, vertical blind, left corner, right corner, box and cross) means you may choose to use it as a basic two input mixer.

The key can be faded in and out, either manually or as a timed transition, while you can fade to black on the main output.

You won’t be limited by the signals you’ve got: get just the effect you’re looking for by amplifying, offsetting or inverting the key signal.

Up to ten setups can be stored and recalled, while configurations can be easily transferred from one LKEY HD to another.

The two main and two aux outputs can independently show the video sources, the key or the combined picture.

The LKEY HD is a pleasure to operate.

For those who enjoy the hands-on approach of T-bar activated transitions there is the Safire Controller (pictured here), a dedicated 2U panel ideal for live use and able to control up to seven Crystal Vision keyers.

If you are more at home in front of a computer screen, the Statesman software allows you to make your adjustments from any PC on a network. SNMP monitoring and control is also available.

The LKEY HD is used with the RM32 or RM40 frame rear modules, which both include an RJ45 connector for easy wiring of the Safire Controller.

Thanks to the inclusion of an electromechanical relay switch, the RM40 rear module can provide relay bypass protection of the Background on power failure or board malfunction or removal. Relay bypass prevents signal loss by mechanically connecting the Background input to main output 1 whenever the supply to the rear module is interrupted. In the unlikely event of failure, it's a way of maintaining programme output while maintenance is completed.