CGI Software and Services.
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CGI Software and Services.
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CM0264 KVM Switch Review.
The ATEN CM0264 for Use in a Visual Effects Production Environment Background I am a freelance CGI artist specializing in 3D environments and FX for the film industry. My primary interest in a KVM switch is to maintain consistency in performance with the mouse and keyboard over multiple operating systems and display devices. In my production environment, I often switch between Windows, OSX, and Linux to leverage different software against task requirements, and the ability to tie each machine to one set of keyboard, mouse, and monitors efficiently manages this juggling. Since I work at a single desk in a tight corner (everything fits in a 6x6 space) I am also limited by how much equipment I can physically arrange--so switching inputs to one set of monitors eliminates unnecessary clutter. One aspect that is critical to the kind of work I do is maintaining a consistent representation of color. Due to the varied gamma responses of different display devices--not to mention the built-in color management applied by various manufacturers--switching between multiple monitors disrupts the workflow and can introduce red herrings. While it is common to have a dedicated monitor for color evaluations, or to try to maintain calibration of multiple displays, it is more advantageous to reduce the variables entirely by converging multiple inputs into one display output. There are many switches on the market, but most fall into two categories: the cheap and the expensive. Very few fit nicely into the middle-ground aimed at prosumers, with the features required to make them useful in a post-production setting. Even fewer allow users to monitor two computers simultaneously. ATEN's CM0264 is an exception. Check out their site here: www.aten-usa.com My Setup An early-generation dual processor Mac Pro with 4GB RAM running OSX The CM0264 Unit The CM0264 is compact and sturdy, housed in a metal casing with a no-frills front: four buttons for switching the inputs, and three ports for optional headphones/line-in, and USB connections. Each input switch has three light indicators, to show which components are active. Certain components can be activated and deactivated by depressing the switch buttons in succession. If I want to listen to the audio of input one while watching the video of input two, for example, I press the input button several times until only the components I want are illuminated. At first, I found this to be an unintuitive way of activating and deactivating the input components, but after a while, I came to appreciate the simplicity of the interface. Since I don't often need to have an array of input components working together, I prefer to have that complexity "hidden" by a single button that performs multiple actions. Setting up the unit is simple. The instructions provided offer some education on more advanced features such as switching between dual and single displays, but for the most part everything about the CM0264 is straightforward: all cable inputs and outputs go into and out of the back of the unit, and each connection block is clearly labeled. You don't even need to provide your own cables; the CM0264 ships with cable sets that are specifically designed to prevent entanglement. This is especially nice considering the ludicrous price of cables at many consumer electronics stores. Though the CM0264 allows for two DVI and two HDMI inputs, it can easily be configured with a DVI->HDMI or HDMI->DVI adapter to allow for different configurations. It should be pointed out, though, that a swiveling adapter is necessary due to the tight spacing between connections on the back of the unit. Operation Once all the connections are made, the CM0264 is ready. Best of all, no software needs to be installed, updated, or otherwise maintained on any of the machines--it just works out of the box. There's a deceptive simplicity to the CM0264--it does so many things seamlessly that it is easy to take a lot of what is going on under the hood for granted. In dual-display mode, for example, the cursor floats between two operating systems without a stutter. The display resolution and signal are high quality, running at a maximum 1920x1080, and there is no discernible degradation when switching. Peripheral input devices are supported through the USB ports, and keyboard mapping is successfully emulated across multiple operating systems. My Wacom tablet was recognized by each operating system, and though this isn't a surprising achievement (since the CM0264 is just redirecting the USB signal) it is worth noting in the context of workflow because now "switching" does not involve physically moving hardware around my desk. In the same way, I am able to print and capture without breaking my workstation apart or crawling under the desk. For those users not sharing files between machines on a network, the CM0264 provides software to allow for file management between the inputs. More useful to those who already have a file sharing solution, however, is the ability to copy and paste data directly between the inputs. This feature deserves a few lines to underscore its importance. Copy/paste operations are so pervasive in any editing context that they have become a natural expectation in every system. Since the CM0264 creates a kind of enhanced work system, where there are no disruptions or barriers to switching to different operating systems, it feels natural to extend basic functionality such as copy/paste, as well. If I am editing an image in one operating system, but animating it in another, for example, I don't want to be restricted to managing that data through a network sharing solution. I don't want to have to think about it. I want to be able to make immediate, cross-platform updates that are not distracting. The only problem with the CM0264 implementation of both the file sharing and copy/paste functionality is that software is required, and the software is only available for Windows. Since I primarily use OSX, these features are not easily accessible. Conclusion ATEN's CM0264 does what you expect it to do and works the way you want it to, without exposing the impressive technical design that makes it all possible. I'd like to see the software available for Windows supported on OSX and Linux as well, but this imperfection does not detract from its core function as a KVM switch. For anyone looking to integrate their hardware into one unified console, the ATEN CM0264 will perform with a solid set of features at a reasonable price.
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