Elettronica Industriale Upgrades Master Control Suite With Harris

Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has announced that Elettronica Industriale has upgraded its master control suite with Harris Platinum, the world’s first embedded audio-processing router. Elettronica Industriale, as the network operator of Italian media company Mediaset Group, is in charge of the central switching of all of Mediaset Group’s contribution signals.
The Platinum router can demultiplex (demux) incoming audio signals and then multiplex (mux) any audio signal within the router on a video output. This installation represents the largest implementation to date of the Platinum mux/demux technology.
The upgraded master control room at Elettronica Industriale is built around five Platinum routers. The central router features a 512x512 configuration. It is populated 400x400 with de-embedders on every input and embedders on every output, along with 32x32 mono analog audio. Since mux/demux capabilities exist within Platinum, the router can process and route both discrete and embedded audio — all within the same frame. In 32RU of space, the new system at Elettronica Industriale replaces approximately 230RU worth of equipment and runs at about 30 percent of the power needed by the previous system.
The Elettronica Industriale technical team reported the Platinum router has provided them with many operational benefits, including a novel way of handling audio within the router. Within the same frame, the team can route, manipulate and process any mono channel of audio — embedded or discrete — to any output. This eliminates the need for racks of external equipment, allowing Elettronica Industriale to save on space, troubleshooting and maintenance. The router is also "green",in terms of reduced power consumption, which helps with long-term operational costs.
For signal monitoring, Elettronica Industriale is using a 1024x128 Platinum router configured with eight integrated CENTRIO multiviewers. Rounding out the installation are other broadcast solutions from the Harris portfolio, including 6800+ core-processing modules, the Videotek TVM series of test and measurement equipment, and IconLogo branding products.
"This project is an excellent example of how Harris combines tremendous signal-processing power with a small footprint," said Richard Scott, Vice President of Europe, the Middle East and Africa operations, Harris Broadcast Communications. "Moving the mux/demux capability internal to the frame not only saves a great deal of rack space, but also reduces total system power requirements. That, in turn, reduces energy and operational costs for our customers."
Harris Broadcast Communications offers products, systems and services that provide interoperable workflow solutions for broadcast, cable, satellite and out-of-home networks. The Harris ONE solution brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that enable advanced media workflows for emerging content delivery business models.
(KMcA/BMcc)