NAB '15 - Part 2

continued from Part 1...

Quantel (SL2009): One sure hit amongst the Quantel and Snell exhibits will be the LiveTouch range of studio sports highlighting systems, that range from single operator standalone set-ups to complete, integrated production systems. These were prototypes back at IBC. Close consultation with sports broadcasters and their on-air operators guided the development of LiveTouch. The user gets a purpose-designed control panel to make highlights selection fast and simple.

The core is the compact 3U power-efficient LiveTouch server. At full sophistication, inter-server streaming allows multiple LiveTouch units to be used as one large, virtual server. This gives operators instant access to any clip, irrespective of where it is being recorded.

An extra boost is the integration of Quantel editing. The workflow is two-way: editors can access highlights with no media movement, and any panel can play back any completed sequence. Under the bonnet Quantel's FrameMagic technology provides the speed for highlights-to air operators called for. No media ever needs to be copied or moved, and there is no need to duplicate storage for editing. There are three LiveTouch versions: an entry level highlights system, a production system for studio applications and an all-singing, all-dancing enterprise system covering every aspect of sports highlighting and program production. The Snell Vega range of asymmetric routers now supports mixed video and AES audio routing as well as audio-only operation.
 
LiveU (SU4405): Specialising in IP-based live video services and broadcast solutions for acquisition, management and distribution, LiveU will demonstrate its recently launched LU200 ultra-small newsgathering device. This opens new live coverage opportunities, enabling every field camera to be equipped with a bonding uplink unit. It weighs 500g and is available in a pouch or camera-mount configuration, providing two built-in modems with integrated antennas in a bonded solution suitable for any professional application. It can also serve as a standalone video encoder with satellite integration functionality, or be used as a LiveU data bridge mobile hotspot for IP applications in the field. Visitors will note the two 4G LTE/3G modems together with Wi-Fi and LAN connections and the proprietary antenna modules.

LiveU will also be discussing the latest stage of its strategic collaboration with Panasonic - to connect camera and cloud. This end-to-end solution enables P2HD series camera recorders to connect directly to the LiveU Central system and its cloud-based services for live transmission. 
 
SGL (SL5306): Recognised for its FlashNet content management solution, SGL will demonstrate a full archive using GV STRATUS, hosted by a Grass Valley presenter. This includes full search, archive and restore and will be integrated directly with FlashNet. The control of job queues will be a star element. The second big demo will involve the FlashNet Migration Service, which enables a whole content migration to be set up as a single background task. Also attractive will be the SGL integration with Avid Web Services, which now offers partial file restore capability. Other booth demos will involve the integration of FlashNet with Aspera for cloud-based archiving; the partial file restore of QuickTime files; and, a new version of FlashWeb that gives users enhanced search capabilities and simplified navigation. The new FlashNet API will further simplify integration for partners.

Cobham (C7412): Mindful that we are in the ‘year of the drone’ RF specialist Cobham will concentrate on showing its NanoVue HD receiver and Solo 8 transmitter, both offering new facilities for remote capture. The receiver gives broadcast users a high-quality hand-held tool for viewing and sharing HD video from airborne or terrestrially deployed transmitters. This is via a high visibility day/night screen. On-site it can be used to test system set-ups. Other plusses are on-board recording and faster IP connectivity. The miniature transmitter supports dual HD-SDI inputs and Cobham reckons it offers a 30 percent improvement in picture quality, plus ultra-low power consumption.

Cinegy (SL11116): Known for its software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression, automation and play out, Cinegy will field version 10 of its product portfolio. The benefits this brings include 4K IP-based broadcast solutions and a multi-viewer. The precise brand names to spot include Cinegy Air PRO, Cinegy Archive, Cinegy Desktop, Cinegy Workspace and Cinegy Capture. Stand demos will focus on software-defined television.

Matrox (SL5817): Montreal’s finest will front its booth with the Monarch HD live video event streaming and recording app, the new VS4 Recorder Pro, a multi-camera recording app, and its DSX developer line. It will also have the MicroQuad multi-viewer, the MC-100 dual-SDI to HDMI mini converter, and the DVI Plus HD-SDI scan converter.

Monarch HD is a small H.264 encoder designed for producers who need to simultaneously stream a live event and record a mastering-quality version for post-event editing. The VS4 was designed for use with Matrox VS4 quad HD capture cards. Each record system frame-accurately captures up to four video and audio inputs to create files for use with popular editing apps from Adobe, Apple and Avid and for archiving. H.264 is provided in either MOV or MP4 wrappers, and AVI files can be created using the Matrox MPEG 2 I-Frame codec. MOV QuickTime files can be created using DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO HD. The VS4Recorder Pro also functions as a multi-viewer.
 
Tedial (N1937): The big story here will be Tedial Evolution, an improved version of the company’s Media IT platform with extended MAM functionality. The specifics of this are advanced search/ indexing tools, new services to surf/ explore archives and improved integration between archive and workflows engines to reinforce collaborative environments. Tedial also has a new customisable GUI, an HTML5 user interface that keeps frequently used tools on the screen. True multi-screen and multi-platform (IOS, Android, Windows, etc.) operations allow users to manage tasks, validate media or monitor workflow status from mobile devices.

The Tarsys Search/Indexing Engine has been extended to organise/search collections and other object related entities, to indexing very large databases via shared indexes, and to automatically tag descriptive metadata based on scoring of texts using stop words. The system now auto-completes user keyword inputs and generates suggestions for every entry as it is typed. It offers new methods to surf the MAM through ‘departments’ using an ‘Amazon.com-style’ facets category and/or group entities. The system can also auto-tag, relating assets based on most relevant tags.

The article is also available to read in BVF online.

(IT/CD)