Omnitek Welcome Successful NAB Show 2017

At NAB 2017, Omnitek launched the Ultra TQ which proved very popular with broadcasters attending the show. Many were investigating the requirements for HDR production in HD installations, for which the Ultra TQ is ideally suited.

The Ultra TQ builds on the success of the Ultra platform and is a fully equipped waveform rasteriser for the broadcast market. It inherits functionality from the highly successful Ultra 4K Tool Box and the Ultra XR products to provide a comprehensive set of tools to support broadcasters with HDR and WCG production challenges.

The Ultra TQ supports analysis and generation of all formats up to 3G-SDI formats as standard with an upgrade path to 4K/UHD if needed. It is aimed at broadcast production, engineering, outside broadcast, operations and control rooms that require the comprehensive tool set that is offered.

The Analyser instruments within the Ultra TQ include Picture, Waveform monitor, Vectorscope, gamut meters, full audio monitoring and loudness measurement, video timing, video / audio status monitoring, event logging and closed caption logging as standard.

The Picture monitor provides a high-quality display with closed captions overlay, safe area cages and O-Zone display for HDR and SDR production.

The Waveform monitor can display YCbCr or YRGB and provides full horizontal & vertical zoom of single, multiple or all line displays. Analysis can be made of full frame video or Region of Interest.

Audio Meters display 16 audio channels with industry standard ballistics and scales. Loudness Meter supports ITU-R BS.1770 and EBU RP 128 to allow program or continual loudness logging.

Ultra TQ provides logging of all physical and functional parameters of the video signal against timecode, ideal for program QC and Compliance.

The integrated line test pattern generator allows the generation of 38 line-patterns. This can be upgraded to a full test pattern generator with a range of zone plates and test sequences.

Physical layer analysis and advanced physical layer analysis are available as options for use anywhere signal integrity needs to be checked.

With orders for the Ultra TQ already delivered before the start of the show, it looks like the interest at NAB will result in significant orders.

NAB 2017 showed that the early demise of the SDI interface as an exaggeration as it has found new life with the adoption of 12G as an interface on a range of new products at the show. The reasons for this are many fold and includes the inherent understating of how to connect the output of one black box to the input of another, making installation and maintenance straight forward.

Another advantage of 12G-SDI adoption is that it is now a well-established technology with a number of T&M equipment manufacturers providing solutions to support manufacturers, post production and broadcast operations. Amongst which is Omnitek with the Ultra 4K Tool Box and the Ultra XR which gained further functionality for the show.

The NAB software release for the Ultra family adds full audio and loudness monitoring, enhanced high dynamic range analysis and other functionality. This builds on the recent V3.2 release which added Omnitek's O-Zone false colour display for HDR / SDR material, closed caption / subtitle display and full timecode based event logging.

For many visiting the show, the challenges were not 4K, 8K or video over IP, but how to implement High Dynamic Range workflows into their existing HD installations. For those working with 4K HDR, the Ultra XR continues to be a popular, affordable choice as it provides all the tools needed for HDR production and grading.

There seemed to be a common desire to adopt the SMPTE 2110 Video over IP standard which is the final stage of the AIMS Alliance implementation. Many manufacturers who have already implemented SMPTE 2022-6, however, are waiting for full ratification of the standard and implications before further investing in full product implementations supporting SMPTE 2120.

One hidden cost which may be incurred by adopters of video over IP is that of network security. On private networks the risk of accidental or deliberate interruption of the network is small. On wide area networks, with more connections this risk could be much higher and may require the implementation of gateways / fire walls to restrict access to areas where video / audio is being captured, processed or transmitted.

It was a very successful NAB for Omnitek and the feed-back from all those who visited the booth was very positive about the Ultra family of products. Omnitek are looking forwards to next year's show with the prospect of new members to the Ultra family.

Article by Alan Wheable FISTC, MITOL – Communications Manager at Omnitek.

Image: Ultra TQ

www.omnitek.tv

This article is also available to read in the latest edition of Broadcast Film & Video.

(JP/LM)