Harmonic Launches Virtualized Spectrum™ X Solution

Harmonic has launched its virtualized Spectrum™ X solution, a software version of the company's market-leading media server running on customer-provided hardware.

Leveraging the power of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computing, the virtualized solution offers new deployment options and advanced features.

"Over the years, Harmonic's Spectrum X media server has set the standard for solid, robust ingest, playout and channel-in-a-box workflows. This software marks a new milestone for the Spectrum product line, giving media companies greater freedom of choice and more options for deployment in a fast-changing media landscape," said Tim Warren, senior vice president and chief technology officer, video business, at Harmonic. "Moving to the virtualized Spectrum X solution allows users to utilize their IT budgets to get the Harmonic-compatible hardware they need while still getting the benefits of the industry-leading Spectrum X platform."

The virtualized Spectrum X solution offers market-leading performance and functionality, plus new advanced features, allowing users access to more workflows than the Spectrum X media server enables today. The new Spectrum X software offers HTML5 graphics and supports SDR/HDR conversion including tone mapping and tone expansion. Uncompressed video-over-IP is also featured, with SMPTE ST 2110 support for SD to UHD.

Harmonic's openness to integrate any control system (including automation, MAM, PAM, transcode and QC) creates more deployment opportunities for media companies. Open APIs for the conventional Spectrum appliances and the new virtualized Spectrum X enable control of media workflows under a single user interface to suit exact workflow requirements, making it easier to deliver content on any platform to any end user.

The virtualized Spectrum X solution supports all Spectrum storage options, making it a fit for any application that the appliance-based Spectrum X media server supports today. Additionally, users of Harmonic's MediaGrid scalable shared storage and Spectrum X solution can now leverage IO-HSM (ingest and playout controlled hierarchical storage management) to add an extra level of protection and performance to their production and playout workflows. When enabled, IO-HSM uses media and connectivity intelligently to manage shared storage and protect it from the risk of network outages, data starvation and other issues that can impact shared storage environments. It adds sophisticated protection to active playlists and includes those being managed by third-party control systems.

www.harmonicinc.com