Ross Video Adds New Functions, Capabilities to XPression
Ross Video (Booth N3906) introduced multiple new functions and capabilities for the XPression line of real-time graphics systems, virtual-reality rendering engines, production servers, and comprehensive workflow tools.
XPression 4K
The unique requirements of 4K productions command a special niche in video production. The types of events and programming are typically high-profile and require high-performance equipment. XPression Studio 4K and BlueBox 4K are designed to meet this challenge. Studio 4K offers the features of the all-in-one creation and playout XPression Studio, and BlueBox 4K provides full playback capabilities as a headless graphics engine. Both systems supply a single 4K quad-link output.
XPression Clips
Often segregated into individual workflows for live production, clips and real-time graphics come together in XPression Clips, an advanced IT-technology production clip server. Built on the XPression graphics platform, it is a dedicated clip server with the ability to be upgraded to full CG functionality with a software license. XPression Clips supercharges the production process with instant recall times and back-to-back transitions from an intuitive user interface or via automation triggers from such devices as Ross production switchers. Users can simultaneously ingest multiple channels of baseband video and output multiple channels of clips to air. Three different configurations are available, depending on the requirements.
XPression INcoder
XPression’s entry into the clip-server market is accompanied by the XPression INcoder, a high-powered file-based ingest and transcoding application that simplifies the use of multiple codecs within a facility. XPression INcoder works in the background to quickly transcode clips into the highly efficient XPression Video Codec — which supports video, key, and up to 16 channels of audio — and then delivers it for playout using its multi-target publishing capability. Destinations can include the XPression Clip Database, a shared-storage system, FTP, or any file location across a network.
Version 6.0
“The substantial number of new products and features in the XPression line at NAB this year shows our product-diversification commitment to meet the needs of the growing real-time graphic requirements of media organizations around the world,” says Brian Olson, director of marketing product management for XPression. “In addition to the support of 4K-graphics production and clip integration that includes preroll elimination and a database with searchable metadata, a number of XPression applications are being updated. And Version 6.0 is being released with a variety of new features that will greatly benefit the installed XPression user base.”
NAS and SAN Support With SNS
Both XPression Clips and XPression Studio with the Clip Server Option support NAS and SAN configurations for storage of high-volume content. To better offer complete end-to-end clips and graphics solutions, Ross Video has announced a strategic relationship with Studio Network Solutions (SNS), whose EVO is the first certified SAN + NAS solution for XPression clip servers and real-time graphics engines.
EVO networked storage server combines a high-performance storage array with extensive connectivity options, including 8-Gbps Fibre Channel and 10 Gbps Ethernet, with easy-to-use asset management via EVO’s ShareBrowser application. A fully configured EVO can support a total of 80 disks and up to 28 clients with or without a switch.
This certified storage system provides large-scale direct attached Gigabit Ethernet connections to XPression from SNS EVO with the bandwidth and performance that offers more streamlined workflows between creative-service workgroups and playout and can scale all the way to multichannel enterprise environments.