NAB Preview Part Four

More highlights from a selection of manufacturers before the LVCC opens its doors…

Quantel will have on show new developments for its post and fast turnaround broadcast production systems, as well as key new features for the Qtube global media workflow technology. Enterprise sQ SD/HD/S3D fast turnaround production systems are relied on by leading broadcasters around the world such as Rogers Sportsnet, ESPN, Fox, the BBC and many others to maintain their competitive advantage. On show will be the latest V5 workflows, as well as integration with Orad graphics systems.

Level 3 Communications will highlight its newly expanded set of media and broadcast services that combine Level 3’s Vyvx Services platform for broadcast backhaul with Global Crossing’s Genesis Solutions managed video contribution and distribution services. The combined video fibre network – one of the largest in the world – allows the company to offer an even broader set of video solutions to media clients worldwide.

Elemental will show Elemental Live performing realtime encoding of multiple video streams using the MPEG DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) streaming protocol. DASH is designed to address the dramatic growth of internet video by defining a universal delivery format, which provides end users with the best possible video experience and dynamically adapts to changing network conditions as video streams to their devices. Elemental will also demonstrate Elemental Live performing audio normalization, ad insertion, and captioning/subtitling.

And the company will also show an application featuring dynamically changing graphics in a live output stream through a unique, realtime Twitter integration. Image overlay is used in real-world applications for video branding, tracking and spoiling.

Riedel Communications will present MediorNet Compact and the Connect AVB solution. MediorNet Compact is a cost-effective and easy-to-use entry into the Riedel MediorNet world of integrated media signal distribution and processing. It provides the flexibility of a true realtime media network, including integrated signal processing, at the cost of simple multiplexing point-to-point products.

Riedel’s AVB product line provides a realtime solution for professional intercom users. This allows for new approaches in system and facility design providing significant savings in infrastructure investments. The Riedel suite of AVB products offers intercom applications over LAN infrastructures such as matrix-to-control panel connections, audio distribution, matrix-to-matrix trunking connections or distribution of digital partylines.

Tightrope Media Systems will launch a new 12-drive RAID configuration for ZEPLAY to support MPEG-2 encoding at 180Mbps per stream, along with Apple ProRes 4:2:2 encoding and decoding at 145Mbps per stream. This gives customer another high-quality option for video transfer across all eight ZEPLAY channels. Tightrope will also introduce Avid DnxHD codec support, offering new workflow enhancements that allow FinalCutPro users to import and record files in that system’s native format — improving speed and efficiency for customers.

Spectra Logic plans to display its T-Finity and T950 data tape libraries at NAB. T-Finity is a high-capacity tape library that scales to millions of hours of storage and includes management features that help ensure that archives are always available.

NewTek will display the full range of TriCaster live production solutions that provide the ability to simultaneously produce, live stream, broadcast, project, and record HD and SD network-style productions. NewTek’s 3Play levels the field for sports producers, providing an affordable, easy to use solution for slow motion and instant replay. 3Play now features an over-the-network connection to TriCaster for seamless live switching, production and replay, without sacrificing valuable video inputs. The company will showcase professionals who have expanded their fan base, built their brands, and added new sources of revenue using NewTek live production and streaming solutions.

NewTek will also feature LightWave 11, the latest version of its Emmy award-winning, professional 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software.

Harmonic will show ChannelPort, which speeds the cost-effective deployment of new television channels by integrating flexible branding and master control switching with clip playback on the playout platform. Fully compatible with all Harmonic Spectrum media server components, ChannelPort fits into existing infrastructures to simplify the launch of new services.

Rich multilayer graphics and dynamic text can be easily keyed over programming, while support for a broad range of automation systems offers customers the freedom to choose what’s best for their workflows. Ongoing expenses are reduced by ChannelPort’s operational simplicity, high-channel density, and low power consumption.

The Avenue modular digital video router from Ensemble Designs uses new technology for configuration and display. The ease of expansion, user-definable input/output port geometry, unique video thumbnails, built-in test signal generation, and optional clean and quiet switching on multiple outputs make it suitable for high-end broadcast use. Applications include live events, master control bypass switching, QC monitoring, and mobile trucks.

Realtime video thumbnails travel over Ethernet to the Router Control Panel where they are displayed on a compact, high resolution display. This enables the operator to visually verify source content before performing any switching operations. Ethernet enables the panel to be used remotely, thousands of kilometers away from the main installation.

Dalet will demonstrate several enhancements in Dalet Enterprise Edition, the MAM platform, which unifies disparate systems to improve workflow productivity and to facilitate content distribution to multiple platforms, including broadcast, web, VoD, and mobile. Dalet Enterprise Edition will be shown in combination with Dalet’s tailored production suite for sports, Dalet Sports Factory.

Dalet Sports Factory offers fast sports production tools, fully integrated within an enterprise MAM platform. Sports Factory’s highlights and replay components cover logging, play-by-play highlights and playback, and instant replay with multiple camera angles and slow motion.

Unlike typical sports production products, Dalet Sports Factory integrates both production archives and media management, ensuring all enriched media assets are at users’ fingertips both during and after the game. Designed on the openDalet MAM platform, Sports Factory integrates with NLEs and other broadcast and sports production systems to provide a cohesive, fluid workflow.

Ericsson will be showing new multi-codec versions of its Voyager DSNG and Contribution Encoding platforms, offering MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and JPEG 2000 in the same product, and SD, HD and 1080p workflows. In fixed contribution, combining all three compression technologies in a single product line maximizes operational flexibility, reduces engineering and operational staff training costs, and simplifies both initial installation and also long term support, compared to a ‘mix and match’ multi vendor environment.

In DSNG, truck operators can now roll to event and use just one encoding platform for either Satellite or IP based contribution. That simplifies scheduling, saves rack space, and means only one system for operators to learn and only one technology for engineers to maintain, which translates to better services and improved ROI.

Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium provides the backbone to an efficient, flexible broadcast workflow that lets users create high-quality video productions, motion graphics, visual effects, and immersive, interactive experiences for virtually any screen within ever-tightening schedules and budgets.

By integrating content publishing and protection, advertising and analytics, Adobe provides smooth, TV-like experiences for ad-supported video. Project Primetime delivers premium video across major platforms including Apple iOS, Google Android, desktops, and connected TVs. Primetime Highlights enables video publishers to create and publish live event highlights, with ads, in minutes, allowing monetization of this content when its value is at its highest.

Evertz will showcase new features for MAGNUM and MAGNUM VUE including integrated tally, advanced event scripting, timer control, unified naming, and new widgets for the MAGNUM VUE customizable user interface. MAGNUM is a next-generation control system that unifies the control of elements found in production facilities, including Evertz’ video/audio routers, multiviewers, and inbound signal processing products.

Evertz will also feature its new 3480 series platform which facilitates the delivery of content to multi-screen end points. The 3480 platform expands on Evertz ever-growing portfolio of compression products for contribution and distribution applications.  The 3480 platform offers the customer a cost-effective solution for bulk MPEG-2/H264 encoding and transcoding, plus adaptive bit rate encoding/transcoding and statistical multiplexing.

And finally for this round-up, Net Insight will showcase several new products to address important industry trends, issues, question, and opportunities. The company will launch a Nimbra 310 Compact Access MSR and Hitless Switching, which offers a flexible alternative to service protection that ensures seamless user-experience. Net Insight will show improved Service-Centric Network Management with Preemption, a JPEG2000 Video Access Module with high port density and flexibility. The company will also address the opportunities for service providers related to Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Over-the-Top (OTT).