IBC 2016: Ross Video Heads to Amsterdam With Focus on Smart Production
Under the Smart Production banner, Ross Video will show how its technologies, services and expertise can help customers achieve their creative, business, and technical goals at IBC 2016. Ross demonstrations at IBC will show complete systems and workflows for Virtual Sets, Galleries, Automated Production Control, Graphics Creation & Playout, News Editorial, Stadium Displays, Studio Robotics, Assembly Productions, and much more on Stand #11.C10.
Production Switchers
The new Carbonite Black Solo, a surprise introduction at NAB and now shipping, is a highly compact yet powerful production switcher with 9 inputs and 6 outputs, specifically designed to meet the needs of smaller productions – a real Carbonite feature set, in a smaller, more affordable package.
The mid-sized powerhouse Carbonite Production Switcher series continues to grow and expand adding the Carbonite Black Plus frame, which contains all of the features of the ever popular Carbonite Black engine – Plus a lot more. Carbonite Black Plus adds more monitoring capability, and extensive processing features to both inputs and outputs.
Another bonus for Carbonite is that XPression Live CG software is now included with every Carbonite production switcher. With the latest version of Carbonite software, feature additions include Multi-Panel operation that enables users to operate their Carbonite ME, MiniMEs, or MultiScreen outputs from multiple control panels and DashBoard control points.
The Acuity large production switcher series is being shown with integrated IP (Internet Protocol) 10Gb/s I/O capabilities. This solution provides a direct connection into the Evertz IP routing environment without requiring a top of the rack gateway.
The latest Acuity software version brings additional operational features including new DVE Warps, Lighting Engine, and support for the MultiProcessing Input card option which adds frame syncs, color correction, input multi-viewing and more to Acuity inputs. This version of software expands the capabilities of MultiFeed functionality with Split ME controls. Now it’s possible to set up an Acuity ME as two MEs with up to eight keyer assignments.
Acuity DoubleDown control panel models are a new premium option that doubles the number of key/aux bus assignment buttons for every ME row.
Cameras
Ross is now in the camera business, having launched ACID cameras earlier this year and making their European debut at IBC. ACID is a series of compact “box cameras” that offer full size studio camera performance. These new cameras provide and capture great looking images in any environment and make a great companion to Ross or other robotic camera systems.
ACID cameras offer special performance characteristics for chroma keying in virtual environments, and include a unique new signal format. These cameras output standard SMPTE 4:2:2 video signals for use in any production, and in addition output a special 0:4:4 full bandwidth color signal that is combined with the primary output within the Carbonite UltrachromeHR system to generate a full resolution 4:4:4 signal for superior chroma keys.
All camera operation, setup and shading can be performed from DashBoard soft control panels including the transfer and recall of scene files from one ACID camera to another.
Chroma Keyer
Carbonite UltrachromeHR incorporates signal processing technologies designed to generate high-resolution key edges from chroma channel information. It is a stand-alone chroma key system based on the Carbonite Black production processing engine, with a special software load that turns the engine into a multichannel chroma key processor. Features like 4:4:4 keyng with ACID cameras, multi-frame adjustable delay to compensate for virtual render engines and color correction for foreground/background matching make it the perfect choice for virtual set chroma key environments.
Graphics Systems
XPression Tessera is a multi-display real-time graphics designer and controller for Sport Venues and Studio Video Walls. Tessera links together multiple XPression engines to create a scalable matrix of channels for seamless output of scenes across large or irregularly assembled display panels and drive full resolution content making use of every pixel of resolution those displays have to offer.
XPression Quad continues the development of systems suitable to 4K Production. This graphics system supports up to 4 (video + key) channels of HD/SD or Quad link 4K outputs with key, and is user configurable for any combination of inputs and outputs.
XPression Tick-it Flow is a less expensive version of XPression Tick-it with core features. It offers the same centralized data aggregation as XPression Tick-it without the direct playout capabilities, and includes elections software.
XPression Maps is now 64-bit native, making it faster than ever while the UI is now even more intuitive and pleasing to the eye.
The XPression MOS Plug-in has been significantly upgraded, adding a number of new features making it easier and faster to build graphics for a news show.
Adobe XMP Metadata is available for entry into XPression from every Adobe software tool. XMP metadata can be used to automatically populate text, or make scene changes like color changes and image replacements.
News Editorial
The Inception News system now offers a new Enterprise Edition designed to support over 1000 concurrent users in a truly fault tolerant, enterprise class environment. No single point of failure redundancy includes node-based job delegation and automatic failover in case of hardware failure.
Inception version 10, the latest software release includes the Inception API and SDK. The API enables developers, partners, customers, and resellers the ability to add new core features and to create custom connections to a CMS, social platform, or other internal system – this represents terrific leverage for web savvy organizations.
Horizon is an enterprise hub that connects multiple Inception systems to each other. Horizon provides content sharing and authoring, manages permissions and access, and federated search across all systems. Horizon also offers copying of information between systems and supports MOS redirection. Horizon is Ideal for local news operations each with its own Inception News system that want to see and share content.
Media Asset Management
The latest software version of the Streamline media asset management application introduces tight workflow integration with XPression Clips for seamless playback operation and automatic transcoding into the XPression codec, as well as integration with OverDrive automated production control systems. Streamline also has many improvements for graphics asset management, including folder structures, implicit metadata profiles and support for Adobe XMP based metadata in assets.
Infrastructure
The 8900-Series of 12G-SDI distribution solutions for the openGear modular platform supports fully SMPTE compliant single link interfaces for UHD video in a hot-swappable card with a uniquely pioneered 12G HD BNC connection.
The openGear SPG-8260 Sync Pulse Generator is available with a true AES Word Clock output (not always found on SPGs) with a new version, the SPG-8260-W. It’s ideal for synchronizing both video and audio devices.
The openGear GPI-8941 permits general purpose interfaces to be integrated via Serial, TCP/IP and DashBoard CustomPanel interfaces.
The latest software version of the industry-leading MC1 Master Control Switcher adds support for Ultrix Routing systems with multiviewers and audio processing, and an array of third-party routers through industry-standard control protocols.
The amazing Ultrix, 12G UHD Video, Audio Router / MultiViewer new at IBC just last year will be back with several major global events under its belt (like the Rio Olympics) and of course the latest version of software adding even more functionality to an already feature packed system.
Robotics
Furio RC, the remote control dolly system for live stage productions, is now available as a Pan/Tilt head only system, without the dolly. This package is ideal for remote control Pan Tilt head applications such as concert halls, houses of worship or sports venues where speed and responsiveness are critical.
The SmartShell 4 Robotic Control and Management application adds support for Grass Valley Ignite and Sony ELC automated production systems, in addition to Ross OverDrive and Viz Mosart. The number of video routing protocols has been greatly expanded, XY floor limits for the CamBot 700XY have been implemented, and robotic control and camera control of Hitachi and Panasonic box cameras is integrated through DashBoard to provide a single, consolidated control station.
Automated Production Control
OverDrive gets a UI facelift and new range of options to suit any size production. The latest release includes dozens of new workflow tools and feature enhancements, and the OverDrive product range has now been expanded to include a range of base systems. OverDrive Premium is a fully loaded system that includes MOS integration with Newsroom Systems, Graphics Systems and Video Servers. OverDrive Prime provides all of the core functionality of the Premium package, but makes many of the advanced news production features optional. Lastly there is the new OverDrive Express, the world’s first entry-level automated production control system that can grow with the needs of any organization.
Legislative Assembly Production Solutions
The latest version of Ross’ Legislative Production System, LCS has a simplified user interface while adding significant new production capabilities. Control of any type of Ross XPression graphic is done directly in the system interface. In addition to providing additional graphics control, the latest software version now works with a variety of models of XPression Graphics hardware.
Facility Control Systems
The latest version of DashBoard, Ross’ Facility Control System features Visual Logic. Users are able to create feature rich, intelligent DashBoard CustomPanels using Visual Logic instead of writing Java Script. Ross openGear partner and DashBoard Connect partner products can be added to the list of devices that populate a set of API commands. These commands can be dropped into the Visual Logic interface and then augmented.
Creative Services
Ross Creative Services group, Rocket Surgery will be showcasing its talents and an expanded suite of services beyond broadcast and stadium graphics to include support for maps, tickers and bespoke DashBoard CustomPanels that make it easy to run a complex graphic intense production.