IBC 2018: FOR-A Forges Ahead with Combined Commitment to 12G and IP
At IBC this year expect to see and hear a lot about the combined benefits of 12G-SDI and IP-based technology at the FOR-A booth (Hall 2, Stand A51). FOR-A’s current 12G 4K-compatible product line represents the most extensive product offering for the standard in Europe. Simultaneously, the company is developing a range of IP-based products for encoding and distribution. With an emphasis on the improved resolution and color reproduction inherent in 12G and on maximising the efficiency and reliability of IP transmission, FOR-A will demonstrate its vision, described as ‘The Gateway to IP’.
“With four times the bandwidth of HD, 12G is ideal for high-resolution 4K production,” said Peter Hattan, general manager of FOR-A UK Ltd. “We firmly believe 12G is the right standard for sports, concerts, corporate events, as well 4K productions. Producers can take advantage of our combined IP/SDI Gateway solutions optimized for both the 12G standard and IP-based transmission.”
FOR-A is developing IP interfaces and remote control capability via standard protocols for all the company’s 12G products and designing IP interfaces for the existing 3G/HD product line.
New for IBC 2018, the HVS-1200 offers a compact 1.5ME 4K12G /3G/HD compatible switcher will be on display in the FOR-A IBC booth. Featuring up to 10 12G inputs and eight 12G outputs, the switcher is ideal for smaller scale 4K/12G productions and/or use of a fly away system in conjunction with an MFR-1000 routing switcher. It offers two MEKEY and one FLEXaKEY (assignable to ME, AUX or DSK), up to four channels of 2.5D DVE, Still/Clip Store, Macro, and Event Memory.
Offering 12G-SDI capability on all inputs and outputs, the 4K 3 M/E HVS-6000 vision mixer makes its IBC debut after its introduction at the NAB show in April. The HVS-6000 the latest unit in FOR-A’s popular line of HANABI switchers. With a maximum of 80 inputs/32 outputs or 64 inputs/48 outputs in 12G-SDI, the HVS-6000 is a 12 RU switcher that’s ideal for users upgrading from HD to full 4K. It offers scalability to users looking to transition to 8K further down the line.
The new MFR-1000 8 X 8 12G (maximum 16 X 16 12G) matrix routing switcher will be introduced at IBC. A 4K- and 8K-compatible routing switcher, the MFR-1000 offers 4K-UHD conversion and 12G compatibility across all inputs and outputs. It provides support for 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI and DVB-ASI input and output. Automatic signal detection determines the type of SDI input supplied. A built-in webserver enables immediate setup without installing software on external devices.
FOR-A will also show its new MFR-6000 SD/HD/3G/6G/12G routing switcher. Offering 12G-SDI compatibility across a matrix of up to 144 inputs and 144 outputs, the MFR-6000 brings powerful support to 4K and 8K routing. The MFR-6000 routing switcher enables matrices of 144 x 144 inputs and outputs and supports versatile signal formats, including 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI and DVB-ASI.
FOR-A will also introduce an integrated baseband/IP control and monitoring system for use in a mixed SDI/IP environment. Designed with future cloud-based operation in mind, it enables gradual integration of SDI systems into the IP era. The system also features a web interface for easy access from multiple computers.
In addition to the products listed above, FOR-A will highlight the following: MFR-4000 and MFR-1000 routing switcher; MV-4300 multi-viewer; FA-9600 multi-purpose signal processor; Vision Mixer/ClassX CG/Envivo Instant Replay live production system; Vision Mixer and IP codec combined systems; EDD-5400 4K Time Lag Checker; IF4K-DNC 4K=>HD Down-Converter; and DSK-4800 4K/D Keyer
“We look forward to showcasing our 12G product line up at IBC this year and introducing our approach to emerging IP technology,” said Mr. Takaaki Imoto, senior general manager of FOR-A Overseas Sales & Marketing Division. “IBC is a very important exhibition from our perspective, with experienced engineers attending from all over the world. We’re eager to connect with them in September and get their feedback on what we believe will be of dramatic benefit to them in their future operations.”