IBC 2024: InSync debuts 1RU, ST 2110 dual-channel HD broadcast frame converter, announces new FrameFormer integrations
InSync recently announced the release of the industry’s first dual channel HD broadcast frame rate converter that is fully integrated with the SMPTE 2110 standard in a compact one rack unit (1RU) form. The SMPTE 2110 standard specifies a suite of IP delivery schemes for real-time transmission of video, audio and metadata, making the InSync MCC-HD2 an essential part of global broadcast workflows for live events, particularly sports content. The award-winning MCC-HD hardware product series delivers motion-compensated conversion, and ensures smooth, high-quality changes between different frame rates and formats.
In addition to demonstrating the MCC-HD2 at at IBC 2024 (stand 2.C30), InSync is announcing five platform integrations at IBC for its flagship product, FrameFormer, including Grass Valley, Matrox, Synamedia, and TVU Networks. These integrations are part of the new ‘InSync Inside’ campaign for the company’s FrameFormer technology. InSync’s increased integrations of FrameFormer have created more opportunities across leading broadcast vendors for the delivery of InSync’s supervised machine learning technology, which provides improved picture quality.
InSync Technology also reports that it has delivered a massive 300% increase in live broadcast frame rate conversions in the 12 months to June 2024. Powered by FrameFormer, InSync saw a further spike in sportscasts during the third quarter this year, as the ‘Summer of Sport’ – with the Euro 2024 tournament, Paris Summer Olympics, and major golf and grand slam tennis tournaments – delivered high-quality sports content globally. InSync’s supervised machine learning techniques have created more powerful output from standard CPU engagements, enabling partners to realize higher quality benefits.
“The quality level recognized by the major sporting events is now deployable anywhere, and InSync provides more ways – through our growing list of customers and partners – to produce and distribute across multiple devices, standards, and networks than ever before,” says James Taylor, CEO of InSync. “The benefits of FrameFormer include the ability to choose your own platform, with assurance of the highest quality video conversion output, no matter where, or on what device you are watching; keeping subscribers, viewers, sponsors and advertisers happy and paying.”
InSync Technology Integrates Broadcast Conversion Solutions With Grass Valley
InSync Technology has integrated FrameFormer into the Grass Valley Agile Media Processing Platform (AMPP) to accelerate broadcast workflows and live streaming delivery. The combined solution will provide broadcasters with a more dynamic, flexible, and highly scalable suite of features for improved image quality and global cloud playout.
“There are few software solutions that can deliver intelligent media delivery like AMPP; we are pleased to integrate with Grass Valley to further our work in ensuring seamless standards and format conversion,” says Taylor. “The value of InSync and Grass Valley combined is a tremendous asset for live event broadcast and streaming.”
‘The two companies have a shared history in that InSync’s CTO, James Shepherd, helped design Grass Valley’s Alchemist product. Shepherd is regarded as the leading frame rate conversion technologist in the industry.
The integration of InSync’s FrameFormer into AMPP, our open software defined platform, adds tremendous value to our clients by enhancing the quality and flexibility of live streaming and media production,” says Adam Marshall, Chief Product Officer at Grass Valley. “With this collaboration, we are expanding AMPP’s capabilities, enabling our customers to deliver seamless, high-quality content across various formats and standards with greater efficiency and agility.
GrayMeta Continues Integration of InSync’s AE2020 Technology for Archival Libraries
GrayMeta, a firm specializing in quality control workflows and the digitization of tape-based assets, has continued incorporating InSync’s acclaimed AE2020 technology into its GrayMeta System for Automated Migration of Media Assets (SAMMA). This integration enhances conversion of analog tape-based media into digital formats.
“Our work with GrayMeta showcases how leading format conversion technology paired with superior digitization efforts can transform legacy media into high-quality digital video,” says Taylor. “This is just the beginning, as we expect an increase in archival projects recognizing the benefits of our joint offerings.”
As of 2021, the global enterprise video market stood at $16.4 billion, with projections suggesting a growth to $35 billion by 2031, at an annual rate of 13.8%.
The EMMY Award-winning SAMMA system facilitates the digitization of tape-based libraries or archives, making them accessible, reusable, and potentially profitable, while also enabling the preservation of valuable cultural, business, or institutional histories. The AE2020 Analysis Engine powers key features within SAMMA including: frame synchronization, drop-out compensation, noise reduction, color legalization and timecode support.
“Incorporating InSync’s technology significantly enhances our offerings. By quickly digitizing assets, we create the potential for both preservation and monetization,” says Mark Gray, President and CEO of GrayMeta. “The opportunity to leverage AI and Machine Learning on these digital assets can truly maximize that potential.”
“Our sports clients are seeking more powerful solutions for playout, and we have found Synamedia to be a reliable partner for our FrameFormer technology,” says Taylor. “The Synamedia solutions enhance workflow and overall quality of experience for live sportscasters, and ideally complements our format and standards conversion products.”
InSync Technology Integrates FrameFormer With TVU Networks for Content Distribution
InSync has also integrated FrameFormer product into TVU Networks’ MediaHub solution, currently in the back-end of MediaHub and, soon, in the user interface (UI). TVU’s uplink solutions deliver low latency with seamless user experience, and the integration of FrameFormer assures flawless standards and frame rate conversion for global distribution.
“The increase in remote production solutions has created a greater demand for our FrameFormer product, and TVU is one of the leaders in global video uplink,” says Taylor. “For news, sports, and live events, we see TVU One as an essential piece of the broadcast workflow, and it is another stellar addition to our ongoing ‘InSync Inside’ campaign.”
InSync Technology Integrates FrameFormer with Synamedia vDCM and Quortex Link
InSync has also integrated FrameFormer into the Synamedia Virtual Digital Content Manager (vDCM) suite of cloud-based video processing solutions. The FrameFormer technology will also enhance Synamedia’s Quortex Link for cloud-based video distribution.
“Our sports clients are seeking more powerful solutions for playout, and we have found Synamedia to be a reliable partner for our FrameFormer technology,” says Taylor. “The Synamedia solutions enhance workflow and overall quality of experience for live sportscasters, and ideally complements our format and standards conversion products.”
InSync Technology Integrates FrameFormer With Matrox Origin for Enhanced Live Production
InSync Technology has integrated its award-winning FrameFormer product into the Matrox ORIGIN software framework for improved live production workflows. The combination of FrameFormer’s leading format and standards conversion technology with ORIGIN’s low-latency cloud-native software delivers superior workflows for broadcasters, streamers, and production companies.
“Insync FrameFormer is widely regarded as the gold standard in video content conversions between different formats and standards—ensuring pristine video content regardless of the original or the destination format,” says Francesco Scartozzi, vice president of sales and business development, Broadcast and Media Group at Matrox Video. “We are thrilled to welcome Insync Technology to participate in the Matrox ORIGIN ecosystem. Working with industry-leading vendors like Insync enables us to provide customers with best-of-breed product selection for their live broadcast workflows and keep industry innovation moving forward.”
Matrox ORIGIN is an asynchronous media framework that enables the development of software-defined media facilities using best-of-breed media services running on generic IT equipment—on-premises, in a private data center, or in the public cloud. Built on cloud-native architecture that reconciles live production requirements with the capabilities of the cloud, Matrox ORIGIN provides low latency, resilient, and broadcast-grade media solutions capable of tier 1 large-scale deployments.
“We continue to add strategic value to our FrameFormer product through integrations such as ORIGIN, and Matrox provides a powerful dynamic for our live customers,” says Taylor. “Our ‘InSync Inside’ campaign progresses at IBC 2024, as we showcase the ways in which FrameFormer can benefit a variety of live workflows.”