NAB 2024: Leader to introduce two additions to the Zen-W series

Two video, audio and related data analysers in the Zen-W series will be making their debut on the Leader stand at NAB. The show will also see the US debut of the LT4670 1U full-rack width SDI/IP synchronous test signal generator. All three instruments are designed to ease the media industry’s migration from SDI to IP, HD to UHD and SDR to HDR.

The new Zen-W series comprises the LV5600W waveform monitor and its LV7600W rack-mountable equivalent. The LV5600W is a 3U high half-rack-width unit with an integral 7in touchscreen. The LV7600W occupies a compact 1U and has SDI plus TMDS monitor outputs.

Developed from the established LV5600 and LV7600, these latest-generation instruments are designed to satisfy the most demanding broadcast media test and measurement environments. Each incorporates a wide range of new features plus a Web Real-Time Communication interface. WebRTC allows secure remote control and monitoring from a web-connected desktop or laptop computer.

The LV5600W and LV7600W support all the test and measurement tools and options of the original Zen Series, including traditional picture, waveform, vectorscope and ancillary data display, IP traffic analysis and JPEG-XS analysis. They provide all the support needed to monitor 4K/UHD/2K/HD/SD SDI as well as video-over-IP signals seamlessly in a true-hybrid operating environment.

New production-related and post-production-related capabilities include SDR Full Range display of black error, CIE, gamut error, histogram, level error, audio/video timing offset, noise level, test signals, vector and waveform. Also fully supporting SDR Full Range are Cinelite and Cinezone, including five-bar, frame capture and image quality adjustment. Cinezone is further enhanced with new presets specifically for Arri and Red camera users.

Another new addition to the LV5600W and LV7600W is bidirectional HDR/SDR conversion which allows HDR content to be viewed in SDR and vice versa, simplifying live production, on-set production and even post-production work. Reference 3D colour lookup tables can be imported via plug-in USB memory for activity such as camera shading and HDR supervision. Timecode continuity monitoring is also enhanced, now including date display and source ID.

New audio-related features include an audio mapping capability which simplifies the task of checking the level of IP audio streams. The audio level display can be flexibly configured for easy supervision. Both instruments also gain support for multilingual closed captions in the CC608, CC708 and OP47 categories which collectively cover most European languages.

Among further refinements introduced in both models is NMOS-based seamless high-speed switching of synchronised SMPTE ST 2110-20 IP video signals. IP video is subject to visible discontinuity when switched between transport streams, unlike SDI signal switching which is normally performed via a router to maintain visual continuity.

Administrative features introduced in the LV5600W and LV7600W include the ability to transfer preset data between two units via USB plug-in memory. Both models also gain an upgraded operating system offering higher security and more flexible future-proofing.

The Leader LT4670 is a 1U full-rack width synchronous SDI/IP reference and test signal generator for use in traditional SDI broadcast facilities as well as the next generation of hybrid SDI/IP facilities. Connectivity capabilities provided as standard include six independent analogue synchronous signal outputs, digital audio outputs, word-clock outputs and LTC in/out. These can be supplemented by options such as GNSS synchronisation, PTP synchronisation, 25G IP, 12G-SDI, 4K quad-link, 3G-SDI, HD-SDI and SD-SDI outputs in any combination, allowing optimal management of synchronous systems.

The standard LT4670 toolset includes genlocked black burst signals and tri-level sync pulse generation; a ‘stay-in-sync’ function in the event of an error in the incoming genlock signal; slow-lock stabilisation when returning to genlock from stay-in-sync; 48kHz word-clock signal output synchronised to incoming video, and synchronous control between devices (L-SYNC). Preset and memory functions are also included. Auxiliary power supplies and fans can be hot-swapped into the unit to ensure workflow continuity.

The LT4670 offers customers the freedom to invest in advanced tools when needed. Optional features include GNSS synchronisation, PTP synchronisation, support for four multi-rate SDI test signal outputs (up to 12G), plus two 10G/25G Ethernet ports for ST 2110 test signal streams with ST 2022-7 redundancy.

The Lip-Sync Pattern option allows measurement of video and audio timing discrepancies on SDI signal transmission. The User Pattern option allows customer‐generated BMP and TIF images to be deployed as test patterns. Superimposed Embedded Audio allows 16 channels of embedded audio (four groups of four) to be superimposed. Timecode Pattern display can be superimposed at any position on the screen. A Freeze Confirmation function allows scrolling patterns, moving boxes, scrolling ID character flashes, or flashing circles to be superimposed on patterns.