Snell Unveils Format Converter, Adds Capabilities to Momentum, Announces Integration With Cisco
Snell (Booth N1820) has launched its Quasar OD format converter and added advanced media-asset–management (MAM) capability to its Momentum solution, enabling the management and simplification of complex media workflows. In addition, Snell and Cisco plan to enable real-time IP-based signal routing and are demonstrating integration of Snell’s broadcast infrastructure and imaging expertise and Cisco’s world-leading IP and MPLS networking at NAB 2014.
Quasar OD Format Converter
The latest software to be created with Snell’s On Demand framework, Quasar OD is a universal file-based solution enabling seamless format conversion between 4K, 1080p, HD, and SD. Optimized to create stunning pictures for all interlaced and progressive content, this latest On Demand application delivers no-compromise image quality at a competitive price point.
Quasar OD combines Snell’s intelligent adaptive de-interlacing technology to deliver maximized vertical resolution for all types of content. The system eliminates unwanted jaggies and picture tearing, for the best-quality end result.
“One of the main issues creative professionals face when transitioning from the interlaced to progressive domain is compromised image quality. This includes loss of resolution on moving and static images, jaggies, and picture tearing. Quasar OD delivers the world’s best format-conversion technology to address these issues,” explains Jeremy Courtney, business leader, Snell On Demand “Quasar OD combines Snell’s image-processing expertise with a scalable software framework to give broadcast and postproduction professionals the means to deliver content with zero compromise on quality.”
Quasar OD removes the restrictions of specifically designed hardware and is available at $4,800 for a single license. It will begin shipping at midyear.
Addressing TV Everywhere
With advanced MAM capability, Momentum solution enables management and simplification of complex media workflows and offers broadcasters a MAM system with powerful workflow automation designed to address the challenges of TV Everywhere.
Momentum forms a key part of Snell’s Media Factory strategy. Its inherently flexible and scalable architecture delivers greater efficiencies, allowing broadcasters and media companies to do what they do best: be more creative. Momentum is fully Web-based, allowing broadcasters to work in the most flexible and efficient way possible. Content can be made instantly available to any authorized user on the network, eliminating bottlenecks within the production workflow. In addition to its MAM capabilities, Momentum provides effective workflow orchestration, easily managing the most complex workflows. The system is built on the leading-edge technologies that ensure it not only can handle today’s requirements but also is future-proof.
New features include integration with Front Porch Digital’s Diva, allowing Momentum to interface directly with existing archives and active directory support and enabling security policies to be driven via centralized IT systems. Separate audio and caption files can now be managed more easily, and proxy-browse capability can be used to manage captions and subtitles. The HTML5 browser-independent interface offers a user-friendly and intuitive look and feel and is completely browser-agnostic. The Published Web Services API allows simple interactions among business systems, and FIMS-compliance extends the choice of controlled systems.
“In the ever changing media landscape of TV Everywhere, broadcasters and media companies need to get their services to market very quickly and be flexible enough to keep pace with a fast-moving market,” says Paul Martin, president, Snell North America/ managing director, TV Everywhere. “By automating the process between content production and delivery and better managing and allocating resources, it’s possible to capitalize on all content and media assets — in every operation or TV genre.”
IP-enabled Broadcast Production
Integration of Snell’s broadcast infrastructure and imaging expertise and Cisco’s world-leading IP and MPLS networking could enable broadcasters to exploit the benefits of IP routing without costly investments in proprietary infrastructure.
By deploying world-class, off-the-shelf, enterprise and carrier-grade IP routers, along with broadcast-specific solutions from Snell, broadcasters could not only lower their initial investments but continue benefiting from economies of scale. Unlike traditional broadcast-specific routing technology, IP-based–routing costs scale with bandwidth, not with the number of signals supported. IP routing supports multiple signals per port, making the whole system more adaptable and efficient.
“Our relationship with Snell offers the potential for a unique opportunity for us to lead development of IP-based broadcast production,” says Charles Stucki, VP/GM, Service Provider Video Technology Group, Cisco. “By combining our advanced technologies and expertise with a deep understanding of the changing media landscape, we’re both well-positioned and determined to transform the way broadcasters operate.”
IP real-time signal routing allows broadcasters to benefit from a distributed routing infrastructure that’s flexible and nimble. Unlike with traditional routing infrastructure, it’s possible to reconfigure a system on the fly to meet changing production requirements.
In addition to integrating with existing file-based infrastructure and workflows, IP routing bridges the gap between current production workflows and cloud-based broadcast infrastructure.
“IT-based technologies have been driving broadcast efficiencies for some time now, and we’ve already seen the move to IT-based systems for channel-playout automation and master control, file-based storage and processing, and media-asset storage/retrieval and management,” explains Robert Rowe, managing director, LiveTV, at Snell. “Generic IT equipment is also increasingly able to handle more and more real-time video processing. Real-time IP signal routing is a natural progression from existing SDI infrastructure to interface seamlessly with generic IT equipment and broadcast data centers.”