theibcdaily Opinion Hardware versus software transcoding
Multiscreen and OTT are making content owners rethink their delivery workflows says Carl Walter Holst, CEO, Appear TV
Up to now, broadcasters and content owners were only dealing with multiscreen as a secondary VoD or catch up service. For many, this 'second screen' is becoming their primary means of viewing content, requiring live parallel programming to all screens. This resulted in a high-quality viewing expectation from consumers irrespective of the viewing device and has challenged early deployments of software-based live solutions. Many operators are finding that today’s hardware- based transcoding technologies are more adept to support these new live delivery applications. Software transcoding solutions were designed to easily adapt to new technology
trends, but have performance tradeoffs for live transmission. They were not initially designed to support live delivery where high video quality and steadfast reliability with high overall QoS has long been the mantra of operators for live applications. At that time, transcoding was being used to bring the broadcast space from a tape- to file-based workflow for archive and file to file-based processing for non-live applications such as VoD and CUTV. Despite significant improvements to improve time versus quality for software, it still falls short of the criteria required for live delivery. For most, however, software
still remains an acceptable solution for non-live video processing. Hardware-based
Tablet-style control adds finishing touch
Calrec Audio By Michael Burns
The new Summa audio console is being showcased at IBC, aimed at a different market segment to that of the Apollo and Artemis digital audio consoles. Calrec said the Summa was designed for broadcast professionals who need a straightforward solution for producing creative and engrossing broadcast audio, but don't require all of the resources offered by the company's higher-end consoles.
Designed to ensure intuitive operation in live broadcast applications, Calrec said Summa simplifies complex workflow tasks such as creating mix-minus feeds, with a highly intuitive GUI suitable for a broad range of operator levels.
Users control the console via a 17-in multitouch screen inspired by familiar tablet technology. The crisp high- resolution display provides elegant controls and a clear presentation of information. The console's other large displays are fully configurable to display bus, output, and loudness meters, and they feature dedicated metering, routing, and processing information for each fader.
Bluefin2 technology gives Summa a pool of 180 channel processing paths, eight groups, four mains, 16 auxes, and 32 tracks. Its Hydra2 router core provides Summa with the same integral router technology as the Apollo and Artemis consoles. 8.C58
solutions can employ embedded processing for video on Silicon chip-based hardware, which improves video quality and offers higher processing capability than typical CPU-based solutions, providing picture perfect results when producing profiles for all screens simultaneously with synchronised delivery to the network.
Another factor that makes
hardware an asset when dealing with live applications is the capability to aggregate content and distribute multiple video formats for all devices over any live carrier network from a single platform. Additionally, one of the biggest issues with multiscreen and OTT is content rights protection, particularly when
major networks or providers are sending out assets with DRM/CAS embedded that then need to be transcoded by the specific re-distribution carrier. It is imperative that encoding solutions allow carriers to compress the baseband HD/SDI feeds directly from major providers or from its own studio feeds to profiles, format and resolutions suitable for all screen delivery in addition to transcoding. This ensures that content is protected to the device in the network, whilst providing greater control and flexibility of assets onward for re-distribution, potentially removing the need for further video processing and transcoding in the distribution chain.
Both hardware-based and To infinity… and beyond Adder Technology By Carolyn Giardina
KVM company Adder Technology is launching the latest version and firmware of its ADDERLink Infinity, offering faster switching, security enhancements and 60 frames per second, full frame video performance. It’s also showing IP-based ADDERLink Infinity 1002, which has an additional fibre module. “We will also be displaying the new Adder CCS-Pro4, a professional KM switch for the use and control of multiple systems and screens on a single
desk, from a single mouse and keyboard,” said senior product manager, John Halksworth. “The switch includes Free-Flow technology and allows users to seamlessly switch between multiple computers alongside an intuitive web interface.” The Adder CCS-Pro4 is aimed
at broadcast and post production environments, as is the ADDERLink X-DVI Pro DL, also on show at IBC. This DVI
Broadcasting sport in 4K Envivio By Ian McMurray
For its UltraHD/4K live broadcast of the quarter- finals, semi-finals and final of the 2014 World Cup games, Globosat partnered with Envivio. This followed Envivio’s successful live 4K broadcast of the 2014 French
78 theibcdaily
Open tennis tournament in May. “First tennis, then soccer — whatever the sport, Envivio’s leading technology and experience in powering world-watching live action events makes us the number one choice for content owners and service providers alike,” said Envivio’s CTO, Jean- Pierre Henot. Envivio Muse Ultra HD is
software-based transcoding have their place in a multiscreen workflow, it is just a matter of understanding each solution’s’ strength. There are also cases, as when working in a cloud- or pool-based situation, where a combination of hardware and software are ideal. The hardware solution can create a high-quality mezzanine from the live broadcast that can then be used by software-based transcoders to process the assets in a file to file-based domain, creating balance for high-end operators that wish to make the right choice for the right application. 1.C61
Making a buzz: ADDERLink Infinity
extender incorporates full dual link resolution capability up to 2560x1600. It can transmit a dual link video stream along with audio over a single CATx cable. “In keeping with emerging
trends in the broadcast industry, we will also be demonstrating our 4K capabilities in this arena with the ADDERLink XD522 DisplayPort extender,” Halksworth said. 7.C30
described as a high-quality live or file-based video encoding/transcoding solution that is designed to offer a new TV experience for viewers desiring to watch UltraHD quality programming on UltraHD compatible devices. Muse UltraHD can encode up to 4K video resolution in up to 60 frames per second, and offers a larger colour range with the new BT 2020 standard and can be encoded in eight- or 10 bits. 1.D73
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