Telestream Acquires UK-based QC Specialist Vidcheck

Integration of best-in-class Vidcheck file-based QC technology enhances Telestream’s product portfolio

Nevada City, California, 5 September, 2016 – Telestream®, a leading provider of digital media tools and workflow solutions, today announced the acquisition of UK-based Quality Control (QC) technology specialist, Vidcheck. Established in 2009, Vidcheck is recognized as a leading developer in automated QC solutions within file-based production workflows. Its system solutions are used by broadcasters, facilities and content owners worldwide, such as ITV, BBC, CBS and many others. The privately funded acquisition is complete and the new combined company will take its bow at IBC (stand 7.B26).

In recent years, Vidcheck QC technology has enjoyed significant commercial success, especially in European markets. Vidchecker, the company’s flagship product, is the gold-standard for file-based automated QC with correction and sales have shown strong and sustainable growth for a number of years. Similarly, Telestream’s Vantage media processing platform has maintained rapid worldwide sales growth for the last six years. Telestream will build on Vidcheck’s success, providing greater reach around the globe and strong sales and market presence offering its customers even more effective and efficient solutions.

“Vidcheck’s team and product portfolio line up very well with our area of expertise,” said Dan Castles, CEO of Telestream LLC. Castles continued, “It is not just some great technology and products that we are acquiring but also a gifted, talented and passionate team that will reinforce our resources here at Telestream. We look forward to leveraging our combined know-how to offer our worldwide customer base an even more complete and exciting product portfolio.”

"Telestream is a great home for Vidcheck, technically, commercially and culturally,” commented Thomas Dove, CEO of Vidcheck Ltd. “The companies have complementary technologies which will feed into both product ranges, the most obvious being the perfect fit of Vidchecker auto QC with Vantage.  With Telestream's sales and support reach, Vidchecker will naturally be available to a much wider set of customers, particularly in North America. Being part of Telestream provides a great launch pad for the next phase of growth for Vidcheck."

Vidchecker is the file-based QC solution of choice at many major broadcasters worldwide. Feedback to news of the acquisition from this audience has been strongly positive. One example of this is UK-based commercial broadcaster, ITV. “Vidchecker is a trusted tool that we at ITV use to ensure that the content we create, and receive is of the highest image quality and meets all the required format specifications for our online platform partners and linear broadcast.  With the ever increasing number of formats and standards, we look forward to seeing continued improvements now that Vidcheck has been acquired by Telestream, whose Vantage platform is at the heart of ITV’s Content Delivery Platform,” said David Hornsby Head of Content Technology at ITV.

About Vidcheck and Vidchecker:
Vidcheck provides elegant, advanced software applications to automatically check and correct video and audio in file-based digital video, focusing on the requirements of the broadcast industry, at a cost-effective price.

Vidchecker is an easy to install Windows software application for PCs/servers. It removes the labor intensive tasks of manually checking conformance by eye and hand, the need to check video/audio compliance with waveform monitors and audio loudness meters, and to manually correct levels with video processing amplifiers, and other tools. The GUI is accessed through a web browser either on the local machine or remotely over a network. It is optimized for checking file-based video before and after distribution, and for use by broadcasters for checking files received from post production and content distributors to ensure that file, video and audio parameters and levels are correct and ready for broadcast.

World's First Long Distance NDI IP Video Test

NDI.Cloud - Global Video Network
World's First Long Distance NDI Test

Today, the world of broadcast IP Video got a little smaller, as we witnessed the future of global broadcast video collaboration via IP Video.

In a test of the new NDI.Cloud video service, a feed from an NDICam camera in London was offered to an NDI.Cloud wide area network group including distributor Techtel in Singapore, currently exhibiting at Broadcast Asia, booth 5J3-03.  The NDICam source instantly appeared inside a TriCaster in Singapore, and was selected on the Program Bus.  Simultanously, in London, the outputs of the Singapore TriCaster appeared in NDI Monitor, and a mix minus confidence feed was returned to London. Total round trip latency was under half a second, running over the public internet.
 

Learn More about NDI.Cloud

NDI.Cloud uses high quality compression and advanced WAN acceleration technologies to bridge between NDI facilities over long distance, moderate bandwidth connections. Adding tools like NewTek's NDI Connect, this global IP video WAN can also include SMPTE 2022 and other IP Video protocols. 

NDI.Cloud will be launched later this summer.
For more information, visit Techtel at Broadcast Asia or http://sienna.tv/ndi

Telestream Gives APAC Debuts to Revolutionary Advances in Enterprise-Class Live Video Streaming, Video Transcoding & Workflow Automation at Broadcast Asia 2016

Exhibiting at Broadcast Asia together with its Singapore channel partner, Techtel, Telestream will showcase Lightspeed Live Stream, and Lightspeed Live Capture, two new applications that deliver real-time, enterprise-class streaming and capture for media and entertainment companies, corporations, government and education. Lightspeed Live Stream solves the problem of preparing real time content for adaptive bitrate live streaming while Lightspeed Live Capture can independently record multiple channels of SD, HD or a single channel of UHD. Both Lightspeed Live Stream and Lightspeed Live Capture were unveiled to the public at NAB last month.

Telestream developed Lightspeed Live Stream in response to increased demand among news, sports, and special event broadcasters to simultaneously push live programs OTT. Lightspeed Live Stream encodes a live program at highest quality and simultaneously streams the output via an origin server or CDN.

The Lightspeed Live Capture application can also be installed on the same server to simultaneously capture the source video into Vantage for further processing. Until now, file-based and siloed systems demanded a more serial workflow. By closely integrating the latest parallel file-based open workflows in Telestream’s Vantage platform together with the combined CPU/GPU power of the Lightspeed Live server and applications, the fastest possible delivery of all assets is realized.

Another new addition to the Vantage platform taking its APAC regional bow at Broadcast Asia is an Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) Optimization feature that can significantly reduce delivery bandwidth needs and costs within multiscreen distribution applications. This advanced feature can achieve real-world bandwidth reductions of 25-40 per cent whilst maintaining a premium viewing experience through high quality media distribution.

In the world of multiscreen media delivery, Content Delivery Network (CDN) costs are a significant issue for broadcasters. Whilst traditionally they are used to fixed distribution costs, irrespective of viewing audience, this is not the case when distributing via CDN. These distribution partners charge on a “per-bit, per-viewer” basis, so the more multiscreen viewers, the higher the cost of distribution. Therefore, the ability of a product to produce high quality images at lower bit rates is a major consideration.

Another APAC debut from Telestream at Broadcast Asia is Timed Text Flip within Vantage: a new closed caption and subtitling service that meets even the strictest internet and TV broadcast mandates for captioning and subtitling delivery. Advanced automation capabilities enable content to be processed faster before being seamlessly integrated into existing Vantage workflows.

A fourth innovation from Telestream, which was developed with APAC broadcasters and production facilities in mind is Vantage Open Workflows, which the company developed in response to increased demand amongst news and sports broadcasters for OTT services to support multi-screen media distribution. The goal is to provide the news at the same lightening fast speed across a range of devices outside of traditional TV. Within a file-based workflow this presents a challenge since the core data file must be transcoded into several formats in order to be distributed across this broad and ever increasing range of mobile devices.

Vantage Open Workflows enable the user to start generating output before file input is completed. While the idea of performing actions on a growing file isn’t new, Vantage Open Workflows takes this capability to a new level by enabling multiple Vantage Actions such as Watch/Copy/Flip/Compute to simultaneously be working on a file as it is being ingested. This capability reduces processing time and empowers broadcasters to automatically access content as soon as it starts to enter the file-based workflow and before file ingest is completed. Consequently, the ability to deliver TV broadcasts and multiscreen content simultaneously becomes an achievable, cost-effective task.

“We arrive at Broadcast Asia with a number of strategically important new product innovations that will enable APAC broadcasters and facilities to work more effectively, more efficiently and more profitably within a multiplatform environment,” stated George Boath, VP International Sales, Enterprise Products at Telestream. “These practical, real-world advances enable users to enhance and clearly differentiate their multiplatform OTT services at the same time as creating really significant savings in their operational and content delivery cost structures.”

GB Labs Adopts NewTek NDI for IP Production Workflow

GB Labs, the world’s leading manufacturer of Network Attached Storage (NAS), today announced its adoption of NewTek’s open Network Device Interface (NDI™) standard for IP-based production workflows for its range of high speed, media specific storage. With NDI enabled, their Space product range will be recognizable as a source by other NDI-enabled devices and systems connected to a standard Ethernet local area network, exponentially increasing the number of video sources available for live production.

GB Labs’s Space storage range with NDI integrates seamlessly with NewTek’s TriCaster multi-camera video production systems. This allows production directors to pull from multiple data sources at speeds of up to 9,000MB/sec making this the World’s fastest NAS on the market. GB Labs’ storage has feature rich workflow tools built in to its Core operating system making for a compelling workflow.

This new standard for live production IP workflow is bi-directional and backwards compatible with a large number of devices from top manufacturers already utilizing NewTek’s open protocol allowing IP connectivity between devices. GB Labs’s Space storage range will be part of the NewTek Developer Network, the industry’s largest ecosystem of IP-enabled products using the same standard.

“The broadcast industry has been shouting out for an IP workflow solution” said Ben Pearce, Vice President of GB Labs. “GB Labs are delighted to be involved with NewTek’s NDI Developer Network as they lead the way in IP workflow solutions.”

“IP workflows look to revolutionize video production,” said Michael Kornet, executive vice president of Business Development for NewTek. “GB Labs is highly respected both at NewTek and within the industry. By GB Labs enthusiastically embracing NDI, best-of-breed products like Space will help make NDI the most widely adopted IP standard on the market that’s working and in the hands of customers today.”

NDI is now available as a royalty free software developer kit (SDK) for any company looking to establish IP workflows within their organization, or in production tools and systems they manufacture.

For more information on NDI, visit ndi.newtek.com.

NewTek™ Announces TalkShow® VS 4000 Multi-Channel Video Calling System

—Handles up to 4 remote video guests simultaneously or in sequence using SDI or IP workflows—

SAN ANTONIO, April 14, 2016 — NewTek™ today launched NewTek TalkShow® VS 4000, the only professional, multi-channel video calling production system for both SDI and IP workflows, designed exclusively for conducting multiple live, production-ready Skype video calls simultaneously. NewTek TalkShow VS 4000 integrates multi-channel video calling to enable instant connection and live interaction with any combination or sequence of contacts in the world you can reach online via Skype to facilitate compelling conversation and in-depth discussion between multiple remote guests in real time regardless of location. TalkShow VS 4000 takes advantage of the newly released Skype TX 4 from Microsoft. More flexible and scalable than its predecessor, Skype TX 4 offers broadcasters and media partners the ability to integrate multiple studio-grade Skype video calls into the broadcasting workflow.

newtek TALkshow  vs 4000

“Incorporating multiple remote video guests into a production typically required broadcasters and media organizations to consume valuable time, effort and resources coordinating the travel or technology,” said Dr. Andrew Cross, president and CTO for NewTek. “With NewTek TalkShow VS 4000, they can integrate Skype video calls with any combination of contacts they can reach online, simultaneously or in sequence, for compelling live conversation, expert analysis, real-time commentary and in-depth discussion—in distraction-free, broadcast-quality HD.”

“Reducing the control room footprint, saving costs and finding better ways for broadcasters and media partners to interact with their audiences are common goals we set with NewTek,” said Eugene Ho, partner director of Product Management for Skype. “We met these goals with Skype TX 4, in combination with the NewTek TalkShow VS 4000, a flexible and scalable solution that offers the ability to stream multiple studio-grade Skype video calls simultaneously. This makes it even easier for broadcasters to interact in real-time with over 300 million Skype users wherever they are, with whatever device they choose.”

TalkShow VS 4000 is a facility-class, 1RU rack mountable hardware unit with 4-in, 4-out industry-standard I/O for integration into SDI workflows and IP video workflows via NDI™, NewTek’s groundbreaking Network Device Interface technology. It features standalone call control and production control interfaces for independent call management and technical configuration. Comprehensive, behind-the-scenes video, audio, communication and monitoring capabilities are included. Additionally, bundled with TalkShow VS 4000 is NewTek’s Webserver app for remote viewing of NDI sources from a web browser of any networked device, including iOS and Android devices.

Skype TX 4 is optimized to minimize distractions so producers can focus on great interviews with clean, full-resolution HD video. TalkShow VS 4000 adds functionality comparable to what professional broadcasters are familiar and comfortable with like proc amp, white balance, advanced color configuration and automatic color correction, gain, graphic equalizer, compressor/limiter and noise gate controls.

TalkShow VS 4000 helps broadcasters and media organizations achieve direct access to expertise so viewers will turn to them for information, which grows viewership, which grows business. The immediacy of expertise makes them a credible, reliable trusted source that is quoted and credited.

GB Labs and DFT demonstrate latest NAS storage solution for Scanity HDR at NAB 2016

Digital Film Technology (DFT) has been at the forefront of film scanning technology for over 75 years providing solutions for film post production, archive and restoration markets with a range of high quality, leading edge products and services. Their film scanning process requires powerful media storage, which is traditionally achieved using Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions. Working closely with GB Labs, an alternative solution, Network Attached Storage (NAS) is now available for the first time on Scanity HDR.

Film scanning to modern file formats such as 2K and 4K DPX  puts media storage through its paces. Consistent and extreme performance is required to ensure files are ingested without any corruption or dropped frames. The choice of suitable storage has been limited predominantly to traditional SAN solutions, but now, with the availability of GB Labs’ new system, customers can choose between two alternatives – either traditional SAN or latest NAS. Traditionally, DFT had recommended Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions to their clients, as the only option able to handle the massive data streams needed by their Scanity HDR product.

However, the new range of NAS solutions from GB Labs offers a solution which is easier to install, set up and implement. The solutions are very fast and can work with third party applications without the need for expensive client software licences.

GB Labs’ NAS range of Space media storage represents 15 years of storage innovation in the media industry. They are renowned for pushing the boundaries of storage innovation where others have failed. The Space storage range empowers creative workflows worldwide and GB Labs provide solutions to some of the best-known names in media and entertainment.

DFT’s Scanity HDR can output huge 16 bit file sizes in either 4K TIFF or DPX whilst scanning. Following extensive testing, GB Labs’ Space SSD solution is an ideal match for Scanity HDR, and is capable of speeds of up to 9,000Mbytes/sec, more than enough to make Scanity HDR run at its optimum performance. What is more, if additional capacity or performance for a project is required, the SSD is easily expandable and further performance is quickly achievable by adding GB Labs HyperSpace product. Because Space SDD is compact, it can be housed within the Scanity HDR casing, and can be purchased together as a turnkey solution from DFT if required.

Both DFT and GB Labs will be attending this year’s NAB in Las Vegas. You can see Scanity HDR running with Space SSD and scanning 4K DPX files for yourself in the South Lower Hall on stand number SL10530.

Alternatively, if you would like to see what else the GB Labs range of NAS media storage could do for you, please visit; also in the South Lower Hall on stand  SL5517.

Next-Generation Planar UltraRes Series 4K Displays Deliver the Ultimate Ultra HD Experience

Planar Systems unveiled the next-generation of its Planar® UltraRes™ Series 4K LCD display line, designed for ultra-high resolution commercial applications.

The latest Planar UltraRes Series design combines the best of the current models with new features inspired by customers and trends in the emerging 4K ecosystem. The next-generation models also retain many of the high-value features offered by the industry-acclaimed first-generation Planar UltraRes Series, including stunning Ultra HD image performance, the ultra-slim Planar® Profile™ Mounting System, efficient power management and optional multi-touch interactivity.

Available in 98-inch, 84-inch and a new 75-inch diagonal, the latest generation of Planar UltraRes Series includes built-in Planar® MediaPlex™ Plus Processing for enhanced versatility and control of multi-source viewing. It also offers cutting-edge video performance with support for native 4K resolution at up to 60Hz that can be driven via single-cable HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2.

 “The breakthrough enhancements of the Planar UltraRes Series will revolutionize the way 4K displays are used for professional visualization, collaboration and presentation,” said Jennifer Davis, vice president of marketing and product strategy for Planar Systems. “Never before have customers had access to this level of 4K video performance and built-processing in a line-up of displays designed for the rigors of a commercial environment.”

The Planar UltraRes Series is designed for professionals in a wide variety of commercial uses who require a large viewing area, very high pixel density and enterprise-level features that allow teams to collaborate around highly immersive and detailed visual information. It is also ideal as high-impact, interactive digital signage in diverse settings such as retail stores, corporate lobbies, airports and museums.

The next-generation Planar UltraRes Series benefits include:

• Advanced multi-source viewing: The new Planar UltraRes Series displays come standard with integrated Planar MediaPlex Plus Processing, allowing multiple sources to be viewed simultaneously and managed more efficiently. Multiple sources can be viewed in dual, triple, quad or picture-in-picture (PiP) layouts. Images can be precisely controlled and adjusted, and content can be scaled up and down within any layout. In addition, users can save, recall and schedule preset configurations.

• Cutting-edge and future-proofed video performance: Leveraging advancements in UHD video capture and playback sources, the Planar UltraRes Series has been designed to support native UHD resolution at up to 60Hz with HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2, enabling smooth motion video and mouse tracking. It is also compliant with the HDCP 2.2 hardware encryption specification for compatibility with future 4K sources.

• Embedded flexibility with OPS: The Planar UltraRes Series includes a built-in expansion slot that supports Intel’s Open Pluggable Specification (OPS). This makes the display compatible with any OPS module, including the new Planar® ContentSmart™ 4K Media Player which helps users design, manage and playback digital signage content.

• Easier installation and access: The optional Planar® Profile™ Mounting System has been enhanced to enable even easier installation and access to inputs. The mounting system provides a front service access mode and offers the slimmest mounted profile in the industry, meeting rigorous Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines in buildings and facilities.

• Integrated multi-touch functionality: The new Planar UltraRes Touch models with in-bezel touch technology offer a sleeker installation, sunlight rejection, greater accuracy and are easy to set-up with plug-and-play HID-compliance.  Planar UltraRes Touch displays support up to 32 simultaneous touch points and are ideal for multi-user applications.

• Advanced energy efficiency and ruggedness: The latest generation Planar UltraRes Series comes with redundant power supply for continuous operation, a fan-less, whisper-quiet design and advanced energy efficiency that utilizes edge-lit LED technology and passive cooling. It is available with optional Planar® Extended Ruggedness and Optics™ (ERO™) technology, which utilizes a protective glass bonded to the front surface of the display to protect the LCD from damage in high-traffic environments and improve the contrast when compared to other protective glass options.

• Multi-source viewing management from mobile devices: The updated Planar® UltraRes™ App for iOS and Android enables simplified on-the-fly switching of layouts and sources from a phone or tablet. It is available for free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

NewTek Announces NDI – Open Protocol for IP Production Workflow

—Expected to be the widest adopted IP standard on the market at launch in Q4—

SAN ANTONIO, September 8, 2015 — NewTek™ today announced Network Device Interface (NDI), a new open standard for live production IP workflows over Ethernet networks. NDI allows multiple video systems to identify and communicate with one another over IP, and to encode, transmit and receive many streams of high quality, low latency, frame-accurate video and audio in real-time. This new protocol can benefit any network-connected video device, including video mixers, graphics systems, capture cards, and many other production devices. NDI connectivity will be available in Q4 as a royalty free software developer kit (SDK) for anyone wanting to enable IP workflows in their facilities, or in production devices and systems they manufacture.

“The move to IP for professional video production will unquestionably be among the most revolutionary and transformative changes of the decade. We are very excited to be opening our network protocols so that the entire industry can benefit from them,” said Dr. Andrew Cross, NewTek’s president and CTO. “At launch, NDI will work with applications from almost every major vendor and virtually every I/O card on the market, meaning that it will be broadly available for real-world production use starting in Q4 this year.”

NDI’s superb performance over standard GigE networks makes it possible to transition facilities to an incredibly versatile IP video production pipeline without negating existing investments in SDI cameras and infrastructure, or costly new high-speed network infrastructures. Leveraging more than a decade of NewTek experience with IP in the context of computer-based live video production workflows, NDI support at launch extends to well over 100,000 compatible systems already deployed worldwide, making it by far the most prolific IP video transfer method in the production market.

NewTek worked closely with a large number of top manufacturers and developers to allow IP connectivity between devices. NDI’s backwards compatibility means that along with NewTek products and systems from Brainstorm, CasparCG, CharacterWorks, ChyronHego, ClassX, Compix, EasyWorship, Gnural Net, Graphics Outfitters, LiveXpert, Media 5, PlayBox Technology, Teradek, Vizrt, Wasp3D and many more will be NDI-enabled on the day of launch. NewTek has also collaborated with AJA, DELTACAST and Matrox to enable their capture cards to act as NDI senders or receivers; support for Blackmagic Design cards will also be provided. Boland, JVC, LiveU, NewsMaker, Panasonic, PESA, Sienna and Wowza are also working on providing NDI-based solutions.

"IP-based workflows are without a doubt the future of video production, and we are excited to work with NewTek on opening the standards to allow any company or customer to change their workflow,” said Petter Ole Jakobsen, chief technology officer of Vizrt.

"IP-based workflows represent a very important arm of the future of video production and the prospect of a unified IP video system as represented by NewTek’s open NDI protocol is very exciting," said Nick Rashby, president, AJA Video Systems. “We're pleased that NewTek will be supporting NDI on all our KONA, CORVID and Io product lines, opening up opportunities for their customers and ours to use existing infrastructure to rapidly engage in new workflow opportunities almost immediately.”

Typically, SDI systems and other IP workflows that utilize point-to-point network connections are heavily dependent on expensive high-speed infrastructures. In contrast, NDI is a bi-directional standard that can operate over a GigE local area network, with many video streams on a shared connection. Its encoding algorithm is resolution and frame-rate independent, supporting 4K (and beyond) along with 16 channels (and more) of floating-point audio. The protocol also includes tools that implement video access rights, grouping, bi-direction metadata and IP commands.

Sending, finding and receiving any number of streams are supported through the NewTek SDK, which will be available license-free allowing anyone to use it. NewTek is collaborating with current and new customers, manufacturers and developers on the NDI standard. All interested parties are encouraged to contact NewTek directly via email at ndi@newtek.com or visit ndi.newtek.com.

IBC Debut for NXT 445 Streaming Encoder

GRASS VALLEY, CA, 1 September 2015 – Ensemble Designs, manufacturer of Video and Audio Routing, Processing, Display, and Effects Systems, is introducing the NXT 445 Streaming Encoder at IBC 2015.

A high quality, high profile, MPEG-4/H.264 Encoder, the BrightEye NXT 445 takes 3G/HD/SD SDI and delivers simultaneous IP and DVB-ASI streaming outputs. The web-enabled control port makes it easy to configure and monitor. Or use the live view front panel display and menu system for local control. The base NXT 445 also includes dual built-in TSGs, TCP, serial remote control and support for the 5835 Action Panel.

The base model NXT 445 is only the starting point. Additional functions can be added with field installable option licenses. Expand the number of inputs and outputs; add SFP ports for fiber and HDMI, and full routing with the 445K-IO license. The 445K-X license adds dual clean switching and Up/Down/Cross conversion. With the 445K-DEC license, an independent MPEG decoder is added to the product’s repertoire. The PiP-Efx license provides a flexible and configurable dual source Picture-In-Picture mode for lecture capture, corporate boardroom, or field news reporting. All of this functionality is seamlessly integrated in the NXT 445.

“The NXT 445 and the entire NXT product line is a game changer for our customers. The dramatic amount of money and space they are saving, along with the rich set of features that the NXTs offer is almost incomprehensible. Our biggest challenge has been to make people realize how much this product can actually do”. – Mondae Hott, Director of Sales, Ensemble Designs.

At only 1/3 of a rack unit, the NXT 445 offers an unprecedented level of flexibility and feature integration in a remarkably small package. This makes it a great choice for portable systems, news trucks and helicopters, remote studios, distance backhaul and more.

Shipping: NOW

GB Labs adopts high speed 8TB disks, dual 40Gb adapters and new processors in readiness for 4K workflows.

UK manufacturer GB Labs has announced the launch of a new very high specification tier 1 shared storage product that is designed to support the fastest possible file-based workflows. The arrival of Space+ with its very high capacity and superior performance will help prepare facilities for the roll-out of 4K and 8K networks. Innovations implemented by GB Labs include dual 40Gb Ethernet network adapters and massive 8TB disks, as well as the latest generation of ultra-high speed CPUs.

The net result of adopting these new technologies is a dramatic increases in networking speeds and higher capacity online and nearline storage. This tier 1 device now features a 128TB RAID storage; as such, a single nearline volume can now exceed 6PB. At the same time, advances in central processor units means that Space Plus can now deliver files to the network at 50% higher bitrates compared with its stablemate, Space. This enhanced performance and capacity allow for data rates suitable for online UHD editing.

“Next generation video formats need faster shared storage, higher capacity central arrays and greater network bandwidth. Technologies like dual 40GbE adapters and 8TB disks are vital to give UltraHD workgroups the scope to share files and work on projects collaboratively, direct from storage. We are proud to be among the industry’s leading innovators, with a reputation for deploying the very latest technologies and developing next-generation storage.” Commented Ben Pearce, Sales & Marketing Director at GB Labs.

For customers planning the transition to 4K workflows, GB Labs supplies Dual 10GbE adapters as standard. This gives users the option to install Space+ onto existing Ethernet networks, ready to upgrade in stages to faster data rates.

The use of HyperSpace in tandem with Space+ enables workgroups to complete the move to a completely online 4K workflow. HyperSpace is an SSD acceleration unit for Space HDD tier 1 storage arrays. Delivering in excess of 3000MB/s data rates to client workstations, it facilitates 4K project sharing without the need to replace cost-effective HDD media with an expensive all-SSD array. The system has already been adopted by the likes of Technicolor and US commercials house Drive Thru for use in its Flame and DaVinci workgroups.

Omnitek Ultra 4K Tool Box enables 12G-SDI product design for customers worldwide

BASINGSTOKE, UK – Test & Measurement leader, Omnitek begins worldwide shipping of the Ultra 4K Tool Box featuring the analysis, generation and conversion of UHDTV signals including the world’s very first 12G-SDI Physical Layer analysis
and generation toolset. The Tool Box is now in full production and shipping to satisfy the demand for 12G-SDI product design.

The Ultra has seen demand from many applications - Semiconductor FPGAs and 12G interface ICs, the world’s largest manufacturers of 6G and 12G SDI equipment, broadcasters, and system integrators across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

The Ultra supports SD through to 4K60 UHDTV via quad 3G, dual 6G, 12G-SDI and DisplayPort. The Ultra has recently seen the addition of a fully featured 12G-SDI Physical Layer toolset, the likes of which have hitherto only been seen on high-end oscilloscopes costing many hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Ultra, at a fraction of the cost, provides real-time 12G-SDI Eye with automatic rise & fall-time measurement, Jitter meters, waveform, histogram and Jitter spectrum analysis. On the generator side, output Jitter insertion, voltage control and slew-rate control are
supported – a comprehensive suite of tools essential for 4K product development. Full gearbox conversion between the Ultra’s I/O is provided, enabling for example, 4K60 over quad-link 3G Square Division to single-link 12G 2-Sample Interleave conversion. Ultra also offers SD to 4K moving test pattern uncompressed generation
and capture.

For an overview of the Ultra, or a more comprehensive look at the Physical Layer toolset, bite-sized videos are available at www.omnitek.tv/ultraAbout Omnitek:

Omnitek was founded in 2001 specialising in video test and measurement equipment. The company is expert in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) IP and in development boards. Omnitek works closely with manufacturers of video,
audio and storage products for broadcast, government, AV, events, military and telecoms and beyond. Omnitek offers an IP and design consultancy service which specialises in FPGA, electronics and software design for video and image processing applications in the broadcast, medical imaging, industrial and defence markets.
Through our industry associations we have many years of experience in the development and implementation of standards for test and measurement. Omnitek was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2008.
If you would like to learn more about Omnitek please go to www.omnitek.tv

Telestream & Techtel to showcase capabalities of new Tempo system & Lightspeed K80 Server at Bcast Asia on Techtel Stand 5J3-03

Nevada City, Calif., May 14, 2015 – Telestream®, a leading provider of video transcoding and workflow automation solutions for broadcast, cable, and broadband providers, will demonstrate the potential that its software platform offers to generate significant new revenue streams and increase operating efficiency at Broadcast Asia, in Techtel booth 5J3-03 in Singapore, June 2-5. Forming the centerpiece of its technology showcase, Telestream’s Vantage® media processing platform is the foundation for a broad range of enterprise-class software products that allow content owners, producers, and distributors to quickly, easily and efficiently ingest, edit, transform, package, monetize and distribute their media.

The Vantage platform is based on a flexible service-oriented architecture that is made up of discrete services and connectors that combine to create powerful automated workflows – all under unified system control. Vantage services provide transcoding, media capture, metadata processing, media analysis, and content assembly. Vantage connectors enable seamless, API-level integration with third-party systems.

Built on Vantage, Tempo is a new time adjustment solution for re-timing file-based content and intelligently adjusting the running time of shows and segments. It utilizes new time compression algorithms that deliver superior quality and faster turn-around times. Running on the Vantage media-processing platform and new Lightspeed K80 Server, Tempo is easy to use and offers all of the benefits of the industry's leading workflow management and transcoding system.

Tempo is a product that returns a substantial ROI by providing the ability to increase advertising avails throughout the day. Tempo will be particularly interesting for companies who are working with content from other regions of the world where the ad timing is different than their current format.

Lightspeed & Vantage combine for intelligent multi-platform distribution
As today’s file-based workflows expand to accommodate new processes and delivery to multiple platforms such as traditional TV, Web and mobile devices, they inevitably require additional processing power. The new Lightspeed K80 Serveroffers significant speed and productivity improvements over previous Lightspeed® Servers for products built on the Vantage media processing platform. The latest GPU/CPU acceleration technologies are utilized to boost video processing and H.264 encoding speeds. This means fewer nodes are required to process more files in less time – allowing users to save time and be more productive. Housed in a high-density 1 RU (rack unit) server, the Lightspeed K80 also reduces space, electrical and thermal requirements

Also built on the Vantage platform, Telestream’s Post Producer file-based content assembly software system addresses the issue of repetitive rendering of different versions of media. Based on user templates and controlled via simple spreadsheet input, Post Producer automatically assembles multi-layer composites from video and graphics - enabling the creation of uniquely-branded versions of the same package for different distribution services. In addition to providing significant cost savings, Post Producer accelerates the versioning process, allowing more jobs to be completed and billed. A new Titler Engine option, powered by NewBlueFX, a leader in creating titles in popular non-linear editor applications, supports the large language versioning requirements in Asia.

Hand-free operation with Vantage camera ingest
A new Vantage Camera Ingest option offers significant time savings for post-production and news users by enabling hands-free batch ingest, processing, time-alignment, and stitching of camera media. These new workflow automation capabilities remove the laborious and time-consuming processes of manually browsing and linking clips, importing and transcoding clips which all take away from editing time. For Avid Interplay environments, multi-resolution clips can be created automatically in Interplay while allowing frame-chase editing. This powerful camera ingest software automates and simplifies camera ingest, transcoding and importing of shots in an editing system, freeing editors to focus on editing, instead of manually finding, importing and stitching clips.

Vantage is known for its tight integration with Avid systems, simplifying and accelerating delivery of file-based media into and out of Avid environments. Sitting at the heart of Avid workflows, Vantage automates media and metadata ingest from incoming video feeds, assets and files to solve users’ most complex transcoding and file-delivery scenarios. Telestream extends this support with new cost savings for Avid users. Previously an expensive option, Send-to-Playback is now offered in all Vantage transcoders at no cost. Export from Vantage into stand-alone Media Composer, which previously required a higher-priced Vantage Pro Connect model plus an Avid option, is now offered as a standard feature on Vantage Transcode Pro.

Telestream also announced that Singapore-based broadcast IT specialist, Techtel (S.E. Asia) is creating a demonstration facility to showcase the capabilities of its new Tempo system and Lightspeed K80 Server to local broadcasters and facilities. At Broadcast Asia, Telestream and Techtel will be showcase Tempo and Lightspeed K80 on their joint booth (5J3-03).

“At Broadcast Asia, we will show visitors how Telestream can help them build new and significant revenue streams within their broadcast operations,” said George Boath, VP of International Sales, Enterprise Products at Telestream. “IP-based business solutions have been a focus for us over many years and now we can demonstrate how Telestream can make the difference in many different sizes and scales of broadcast and electronic media facility.”

VidiGo to launch world’s first cloud based live multi camera production workflow at IBC2015

VidiGo’s R&D lab demonstrated the first streaming multi-viewers and streaming controlled User Interfaces of their software based live TV production workflow, called VidiGo Live. With extremely low latency, live remote production now becomes a reality. This new, breakthrough technology will be a game changer in Outside Broadcast, regional television networks and the registration of sport events.

The technology is quite similar to the latest innovations in the gaming industry, like for instance the OnLive Game Service, just acquired by Sony. VidiGo developed a similar technology, optimized for the demanding broadcast industry. VidiGo created streaming proxy’s with full control over latency, bandwidth usage and image quality, creating a workflow that is really suitable for TV production.

“Now we have both the visual feedback from the cameras fully streaming and the UI streaming, we can really say we have created the first Cloud Service in live TV production.” Said Peter IJkhout – CTO VidiGo. “ I am convinced that this will create a complete mind shift in TV production, especially in the mid-end market. If I were responsible for production, I would not invest in a new OB Van anymore. That really comes to an end real quickly. ”

At IBC 2015 in Amsterdam, the most important convention in the industry, VidiGo will launch world’s first Cloud Based Live production workflow.

Telestream Boosts GPU Acceleration with New Lightspeed K80 Server

Lightspeed K80 Server takes advantage of the latest GPU/CPU acceleration technologies to increase speed and productivity for Vantage software-enabled media processing platform products

Nevada City, Calif., April 13, 2015 – Telestream®, the leading provider of video transcoding and workflow automation solutions, today announced a new Lightspeed® Server model. Lightspeed K80 Server utilizes cutting-edge technologies from NVidia and Intel to further boost video processing and H.264 encoding speeds for its Vantage® software-enabled media processing platform products. 

"We’re very excited to announce the next generation of Lightspeed Servers " said Paul Turner, VP of Enterprise Product Management at Telestream. "Today’s file-based workflows are evolving. As they expand to accommodate new processes and to enable delivery to multiple platforms such as traditional TV, Web and mobile devices, they inevitably require additional processing power. The Lightspeed K80 server raises the bar for media processing, offering major gains in processing speed – in many cases 5x or more improvement over CPU speeds – without compromising the quality of the processed media."

The Lightspeed K80 Server, with the latest technologies from NVidia and Intel, offers significant productivity improvements over the previous Lightspeed Servers. The combination of NVidia K80 GPU technology coupled with twin 12-core CPUs provides cutting-edge speed. 2 TB of high-performance media storage is also included. The K80 server supports Vantage version 6.2 or later.

Lightspeed Server provides high-density transcoding and video processing in an efficient, 1 RU (rack unit) server with minimal space, electrical and thermal footprint requirements. As a part of the Vantage product family, Lightspeed Server can be used alone, clustered to increase capacity or added to an existing Vantage ecosystem.

Exclusive Lightspeed® technology accelerates Telestream’s award-winning H.264 transcoding and video processing, including image scaling, deinterlacing, frame rate conversion, motion vector calculation, compositing and other compute-intensive tasks for Vantage products.

Lightspeed K80 Server will be available mid-May from Telestream’s worldwide network of direct enterprise sales and resellers.  For more information about Telestream, visit www.telestream.net.

NewTek Debuts TriCaster Advanced Edition Software at NAB 2015

––More than 60 cutting-edge features elevate TriCaster productions to new heights without additional equipment purchases ––

LAS VEGAS, NAB BOOTH #SL3312 , April 12, 2015––NewTek ™ today introduced TriCaster™ Advanced Edition, an option available for TriCaster Mini through TriCaster 8000, capable of elevating productions to new heights of connectivity, creativity, and efficiency. More than 60 new major capabilities and enhancements in TriCaster Advanced Edition help multiply audiences, streamline repetitive tasks, and make productions more riveting in an ever-more-connected world.

Automated real-time data-driven graphics, new IP workflows, advanced automation, multi-platform streaming, social and web publishing, terrific in-show replay features, enhanced multimedia mixing, sophisticated production elements and more will transform everyday productions into state-of-the-art viewing, in addition to the incredible functionality already provided by TriCaster. With TriCaster Advanced Edition, producers can create more masterful multi-camera video programming without needing to invest in multiple devices or additional systems.

NewTek will be demonstrating TriCaster Advanced Edition at NAB booth #SL3312 from April 13-16.

“Any TriCaster is an extremely powerful, innovative, and cost-effective tool for creative producers”, said Dr. Andrew Cross, president and CTO of NewTek. “With the introduction of TriCaster Advanced Edition, we have taken things to a whole new level for those who need to simplify or automate complex workflows, design innovative outside-the-box solutions to creative problems, or who just demand the very best of the best.”

TriCaster Advanced Edition: Powerful Features for Current TriCaster Models

As the expectations and demands of audiences and sponsors alike rise, producers want to increase both the competitive and creative advantages they offer. Raising the bar in their productions would normally require considerably more expense, space, and often additional crew. TriCaster Advanced Edition brings the same production benefits, without the extra overhead. 

TriCaster Advanced Edition software adds these breakthrough capabilities and more:

Automated data-driven graphics

• Easily convert raw data and meta-data from both internal and external sources effortlessly and accurately into production-ready graphics in real-time using DataLink
• Retrieve add update sports stats, election results, weather updates, social media feeds, sales reports, etc., automatically or on-demand

Multiple Live Streams & IP Workflows

• Live stream to multiple platforms and services simultaneously with higher-quality video
• Direct integration with Microsoft Azure, YouTube Live, Twitch and more
•  Supports fully integrated audio through Dante Virtual Soundcard networking from Audinate on every audio input
•  Display tally information from connected systems
•  Access production resources directly from a web-browser on almost any platform

Sophisticated Multimedia Mixing

• Add transitions with embedded full color overlays and sound between playlist media, and combine real-time, slow-mo, and fast-mo with per-clip playback speed settings 
• Transition backward and forward in the playlist for presentations with ease
•  Faster, easier, real-time clip editing right in the DDR, including active recordings
• Advanced audio integration and improved and fine-tuned sound mixing, external audio integration, precise audio   levels, and monitoring

Boundless Creative Expression

• Add dimension to virtual set scenes with Augmented Reality options for KEY layers
•  Design and add elegant borders and shadows to make bordered, editable overlays, backgrounds, and custom multi- box effects
•  Full motion pre-visualization tools provide animated transition and effect previews before they are taken live

Smart Studio Too

• Intelligent M/Es automatically configure themselves for Mix or Effect operations
• Optionally enable automatic adjustments to input color characteristics, matching to a specific camera or approximating the settings of all incoming signals
• A new Blue Only option complements integrated scopes and extensive proc amp features
• SDI Auto-Detect eliminates the need to configure connections
•  Automatically update switcher input names to router input names

In-Show Replay

• Capture and replay highlights with on-screen controls and fully configurable replay settings, including colorful custom in and out wipes with sound effects.

Custom, automated control 

• Create and store elaborate or simple sequences triggered by a sound level, media playback state, or any switcher action
• Pause macros: trigger a macro sequence, stop on command, then resume when manually cued

Ultra-Connected Publishing

•  Publish media to multiple user accounts on the same social network simultaneously
• Publish content to the world's largest professional network -- LinkedIn

High-performance graphics

•   Enhanced image processing including LiveSet rendering and scaling
• TransWarp 2 allows warping and transformations for incoming and outgoing video scenes.

Flexible, intuitive workflows  

• Custom configured settings, calibrations and selections make setup far more precise and standardized to individual way of working

 TriCaster Advanced Edition is compatible with TriCaster 8000, TriCaster 860, TriCaster 460, TriCaster 410 and TriCaster Mini. 

SIENNA announces APC integration with NewTek TriCaster

London, UK (April 2nd, 2015). SIENNA today announced a new release of the the Sienna Media
System which adds deep integration with NewTek TriCaster multi-camera video production
systems for automated production control.

Sienna's extensive TriCaster integration brings full automated production control within the reachof any news or sports broadcaster. Sienna forms a sophisticated media asset management, edit integration and automation layer between TriCaster and MOS newsroom systems including ENPS,Inception, iNews, Octopus, and OpenMedia. With the NCS, producers can prepare a verycomplex news bulletin, including packages, vision mixer operations, virtual set camera moves,audio mixing, and on screen graphics. This rundown is then driven step by step in the SiennaAutomationX live-assist system controlling TriCaster.

“Sienna and TriCaster integration is a tectonic shift in the News industry, delivering fully
automated production control with a price point an order of magnitude less than traditional
systems.” said Mark Gilbert, CTO: Gallery SIENNA. “Delivering MOS driven automation of
Video, Audio, Vision and Audio mixer control, graphics and camera moves, Sienna unlocks
the true potential of TriCaster for sophisticated live news bulletins”

The new integration supports:
TriCaster 8000, TriCaster 860, TriCaster 460, TriCaster 410 & TriCaster Mini.

The combined Sienna + TriCaster solution will be shown at the NAB exhibition in Las Vegas,
starting 13th April at the following locations:
EMC Isilon (NAB booth SL8011) and AP/ENPS (NAB booth SL7606)

“We’re excited to welcome Sienna into the NewTek Developer Network. This combination
of technologies provides newsrooms with a powerful alternative to expensive traditional
automation systems and greater freedom to focus on telling the news” said Michael
Kornet, executive vice president of Business Development for NewTek.

Sienna’s TriCaster integration is available today, from Approved Sienna Systems Integrators allover the world. For more information, visit http://sienna.tv/tricaster.html

HDMI 2.0 Now Standard in All Archimedia 4K/UHD Appliances

Archimedia today announced that HDMI 2.0 outputs are now a standard feature of Atlas 4K/UHD and Atlas Extreme and will be included in all future 4K/UHD and Extreme appliances. Now all media professionals from all facets of the media and entertainment business — from broadcasting to filmmaking, quality control to archiving — can reap the benefits of the long-awaited, new HDMI 2.0 interface through Archimedia's reference appliances.
 
"Matching the media, the player, and the displays with the most appropriate interfaces is the key to working with 4K and UHD media. All media professionals are thinking about the right ways to use modern displays that aren't SDI-based, so HDMI 2.0 has been highly anticipated," said Josef Marc, Archimedia's chief marketing officer. "HDMI 2.0 was announced around the time of IBC2013, and Archimedia has been watching its availability, quality, and adoption closely ever since. Now we're among the first to make it available so that our customers can benefit from the improved picture quality it offers over HDMI 1.4, especially for 4K cinema and UHD formats."
 
Now that HDMI 2.0 is included in Atlas 4K/UHD and Atlas Extreme, there is no need for the common practice of using SDI-to-HDMI converters, which represent an additional expense and potential point of failure and also do not support 4K 60p content as Atlas 4K/UHD does. Customers can view up to 4K 60p and UHD 60p content on HDMI 2.0-capable 4K projectors and UHDTVs directly using their HDMI 2.0 inputs, with no conversion necessary.
 
As a companion to the HDMI 2.0 hardware upgrade, Archimedia is offering a free software upgrade that adds even more power to Atlas 4K/UHD and Atlas Extreme. For example, Atlas now sports a new playlist feature that lets users queue up any number of media files — including video, audio, captions, and subtitles — in any mix of different formats, and Atlas will play them sequentially. This feature is especially useful in theaters and screening rooms where HDMI 2.0 4K projectors and UHDTVs are now a viable, high-quality alternative to costly 4K/UHD SDI projectors.
 
HDMI 2.0 is now being built into every Archimedia 4K/UHD and Extreme appliance at no extra cost and is available to order now. Archimedia will demonstrate the appliances and their HDMI 2.0 capabilities at the 2015 NAB Show in booth SL11616. 
 
Archimedia's "Getting Started With Atlas" videos demonstrate the features that a professional media worker needs to support UHD in an HD world. The four-minute version is available at http://www.archimediatech.com/#!getting-started-with-atlas-video/c24g4, and a 17-minute version with chapter links is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV5gejK4TFY.

Telestream Announces Tempo, a New Time Adjustment Solution that Modifies the Running Time of Media Assets while Maintaining Program Quality

Nevada City, Calif., March 24, 2015 – Telestream®, the leading provider of digital video tools and workflow solutions today announced Tempo™, a new time adjustment solution for re-timing file-based content and intelligently adjusting the running time of shows and segments. Showcased for the first time at NAB 2015 (booth SL3305) Tempo utilizes new time compression algorithms that deliver superior quality and faster turn-around times. Running on the Vantage media-processing platform, Tempo is easy to use and offers all of the benefits of the industry's leading workflow management and transcoding system.

"For content owners and distributors, adjusting the run time is important as it creates additional revenue opportunities and decreases distribution costs," explains Shawn Carnahan, Telestream's CTO.

Tempo uses new methods of media analysis. It intelligently interpolates the desired time change over the duration of the content in a way that produces no noticeable visual or audible artifacts. It can adjust an existing asset’s running time from 1% to 10% without any perceived loss of video or audio quality. Tempo also has the ability to re-time the complete asset, including video, audio, and captions, offering unmatched quality that is consistent with stringent broadcast and network-level requirements.

Tempo is a product that returns a substantial ROI by providing the ability to increase advertising avails throughout the day. Tempo will be particularly interesting for companies who are working with content from other eras or other regions of the world where the ad timing is different than their current format.

"Syndicated content duration from the 1950’s through the 1970’s was longer than the typical syndicated content from the modern broadcast era. This presents problems in fitting these longer length programs into current ad-block alignments. Tempo is an ideal solution for aligning the timing of this content," says Carnahan.

Tempo runs on the Vantage media processing platform and Lightspeed Server, providing unparalleled quality of media assets. Since it is built on the flexible Vantage service oriented architecture, Tempo can be seamlessly integrated with other Vantage or third-party systems to create a powerful automated workflow – all under unified system control. Tempo can be controlled through a special Vantage Portal or controlled in an automated fashion.

Available for purchase in Q2-2015, Tempo will be sold as a turnkey system that includes Tempo software running on the latest Vantage media processing platform and Telestream Lightspeed Server hardware. 
More information is available at www.telestream.net.