Tokyo, Japan, September 4, 2019 – In support of the many broadcasters still transitioning from traditional SDI to IP-based systems, the FOR-A® booth at IBC 2019 will include hybrid IP/SDI products, such as: the USF-10IP IP Gateway, the SOM-100 media orchestration platform, and the MBP-1000VS-IP video server.

FOR-A has an array of production switchers, video servers, processors and test signal generators that support both 12G-SDI/4K and 3G-SDI/HD resolution. The company is a proponent of 12G-SDI technology as an ideal format for sports and other 4K productions, because it offers reliability, ease of operation and industry-standard interfacing.

IBC 2019 will be held from September 13-17 at the RAI Amsterdam. FOR-A will exhibit in Hall 2, Stand A51.

One product that serves as a bridge between IP and baseband environments is FOR-A’s USF-10IP IP Gateway series. The USF-10IP series is a 10 GbE video-over-IP module series that offers high-quality conversion of any standard IP video format, including: SMPTE ST 2022-6/7 and SMPTE ST 2110. The unit also acts as a translator between SDI baseband and IP systems and is compatible with 4K UHD (2SI/SQD) and multi-format input/output video.

Available modules offered in this series include: the USF-10IP, which converts between IP formats; the USF-10IPSDI6-FS, which comes standard with one 12G-SDI input and one output, 2SI/SQD conversion, and offers simultaneous conversion of up to six inputs/outputs selectable with six streams; and the USF-10IPSDI12-FS module, which also comes standard with one 12G-SDI input and one output, as well as 2SI/SQD conversion, and offers simultaneous conversion of up to six inputs and six outputs, selectable with twelve streams. The USF-10IPSDI-6-FS and the USF-10IPSDI12-FS offer a TICO encoder/decoder. With this encoder/decoder, 12G-SDI 4K UHD uncompressed images can be compressed to TICO and processed via 10GbE network.

An integrated baseband/IP control and monitoring system, the SOM-100 is also designed based on hierarchical architecture using Ember+ for a flexible system configuration to be used in a mixed SDI/IP environment. It delivers seamless interoperability between baseband and IP equipment and traffic management. The SOM-100 provides operation of a variety of video equipment such as SDI/IP/RS422 routers, multi viewers, video processors, tally devices and button panels, and monitored centrally from its GUI.

At IBC 2019, the MBP-1000VS-IP IP video server, the ESG-4200 test signal generator, the MFR-3000 routing switcher, the USF-10IP-SDI6-FS IP gateway, the MV-1220 multi viewer, the Media Links MD8600 video gateway and the MDX4090 IP video switcher & router are controlled by the SOM-100 in a SDI/IP hybrid system.

SDI and IP routing switchers are managed as one routing switcher in a virtual group. The SOM-100 can execute routing system control and process control, so that it supports collective operational changes of multiple pieces of equipment and executes time reservation. The system also features a web interface for easy access from multiple computers.

A 12G-SDI/IP multi-channel video server, the MBP-1000VS series is ideal for 4K editing environments, offering multi-input/output 4K and HD support and ingest, playout and 4K recording functionality. FOR-A is offering a range of MBP-1000VS interfaces for 12G-SDI or video over IP transmission, including 12G-SDI, 3G-SDI, and SFP+, to accommodate varying user needs for inputs/outputs and size of internal storage (SSD). The MBP-1000VS-IP includes a SFP+ port for 10 Gbps video over IP I/O. It supports up to eight-channel MPEG-2 codec or four-channel 4K XVAC™ codec and can switch channels from encoding to decoding as needed. Supported formats for video over IP include SMPTE ST 2022-6 and ST 2110.

MUNICH, GERMANY—Rohde & Schwarz has created a family of video boards for both SDI and video over IP. The first entrant, the R&S Prios SDI, offers the SDI interfaces and also supports 10G Ethernet for video over IP. It can be configured for eight independent 1080p60 video channels or for two 4K/UHDp60 channels. 

R&S said the SDI interfaces are implemented by means of up to four swappable SFP modules, each with two SDI ports. Two of the SDI modules can be replaced with 10G Ethernet modules, making the R&S Prios SDI compatible with the advanced video-over-IP technology. Supported protocols will include SMPTE 2022 for data transmission and SMPTE 2059 for synchronization. Data is transmitted uncompressed in line with SMPTE 2022-6. If necessary, forward error correction in line with SMPTE 2022-5 can be enabled to compensate for the loss of IP packets. Redundant transmission with seamless protection switching in line with SMPTE 2022-7 is also supported. Additional protocols are planned to follow.

The R&S Prios SDI allows OEM customers to integrate the board into their own products. Prios SDI allows customers to convert their products in the field from a pure SDI to a hybrid SDI/video-over-IP configuration. E.g., multiple SDI cameras can be connected directly to the board, whose signals can then be transmitted via a network to centralized recording equipment or to remote editing stations.

Virtual studio applications especially benefit from the low latency made possible by the fast PCIe 3.0 x8 bus. The four SFP cages combined with the half-length design make the R&S Prios SDI very compact. As a result, applications involving complex interfacing tasks that previously often required multiple interface boards can now be implemented on small servers of only one unit.

The software development kit for the R&S Prios family of video boards is compatible with the R&S Atomix line of video boards. Applications that support R&S Atomix boards can be adapted for use with R&S Prios boards.

The R&S Prios SDI video board is now available from Rohde & Schwarz. Video-over-IP capability can be retrofitted.