SAN ANTONIO—NewTek has begun shipping its new Spark Plus 12G-SDI converter that encodes and decodes 12G-SDI sources to and from NDI protocol IP packets at up to 2160 Ultra-HD.

“With Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI, we are able to support the full spectrum of video production needs with the groundbreaking benefits of NDI to save producers time and money while opening up new creative possibilities,” said NewTek President Barbara Spicek.

“This new product serves to cement the NewTek and Vizrt Group commitment to build products that allow our customers to make more stories, better told,” she said. Vizrt finalized its acquisition of NewTek in April 2019.

The NewTek Spark Plus 12G-SDI offers a quick, easy way to convert 12G-SDI UHD video for integration into an IP-based media production workflow. The product connects to 12G-SDI cameras and other devices and converts video to NDI and shares it with compatible systems, devices or applications anywhere on the network, including UHD screens, monitor, projectors and video walls, the company said.

It also can be used to turn any legacy 12G-SDI-enabled output device, such as a screen or monitor, into an NDI signal on the network using its decoding function, it said.

Setup requires a single Ethernet cable. A web-based interface allows configuration and monitoring from a desktop or mobile browser as well as tally support via NDI, the company said.

Available now, the NewTek Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI conveter is priced at $1,095; international pricing may vary, NewTek said. 

More information is available on the company’s website.  

AMSTERDAM—NewTek will demonstrate what it is describing as “breakthrough capabilities” that transform video production by enabling software-defined visual storytelling (SDVS) at IBC 2019, Sept. 13-17, at the RAI Amsterdam.

“It is clearer than ever that IP is not only the standard for video production, it is the future of video,” said Dr. Andrew Cross, president of R&D for Vizrt Group, the parent brand for NewTek. “Our mission is to empower video storytellers and expand their reach, making it fun and exciting to create shows and get your message out.”

Cross pointed to Live Story Creator, TriCaster 410 Plus and NewTek Spark Plus 4K as examples.

Live Story Creator, the latest addition to NewTek’s Premium Access software, automates production using scripts created in Microsoft Word. Triggers identified in a Word document automate execution of switches between cameras and other production actions when the script is loaded into TriCaster or VMC1.

Other Premium Access features include scalable NDI recording and replay with full synchronization for multi-camera production; support for various digital media aspect ratios and frame rates for content delivered to digital screens; and LiveGraphics NDI KVM, LivePanel, Advance Audio and Virtual PTZ.

NewTek’s TriCaster 410, the latest addition to its TriCaster lineup, is a rack-mountable system with eight external inputs, four M/Es and four mix outputs. It also includes real-time social media publishing, live streaming, multichannel recording, video playback, integrated multiviewers, graphics, compositing, virtual sets, audio mixing along with NDI integration for video, audio and data transmission over IP.

The NewTek Spark Plus is a high-bandwidth NDI device that supports resolutions up to 4K from HDMI-to-NDI with virtually no latency.

See NewTek at IBC 2019 stand 7.C12.

More information is available on the company’s website.