CAMARILLO, CALIF.—Aperi has a number of technology demonstrations planned for VidTrans 2018, but the IP live media processing provider is looking to highlight a partnership with Video Clarity on a presentation of Aperi’s H.264 compression app.

During the demonstration, Video Clarity will test the quality of the H.264 compression app on audio and video live. The demo also intends to show how compression can be analyzed when operating in live IP-centric infrastructures to ensure optimal media compression and transport.

Andrews Osmond, Aperi’s vice president of business development, will attend the show to present a session titled “Sorting the Fact From the Fiction—IP and Software-based Live Video Transport.” Osmond’s presentation will cite real-world deployments to show the value of IP.

Additional demonstrations planned include Aperi’s live remote production technology and apps created using Aperi’s software-based media processing technologies. The company will also showcase the latest in its IP security offerings, including real-time network address translation, RTP packet and media inspection and firewalling, and new fail-over technologies.

VidTrans 2018 is underway and will continue through March 1 in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES—Video Clarity is showcasing the Venue Player, a video server that can be controlled to automatically play multiple uncompressed segments of high-quality content to multiple screens in the correct sequence. The ClearView Venue Player is designed for broadcast facilities, theme parks, live events, staged shows and other environments that rely on repeated, synchronized video playback for entertainment and display. The ClearView Venue Player offers several recording and playback configurations, from standard definition to 8K, with multiple storage sizes.

Venue Player users can automatically and interactively select sequences for playback in multiple video formats on up to eight screens at once using a show controller, its command line interface or a desktop control interface. These control interfaces allow segments to play from one or multiple Venue Players according to specific timing and order of recall, and synchronized with devices and effects.

The Venue Player also contains setup and control functionality through the Venue Player Manager, a web server for browser-based control on a networked computer or tablet. Venue Player users can set up, jog, shuttle, play, rewind and queue the output of each system from anywhere with an internet or internal facility network connection to one or multiple Venue Players. 

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems provider Video Clarity is putting its focus on its new IP-specific test systems at this year’s IBC show. These systems are designed for honing IP productions and delivery networks.

IP Network Testing Demonstration With Video Clarity, Macnica Technology, and PacketStorm at IBC2017

For one demonstration, Video Clarity will partner with PacketStorm Communications to show how manufacturers and program service providers can apply a test system for the new SMPTE suite of standards, SMPTE ST 2110. The demo will feature a fully operational interactive demonstration of IP network transport, IP network emulation, media flow analysis and quality and performance testing for uncompressed video, audio and ancillary data. Video Clarity will provide its RTM real-time monitor for the source video playout and test the source against the network output.

There will also be a pair of new IP products from Video Clarity at the show. The first is the ClearView IP, the latest addition to the company’s line of video quality analyzers. ClearView IP plays or records up to two channels of uncompressed video from a high-capacity testing server into a SMPTE-compliant network. The platform can apply new IP standards and play while recording in the IP domain. Operators can perform recording, automatic alignment and quality measurements through either automation or desktop controls.

The ClearView IP Player will also be shown. This high-capacity server is designed for use in an IP infrastructure, with record and playback functions for uncompressed video using IP-related video transport standards. The system can record one channel and play back up to two channels of uncompressed video programming into a SMPTE-compliant network.

Video Clarity will run these demos from its booth, 2.C57, during IBC 2017.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity has added a new product to its line of ClearView video quality analyzers, the ClearView IP. The ClearView IP is part of the company’s new product category for IP infrastructure use and enables users to play, record and test quality of video that travels over IP networks according to video-transport standards, as well as providing the option to mix SDI functions in the same system.

ClearView Extreme IP

ClearView IP plays or records up to two channels of uncompressed video programming from a high-capacity testing server into a SMPTE 2022-6/7-compliant network, with the capability to accommodate SMPTE 2110 (TR-03 and TR-04) as it develops. Visual analysis of original and processed video can be performed through either automation, playlists or desktop controls. Metrics and subjective analysis help assess the progress of product development, set encoding parameters for program delivery and evaluate various encoders among multiple vendors.

In addition, ClearView IP’s interfaces are designed to apply uncompressed video and audio with certain time stamp and packetized procedures specific to entertainment production, post production and delivery markets.

Video Clarity has two ClearView IP models available: the ClearView Extreme IP 3-RU server with both IP and 4K SDI interfaces, and the portable ClearView Shuttle IP with just the uncompressed IP interface.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity says it is ushering in a new category of playback servers for IP infrastructures with the release of the ClearView Player IP. This high-capacity server comes with playlist functions for the automatic playing and recording of uncompressed video using IP-related video transport standards.

ClearView Player IP is designed to playback one or two channels of video programming into a SMPTE 2022-6/7-compliant network, with an eye toward supporting SMPTE 2110 once it is developed. The system can view the video for quality or feed the output to a processing engine for pre-channel or pre-program deployment quality testing. ClearView could also be deployed for broadcast- or venue-based playback when uncompressed video is required in an all-IP environment.

Working within new uncompressed video networking standards, ClearView can record one and play up to two programs of uncompressed video and audio to and from a large storage array. The graphical interface provides start commands for video and audio playback. Users can play up to two sequences of video locked to one command, loop or stop. Automation of program playback and the creation of a playlist for back-to-back video/audio sequences are also available.

Video Clarity is now offering the ClearView Player IP in three models: 1RU, small portable, and 3RU, all of which can record one or play two HD programs as uncompressed IP up to 1080p/60Hz. The 1RU and portable versions feature an IP interface and an optional SDI-only configuration. The 3RU model has the ability to also record or play 4K formats on HD-SDI and playback with HDMI outputs.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity is offering a new version of its real-time audio and video monitoring systems, RTM 3.0. The recently announced update features three new features: MPEG transport stream recording, IP-network packet-loss monitoring, and built-in uncompressed video playback while monitoring and testing are underway.

RTM 3.0 monitors for artifacts and captures them for visual inspection in the uncompressed video domain, allowing users to study the effects of network errors on content and know what to look for in network-analysis tools.

The newly added MPEG TS recording feature records out-of-threshold uncompressed video and audio and simultaneously captures the same error segments in the corresponding transport streams. The IP-network packet-loss monitoring ability allows RTM 3.0 to monitor the attached video network to assess network conditions and graphs the results, which appear as a red tick mark on the existing graph in the RTM user interface and as a live updated graph on a browser tab in the RTM Manager. Additionally, the new player function enables RTM 3.0 to play full-HD video to the device or network under test at the same time it is comparing that video to its downstream processed version, as well as an independent record function.

Video Clarity will ship RTM 3.0 with the new RTM systems starting in November. A software update will be available for RTM warranty subscribers at the same time.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity, a provider of audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems, and research center SRI International have announced an agreement that will see them integrate technology. Specifically, SRI’s Sarnoff test patterns will be available as an optional addition to Video Clarity’s ClearView Video Quality Analyzer and ClearView Player systems.

A selection of Sarnoff test patterns will be preloaded into ClearView systems’ video sequence library. Among the test patterns available for ClearView systems include Visualizer, Encoder Stress Pattern, and Color Space and Monitor Test Pattern Suite. The test patterns will be played back via the Clearview Analyzer and Player systems. Video Clarity will also provide the test patterns in multi-format bundles.

All new and existing ClearView systems now include the test patterns as options.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity has introduced a 4K-capable version of its RTM real-time audio and video monitoring systems. The RTM 4K is a monitoring system that can apply 4K video sources and compare them with encoded/decoded 4K video to test for video quality, audio quality, lip sync and loudness; it also performs those test using full-reference methods and correlates results to accepted scales of human perception.

According to Video Clarity, content originators and delivery networks can use RTM 4K to measure the quality of delivered 4K video over time. Like other RTM systems, RTM 4K alerts and records a degraded A/V signal if it falls below user-set limits, allowing users to make adjustments as the content is playing out, or to study and the correct the problem later.

The 3RU unit is built for testing 4K HEVC encoders for audio and video performance over time, and testing the performance of origination channels and automatically recording and logging faults in video, audio, lip sync and loudness. Content providers can also deploy RTM 4K for long-haul performance testing of large-audience live programming, or where 4K content quality monitoring and measurement are required.

Video Clarity will display the RTM 4K monitor at the 2016 NAB show at booth SU 12413. The company will release it in May.

LAS VEGAS—Video Clarity will spotlight Clear View version 8.4, which updates the company’s video quality analyzers and player/recorders, at the 2016 NAB Show. With version 8.4, Clear View 4K and 8K systems now provide new color-space-capable pictures and support for high dynamic range (HDR) as prescribed by ITU-R BT.2020. With these changes, Clear View 4K and 8K systems will be the first to interactively show 4K or 8K pictures side-by-side in native ITU-R Rec. BT.2020 color space, and allow comparison of HDR video in that color space.

Clear View 8.4 provides an effective way to judge HDR video sequences on the same monitor, eliminating potential setup and calibration differences that can occur when using two monitors to compare original to processed HDR pictures.

In situations where a full picture comparison is required, Clear View 8.4 users can easily switch to dual output mode for exact sequencing of two comparative video sequences on two different monitors at the same resolution and frame rate. Clear View 4K and 8K users will be able to upgrade to the new version.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. Video Clarity will be in booth SU12413. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity has announced its most recent update to its ClearView line of video quality analyzers and players/recoders, ClearView 8.4. This new version provides ClearView 4K and 8K systems with new color-space-capable pictures and HDR support per ITU-R BT.2020, allowing the systems to show side-by-side 4K or 8K pictures in native ITU-R Rec. BT.2020 color space, and allow HDR video comparison in that color space.

With ClearView 8.4, Video Clarity says users can judge HDR video sequences on the same monitor, which could eliminate potential set-up and calibration differences when using two monitors. ClearView 8.4 users can also switch to dual output mode for exact sequencing of two comparative video sequences on two different monitors at the same resolution and frame rate, according to Video Clarity.

The company says will make ClearView 8.4 available with all new ClearView systems by the end of March. Existing ClearView users will be upgrade to version 8.4.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Elemental Technologies, a supplier of software-defined video systems for multiscreen content delivery, recently installed Video Clarity’s ClearView Shuttle 4K and RTM real-time audio and video monitoring system. Used in Elemental’s product development lab, the systems automatically measure the quality and performance of Elemental’s systems for multiple types of TV content and delivery profiles.

The ClearView Shuttle 4K is a video quality analyzer that records and plays back at native 4K resolutions, as well as HD and SD formats. When combined with the RTM system, users can apply objective measurements to compare multiple content types with multiple downstream processing conditions. This allows users to implement and quantify objective measurement that correlate to user experience. In addition, the systems can be configured to create automate measurements in batches.

Elemental is using the ClearView system to generate MOS and JND metrics for test clips and to verify results against customer’s content.

Video Clarity is a provider of audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems with its headquarters in Campbell, Calif.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity, a provider of audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems, has announced its new ClearView Extreme 8K video quality analyzer and ClearView Player 8K uncompressed 8K/4K/HD/SD recorder and player.

ClearView Player 8K

The ClearView Extreme 8K allows users to measure and analyze the quality of 8K uncompressed video using perceptual metrics and side-by-side visual comparison on a single monitor. The system’s GUI makes it possible to compare 8K source video against its processed counterparts side by side on a single screen. The GUI features view modes like zoom, scroll and A minus B. ClearView Extreme is also capable of interactive playback comparison of two uncompressed 8K sequences at up to 30 Hz or two uncompressed 4K sequences at up to 60 Hz in real-time.

Video Clarity also has the ClearView Player 8K, which is designed for test labs and broadcast events where a reliable video server is required to play back exact segments of video in either long or short form loop. The system features all the record and file ingest functions of a full ClearView analyzer system for content preparation with a simple playback application for repeated and reliable output of uncompressed UHD video and audio.

Both the ClearView Extreme and ClearView Player have three full-reference scoring methods based on algorithms developed to measure perceived quality.

Video Clarity plans to release the ClearView Extreme 8K and ClearView Player 8K in December. Both units will be available with 14, 25, or 38 terabytes of storage.

CAMPBELL, CALIF.—Video Clarity has announced that it has agreed to a deal with Paris-based broadcast-system reseller and integrator SAV to handle distribution in France. SAV will provide marketing, sales and support for all Video Clarity products in the country.

“Our agreement with SAV means we have a dedicated resource to serve our customers in France with the expertise demanded by our growing customer base,” said Blake Homan, president and founder of Video Clarity.

A provider of audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems, Video Clarity is headquartered in Campbell, Calif.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS—Video Clarity will introduce several new additions to its RTM video monitoring line of products at the 2015 IBC Show.

Video Clarity RTM 3G The RTM 3G Portable is a smaller, lighter, rackmountable version of the company’s RTM 3G real-time monitoring device. This new, portable 2RU version incorporates SSD technology, saving space and offering higher reliability. RTM 3G is used for short or long-term quality monitoring of live and prerecorded 3 Gbps content to detect subtle or intermittent errors. With RTM 3G, users can test the quality of any delivered service they deploy — either from broadcast interfaces or IP networks. In doing so, they will be able to understand service and product performance levels and perfect program delivery before or during content delivery.

RTM 3G features DMOS, a full-resolution, full-reference-quality human perceptual measurement performed in real time. DMOS allows users to view a channel's quality without the complexity of setting up one or more recordings first. When video or audio runs outside of preset quality measurement thresholds, RTM 3G will automatically record the unacceptable clips and log the quality scores. RTM 3G also enables multiple audio and video measurements in one system at the same time, and users get a high degree of accuracy because recordings are in the uncompressed domain.
Video Clarity will also debut its newly engineered RTM Manager, the central management appliance for the company's RTM real-time audio and video monitoring solutions. The interface of RTM Manager has been completely redesigned, which means higher speed and added operational scheduling functions. The upgrades to RTM Manager make it even easier to control groups of RTM systems.

The RTM Manager Server is a key new feature that replaces the FTP function and takes the load off of the network to make RTM Manager faster and more scalable. The server leaves an installation package in each RTM system so that the RTM unit will recognize and share information with an RTM Manager automatically. Also, the new version offers the option to "delete oldest" logs or to stop recording, as opposed to saving all logs from a previous session as the last version did.

Video Clarity will be in Stand 2.C57. The IBC Show takes place in Amsterdam, Sept. 11-15.

CAMPBELL, CALIF. – Video Clarity, a provider of market-leading audio and video quality measurement and analysis systems, is supplying PBS with its ClearView Extreme 4K video quality analyzer to test 4K video when processed with different encoding technologies. The results of the test will help PBS recommend production techniques for 4K origination and to understand the effects of 4K encoding technologies on program delivery.

One aspect that PBS is testing is new compression standards, like HEVC, which PBS is testing alongside codecs such as H.264, J2K and VP9 to determine the best approach for UHD delivery. With ClearView’s A-B split screen, PBS can do side-by-side comparisons of different compression codecs. PBS can make quality measurements throughout the processing chain, from origination through delivery, using different encoding methods at various bit rates, frame rates, and other variables.

ClearView also doubles as a remote testing technology. Operators can access the box anytime via VPN to perform remote tests.

Video Clarity is located in Campbell, Calif.