In Broadcast - November 2015 - 39


39

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 5 - Issue 11 | November 2015

InReply

IHSE - The Rise Of KVM Technology cont'd...
InB: How does a full KVM switch
benefit broadcasting organisations?
EL: There are several advantages.
Primarily it allows valuable data and
applications to be stored and managed
in a controlled environment. Studios
already have central equipment rooms
for video asset management and
can co-locate computing equipment
alongside. This restricts physical
access of equipment, preventing
unauthorised access, removal of data
and the threat of virus infection.
Secondly, to connect to a device, the
user simply needs to access a 'dumb'

workstation, comprising keyboard,
video screen and mouse or other
pointing device. This can be anywhere
and does not need to be designated to
a specific task.
So
engineers,
editors
and
programme schedulers can access
any tool from any computer at any
location; leading to complete flexibility
in facility layout, sharing of editing
suites and studios, and simplified
access to any application from a single
workstation. It is no longer necessary
to unplug and move computers around
in order to change the production

The videowall at Belgrade's
Pink Media Group

layout for an event, so setup and
configuration is a much quicker and
more effective process. It can be preprogrammed and stored which allows
rapid changeover between events and
sharing of studios between different
genres of broadcast.
Thirdly, it makes for a much better
working environment - less floor space
taken up by equipment and less desk
clutter as there is just one workstation
and keyboard/mouse for multiple
tasks. And, of course, noise and heat
is reduced, which is particularly
important in studios and sound editing
suites.
InB: How are you interacting with
other equipment vendors?
EL: For some time system
integrators have been asking for
interface technology to enable
smooth and efficient interaction
between broadcast devices and KVM
switches: drivers and protocols that
enable easy access to broadcast
devices and applications, and to allow
external controllers to manage the
switching paths. We work closely with
broadcast device manufacturers to

ensure compatibility and interact with
common broadcast control systems:
including L-S-B's VSM and BFE's KCS.
More recently we worked with Avid
to develop the switching interface for
their Pro Tools|S6 control surface.
This allows operators to switch source
devices using assignable keys on the
control panel, and was brought about
by industry demand - several major
users requested the ability to do this
and we responded accordingly.
InB: What about 4K?
EL: Nobody can ignore the impact 4K
will have on broadcast infrastructure
and workflow.
Our first step was a collaboration
with Fraunhofer IIS to develop the
innovative lightweight image (Lici®)
codec which is used in the new Draco
Ultra extender - the first on the market
to extend video at 4K 60Hz full colour
4:4:4 resolution.
This is already available and being
deployed.
Naturally we have further plans -
watch this space!
InB: Thank you for your time.

http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.ihse.com/company/press/press-release/2014/09/pink-media-group-constructs-large-on-set-videowall-using-draco-tera-matrix-switch.html http://ccw15.mapyourshow.com/6_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?ExhID=5171048 http://www.cobaltdigital.com/ http://www.cobaltdigital.com/

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