In Broadcast - December 2019 - 34

34

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 9 - Issue 11 | December 2019

InMedia

Cobalt Encoding, Decoding
Solutions Focus on Efficiency
for Contribution

Cobalt Digital produces a range of options for its encoders and
decoders that cater for a wide variety of broadcast applications...

E

ncoding and decoding video
and audio signals are simply
business as usual for broadcasters or
other content creators. For live video
transport, encoding offers the ability to
compress and send data from one point
to another via fibre or IP.
The challenge is delivering the best
image quality with the lowest delay
(latency). Compression is usually
grouped into areas of contribution
(point-to-point)
and
distribution
(point-to-multipoint). Cobalt Digital
focuses on contribution, sharing highquality signals between facilities with
its openGear-based, multi-channel
card solutions.
Compression Technology
Of course, compression technology
has improved since broadcasters
adopted the MPEG-2 compression
standard during the DTV transition.
H.264 provides better compression
than MPEG-2, while HEVC (H.265)
can provide up to two times better
compression than AVC (H.264),
depending on the content.
There are two types of video
compression: lossless and lossy.
Lossless compression, as the name
implies, exactly reproduces the
original image. Unfortunately, the
compression ratios are relatively low,
so there is not a large reduction in bit
rate.
Lossy compression approximates,
rather than duplicates, the video
data. This is done based on visual
models, so the "less noticeable" part
is affected. As a result, it can have
substantially
better
compression
ratios, which makes lossy compression

more attractive for video transport.
Broadcasters tend to rely on lossy
compression because there simply
is not enough bandwidth to manage
lossless signals, especially when you
need to transport multiple signals.
Uncompressed HD runs at 1.5Gbps.
In contrast, AVC/H.264 requires
10Mbps for the same material, while
HEVC/H.265 only needs 6Mbps. Of
course, all compression works by
removing redundant information.
Programming such as talk shows,
which have very little movement, are
relatively easy to compress. Sports,
action movies, and other programming
with lots of motion are much more
challenging for encoders.
In general, compression comes
down to a balance of compromise.
You can think of compression as a
three-legged stool. The three "legs"
are time, compression ratio, and
quality. Encoders and decoders cannot
optimise all three at the same time.
You can usually optimise one or maybe
two, but the remaining elements will
suffer. For example, you can maximise
the image quality (most operations
do), but typically is traded off either
against higher bandwidth or longer
delay.
Cobalt 9992 Series
Designed for a variety of broadcast
applications, Cobalt's 9992 Series
of broadcast-grade encoders and
decoders for openGear frames offers
customised I/O options and extensive
audio support for cost-effective
contribution. The 9992-ENC base
model supports both MPEG-2 and
AVC, with low-latency 8-bit and 10-bit

9992-DEC Block Diagram (AVC / MPEG-2 software defined broadcast decoder)

4:2:0 encoding. For high-end
contribution, optional license
keys provide HEVC support and
4:2:2 encoding.
Cobalt has made great strides with
HEVC compression, and the 9992
Series offers improved latency from
previous encoding products. While
the base model includes a 3G-SDI
input that supports one signal up to
1080p60, upgrades can support three
additional 1080p60 signals for high
density workflows or one 4Kp60 signal
(four 3G-SDI signals or one 12G-SDI
signal).
For audio, the base model includes
two stereo pairs per video signal, but
the 9992 Series supports up to 16
stereo pairs that can be assigned to
any of the encoder channels. It also
provides support for MPEG-1 Layer II,
AAC-LC, HE-AAC (V1 and V2), Dolby
Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC3), and 5.1 surround sound options.
"Our 9992 encoders and decoders
are incredibly powerful and flexible,
so they can be used in virtually any
broadcast application," said Chris
Shaw, Cobalt Executive Vice President
of Sales And Marketing. "Plus, we have
a pay-as-you-go licensing structure, so
you only pay for the features you need
when you need them."
Transport Over IP
Live video transport over the Internet
is a growing trend, and broadcasters
and other content providers need
a cost-effective and reliable way
to transport video over the public
internet. Video requires packets of
information be delivered sequentially
and in a timely manner - a pretty tall
order for the unpredictable bandwidth
access of the internet.
With support for transport streams
over standard UDP/RTP, RTMP, and
single profile HTTP live streaming
(HLS), the 9992 Series can be used
for direct streaming to CDNs. Plus,
additional licenses support advanced
protocols including SMPTE-2022 FEC
for packet loss protection, as well as
RIST, the Reliable Internet Stream

Cobalt 9992
openGear card

Transport protocol for delivering lowlatency live video over the Internet.
RIST Forum
Cobalt has joined with dozens of
other companies in the RIST Forum,
an independent association that
promotes the new protocol. Reliability
is the key to the success of RIST, but
new features include encryption to
secure content as it travels through
the public internet. Plus, new open
source codebases help companies
implement RIST faster with software
updates.
Cobalt Digital
Cobalt
Digital
designs
and
manufactures award-winning edge
devices that help live video production
and master control clients transition to
IP, 4K, HDR, the cloud, and beyond.
As a founding partner in the openGear
initiative and a member of SMPTE,
Cobalt also offers a best-of-breed
interoperability
platform
that
simplifies technological adoption.
Distributed through a worldwide
network
of
dealers,
system
integrators, and other partners, Cobalt
Digital products are backed with a fiveyear warranty.

"Our 9992 encoders and
decoders are incredibly
powerful and flexible, so they
can be used in virtually any
broadcast application"
Chris Shaw


http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.cobaltdigital.com http://www.cobaltdigital.com http://www.cobaltdigital.com http://www.cobaltdigital.com

In Broadcast - December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - December 2019

Contents
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Intro
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Cover1
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Cover2
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Contents
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 4
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 5
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 6
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 7
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 8
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 9
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 10
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 11
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 12
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 13
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 14
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 15
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 16
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 17
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 18
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 19
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 20
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 21
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 22
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 23
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 24
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 25
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 26
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 27
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 28
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 29
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 30
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 31
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 32
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 33
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 34
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 35
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 36
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 37
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 38
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 39
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 40
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 41
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 42
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 43
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 44
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 45
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 46
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 47
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 48
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 49
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 50
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 51
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 52
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 53
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 54
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 55
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 56
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 57
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 58
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 59
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 60
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 61
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 62
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 63
In Broadcast - December 2019 - 64
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Cover3
In Broadcast - December 2019 - Cover4
https://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/lesommet/inbroadcast_202403
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