In Broadcast - August 2020 - 28

28

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 10 - Issue 8 | August 2020

InTech

HDR Comes To The Fore
The unique Pictureby-Picture function of
Postium's OBM P series
allows
two
different
SDI input signals to
be displayed on the
screen
simultaneously.
"This function is very
convenient for making
instant adjustments to two
input sources, because
there is no need to individually adjust
the different characteristics of two
monitors," the company explains.
The OBM-P Series embraces seven
models from 18-inch to 55-inch
that accept up to 1080 60P signals
displayed at native HD resolution and
are equipped with standard 3G/HD-SDI
input interfaces as well as HDMI 1.3a
and analogue inputs.

Ikegami's HQLM-3125X
UHD monitor

Broadcast Production Control
For critical image evaluation
in broadcast production control
environments Ikegami offers the
HQLM-3125X, a 31-inch UHD monitor
with specs including 4,096 × 2,160
pixel 10-bit resolution and 1,000
candela per square metre. Compliant
with BT.2020 WCG, the monitor
employs a 'double-LCD-layer' panel
delivering a 1,000,000:1 contrast
ratio with 'true' black reproduction.
Ikegami describes a layer of lightmodulating cells allows pixel-by-pixel
control of backlight intensity, reducing
light leakage and black float while
reaching a black-level of 0.001 cd/m².
Standard features include two 12G/3G/
HD-SDI inputs and outputs, three 3G/
HD-SDI inputs and outputs plus an
HDMI input. The HQLM-3125X can thus
accommodate three simultaneous UHD
feeds.
Blackmagic Design's SmartScope
Duo 4K model includes built-in
waveform monitoring "when you
need to analyse image quality more
accurately than simply looking at the
picture." For US$795 you get seven
of the most popular scopes most
widely used in broadcast and post
(waveform, vectorscope, RGB parade,
YUV parade, histogram, audio phase
and level scopes). You can even
monitor video on one of the dual
8-inch LCDs while running a scope
such as waveform, histogram or audio
on the other screen. This combination
means you can see the video you're
monitoring alongside a real time scope
measurement, all on the same unit.
You can also download software to the
SmartScope Duo 4K to add new types
of scopes as they become available.

Blackmagic's Smartscope Duo 4K

Remote & IP-based
Broadcast Monitoring
The
coronavirus
has
made
broadcasters dramatically reassess
not only how programs are produced,
but also how distribution operations
are managed. The move to both IT and
IP-based broadcast infrastructures
had already made it possible for
technicians to access systems from
wherever they are. This option is now
widely available, meaning broadcast
centres can still run efficiently,
while, at the same, time allowing
self-isolation and social distancing
guidelines to be observed.
"Many broadcasters were already
considering remote workflows but now
they are a necessity, not only to keep
networks running but also in ensuring
that their output continues to meet
the highest standards," says Erik Otto,
CEO, Mediaproxy.
By mirroring the Mediaproxy
LogServer logging and analysis
systems at the master control room
or network operations centre in the
homes of technical operators, it is
possible to maintain the same level
of checking and audience experience,
the company explains. Through low
latency links, technicians can monitor
outgoing streams using
exception-based monitoring
on Mediaproxy's interactive
Monwall
multiviewer."
Exception-based monitoring,

cont'd...

which uses IP 'penalty boxes' that
allow broadcasters and multiple
system operators to deal with QC
and compliance more efficiently.
Ross stresses the importance of
having a low-latency stream of a
multiviewer that can be accessed
by all off-premise operators. One
quick way for a user to get a lowlatency multiviewer accessible to
multiple people is to use a third-party
SDI / HDMI capture device for Mac
or PC from a vendor such as AJA or
Blackmagic.
Next, with embedded audio included
on the stream, operators can use
a video conferencing software (i.e.
Teams, Zoom) and set the capture
device as the webcam input. The video
conferencing software is made to
handle multiple simultaneous users
and operates in close to real-time,
which keeps the latency low.
Ross' free DashBoard software
makes it simple to control and
monitor hardware products, and
many of its own software applications
can be accessed through remote
applications. Additionally, it has cloudready solutions such as Inception
and Streamline hosted through web
servers accessed via VPNs.
Rohde & Schwarz software-based
PRISMON monitoring and analysis
solution enables broadcasters to
evaluate the viability of transitioning
master control and playout to the
cloud.
US network PBS used the PRISMON
to measure the latencies associated
with cloud-based encoding and
transport
and
to
synchronize
numerous feeds of the same content
from different signal processes
running in the cloud for side-by-side
visual comparisons and evaluations.
The unit also provided objective
measurement of the performance
of various cloud-based encoding
solutions, highlighting artifacts such
as 'bad' pixels and charting errors
on a frame-by-frame basis to enable
data-driven comparisons with the
performance of the actual hardware
encoders used at PBS.
"We recognize that the quality
of a broadcaster's signal is of the
utmost importance and developed the
PRISMON to provide broadcasters with

Bridge Technologies Integrated Services
Monitoring (ISM) IP-based production
and distribution setup would have
also been demoed at NAB this year in
partnership with Appear

objective signal measurements so they
can be confident in their end product
regardless of whether it's coming
from the cloud or on premise," said
R&S Head of Monitoring Development
Bjoern Schmid.
Bridge Technologies has debuted
Integrated Services Monitoring (ISM),
a turnkey suite of tools, which puts
automated eyeballs on all acquisition,
delivery and production media
streams.
"ISM provides exactly the set of
data gathering tools broadcasters
need throughout the chain - from
production to delivery, uncompressed
to compressed," explains Simen
Frostad, Chairman. "No other company
in the network monitoring and analysis
space can offer such a complete,
comprehensive set of automated
capabilities that deliver such a high
level of understanding throughout any
content distribution chain."
ISM is able to monitor both
uncompressed
and
compressed
data across various formats and in
resolutions up to 8K. It allows for full
motion, colour-accurate, very lowlatency video to be made available
from any source to any application
or user - anywhere in the world,
whether fixed studio, remote OB van
or headend environment, such that
a geographically-dispersed team can
work together on the same project.
"Individual, disparate
solutions
become a less and less tenable
approach within an industry that is
now trying to do a lot more with a
lot less," Frostad adds. "ISM takes
the incredible analytical ability
embedded in every part of the Bridge
Technologies portfolio, and deploys it
in a way that captures and utilizes data
in multifaceted ways to assist with
accurate decision making across the
whole media chain, end-to-end."

R&S Prismon media monitoring and multiviewer systems
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.bridgetech.tv http://www.ikegami.de http://www.blackmagicdesign.com https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/dk/product/prismon-productstartpage_63493-430784.html
In Broadcast - August 2020

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