In Broadcast - September 2020 - 74

74

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 10 - Issue 9 | September 2020

InMedia

Audio And Video Codecs
Contributing Editor David Kirk reports on recent developments
in the rapidly changing world of encoding, decoding and
associated technologies...

C

odecs play a vital role across
many parts of the broadcast
production chain, including pointto-point streaming and one-to-many
transmission. Each advance in source
resolution has required greater
ingenuity in data compression to
ensure robust delivery.
The great leap forward of 2020
was meant to be a concerted effort
to promote 8K with the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics as a catalyst. Japan's public
service broadcaster NHK pioneered
the advance from SD to HD from 1979
onward, developing its 'MUSE' analog
compression codec to keep the bandwidth within practical limits. Retaining
its vigour, NHK started the world's 8K
satellite broadcast service in
December 2018. JPEG XS (ISO/
IEC 21112) was chosen as part
of the 8K delivery chain and
looks set to play a significant
role across the broadcast
media business over the next
few years. With or without
the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,
this summary looks at recent
developments in codecs.
AEQ's Phoenix Alio is a portable IP
audio-codec designed for outdoor
applications such as sports reporting.
It can connect to codecs from thirdparty manufacturers via the SIP
communications protocol (N/ACIP
Tech 3326 EBU standard). AEQ's
'ControlPhoenix' software allows the
control and management of Phoenix
Studio, Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix
Venus audio codecs via IP. The
equipment can either be part of the
same local area network as the PC
or workstation that controls them or
attached to remote networks. Local
equipment is automatically discovered
when the application is launched. Up
to four users or application sessions
can concurrently control one audio
codec.
Audinate's new USB-C adapter
allows devices with USB-C ports to

Junger's D*AP8

deliver and receive 2 channels of audio
via a Dante audio network. It requires
no additional drivers and works with
any application. The adapter can be
powered by the connected device
or via PoE and works with common
USB-C to USB-A adapters. PoE power
pass-through allows mobile phones
to remain charged while connected
to a Dante network. Also new is the
Dante AVIO Bluetooth adapter. This
provides wireless connectivity to
Dante networks for mobile devices
and computers and is suitable for
playback from mobile phones to larger
sound systems and for connecting
networked speakers and microphones
to conferencing software.

AxelTech's Streamer Max Elite

AxelTech's Streamer Max Elite is a
bidirectional/full duplex audio-over-IP
encoder/decoder with analogue and
digital inputs and outputs. Designed
for broadcast applications, it supports
multiple audio codec protocols and
bitrates and provides rate and jitter
correction in each digital audio path.
Features include an XLR microphone
input, automatic gain control, SNMP
compliance, metadata streaming and
auto reconnect.
Comrex has introduced firmware
version 4.5p2 for its line of IP audio
codecs. The new firmware simplifies
CrossLock connections between the
Access MultiRack and legacy Comrex
IP audio codecs. Firmware v4.5p2 also
replaces an older Adobe Flash-based
GUI with an HTML5 web-based GUI as
the default user interface. The new
interface is claimed to be more secure
and is supported by all browsers. The

Adobe Flash interface can
still be accessed by typing
/flash to
view the Flash web GUI.
Digigram's Iqoya Talk
is a portable IP audio
codec for remote live operations.
It allows remote reporters to control
all critical actions in two clicks. Live
reporting or commentary can be
performed, as well as studio-quality
interviews for up to four journalists
and guests.
Audio content can then be streamed
through a large number of wired
or wireless 'last mile' connections.
Four rack-mountable audio IP codecs
or Digigram's multichannel audio
IP codec (for large number of
streams) can be integrated.
intoPIX reports that its
TICO-XS codec has been
integrated
into
Riedel's
range of JPEG-XS-enabled
SFPs and processing hubs
for ST 2110 live production.
The JPEG-XS standard allows
live
production
workflows
to move from traditional SDI to
networked IP and COTS equipment.
"For broadcasters who want to create
full IP workflows and truly replace
uncompressed video and SDI, intoPIX
JPEG-XS is an outstanding solution
enabling to transmit video without
losing image quality, with less than 1
millisecond of latency," says Renaud
Lavoie, Managing Director at Riedel
Montreal. "This intoPIX technology
enabled us to achieve a true
breakthrough with our MuoN devices:
with 64 JPEG-XS encoders per RU,
our solutions now boast the highest
density on the market."
Jünger's D*AP8 audio codec is
designed to replace Dolby processors
wherever there is a requirement for
decoding, encoding or transcoding
of audio signals. Multiple audio I/O
formats are supported including native
AES along with optional SDI, MADI,

AEQ's
Phoenix Alio

Dante and analog. Designed for use
in all areas of audio broadcast and
distribution, it can decode any current
Dolby audio bitstream and manage
metadata parameters. Encoding is
available as an option. Network based
loudness metering and voice over are
standard whilst logging, automatic
Upmix and fail-over are optional.
Dolby E, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby
Digital, Pro Logic II, AAC and HE-AAC
are supported.
Also available is the D*AP8 FLX
surround audio processor. Processing
options include Level Magic loudness
management, compressor, expander,
parametric EQ, Spectral Signature
dynamic EQ, automatic surround
upmix and voice over. By combining
multiple I/O interfaces, the D*AP8 FLX
can also function as a bridge between
different standards such as Dante, 3G
SDI or MADI.
Prodys'
Ikusnet2
BP
is
a
backpackable unidirectional portable
HEVC/H.265
video
encoder.
It
can bonding up to 10 different IP
interfaces (1 x Ethernet, 1 x wifi, 6 x
3G/4G internal modems or 8 x 3G/4G
external modems). reducing latency
and securing the connection against
packet losses. Ikusnet2 BP can be
operated from a touch panel screen or
from its web interface.

Prodys' Ikusnet2 BP
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.aeq.eu/products/phoenix-alio-1 https://www.axeltechnology.com/streamer-max-mkii/ https://www.prodys.net/video/portable-codecs-video/ikusnet-bp-2/ https://junger-audio.com/en/products/slim-line/8-channel-surround-audio-processor-d-ap8-flx
In Broadcast - September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - September 2020
