TAG Video Systems will show such a multiviewer system at the 2022 NAB Show (Booth #W3517), called the Media Control System (MCS), as the newest layer of the company’s Realtime Media Performance (RMP) Platform. Kevin Joyce, Chief Commercial Officer, TAG VS, said it enables users to capture data from over 400 distinct error detectors to be aggregated and correlated across the entire media supply chain (from live production to playout, OTT & delivery). Media companies can now manage the entire monitoring stack, end-to-end within one system, that in turn will provide invaluable insights for optimum workflow performance.

“The MCS gives new meaning to the phrase ‘Use it or lose it’,” said Joyce, adding that it helps simplify the workflow by providing an end-to-end view. “Raw data is turned into a positive consumer experience with better curation, programming and integrity.”

The MCM supports TAG’s overall strategy of developing software-based IP end-to-end monitoring, deep probing, logging, and real time visualization solutions that monitors every type of signal from live production through OTT delivery. It can also manage hundreds of sources simultaneously, including all the latest formats and transport methods.

As an open-source platform, the MCS serves as an aggregation engine capable of exposing the data collected by TAG’s Multi-Channel Monitoring (MCM) system to standard third party analytic and visualization applications such as Elasticsearch, Kibana, Grafana and Prometheus. This will enable companies to adapt to the rapid pace of change in technology and enable overall better business operations.

Using MCS, media companies can now benefit from reduced complexity by managing the entire monitoring stack, end-to-end within one system. In turn, Joyce said that will provide invaluable insights to keep pace with technology changes, and optimized workflow performance for better business enablement leading to improved promotion, increased consumption, and more customers.

“The industry is seeking ways to utilize and benefit from their own data while simultaneously becoming more autonomous and less reliant upon outside resources,” said Joyce.

At its exhibit booth TAG will also be demonstrating its support for compressed and uncompressed formats, including MPEG TS, JPEG- XS, CDI, NDI, JPEG2000, SMPTE 2110, SMPTE 2022-6/7, MPEG-DASH, HLS, and SCTE.

Apantac (booth #N5406) will also address ways to simplify video wall and display installations in a control room or production studio with its Smart Display Module (SDM) interfaces based on the Intel SDM Platform. Apantac SDM interfaces (cards) accept various input formats—12G SDI, SDVoE, NDI, HDMI 2.0 over HDBaseT— and converts them into an HDMI 2.0 signal usable by a monitor equipped with an Intel SDM slot.

The Apantac interfaces are easy to insert into an SDM-capable display for maximum flexibility in a video wall or display application. And because they draw power from the display and deliver their signals directly via an internal PCI-E connector, these modules eliminate the need for external power or external mounting enclosures.

The company’s current line-up of SDM Interface cards now includes: an NDI Quad-split Multiviewer; AV over IP SDVoE Receiver over single mode and multimode fiber; 12G Quad-split Multiviewer; 12G SDI Receiver; NDI Receiver; UHD HDBaseT Receiver and AV over IP SDVoE Receiver on 10G Ethernet.

“We’re still paying close attention to Video over IP as we see that transition continue,” said Thomas Tang, President of Apantac. “It’s been a priority for us to carefully evaluate what IP products we can incorporate and support in our product lines. Also, many companies are talking about their cloud workflows and I am curious to see at NAB 2022 how these eco-systems, and solutions work together in a cloud environment.”

Tang also spoke about how supply chain issues have affected product development over the last two years. He said that many manufacturers facing a global shortage of components, which is greatly effecting the supply chains.

“So, with this in mind,” he said, “we know that this will affect new product development as there is some hesitancy to introduce new products when customers delivery/shipment expectations cannot be met.”