Whether it is ensuring the right connectivity, encoding, transcoding, up or downscaling, or ensuring that selected 'looks' are maintained throughout the production workflow... most broadcast infrastructures depend upon an array of problem solving hardware and software devices and speaking to experts first-hand at a show like IBC is a great way to identify exactly the right piece of your workflow puzzle. 

Several of the vendors featured here are powering the great leap into the next generation of cloud-native microservices. Their ground-breaking modular software applications offer processors designed to be deployed to run on COTS public, private or hybrid cloud server infrastructure. They are intended to deployed and configured as part of an agile development based, software-first, broadcast production system. Such cloud-native systems may well be the next generation of broadcast technology which brings a whole new level of flexibility and scalability to our systems. We will certainly be taking a closer look at their rapid evolution. Check out our Cloud Based Applications At IBC article for more on this. 

So, here is a selection of vendors whose products might be just what you are looking for today, tomorrow and in 5 years time, with a somewhat more hardware oriented focus.

AJA Video Systems (Stand 7.C19) front and center at IBC for AJA will be their new Dante AV 4K-T and 4K-R transmitter/receiver converters which let users transport and control low latency video and audio over a Dante AV network - covered here. 

Alongside these will be the FS-HDR which can be used to upconvert HD sources to 4K or downconvert 4K sources to HD and streamline color transforms between SDR and HDR workflows. New firmware highlights include a new Colorfront TV Mode leveraging the latest color science advancements from Colorfront, and updates for the device’s Live and Film Modes that add support for ARRI LogC4 transforms, as well as support for BBC LUTs v1.6.

In addition to showcasing FS-HDR at IBC, AJA will also demonstrate AJA ColorBox. The HDR/SDR color converter is beginning to play more of a role in HDR conversion workflows that require extremely low latency color processing. It will be shown with its latest v2.0 firmware. The update introduced a new add-on license for Colorfront Engine video processing with new Live and TV Modes, support for BBC LUTs v1.6, an ORION-CONVERT update with a gamma compensation, support for overlaying frame lines or other graphics, and five additional built-in test patterns.

Evertz (IBC Stand 1.B79) will spotlight its XPS-Edge and MIO XPS Scorpion video encoder module. The MIO-XPS Dual slot module for low latency HEVC compression supports 1 encode and 1 decode of 3G/HD–SDI using HEVC 10b422 and transport using ST2022–2/7 or SRT. It can be used in any SCORPION chassis.

The XPS Live Video Encoder Series is Evertz’ real–time high quality and low latency video encoder and decoder module for live streaming, cloud–based, REMI/remote production, OTT, and on–demand applications. It provides secure broadcast–quality video encoding at ultra–low latencies for mission–critical applications, supporting up to 4x simultaneous 1080p50/60 HD video encodes or decodes. It can be configured in software to switch between either a four–channel encoder, four–channel decoder or a combination of two encodes and two decodes.

The XPS Live Video Encoder Series supports up to 2160p50/60 4K UHD video resolutions with 16 channels of audio, and support for different compression standards such as H.265/HEVC or H.264 over any IP network. They also provide native support of protocols such as SRT/RIST/Zixi/RTMPS for streaming over lossy networks like the Internet. Dual power supplies are optional. It also supports the latest patent–pending iTrak technology for multi–camera synchronization from multiple locations for cloud production using Evertz’ BRAVO Studio.

Grass Valley (Stand 9.A01) will show and demonstrate its huge product line-up at IBC, featuring hardware, software and its ground breaking cloud-native GV Agile Media Processing Platform - which itself brings a range of versatile, microservices based software processing solutions. 

When it comes to more traditional hardware, the Modular Processing Platform for Densité 3+ FR1 and FR3 frames will make its European debut at IBC. The Densité 3+ XIP-3911 focuses on high-quality live production for HD, 1080p, 4K UHD and HDR.

Installed in the established Densité modular frame, the XIP-3911 with a rear XIP-3911-3+DRP comes with all the 12G/quad link3G/3G/HD-SDI connectivity to support two 4K UHD processing paths with dual 25 GbE SFP cages for SMPTE ST 2110 IP I/O applications.

The applications for the XIP-3901 agile IP/SDI processing platform are also compatible with the XIP-3911 platform and they provide full functionality of up/down/framesync-gearbox processing capability delivered through eight applications. This includes playout channels where output of a 4K UHD HDR channel needs to be downconverted for an HD SDR simulcast version.

There are 8 applications the XIP-3901 and XIP-3911, providing dual channel 12G/quad link designed to synchronize, upconvert or downconvert and process HD and 3G 1080p signals for both 1080p and 4K UHD 2160p broadcast production with multiple configurations, features and abilities.

The, XIP-3901-UDC-HDR, allows conversion between SDR and HDR formats and wide color gamut BT.709 and BT.2020, supporting HLG (ITU-R BT.2100), PQ (ITU-R BT.2100), and S-Log3/S-Gamut3 formats. In addition to the Grass Valley LUTs, you can select BBC LUTs or you can choose your own custom LUTs compliant to Adobe cube file v1.0 for fully flexible HDR processing. The HDR processor operates in full 10-bit video signals with the ability to pass sub-blacks and super-whites in SMPTE Narrow video signals and the support of SMPTE Full in PQ and S-Log3 signals. An optional HDR processor is available on some applications.

Lawo (Stand 8.B90) will be demonstrating a portfolio of new products that span many areas of the production chain.

This year Lawo expanded the capabilities of its HOME network and device orchestration system with the release of its first HOME Apps which provide a suite of processing options within a cloud microservices infrastructure. 

LAWO will also be showing .edge, their Hyper-Density SDI/IP Conversion and Routing Platform. It is designed with simplicity, flexibility, agility and economic efficiency in mind. Software-defined by nature, it is a powerful gateway and can be used as a drop-in replacement for traditional SDI routers. Flexible software licenses provide the perfect mix of advanced features for users who really need them.

.edge’s compact 2RU housing accommodates up to 192 HD-BNC connectors for distributed SDI interfacing and can be clustered to provide matrices with as many crosspoints as needed. .edge is automatically discovered and registered within the HOME environment and benefits from all of HOME’s next-generation management features.

Two new optional licenses—.jpegxs (compression) and .proxy (video proxy generator)—will be launched at IBC 2023.

LYNX Technik AG (Stand 10.A10) will show two HDR and SDR processing apps running on its greenMachine 4K/UHD/12G platform.

HDR EVIE+ (Enhanced Video Image Engine) provides 1x 4K/UHD processing channel supporting down-conversion from HDR transfer characteristics to SDR through appropriate sectional dynamic tone mapping. It is the world’s first system that uses the advanced algorithm for sectional dynamic tone mapping which automatically analyzes different sections of an image in HDR stream and applies optimal corrections on a frame-by-frame basis in real-time. It also supports Wide Color Gamut (WCG).

Using HDR captured images, HDR Evie+ processes and brightens specific sections of the video signal, while at the same time retrieving details from over-exposed sections of the video. This is accomplished in an automatic process, which analyzes the incoming HDR image on a segmented and frame by frame basis.

HDR Evie+ uses proprietary algorithms to analyze and convert HD or 4K HDR video to SDR video in real-time and displays images as you would see them with your own eye. Until now frame-by-frame corrections were only possible by manually applying correction metadata to each frame which is then utilized during live playback; a non-real-time process, both time consuming and expensive.

HDR Static will also be on display, running on a greenMachine. HDR Static applies color and contrast parameters equally throughout a specific piece of content, such as an average brightness/color range is determined across an entire program. It accomplishes this with sophisticated algorithms and by automatically applying color and contrast corrections across the specified images and content to deliver greatly enhanced images.

It supports real-time static HDR conversion between SDR and HDR, HDR and SDR, as well as between different HDR standards. HDR Static’s greenMachine processor has an advanced algorithm that overcomes issues arising from “round-tripping” SDR>HDR>SDR.

Matrox Video (Stand 7.B15) will introduce ORIGIN, an empowering cloud-native framework that claims to redefine live production workflows for broadcast and media developers. It offers a native, IT-based approach to TV production, providing scalable, low-latency, and frame-accurate broadcast operations for tier-1 live television production.

Matrox will also show its portfolio of processing tools. Two-way, high-density ST 2110-to-HDMI/SDI monitoring and conversion with ConvertIP pod. A new daisy-chaining feature in ConvertIP Version 2.0, allows users to send multiple streams through one connection and display any stream on any connected monitor. These fanless, NMOS-aware devices are 4K- and IPMX-ready, support both ST 2110-20 uncompressed and ST 2110-22 compressed JPEG XS workflows and include PoE+ for easy integration.

Users can send up to four synchronized SDI broadcast-quality camera feeds from any location over the open internet and/or public/private cloud using a Matrox Monarch EDGE 4K/multiHD encoder and genlockable decoders. New at IBC2023, Version 2.05 adds support for SCTE 104, closed captioning, and more for easier integration into broadcast workflows.

Operators delivering H.265 will enjoy the LUMA H.265 codec card. This Matrox Video professional implementation of Intel ARC Graphics encodes/decodes multiple H.264 and H.265 streams for easy multiformat delivery. Matrox LUMA is available in a fan-less, low-profile version for specialty applications and easy installation.

Ross Video (Stand 9.A05) will of course be demonstrating new technologies across the spectrum of broadcast, including their own contribution to the expanding cloud-based production ecosystem.

When it comes to supporting the nuts and bolts of multi-format video workflows Ross has always been a major provider of problem solving, hardware based converters and interfaces. 

For instance, Ross Video's Newt adapts to rapidly changing IP environments, bridging Quad-SDI and HDMI 2.0 interfaces to JT-NM tested ST2110 media streams. Newt is fluent in NMOS, EmBER+, and DashBoard open standards protocols for the freedom to use it in virtually any IP environment. It can be used to convert and process SDI and IP signals from HD to UHD. Embed ST 2110-40 ANC streams into your SDI outputs. QUAD-SPLIT enables simultaneous viewing of four independent videos on a single HDMI 2.0 output and gearboxing lets you monitor SQD and 2SI UHD streams.

Their OpenGear portfolio now totals more than 60 modules, which combine with their OgX frame and DashBoard control & monitoring software and it encompasses a huge range of applications and workflows. 

Other articles in this IBC 2023 'Show Focus' series:

The Broadcast Bridge will be at the IBC Show - Stand 8.F01. Please come and see us, get a copy of our free book on 'Scalable Dynamic Software For Broadcasters' and share your thoughts on what we do and what you would like to see from us in the coming year.