HDTV: Tools to face the market

Regarding IBC, one of the most important audiovisual industry events in Europe, we present a brief overview of the new products that some participating companies will launch as tools to face the production of HDTV high definition television.

It is clear that the broadcasters who are making HDTV are building very modest and simple facilities for it. Most of these are developing small HDTV islands concentrated around a small HD router (typically 16x16), some local HD resources, and an upconverter. Miranda continues its approach to the HDTV equipment market with the goal of providing the simplest and most economical solutions for these initial production systems in high definition. This company offers simple solutions such as HD routing systems, HD upload conversion, HD distribution and will soon introduce to the market a frame synchronization system and a downconversion system.

The recent presentation of Aquila Altair Upconverter is a good example of the commitment of this house with this type of solutions. This new one-rack unit upconverter solution offers the same high image processing quality as the Aquila converter but in a simpler, more compact package. The new Aquila Altair model surpasses the performance of other converters on the market and offers the same functionality and support to all formats including 480p, 720p and 1080i but for half the cost of equipment that offers similar quality and functionality.

Miranda offers its line of Imaging converters with more than 60 different modules covering a wide range of functions such as distribution, conversion and processing of audio, video and HDTV formats. The Imaging series is now extended with the new AMX 108i and ADX-108i modules of 8 channels of serial audio where the multiplezing process is exercised and vice versa and the PicoLink series of independent audio and video interfaces that will present the inclusion of 771p AES-SDI in a unit for multiplezing.

Vela recently launched the Cine Cast HD decoder to help tackle the HDTV market and an eventual digitization of broadcast signals.

The CineCast HD/1 and CineCast HD/2 decoders are single and dual channel decoders based on SCSI technology for MPEG-2 4:2:0 high definition, available as standalone decoders or in 1RU chassis. It is able to support all 18 ATSC formats defined as the standard for HDTV resolutions. Similarly, it decodes all transport streams ATSC, DVB, ARIB.

The CineCast HD/1 and HD2 set-top boxes receive input information streams through an Ultra-2 LVDS SCSI interface. They include dual-channel stereo audio decoding and incorporate the ability to decode an MPEG audio layer, Stereo Dolby Digital (AC3) or 5.1 audio channel, and an AAC stereo audio channel. It has APIs installed on top of the successful SCSI architecture. These models are excellent solutions for broadcasting, post-production, advertising, e-cinema and other video distribution applications.

Thomson Multimedia Broadcast will show within its line of high definition systems the LDK 6000HD Camera configured with the HD-DPM+ sensor standard. This CCD-type censor with 9.2 million pixels, allows a resolution between 1080p24 and 720p. It offers HD and SD type outputs simultaneously and is the only one on the market compatible with the Triax system, since it has the latest innovation in this system the Triax-HD.

Thomson Multimedia Broadcast will launch its native LDK 7000HD Digital Cinema Camera in 1080p24, p25 and p30, progressive frame rates typical of digital cinema. In 720p the camera allows applications in slow-motion, with quality superior to that obtained in 16:9.

Thomson Multimedia Broadcast will launch new capabilities to control servers on the DD35 and HD35 production Switchers. The DD35 and Seraph HD35's ability to control external drives is now extended by the addition of Control Server protocols from Louth and Odetics. The addition of this protocol interface allows the user to select clips by gui name (Graphical User Interface) provided by the Switcher, ensuring that the most popular video servers on the market will be controlled by the DD35 and HD35 production Switchers.

QUARTZ will introduce the Q1602HD and Q0802HD Monitoring Routers which will be introduced along with the HD version of the Q256 video router. This expansion towards HD technology will allow users to give great support in the transition from standard format to high definition format. These devices are designed to interoperate with existing systems under the same panels and control systems.

Trompeter announced the launch of the new J314MW Mini-WECo Dual patchjack connector series with the ability to deliver full 1080i signal processing without compression for HDTV. The panels of this jack connector allow 128 input ports in the same 48-input support space and a 30% improvement in connection capacity in the same space of the rack unit.

This improvement makes the J314MW reach a processing capacity through 3 GHz at performance levels of –20dB under normal direct conditions and –15dB in patching mode.