Inter BEE 2014 - Photron introduces latest live, post-production environments with 4K focus; offers integrated workflow with original MAM products

　Under the banner of "4K," Photron (Booth: Hall 4/4307) introduced a state-of-the-art system for communicating with 4K compatible image production environments, from live to post-production. The company also demonstrated a total archiving and network construction workflow, including their own media asset management (MAM). The Photron booth included demonstrations of their latest products divided into four themes: the 4K Solutions Corner, Sports Production Systems Corner, On-Air Graphics Systems Corner, and Media Asset Solutions Corner. (Pictures above: the MasterPlayer multi-format reference player by Archimedia.)

■4K compatible accelerated real time image processing with Thor by Digital Vision
　In the 4K Solutions Corner, Photron showcased products intended especially for 4K production, and linked those products in a workflow demonstration.　
　 At last year’s InterBEE, Digital Vision announced Thor, a 4K compatible, accelerated real time image processing PCI-e board. The board is equipped with an 8-channel 3G-SDI flexible I/O, and is capable of real time processing of four streams in SD/HS or a single stream in 4K/30fps. It can be utilized as an image processing accelerator for a number of different tools. It is compatible with the Nucoda high-end color grading system, the Phoenix restoration system, and DVO Clarity, a tool specializing in film restoration. With the Thor Clarity plug-in, it can perform a number of feats automatically, including high-speed grain and noise reduction, dust busting, image stabilization, and 2K-4K upscaling.

■The MasterPlayer multi-format, HDMI/SDI compatible player
　The MasterPlayer software-based multi-format reference player (pictured above) showcased in the 4K Solutions Corner is already available to the public in the just-released Version 3.0. Using HDMI/SDI conversion, MasterPlayer can take digital cinema formats such as JPEG2000, DPX, or IMF, and turn them into XAVC or HEVC previews. The player supports synchronized playback of preview video and audio files, as well as subtitle and caption data, with individual timecodes. You can also connect to a controller via RS-422 signal to perform operations similar to a VTR, like jog/shuttle and audio scrubbing. Version 3.0 offers the added functions of a multi-waveform monitor and vectorscope, as well as playback with 4K downscaling and HD upscaling.

■Drag and drop to create export playlists with OnAir Director
　 The Sports Production Corner featured OnAir Director, a highlighting and chase editing/exporting system that seamlessly integrates with XT/XS video servers. By simply dragging and dropping any clip or roll into the cue sheet area, you can create an export playlist to use in the actual broadcast. You can also simultaneously export any clips in on-air rolls or on an XT3 video server to an independently created master/slave environment.

■Table Football real time VR studio system introduced at the FIFA World Cup
　The On-Air Graphics Systems Corner featured a demonstration of Table Football as tool for sports commentary, an example of its application as a virtual studio system. This technology was used by Mexican television network Televisa for their FIFA World Cup studio relay. They used the real time Viz Engine as a combination virtual studio and analysis tool, capable of real time graphics using a touch table display.

■Highly customizable media management and transfer tool
　In the Media Asset Solutions Corner, Photron introduced their own original media asset system, miniMAM. miniMAM is highly customizable as an MAM core engine. The system has proven effective in file management, master/preview file and metadata generation, and integrates with a wide variety of tools. It is capable of integrating with file transfer software, transcoders, QC software, and LTO archives. The demo included linking to SIGNIANT, a high-capacity content distribution system.　
　 Harbor is a file transfer platform constructed on a closed network that provides a one-stop platform for all services necessary for video production. In addition to high-speed data transfer via multiple optical lines and digital archiving with cloud storage, Harbor also handles application management for storage and delivery of physical media.

Major products exhibited in each corner:
[4K Solutions Corner]
　Media Composer and ISIS5500 central storage system by Avid
　Clipster 4K DCP/IMF compatible digital cinema mastering system by R&S
　BMD DaVinci Resolve color management and file conformity system by BlackMagicDesign
　Thor 4K real time image processing engine by Digital Vision
　Vantage multi-format media file conversion tool by Telestreams
　MasterPlayer multi-format reference player by Archimedia
[Sports Production Systems Corner]
　XT3 4K/HD live replay system by EVS
　EPSIO ZOOM 4K processing system by EVS
　EPSIO PAINT live paint system by EVS
　STING ingest controller by Photron
　OnAir Director live editing and chase edit/export system by Photron
[On-Air Graphics Systems Corner]
　Table Football AR system by VIZRT
　Viz Libero sports analysis graphics tool by VIZRT
Viz Engine real time 4K engine by VIZRT
　Viz One media asset management by VIZRT
[Media Asset Solutions Corner]
　miniMAM domestic media asset solutions by Photron
　Harbor video production workflow support platform by Photron