Inter BEE 2011:Panasonic introduces the new "AVC Ultra" H.264 series of codecs, covering high resolutions for masters and low bit rate for networks

The Panasonic Group (Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co. Ltd) exhibition was based on a concept of "Link together Link to the future "Evolving AVC-World". The exhibition booth displayed a new lineup of products aimed at the broadcasting and the professional video industries, and advocated new "Links" between networks and systems. In addition, Panasonic showed off for the first time in Japan its new "AVC Ultra" video compression codec for professionals; the P2HD series and AVCCAM series; and HD system equipment, which can all be used together in a wide variety of scenarios. Panasonic also introduced a selection of 3D HD solutions, such as its advanced 3D video shooting system due to be used for 3D broadcasts from the London Olympics.

■TV commercial, drama and movie demonstrations
Panasonic showed off for the first time in Japan video taken with its new codec system, "AVC Ultra", which comprises of "AVC-Intra Class 200" (1920*1080/60p; 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling; intra-frame compression; video bit rate: approx. 200Mbps) and "AVC-LongG" (1920*1080; 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling; Long GOP compression, video bit rate: approx. 25-50 Mbps).
The demonstration of the "Class 200" at the Suite showed a 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 video, and the content consisted of TV commercials, drama and movies. It gave an insight into the video production possibilities that could not quite be met by the previous AVC Intra-100. There are plans to commercialize it for camcorders and decks , and it is expected to develop the previous editing and archiving environments.


■ Data transmission between equipment via a network demonstrated
At the Panasonic Technological Suite, the company showed how data could be transmitted between devices such as nonlinear editors, tape decks, and archive devices via a network without moving P2 cards. The emergence of AVC Ultra equipment could allow high resolution and long-duration file-based workflows to be left intact.
It appears that AVC Intra-compatible servers, editing systems and more will be released by influential partner companies and compatibility with "Ultra" is expected to press forward. Providing support for "OP1A", an MXF system for storing video and audio in the same file, also requires attention. AVC-Intra looks like becoming an important program production system.