When done right, networking shouldn’t regularly cross broadcasters’ minds. That’s not to say networking isn’t a critical piece of the broadcast puzzle, quite the opposite – networking is the glue that binds the production process with a smooth flow of signals, data and commands throughout a workflow. Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, has cultivated strategic partnerships and developed upgrades to key solutions that comprise the Broadcast Data Center to ensure that broadcasters’ networking systems are built on open standards and leverage the benefits of COTS hardware platforms.
At NAB 2017, Grass Valley will showcase multiple parts of the Broadcast Data Center: Cisco 9200/9300 IP media network kits; GV Node v2.0 and GV Convergent v1.3, both now supporting the proposed SMPTE ST 2110 standards; the Densite IPG-3901 v2 modules which enable a flexible, scalable IP transition; and the Kaleido-IP for monitoring all IP formats from one platform.
“You can have the world’s best solutions in your studio or truck, but without a reliable networking system the quality of your production will suffer, often in the form of blank screens or bad images, and viewers will undoubtedly notice,’ said Neerav Shah, senior vice president of strategic marketing, Grass Valley. “Grass Valley designed the Broadcast Data Center to handle networking needs through the entire production process, a glass to glass approach that supports today’s IP workflows and brings the benefits of a traditional IT data center – extensibility, fault tolerance, reliability – and applies it in a broadcast environment.’
As a Solutions Technology Integrator (STI) partner, Grass Valley has established a strong relationship with Cisco to help guide the ongoing development of IP networking solutions for the broadcast and media markets, including convenient purchase and support options for Cisco IP Switches. Using Cisco Nexus® 9200 and 9300 Switches, Grass Valley offers a bundled product offering featuring commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Cisco Switches, licenses for non-blocking media support and joint service offerings. These bundles integrate with all of Grass Valley’s IP-enabled products, accelerating installation and setup and ensuring compatibility with all of Grass Valley’s IP Broadcast Data Center solutions.
GV Node v2.0, an all-in-one IP processing and routing platform, enhances the capabilities of the COTS switch with broadcast-centric features including vertically accurate video switching with quiet audio transitions, critical to a broadcast workflow. GV Node v2.0 continues to support advanced SDI-based workflows to leverage existing systems while making way for live telecasts over end-to-end IP.
As more broadcasters adopt IP solutions, GV Convergent v1.3 creates a cohesive control platform regardless of workflow type to provide a reliable IP fabric/SDI router control and configuration system. The system is both infrastructure and signal format agnostic to adapt to unique facility needs and allow broadcasters to make real-time modifications through an intuitive interface and custom system configurations.
The Densite IPG-3901 v2 modules continue to drive the adoption of IP in broadcast facilities by bridging the gap between SDI and IP. The newly upgraded IP Gateway provides advancements such as support of VSF TR-04 (the proposed SMPTE ST 2110-50/30) for independent video and audio management and SMPTE ST 2022-7 for redundancy. The IPG-3901 continues to offer a proven solution for 4K UHD over one-wire, reducing the complexity and wiring of quad-link installations, while maintaining proper video timing over an IP network.
The Kaleido-IP multiviewer is enhanced with support for 4K HEVC, as well as SMPTE ST 2022-6 and the proposed SMPTE ST 2110 for uncompressed video over 10G, 25G and 40G connectivity to make it an ideal platform for simpler workflows by enabling uncompressed, DVB MPEG TS and OTT (HLS) formats to be monitored on the same device.
“IP is a reality today – networks and facilities around the world have adopted IP workflows and need reliable IP solutions to support them in the broadcast process from start to finish,’ said Shah. “Grass Valley’s Broadcast Data Center has been and will continue to work successfully and reliably in the broadcast field, offering IP support across the broadest range of IP products.’
