The customer new
sletter from
WELCOME to the January issue of our “Vision On” newsletter.
If you’ve yet to be convinced by IP, below we explore some of
the scenarios when it’s much better (and cheaper) to use video over
IP rather than SDI. See what you think!
For those interested in using the MARBLE-V1 media processor for
SDI projects, relay bypass protection will shortly be available
thanks to the new VR07 rear module, while you can also read about
how the M-COCO-2 app’s dual channel functionality is helping Rondo
Media with their SDI legalising and colour correction.
The customer-requested new features we’ve just added to the
M-SAFESWITCH-2 fail-safe switch, meanwhile, are a great example of
the ease with which the MARBLE-V1 apps can be adapted to help you
do whatever you need to do!
It is certainly true that some recent IP television systems
could have been built for less money by using SDI. Most of the
extra cost is due to the use of SDI islands within an IP system and
the requirement for large numbers of gateway converter cards.
However there are processes where IP can be used to give useful
solutions that would be difficult and expensive to achieve with
SDI.
A good example is passing signals over dual redundant fibre
links. A single gateway app on Crystal Vision’s MARBLE-V1 media
processor takes six SDI or IP signals and creates two duplicate
Ethernet outputs for either ST 2022-7 or the equivalent for ST
2110. These can be connected to dark fibre or an IP network. At the
other end of the dark fibre or IP network, another gateway app will
take the two Ethernet connections and convert them back to six IP
or SDI signals. Any data lost on either of the links will be
completely hidden by the seamless switching between the two
Ethernet inputs. This is the best way to connect different areas
together where a
HOW TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF IP“IP costs more than SDI” is
something we often hear. Everyone knows that the industry is moving
from SDI to IP, but a barrier to using IP equipment now is the
expectation that it will be more expensive.
RELAY bypass protection is being added to the MARBLE-V1 apps
with the introduction of a new rear module, the VR07.Purely
designed for those using the apps with both SDI inputs and SDI
outputs, the relay bypass protection protects the video output
on frame power failure or if the MARBLE-V1 card loses power or
is removed. Just like on the Indigo rear modules, an
electromechanical relay switch on the VR07 needs power to hold the
switch in one state and will revert to the other state (card
bypass) on loss of power, preventing signal loss by mechanically
connecting an SDI input to an SDI output.
Providing dual relay bypass protection, the VR07 can be used
with all apps which have one or two main outputs with an input
directly connected to them – currently the M-VIVID200-2,
M-VIVID400-2 and M-VIVID800 video delays, M-COCO-2 colour
corrector, M-WEBKEY web page keyer, M-PIP picture-in-picture
device, M-KEY linear keyer, M-SAFESWITCH-2 routing switch and
M-CLEANIT profanity delay. It could also be used to protect two of
the three outputs on the M-VIVID100-3 video delay.
The VR07 additionally includes four 10GbE network interface,
making it easy to upgrade to IP when required – with the resilience
provided by IP best practice.
To use the VR07 you must have issue 5 or later of the MARBLE-V1
media processor, with issue 5 due for release in early 2021. The
VR07 itself will be shipping from March.
RELAY BYPASS FOR THE APPS
Same required for SDI 2, SDI 3, SDI 4, SDI 5 and SDI 6
SDI 1 SDI 1
Fibre
Fibre
DA Safe switch
SDI to
FibreFibre to SDI
SDI to
FibreFibre to SDI
backup link is required. It is an elegant solution that makes
the most of the way IP systems can protect against data loss.
To provide the same protection in SDI is messy and expensive.
Each SDI needs a distribution amplifier to provide two feeds to
drive two separate SDI to fibre converters, plus two fibres for
each SDI signal, converters back and a safe switch to choose the
best signal. In practice this form of protection of a signal path
is not viable with SDI, but is simple to provide with IP links.
This highlights the problem of comparing the price of an IP
system with an established SDI installation. Some things can be
done better and cheaper with IP, but you need to design an IP
system from scratch rather than copying an existing SDI design.
Using MARBLE-V1 apps is a great way to work in a mixed SDI and
IP environment as the MARBLE-V1 hardware has both SDI and IP
connectivity. Any processing block can be used as a gateway, vastly
simplifying the creation of mixed IP and SDI systems and in most
cases completely removing the cost of conversion – saving you money
as you switch to IP.
MARBLE-V1 gateway
app
MARBLE-V1 gateway
app
SDI or IP 1 SDI or IP 1
SDI or IP 2 SDI or IP 2
SDI or IP 3 SDI or IP 3
SDI or IP 4 SDI or IP 4
SDI or IP 5 SDI or IP 5
SDI or IP 6 SDI or IP 6
10 GbE
10 GbE
10 GbE
10 GbE
Dark fibre or IP
network
Dark fibre or IP
network
JANUARY 2021
WHO’S BUYING WHAT…?
M-SAFESWITCH-2 GETS NEW FEATURESONE of the advantages of using
the MARBLE-V1 media processor is that its apps can be adapted in
response to customer requirements – and that’s exactly what’s
happened with the M-SAFESWITCH-2. Ideal for planned maintenance
switches or as a very sophisticated auto changeover switch and
including two independent 2 x 1 switches, the M-SAFESWITCH-2 will
guarantee a clean switch for sources that are IP (ST 2022 or ST
2110 video), SDI or a mixture of both.
The first new feature is the ability to delay Source B on each
switch by an additional 60 frames in one frame steps, useful for
input timing alignment when the Source A delay is greater than the
ten frames adjustment provided at the flow input stage. This
feature was requested by a customer interested in using the
M-SAFESWITCH to bypass its graphics system, with graphics systems
often prone to long delays.
The M-SAFESWITCH-2 can select from ten different fault
conditions to automatically trigger a switch: input missing, input
video standard incorrect, active video black, active video frozen,
video error, network error, audio group 1 missing, audio group 2
missing, audio group 3 missing and audio group 4 missing. There may
be known and accepted upstream events which can occur in a system
and the second new feature therefore allows switch tolerance to be
set, where errors are permitted to occur for a certain amount of
frames before the switch to Source B triggers.
The third new feature is the addition of a third output, which
is fixed as IP. (The other two outputs can be configured as either
IP or SDI.) The customer who requested this feature needed two SDI
outputs (one for local monitoring) and one IP output.
For those working in SDI, the M-SAFESWITCH-2 is also gaining
relay bypass protection as explained overleaf.
If you want to learn more about the M-SAFESWITCH-2, the user
manual is now available and can be downloaded from the Registered
Area on our website – please e-mail [email protected] if you
don’t already have a login.
Also new for all the apps are quick start guides. These
easy-to-follow one page documents provide a top level outline of
the steps required to configure a Vision 3 frame and a MARBLE-V1
media processor running a software app – as well as directing the
reader to relevant pages in the user manuals for more detailed
information.
Here are some of the orders we’ve received in the last few
months...
AUSTRALIA• Broadcaster SBS has purchased three M-COCO-2
dual channel IP/SDI colour corrector software apps running on
MARBLE-V1 media processors from distributor Interface
Technologies.
• Virtual advertising company Broadcast Virtual has bought
another 14 Safe Switch 3G fail-safe routing switches from
distributor Interface Technologies.
DENMARK• Broadcaster TV2 Nord has ordered a SYN 3G
synchroniser from dealer Danmon Group A/S.
FRANCE• Production company AMP VISUAL TV has
purchased five ViViD 3G-20 long video delays.
GREECE• Broadcaster Alter Ego Media S. A. has
purchased another 42 interface boards for its MEGA TV and One TV
channels. The order included SYNNER 310 multi-functional
synchronisers, TANDEM 310 and TANDEM 320 embedders/de-embedders and
various video and audio distribution amplifiers and was
co-ordinated by distributor Ariston BTS.
• Production company Foss Productions has bought another 16
interface boards from distributor Ariston BTS, including SYNNER 310
synchronisers, TANDEM 310 and TANDEM 320
embedders/de-embedders and 3GDA111C, 3GDA204R, VDA110M HD and
AADA416FM distribution amplifiers.
INDIA• Broadcast graphics company Vizrt has
supplied a Safire 3 chroma keyer and ViViD 3G video delays to
broadcaster Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt. Ltd.
POLAND• Broadcaster TVP has ordered another 24
boards from distributor JBD, including Clip N Key V121 clip and
sting stores, Up-Down-ATS 3G synchronising up and down converters,
TANDEM 320 dual channel embedders/de-embedders, 3GDA105C and
VDA110M HD video DAs and AADA416FM audio DAs.
SLOVAKIA• Broadcaster RTVS has bought a Safire 3 Xpress
chroma keyer from distributor Elektronika.
SPAIN• Broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya has
purchased an LKEY-SQZ squeeze back keyer from distributor
Moncada y Lorenzo.
SRI LANKA• Broadcast graphics company Vizrt has
purchased ViViD 3G video delays for the largest media network in
Sri Lanka, Asia Broadcasting Corporation.
RONDO MEDIA: MULTI-TASKING WITH M-COCO-2
PEOPLE often think of MARBLE-V1 as being Crystal Vision’s IP
platform, however many customers are benefitting from the flexible
SDI functionality it provides. One such customer is Welsh
production company, Rondo Media.
With locations in Caernarfon and Cardiff, Rondo Media produces
content for a wide range of UK and international broadcasters, with
two studios and post production facilities as well as a small OB
van equipped with a Vision
frame containing video DAs and audio embedders.In September 2020
Rondo decided to add a real-time colour corrector and legaliser to
the OB van.
The M-COCO-2 software app – which runs on the MARBLE-V1 media
processor hardware and works with both IP and SDI – was bought to
fit in with their existing Crystal Vision infrastructure and fill
the spare slots in their Vision frame. With broadcasters requiring
content providers to ensure their video content is fully
compliment
with EBU R103, Rondo is primarily using the M-COCO-2 as a
legaliser, but is also using its colour correction tools when
required.
Although Rondo is currently using the M-COCO-2 in an SDI system,
their aim is
to purchase kit which is as future-proof as possible while
having minimal impact on budgets,
which will meet current HD requirements and also work in future
IP environments. This made the M-COCO-2 an ideal solution for
them.
Rondo has found the M-COCO-2’s dual channel functionality very
useful as it allows them to colour correct and legalise separately.
It also allows them to derive two independently colour corrected
feeds from one source, such as for in-shot monitors working on
different sets.
Explaining his choice, Rondo’s Head of Engineering Mike Jones
said: “Rondo’s engineers have had extensive experience with Crystal
Vision kit over the years and appreciate the reliability and
functionality of the kit as well as the support, both pre and post
sales, received from Crystal Vision.”
SWITZERLAND• Telecommunications company Swisscom has
hired ViViD 3GS-20 long video delays for a television show.
TURKEY• National public broadcaster TRT has ordered
another 47 interface boards from distributor Teratek, including
UP-DOWN-A-VF up and down converters, 3GDA-VF and 3GDA105R digital
video DAs and TANDEM10-VF audio embedders/de-embedders.
UK• Broadcasting services provider Red Bee Media
has purchased two M-CLEANIT IP/SDI profanity delay software apps
on MARBLE-V1 media processors.
• The Houses of Parliament in London has ordered an M-PIP IP/SDI
picture-in-picture device software app on a MARBLE-V1 media
processor, along with UP-DOWN-AS-VF synchronising up and down
converters.
• Systems integrator Megahertz has installed 34 interface boards
into OB vehicles for a national broadcaster, including
UP-DOWN-AS-VF, Up-Down-A 3G and Q-Down-AG 3G up and down
converters, TANDEM10-VF, TANDEM 310 and TANDEM 320
embedders/de-embedders and various video and audio distribution
amplifiers.
• Broadcast technology service provider Timeline Television has
bought nine LKEY-SQZ squeeze back keyers for use by Racing TV.
• Systems integrator IVC Technologies has installed additional
interface boards at the Houses of Parliament, including
Up-Down-
AFD 3G up and down converters, FTX-L 3G fibre transmitters,
TANDEM 310 embedders/de-embedders and 3GDA105C and VDA110M HD video
DAs.
• Scottish broadcaster STV has ordered another 25 interface
boards, including SYNNER-VF synchronisers, VDA-VF analogue video
DAs and TANDEM10-VF audio embedders/de-embedders.
• Bild Studios has hired a Safire 3 chroma keyer for a major
European awards ceremony broadcast to millions of people.
USA• Broadcaster Georgia Public Broadcasting has
ordered five M-COCO-2 dual channel IP/SDI colour corrector
software apps on MARBLE-V1 media processors from systems integrator
Diversified.
• Production technology and solutions company PRG has purchased
a Cleanit profanity delay system.
• Mississippi Broadcaster WXXV-TV has bought an Up-Down-ATXS 3G
synchronising up and down converter from dealer Universal Media
Services.
VIETNAM• Broadcaster Binh Thuâ. n TV has bought a Safe
Switch 3G fail-safe routing switch via systems integrator Alpha
Communications.
• Broadcaster Vinh Long Radio and Television has bought another
MultiLogo V432 logo keyer, along with 3GDA111R, VDA210M HD and
AADA416FR distribution amplifiers from dealer Media Broadcast
Technology.
Crystal Vision Ltd. Lion Technology Park, Station Road East,
Whittlesford, Cambridge CB22 4WL, England.Tel: +44 (0)1223 497049
E-mail: [email protected] @crystalvisionuk
www.crystalvision.tv
M-SAFESWITCH-2 app
M-COCO-2 app
CASE STUDY
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