Sony reimagines the future of network media production

Sony announced at IBC 2016 that it will be incorporating HDR and HFR into live production work for 4K sporting events. The new HDR production conversion unit, HDRC-4000, is designed for simultaneous live 4K HDR and HD SDR content production workflows.

Two new technologies Sony will enable professionals to seamlessly incorporate high dynamic range (HDR) and high frame rate (HFR) content into a 4K live sports event production workflow.

The HDR production conversion unit, HDRC-4000, is designed for simultaneous live 4K HDR and HD SDR content production workflows, eliminating the need for separate workflows at the same event and reducing time and money spent on production.

The HDC-P43 point of view (POV) camera uses the same image sensor and camera circuitry as Sony's HDC-4300, and supports HFR and 4K HDR. Lightweight (2.0kg; camera body only) and compact (119mm W x 140mm H x 212mm D), it can be mounted in positions where high-definition POV cameras are now used, such as a crane, rail, pole or steadicam, to capture fantastic action scenes from unique angles, at up to 8x in HD or 2x in 4K.

Based on Sony's recommended S-Log3 and BT.2020 production workflow for 4K HDR live production, the unit is capable of real-time conversions to formats suitable for various applications (broadcast, OTT, public viewing) as well as input formats (OETF/EOTF, color space, HDR/SDR and resolution), including conventional HD content production, and video signals except S-Log3, without sacrificing the quality of the image.

Using a unique algorithm, HDRC-4000's AIR (Artistic Intent Render) Matching feature ensures accurate format conversion of content produced in S-Log3 and BT.2020 to match the required distribution format and show the audience the true intent of the creators. Its compact 1.5U body can support two-channel conversion.

The HDC-P43 POV camera features a 2/3″ three-chip 4K image sensor and can offer 2x slow motion in 4K and 8x super slow motion in HD, along with a 4K live server. The new camera builds on Sony's existing range of sports event production technologies, the HDC-4300 or HDC-4800 4K/HD live camera systems and the PWS-4500 4K live server to enable efficient recording, sharing and network data distribution with corresponding colorimetry. Sony's Share Play feature, built into its latest sports production technologies, allows a single operator to control the editing and output of slow-motion highlights with file sharing capabilities over a single network (10G or higher), linking the Sony 4K live camera system with a video server.

The HDC-P43 offers all the interface functions necessary for live production and studio recording, such as tally signal, return image and teleprompter output, and has an integrated fiber adapter when connecting it to the BPU-4000 and BPU-4500 baseband processing units or the HDCU-4300 camera control unit.

Using single-mode fiber cable, the connection distance between the camera head and the baseband processor can be extended up to 5 kilometers, increasing efficiency when there is a considerable distance between a stadium and a mobile unit, or when recording full-area views of a playing field.

Interoperability

At IBC, Sony showcases its continued progress in interoperability and reveals six new solutions based on IP Live. A key part of Sony's strategy is its commitment to delivering fully interoperable solutions and systems that are ready for deployment, using currently available standards, while remaining open to future standards. Sony has played a very prominent role in the industry since 2012, when it joined the Joint Taskforce on Networked Media (JT-NM) working group. Later, he joined the ASPEN and AIMS alliance groups, and more recently AMWA's Networked Media Incubator (NMI) project, which promotes the development of the Network Media Interface framework.

At IBC 2016, Sony shows these advances as part of the IP interoperability zone organized by AIMS, AMWA, EBU, SMPTE and VSF. Visitors will have the opportunity to see Sony's interoperability, based on the existing SMPTE ST2022-6 and SMPTE ST2059 open standards and the future TR-03 (SMPTE ST2110) and NMOS (IS-04) open standards.
Norbert Paquet, Head of Strategic Marketing for Live Production at Sony Professional Europe, highlights that "Sony continues to demonstrate its work as an industry technology leader through our work, both with standards bodies and alliances with industry manufacturers, to deliver unified interoperability. At this year's IBC we will not only do technical demonstrations, but we will show a complete end-to-end workflow of 4K/HDR live production over IP, remote production and data center architecture, compatible all with our alliance partners and which are now available thanks to the Network.”

Sony NX5R

At this IBC, Sony has presented its latest NXCAM camcorder, the HXR-NX5R, which replaces the popular NX5 and NX3 solutions to offer network functions and greater capture performance. High-quality color images and high sensitivity are possible thanks to three 1/2.8″ type Full HD Exmor CMOS sensors and 40x clear image zoom, which allows you to double the optical zoom without losing image quality, in addition to multi-format recording to meet a wide variety of recording applications and environments such as live events, including weddings or corporate productions.

To deliver a significant improvement in overall image quality, the latest upgrades from the NX3 and NX5 models also include a 3G-SDI terminal that supports Full HD output at 60p. The HXR-NX5R also includes the first LED video light with adjustable brightness to minimize the need for external lighting equipment. Additionally, this advanced technology uses a digital signal processor (DSP), advanced noise reduction, and outstanding detail reproduction to deliver images that are remarkably realistic in texture and detail. A direct menu function and a precise joystick have also been added to increase ease of use.

The HXR-NX5R provides content creators with new enhanced networking features, including FTP and live streaming, with built-in Wi-Fi, as well as the ability to record simultaneous backups via two SD card slots that increase reliability and adaptability in the most difficult live events. A variety of advanced 50 Mbps XAVC S or standard AVCHD/DV recording formats are available, designed to suit a wide range of workflows and customer requirements, as well as allowing content creators to modify their production based on the image quality they require.