Nevion adds format conversion functionality to Virtuoso for live, remote and distributed production

The group's subsidiary Sony, Nevion, has added up/down/cross conversion (UDC) capabilities to its flagship software-defined media node, Virtuoso.

This software provides low latency, native IP and high quality video conversion for broadcast applications. straight and average production, including production remote y distributed.

Modern live media production involves video sources, as well as destinations, in a variety of formats that must be handled simultaneously, for example 720p, 1080i, 1080p, UHD, SDR or HDR. This creates the need to convert between formats throughout the production workflow.

This first version of Virtuoso's new UDC media feature enables conversion between the different video formats typically required in production, including HD to HD cross conversion, HD to UHD upconversion, and UHD to HD downconversion.

Video processing includes high-quality deinterlacing, interlacing, and resolution upscaling, with built-in legalizer and frame synchronizer with PTP support. This functionality is built for SMPTE ST 2110-20 native IP connectivity, with SMPTE ST 2022-7 shockless switching transport protection on dual 25GigE. In line with other Virtuoso media features, more functionality will be added over time through software updates.

A single 1RU Virtuoso can run up to 16 conversion processes simultaneously, or combine the conversion with other media functions, such as SDI/IP adaptation; the adaptation of audio MII y AND; the embedded/unembedded, prosecution y audio mix; or video encoding and decoding. This makes Virtuoso extremely suitable for use in a server farm, for example in a broadcast line switching center.

Inge Hillestad, vice president of Virtuoso product management at Nevion, says, "Virtuoso is a highly versatile and cost-effective platform that can be used for a variety of live production and distribution applications. UDC is an important addition to Virtuoso's existing video functionality, offering high-density processing capabilities that will be very attractive in production environments."

For its part, Svein Håvard Haugen, vice president of business partner sales and director of product, Flashlink, at Nevion, adds that "this development leverages the deep experience of our Flashlink optical transport and signal processing platform, which has been widely deployed in SDI environments over the past 20 years. The addition of UDC to Virtuoso also effectively completes the migration of Flashlink functionality to IP, giving our customers a trusted option to move to IP when they are ready."