David Ross encourages the industry with the claim 'Let's make it happen'

In a somewhat gray NAB 2023 in terms of news, Ross Video comes to Las Vegas with force, expanding its portfolio into new areas of activity and incorporating more companies such as the manufacturer D3 LED.

During the NAB opening event, the company's CEO, David Ross, highlighted that even during the years of the pandemic Ross has continued to grow in terms of sales and the incorporation of new business proposals.

Among them, the purchase of the factory specialized in LED stands out. D3. After the purchase of Image Video (with its tally systems), Primstream and the Austrian Spiderman, now it is the turn of a Californian manufacturer that in a very short time has become a benchmark for the quality of its LED panels. This operation opens the doors for Ross to new markets such as IMAG, retail, educational, entertainment or corporate. In broadcasting it means a step forward in the increasingly rapid adoption of virtual production techniques based on rears with LED panels.

Ross Video reveals at NAB the LED screen families of Ross Video. Among them, stands out the Serie D3 LED Stage, a screen for indoors, rentals and live shows with dimensions of 500 x 1,000 mm and a pixel pitch starting at 2.9 mm. Designed with ease of installation and weight in mind, this product “is one of the lightest in its class” being made from a magnesium alloy. Another category of products is the series D3 LED Perform, an indoor and rental display with a 16:9 aspect ratio (600 x 337.5 mm). Designed with installation versatility in mind, this product can be wall mounted, floor stacked or flown.

Both families are complemented by other products such as the advanced elements processor D3 LED AEP, a processor designed for high-end color reproduction, whether to perfectly match your brand image or so that, in broadcast applications, the screen can look good on camera without aliasing or moiré. This processor IP based It is capable of processing up to 40 million pixels, connects to LED displays using standard hardware, and has redundant configurations for both power and data.

Ross Video's Advanced Element Processor (AEP) is controlled by TrueControl, a web-based software solution that allows you to adjust display settings, schedule content, and run diagnostics and health checks. Another key solution for the Ross LED universe is TruePower, a managed remote power system that allows centralized installation of power in a climate-controlled rack room instead of requiring power at the display location. This solution, according to the company, provides 97% efficiency compared to 86% efficiency of traditional AC. Additionally, it alleviates HVAC needs at the display location, can be configured with full redundancy, simplifies installation by connecting to cabinets with 10 gauge plenum speaker wire, and has a 24 kW output capacity in a 2 RU box.

Meric Adriansen, vice president of the LED area, highlighted in the presentation at NAB that D3 solutions are “tested, full deployment, with an advanced color calibration system, Wide Color Gamut, HDR, energy efficient and offer the possibility of repair at the diode level.”

Together with AWS and Telos Alliance

Ross Video has announced initiatives with two industry leaders from across the broadcast and technology landscape. Ross Video has a long history of working with other companies and believes that collaboration is an integral part of continued innovation and success. Ross's work with Amazon Web Services (AWS) y Telos Alliance is no different, and Ross is excited about the possibilities and benefits that will come as a result.

AWS is showcasing Ross Video's Graphite cost-per-click (CPC) system at the AWS booth at NAB Show 2023 in Las Vegas. This is part of AWS' international production showcase, and visitors to the show will be able to visit the booth to see Graphite CPC in action.

Ross Video's Graphite CPC system is an all-in-one production system that combines production switching, 3D graphics and audio mixing in the cloud, and runs on AWS. Graphite CPC provides all the tools needed to deliver exceptional productions in the cloud without compromise. For those attending the NAB Show 2023, we encourage you to visit the AWS booth, and while you're there, be sure to check out our Graphite CPC solution.

In terms of its alliance with the Telos Alliance, Ross is promoting open standards and integration with all major industry solutions, and the Telos Infinity VIP intercom system can work with any of the major cloud-based production environments, including the Ross Production Cloud. This is especially relevant as broadcasters are looking to cloud-based production workflows to help simplify remote productions, speed deployments and add flexibility to their operations, but remote production is nearly impossible without communications.

Having an end-to-end workflow based entirely on the cloud simplifies deployment and makes implementation more efficient. The Telos Infinity VIP system complements cloud environments like the Ross Production Cloud by allowing networks to maintain intercom signals alongside the rest of their production tools. Ross and Telos will work together to continue to innovate while promoting open standards in the cloud production space.

The news

Among the new features, the new mixer stands out. Carbonite Ultra 60. Building on the success of its mid-size production switcher, Ross Video offers a high-performance offering, all in a cost-effective package.

Carbonite Ultra 60 is designed to handle the most demanding productions and supports up to 60x25 I/O in HD or UHD. With a 3RU modular design, it allows installations to start with fewer inputs and outputs and then upgrade as production needs increase.

Like all Carbonites before it, Carbonite Ultra 60 offers incredible performance and exceptional reliability, all in a single cost-effective hardware platform.

The area of camera motion systems is updated with the new Fury+ with technology StableTrac, which provides the stability of a four-wheel mobile platform, but with the constant traction of a three-wheel system. By mounting the two-wheel assemblies on one side of the dolly, on a vertical pivot arm, Ross Video's new design “ensures” that all 4 corners remain in solid contact with the rails, especially in environments with uneven track surfaces, and ensures that the drive wheel never loses traction, providing smoother, more precise movement.

This area is also renewed for NAB 2023 with the Spidercam X Dolly, which inherits the adaptability of its predecessor and further improves a series of features to increase creative possibilities such as greater charging capacity, more battery options or a maximum speed of up to 6 m/s. Adaptable to a wide variety of applications, from live events and television shows to feature films, the X Dolly offers incredible performance and versatility.

Within this area, Ross Video also presents version 1.3 of Vision[Ai]ry, which adds new features such as a unique multi-channel interface, improved tracking functions, multi-engine support, and an auto-select function. In addition, it will release version 6.0 of SmartShell, which features enhanced studio management features that allow users to easily select and group cameras, keyframe insertion tools, a new notification window, axis limits display, and counting functionality for the X350 pan/tilt head.

Within the graphics area, version 3.4 of Xpression Maps, with which Ross Video introduces the ability to manage and use disputed edges within the software XPression Maps Designer to define the administrative borders observed in your viewing area. Likewise, it adds the ability to change the language displayed on your maps, in real time, with the click of a mouse in the XPression Maps Designer software.

Piero also updated to version 18.0/18.1, adding new visual effects such as Caption Track, Line-up, Spotlight, Laser Eye and Marker. In parallel, the plug-in Voyager Unreal Updated now allows players to be cropped from video footage, creating a more engaging experience for the viewer. Finally, the Down and Distance solution has been improved for NAB 2023, which continues to improve the presentations of American football match broadcasts.

The chapter closes with the Voyager version 5.1, which takes advantage of the improvements of version 5 of Unreal Engine. These improvements include Nanite, a virtualized geometry system that enables more realistic and efficient rendering, and Lumen, a new dynamic lighting system. Also relevant is support for AJA Io X3, which allows Voyager to be used on laptops, providing greater creative flexibility for customers on the go. Finally, a new D3 plugin allows for integration with D3 LED displays, allowing Ross Video offer customers an end-to-end XR solution as well as enable unique color matching capabilities for LED/set extension/AR applications.

Video servers, signal processing and routing

Another novelty for NAB 2023 es Kiva Express Duet, defined as Ross's “most affordable” playout solution. With a “shotbox-style” user interface, Kiva seeks to simplify the playback of audiovisual assets during any live production. With Kiva, operators can ingest, quickly organize and present a wide variety of media during live sports programs, live studio shows, and live events and concerts. The Kiva Express Duet features a single Preview+Program “channel pair” (each with an associated Key output), and two SSD media storage options.

When it comes to signal processing, Ross Video presents the card SFC-6901, prepared to provide fiber transport for SDI up to 12G. On a single “highly flexible and configurable” card, it provides the complete functionality needed to configure up to 4 fiber links (transmit or receive) for a maximum of 40 links in a single openGear rack. It also offers the possibility of max TDM. up to 4 HD signals on a single 12G fiber. Ross Video will also bring to NAB 2023 the SRA-8901-R, an SD/HD/3G/6G/12G-SDI relay bypass module that integrates a 1x4 DA on a rugged, high-density openGear card that allows customers to add power failure relay bypass to mission-critical UHD signal chains, and the TES-8943, ready to provide insertion and decoding of key auxiliary data, including triggers SCTE-104 and VANC data in UHD/12G-SDI, HD and SD workflows.

The routing chapter is led by the Ultrix-MODX-IO, a flexible I/O card that can accommodate up to four submodules supporting various I/O interfaces. These submodules can be mixed and matched with each other and do not need to be filled out on the first day but can be added as needed. It will also be presented Ultrix-IPX-IO, a new I/O blade for Ultrix that offers high-density ST 2110 integration to the Hyperconverged platform.

Content management and control systems

And el stand de Ross Video in NAB 2023 Different demos will be offered that will allow you to discover new versions of software such as Streamline v. 11, which enables convergence between MAM Streamline and Primestream with a new integrated news workflow between MAM and newsroom. On the other hand, although it will mainly expose the Inception version 15.7, Ross Video will offer demos of the version 16 in which will show a function grouping of stories. Additionally, the new Inception Mobile.

Automated production control will be addressed with the release 22 de OverDrive and the 9 of Caprica. OverDrive arrives with the new OverDrive ProjectServer, a “new way” to create, deploy and manage templates and solution resources.

Regarding control systems, Ross Platform Manager arrives with a new version that includes support for the deployment of softGear Docker instances, which expands the set of platforms that can be orchestrated with Ross software. At the stand there will also be DashBoardRoss Video's free and open platform for facility monitoring and control that allows users to create unique, personalized CustomPanels.

Cloud production

The presence of Ross Video in NAB 2023 is completed with softGear, solution provides organizations the flexibility to adapt to changing scheduling needs through media processing microservices on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and in the Cloud, and the Graphite CPC version 1.14, which takes to the cloud a video production toolset including video switching, audio mixing, clip playback and next-generation graphics capabilities.

Graphite CPC can be deployed as a standalone system using Amazon Web Services (AWS), or in local using familiar tools like TouchDriveTM panels and DashBoard control software. Graphite CPC joins the growing list of products available in the Ross Production Cloud, which includes media asset management tools, production automation and MOS-based newsroom systems.

Like all Graphites, CPC combines the Carbonite switcher and RAVE audio mixer with the XPression Real-Time graphics engine to create a single, unified production environment.