Sony expands HDR production capabilities for its profeional products

--

Sony expands HDR production capabilities for its professional products --

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 10:42

--

Sony is expanding the HDR capabilities of many of its professional products, to meet the growing requirements for HDR content in every production application. The new enhancements deliver HD HDR Live broadcasting and Instant HDR workflow in products ranging from live camera system, servers to monitors to camcorders with updating software or firmware accordingly. High Dynamic Range adds increased realism to moving images and makes the viewing experience significantly more immersive. Broadcasters, live event producers and online content creators all have specific HDR production requirements, and the expansion of Sony s HDR production capabilities offers a wide range of benefits.

HD HDR Live broadcasting

Sony has already offered full range of 4K HDR production system from movies and TV drama where reality and details are priorities, to also for live broadcasting where Sony has already established SR Live for HDR workflow, a straightforward system enabling an efficient workflow for simultaneous production of 4K HDR and HD SDR.

In July 2016, the International Telecommunication Union published ITU-R HDR-TV Recommendation, BT.2100-0. The HDR broadcast standard presents two options for producing HDR image - Perceptual Quantization (PQ) and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) - and opens the way towards wider adoption of HDR broadcasting.

With the momentum, Sony hear lots of customer voices demanding for capabilities to do HDR production in HD especially from areas where migration from HD to 4K may still need some time.

Sony now provides HD HDR capable solution for broadcasters in the areas of:

Workflow

SR Live for HDR can support HD HDR- based simultaneous production of HD HDR and HD SDR in the same method as for 4K HDR. In the SR Live for HDR workflow, the camera s output signal is converted into [S-Log3, BT.2020, HD HDR] as an intermediate format for production processes.

Once the image has been produced, Sony s HDRC-4000, HDR production converter unit is required to convert it to an appropriate HDR-capable transmission format, such as standardised HLG or PQ. The HDRC-4000 utilises original algorithms, including built-in AIR Matching (AIR refers to Artistic Intent Rendering), to accurately reproduce the image quality and colouring determined during S-Log3 production - regardless of the transmission format used.

The SR Live for HDR production environment can include a multiplicity of subject types, devices, formats, and vendors. The system is capable of delivering high-quality content since images are produced using the S-Log3 format and converted into desired broadcast and other distribution formats.

Acquisition

The following system cameras will all support S-Log3 and BT.2020 for SR Live for HDR and will add HD HDR capability by firmware upgrade:

HDC-4800 camera system

HDC-4300 camera system

HDC-P43 camera system

For HDC-2500, HKCU-2040, 4K HDR processor board provides 4K and HD HDR capability on the HD image sensor equipped the camera.

Recording and replay

PWS-4500, 4K live server - supports HD S-Log3, HD HLG and 4K/HD PQ with software update v2.3.

Monitoring

The BVM-E171, HD OLED master monitor will support HDR through a new HDR monitoring license, BVML-HE171. The license gives users an option for implementing HDR according to their production needs and budget limits. Sony s BVM-X300 and PVM-X550 are already HDR-ready for any resolution up to 4K, and now the addition of HDR to the BVM-E171 brings HD HDR monitoring capabilities to new users including OB vans where space is limited.

Instant HDR Workflow

As the expanding HDR needs, internet video platforms or professionals producing corporate video or event content are paying attention to added-value of HDR. Those production prioritise less time to delivery, however no compromise for imaging expression and quality of contents. To meet the demand, Sony now offers HDR capability on entry-level handheld XDCAM camcorders, PXW-FS5 and PXW-Z150 supporting HLG recording function for easy and instant file-based workflows but achieving quality of HDR. This workflow is very simple enabling shooting, editing and viewing HDR contents in HLG, without the need of colour grading.

Camcorders

Sony s PXW-FS5 and PXW-Z150 will also receive expanded HDR capabilities through software update. For the FS5, HLG will be supported, in addition to S-Log3. HLG mode can be quickly set-up through an option newly added on picture profile. On the PXW-Z150, HLG will also be supported.

Viewing tool

Catalyst Browse - Sony s viewing and logging tool offering streamlined media management will now also support HLG, allowing viewers to view HDR content easily.

Sony continues to enhance HDR solution in every production by innovative ideas and technology with deep expertise.

* PXW-FS5, PXW-Z150 ; 4K: XAVC 4:2:0 8-bits, HD: XAVC 4:2:2 10-bits

HD HDR Live Broadcasting

HDC-4800 camera system firmware upgrade for HD HDR capability will be available in summer 2017.

HDC-4300 camera system firmware upgrade for HD HDR capability will be available in spring 2017.

HDC-P43 camera system firmware upgrade for HD HDR capability will be available in spring 2017.

PXW-4500 software update V2.3 will be available in June 2017.

BVML-HE171, HDR monitoring license for BVM-E171 and software update 1.1 on BVM-E171 to support HD HDR capability will be available in August 2017.

Instant HDR Workflow

PXW-FS5 software update V4.0 will be available in July 2017.

PXW-Z150 software update V2.0 will be available in July 2017.

Catalyst Browse HLG support is now available.

For more information visit the Sony website.

Related Articles

Sony Professional at Cabsat 2017Sony Professional Solutions will showcase a range of next generation media and broadcast solut

LINK:	http://www.screenafrica.com/page/news/tv-and-video-production-technolo...
	See more stories from screenafrica

Africa Stories