Sonys NAB Presence Highlights Creativity Connected with Hybrid Cloud Workflows, MLS X1 Production Platform Cloud-based production tools set to improve redundancy, ability to combine processing power By Ken Kerschbaumer Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 9:00 am
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Sony's NAB booth theme is Creativity Connected and that is just what they will be doing with everything from next-generation cloud services, a new studio camera and cinematic cameras, Hawk-Eye's first hardware-based replay server as well as hardware-based controls, and even a large section focused on virtual studio production.
Everything that we do is around the creator and putting the right tools in their hands, from the imaging side through production and final product release, says John Studdert, Sony Electronics, Vice President, Professional Sales.
Sony's John Studdert says the company's NAB intros highlight sensible approach to cloud that embraces hybrid operations.
The Sony booth will be divided into four sections, designed to make it easier for visitors to zero in on the areas that are most important to them.
One consistent theme across all of them will be the role IP connectivity is playing.
Even the monitors now have IP connectivity, adds Studdert. We've been building on this for the last few years and the addition of Nevion has really augmented our offering and allows us to further evolve IP workflows for control rooms, REMI operations, and Network Operations.
The move to IP and Sony's efforts around its Ci cloud production platform have transformed the company and this year those two technologies continue to bring new power to Sony's hardware-based and software-based tools.
We're trying to take a sensible approach to the cloud and Ci for Collaboration this year is a perfect example as it also enables hybrid operation, says Studdert. For example, perhaps the processing for live production environments could be on the edge while lighter applications are deployed on the cloud. We're looking at things holistically and for what makes the most sense to the customer.
Something new at the show will be Sony's Media Solution Palette, which was introduced at IBC and offers a mix of on-premises and cloud-based solutions.
A key part of those offerings is Networked Live, an ecosystem of solutions, products, services, and partners that help our customers take full advantage of their resources in production and distribution.
It combines both cloud-based and on-premises resources to give customers the greatest amount of flexibility and scalability, says Deon LeCointe, Sony Electronics, director, networked solutions. There is network and resource orchestration, where you're going to find management and monitoring solutions across LAN, WAN, 5G, and the cloud. Then there is Media Transport which features solutions like Virtuoso and its real-time media transport across various mediums. You also have Hybrid Processing and Operations which features solutions that bridge the gap between hardware, software, and the cloud. A key backbone part of our Networked Live portfolio is VideoIPath, a media networks orchestrator and Broadcast Controller with SDN Control. VideoIPath's already powerful feature set has now been augmented to include a direct interface to AWS Media Connect and AWS Media Live and the live video transport services they offer.
LeCointe says that allows for a video source from the ground to connect to a Media Connect instance on AWS and then be distributed to other Media Connect instances in other regions or back to the ground. VideoIPath can also direct the video output of a Media Connect instance so end users can not only manage their on-premises resources, whether it's an IP environment or an SDI environment from VideoIPath, but also manage AWS Media Connect or Media Live services.
Another important addition to VideoIPath is support for Federation Orchestration, or the ability for multiple instances of VideoIPath to collaborate within and across locations (facilities or trucks).
With VideoIPath installed on each truck and connecting back to master control you've now given yourself the ability to leverage another VideoIPath instance to control the elements that are on that truck, he adds. As each system is autonomous and in charge of its own resources, it continues to function and collaborate, even if problems occur in other parts of the federation. They can securely exchange flows with each other and do it seamlessly as if it was one large system.
The Nevion acquisition in 2020 also continues to reshape Sony and at NAB the new Virtuoso RE media node will be on display, providing a lower-cost media server with redundant internal routing for 10 Gig or 25 Gig uplinks as well as redundant internal element managers.
It has a lower number of inputs and outputs but it's more affordable for those customers who don't have the same kind of carrier-grade Virtuoso MI offers, adds LeCointe.
The MLS X1 allows for switcher processors to be combined or de-coupled depending on what type of production firepower is required.
The new MLS X1 live production platform is also a key part of our Networked Live offering, allowing for up to five production switchers to be networked together and scaled up and down as needed.
One of the powerful benefits of going in this direction is flexibility and the fact that you can deploy this across your facility or your enterprise more efficiently, says LeCointe. For example, a switcher dedicated to a control room for a specific show can now be used for REMI operations during the day and then back to being used for a completely different show at night. RSN or sports venue customers can connect and use resources from each other's facilities. And the resources can also be combined to provide a
