Vendors push 12G-SDI with raft of product launches

With one eye on small- to medium-sized facilities and broadcasters, and those firms that want to jump to 4K and Ultra High Definition (UHD) immediately using familiar technology, various vendors announced support for 12G-SDI or revealed new products.

Snell Advanced Media (SAM) showed a UHD master control switcher, the Masterpiece 12G-SDI, for sport, news and live entertainment that can handle SD, HD and 1080p as well as UHD.

It includes keying and DVE for squeeze backs and effects. SAM also announced 12G-SDI support for its Kula and Kahuna production switchers (pictured) and various multi-viewers.

SAM general manager for live production and infrastructure Robert Szabo-Rowe said: “As well as offering IP support up to and including 4K/UHD, SAM is providing an alternative that suits the needs of any broadcaster or OB company. We will continue to build 12G-SDI products to give our customers even more choice and functionality as they migrate to higher-resolution production.”

Ross Video chief executive David Ross said that his company “sees advantages for both IP and SDI” and he “believes in the future of SDI”.

Ross announced the Carbonite Black Plus 12G switcher chassis, which allows for single-link 4K connectivity, and showed the Ultrix 12G, a router, audio-processing engine and multi-viewer that includes 12G clean switching via its latest software.

Evertz introduced various 12G-SDI products, including routers and converters, while AJA launched 12G-SDI converters and de-muxers.

Virtualisation was another popular topic, with vendors offering different opinions on when it will go mainstream, usually dependent on where they are with their own technology roadmaps.

Evertz director of product marketing Mo Goyal said it will be “a big topic next year”, while both ChryonHego chief executive Johan Apel and SAM general manager, media software solutions, Neil Maycock said it is “already here”.