SAM: Snell Advanced Media

Television content is increasingly being delivered to a variety of second-screen applications including mobile phones, tablets, the web, and computers. Now more than ever, broadcasters need the ability to create and deliver content in multiple formats, which in turn, also allows them to monetize their media assets. Enter Snell's proven, scalable, and flexible TV Everywhere solutions, including ICE and Morpheus, which will both be on display at the 2012 NAB Show.

 

ICE Channel-in-a-Box v3.0 — we thought about the channel, not just the box

New features to ICE v3.0 further extend Snell's channel-in-a-box cost benefits. With a focus on incorporating more of the channel into the box, Snell's ICE now includes powerful integrated 3D graphics and CG functionality with timeline control and the ability to populate fields from Morpheus automation schedule events, as well as external data sources. Changes in broadcasters' file-based workflows can introduce incompatibilities. That's why a new content validation feature in ICE analyzes source material as soon as it's available to prevent invalid formats or impaired content from reaching the on-air output. Integrated SAN storage brings high-performance shared storage to the platform and aids in optimizing system performance and overall broadcast workflows.

 

Morpheus v3.0 — world-leading automation that decreases cost and stimulates revenue

Of the refinements made to Morpheus automation, Snell will demonstrate new second-screen capabilities, such as enhanced e-commerce functionality with comprehensive user transaction and purchase models, and other tools that empower broadcasters to monetize their assets via second-screen applications. Version 3.0 boasts full virtual machine support that facilitates lower space and power requirements while improving system resilience. Snell has also enhanced the Morpheus user interface to provide even better visibility of multiple channels and events and faster editing with new drag-and-drop features.

 

Today's newsrooms, studios, and OB trucks operate at a faster pace than ever before while simultaneously supporting a variety of production and format demands such as SD, HD, 1080p, and 3D. On display at the 2012 NAB Show will be a new, compact Kahuna 360 production switcher, making the revolutionary technology, massive power, and unmatched flexibility suitable for an even wider range of applications.

 

Kahuna 360 Compact — true 1080p switching in smaller frame 

The new, lower-cost Kahuna 360 Compact advanced production switcher offers the functionality of the popular full-size Kahuna 360, including 7 keyers per M/E, resource sharing with Make M/E technology, and FormatFusion3 allowing any format in and any format out. The compact and cost-effective 6U chassis gives users the ability to support SD, HD, and 1080p (single link) functionality for a smooth and cost-effective migration from HD to 1080p and ensures Snell's award-winning production switcher technology is accessible to an even wider audience. Easy to deploy and equipped with the familiar Kahuna interface, Kahuna 360 Compact is ideal for trucks, studio-based productions, and houses of worship.

 

Today's broadcast operation centers, cable head-ends, and playout facilities require reliable, flexible broadcast infrastructure to deliver high-quality SD and HD content. Recognizing this challenge, Snell offers an award-winning lineup of control and monitoring, modular infrastructure, routing switchers, multiviewers, and conversion products that fulfill this requirement efficiently, cost-effectively, and with total peace of mind.

 

Sirius 830 Router With Advanced Hybrid Processing — taking audio routing/processing to a new level

Snell will showcase the new, advanced hybrid processing (AHP) technology built into the company's Sirius 800 series of large-scale, multi-format expandable hybrid routers. The new 15RU Sirius 830 will be on display featuring high-performance modules for flexible routing of SD, HD, ASI, and 3Gbps signals. New embedded audio and AES/MADI processing modules with AHP provide embedded audio routing, audio track swapping, and processing on all inputs and outputs. This allows users to route any combination of embedded, discrete, and MADI sources and destinations. AHP provides the most powerful and flexible processing available, giving huge space and cost savings compared to traditional hybrid routing. Without compromising inputs or outputs, it also allows additional processing to be added by simple firmware updates in the future.

 

Vega Router — for flexible port, fiber, and coax configuration

Snell's award-winning Vega is a new routing platform that allows users to configure any signal port independently for fiber or coax (copper), easing a mixed connectivity environment and helping broadcasters to migrate simply and cost effectively. Its unique design also enables any port to be configured as either an input or output, providing the industry's most flexible asymmetric routing solution, available in 2RU with 96 ports or 4RU with 192 ports. Vega uses proprietary algorithms to monitor every sub-assembly continuously and offers a full range of options for maximum redundancy: dual crosspoints, dual controllers, dual power supplies, and dual fans. All are "hot" pluggable or replaceable. Vega is a single solution for a huge range of standard and nonstandard routing applications with 50 percent more inputs and outputs than a traditional 2RU router.

 

Signal Sentri — new signal protection technology ensures quality of service

Snell will be demonstrating Signal Sentri, a new technology that addresses the need to protect revenues by maintaining unimpaired signal transmission despite any technical difficulties or maintenance requirements within the on-air chain. Targeted at the automated playout environment, Signal Sentri watches over the main and back-up signal paths, using Snell's sophisticated Hyperion content monitoring system and an intelligent 2x1 changeover switch to play an essential role in signal-path decision-making and switching. Deployed within this environment, Signal Sentri serves as a comprehensive video, audio, and metadata monitoring and reporting solution that can trigger the signal changeover automatically or provide detailed information for an operator-controlled decision. Packaged in a compact 19-inch, 1U form factor and offering a variety of interfaces including RS-422, GPI, and Ethernet back up, Signal Sentri has the flexibility to integrate fully with automation or network management systems including Snell's own Morpheus and RollMap solutions.

 

KudosPro — next-generation signal processing platform

At the 2012 NAB Show, Snell will launch its new KudosPro signal processing platform. This exciting addition to the world-leading Snell conversion range has a stylish form factor and offers superb quality frame rate and format conversions at an extremely attractive price point. Performing 3Gbps, HD, and SD standards conversion (frame rate conversion), as well as up, down, and cross conversion, the KudosPro platform offers a cost-effective range of converters to suit all applications including international program exchange, content repurposing for Internet, TV, and Blu-ray™ distribution,