3/24 Channel, the 24-hour news channel in Catalan, acquired R&S PRISMON multiviewer to monitor uncompressed IP feeds alongside SDI and NDI signals in custom configuratios.
Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (3Cat), one of the primary television networks in Catalonia, delivers a broad mix of content from studios and headquarters in Barcelona. It also operates a 24-hour news channel, 3/24 Channel, that has recently undergone a renovation and transition to HD, while adopting IP connectivity at the same time. The channel uses IP streams, mainly SMPTE 2110 standard, alongside SDI signals as well as other IP formats such as NDI and transport streams.
3/24 Channel has now acquired the R&S PRISMON multiviewer, a software platform that monitors uncompressed IP feeds alongside SDI and NDI signals. The architecture of R&S PRISMON uses networked servers to set up large numbers of customised multiviewer displays. Because each server can accept varied combinations of SDI and IP feeds, external converters are not needed, saving costs and power. Each feed only has to be connected to one of the servers – the resulting mosaic tile feeds are shared across the network.
This approach makes the demand for processing simpler, and the design in display configurations more flexible. It means that engineers can set up multiviewer displays that are capable of meeting the specific needs of each operator and area, regardless of the source format. Operators are able to monitor feeds side by side, incorporating audio VU meters, various tally signs, countdowns, stopwatches, clocks and warnings.
"We have a very busy technical setup, and need a large number of different multiviewer layouts," said Marc Sanclimens, Specialist Engineer at 3Cat. "Rohde & Schwarz demonstrated how PRISMON could produce all the different layouts we need from just three servers, freely mixing SDI, NDI, ST2110 and other feeds as necessary. Like all modern broadcasters, we have to be flexible in our operations, and PRISMON gives us many options for setting up and dynamically changing our monitoring."
Marcus Ruoff, Product Manager Multiviewing and Monitoring at Rohde & Schwarz said, "We designed Prismon with very low latency and a highly flexible mosaic design for critical live production applications such as those at 3Cat. It is designed to bring all feeds into the networked server without relying on external converters or additional router paths."
R&S PRISMON runs on COTS hardware and can be used to dynamically allocate monitoring capacity in the cloud. It supports Ultra HD, both in inputs and in displays, and due to its networked design, each feed needs to be processed only once. It is readily integrated into control and automation systems, and for live production it links directly with IP-based tally and UMD (under monitor display) signals. The installation at 3Cat was implemented by distributor and systems integrator Unitecnic based in Barcelona. www.rohde-schwarz.com
