arkona technologies partnered again with manifold technologies on a new approach to supplying top-tier broadcasters with a simple, cost-effective path to IP processing.
arkona technologies GmbH has partnered again with manifold technologies on a new approach to supplying top-tier broadcasters with a simplified path to IP. Arkona specialises in IP core infrastructure solutions, and their new EASY-IP suite packages together live broadcast production software and hardware to deliver a quick, safe, economical path to an IP infrastructure.
The platform was shown at IBC 2024, presenting an integrated package that combines arkona’s BLADE//runner AT300 FPGA PAC (programmable acceleration card) hardware with manifold’s manifold CLOUD clustered services software, for a unified suite of audio/video routing, processing and multiviewing tools. EASY-IP integrates into existing broadcast facilities via industry-standard control protocols, bringing Tier-1 broadcasters a straightforward transition to a flexible IP infrastructure that will serve into the future.
The core of EASY-IP is based on arkona’s BLADE//runner, which is designed as a distributed and networked architecture where each AT300 card carries out 16×16 SDI to IP conversions across dual 100GE network interfaces. BLADE//runner scales linearly according to each facility’s specific requirements, enabling any number of conversions to be added wherever they are needed. Every I/O is capable of handling UHD, as standard.
Audio Routing and Processing
For audio routing and processing, EASY-IP includes BLADE//runner’s IP Audio Engine (IPA) application that functions as a dedicated 16,000 x 12,000 mono audio router. IPA supports any-to-any mono routing as well as dedicated mono, stereo and mix-minus mixing instances. Through an optional DSP (digital signal processing) feature, the IPA APP can include dynamic compressors and equalizers as well as true peak and loudness metering.
High Density Multiviewing
EASY-IP also incorporates manifold CLOUD’s high density ultra-low-latency multiviewer service into the bundle. Quick to deploy, manifold CLOUD can handle demanding live sports, entertainment and news productions while maintaining scalability, resiliency and unified control over the environment. Capable of up to 1.6 Tbps of processing in a single RU, manifold CLOUD can run on the power of regular COTS FPGA accelerators, readily available from various IT vendors.
Its distributed architecture allows any source to be displayed on any output in any size – in other words, with virtually no limitations and with sub-frame latency end-to-end. Furthermore, every UHD source processed by the multiviewer generates a high-quality 1080P proxy that is made available as a discrete ST 2110 source in the system.
Frame-sync, Delay and Timing
EASY-IP standard features also include video frame-sync and audio sample-rate-conversion for all I/Os. Its large on-board memory capacity manages delays of up to 52 seconds for 1080P60 video signal and 42 seconds for a 16-channel audio stream. Test-signal generation of both audio and video are also standard. When combined with the Master Clock option, BLADE//runner includes PTP GM and Master Clock functionality, including the ability to lock to GPS with an antenna.
Beyond its routing, processing, multiviewing and timing functionality, processing capabilities that integrate as pooled resources are included as standard. Options include video mixing and down-stream keying to create versioning and branding, and processing amplifer, colour-correction and HDR-SDR conversion for shading and colour-space conversion. JPEG-XS encode/decode is available for high-quality video compression at low-latency. Flexible licensing options exist for broadcast quality up/down/cross conversions. arkonatech.com
