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On its booth (8.B40) at IBC 2017, slomo.tv, a supplier of high performance server-based video record and replay systems, will introduce BlackJack AT/4K - a compact four input- and two output-channel 4K recording and instant replay server that supports Apple ProRes and Sony XAVC codecs.
BlackJack AT/4K is the latest product of slomo.tv's long-term development strategy that sees it changing the design capabilities and affordability of large-capacity broadcast video servers. Building on slomo’s compact design (2U) RED ARROW server, which was introduced last year, the new BlackJack AT/4K server provides all the resources required for replay and recording for editing in 4K/3G/HD formats. Working in 4K replay mode, the BlackJack AT/4K server simultaneously supports four input channels and two output (replay) channels with transition effects between them, as well as simultaneous search on all channels with marking of clips. In recording for editing mode it supports recording of up to six inputs of 4K video signals.
The BlackJack AT/4K server possess a compact 4U form factor, and offers resilient reliable operation in a broad range of ambient temperatures. It provides a diversity of hardware options: for example, Sony XAVC 4K codec support allows video recording of XAVC 480/960 codec and provides NLE MXF files without transcoding and export. With this option, the server can record up to six discrete 4K video signals to NAS for subsequent editing.
In the basic configuration, the server uses proprietary DCT-based I frame codecs (with 1200 Mb/sec stream), and an Apple ProRes 4K codec for contributing video content for editing systems. In addition to working in 4K mode, this server enables operators to work in 3G / HD / SD modes. In these modes, the number of recording channels when working with replays reaches 20 at four physical outputs and eight playback channels, enabling up to four replay operators to work simultaneously work on the same server. In the recording for editing mode, the server records up to 24 channels. The storage capacity of the built-in SSD disk subsystem is 266 hours of HD video.
"We learned a lot from the customer feedback we received from RED ARROW: as a result, we have designed this powerful server to meet production needs of the OB vehicle builders and end-users that are migrating to 4K format," commented Igor Vitiorets, CTO at slomo.tv. "As the cost of 4K cameras and production switchers decreases, the need for affordable 4K replay servers is growing. In developing BlackJack AT/4K, we are targeting the middle and high-end segments of the sport broadcast market with an advanced replay server."
This server supports all available 4K50p/4K60p broadcast formats via 4 x 3G SDI. BlackJack AT/4K displays all the features and functions that slomo.tv servers are known for. Its SSD-based storage enhances performance and reliability, while a second system disk starts the server in case of a problem with the primary disk. A USB Recovery Stick allows the user to instantly restore the system.
The company provides remote internet-based Tech Support, which can analyze and diagnose operational issues, change specific system settings and update the software, reducing system downtime.
On its booth, (8.B40), slomo.tv will be providing demos of the BlackJack AT/4K server throughout IBC 2017. (9/17)
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TORRANCE, CA (August 22, 2017) – Ahead of IBC 2017, slomo.tv (8.B40), a leading international supplier of cost-effective, high performance server-based video recording and replay systems has announced the successful completion of a project that sees its technology used to televise the President's Ice Hockey Cup in Kazakhstan.
Featuring many of the international leading professional ice hockey teams, the President's Cup took place in Kazakhstan's Astana arena - home of the Barys professional ice hockey team - between 6th and 12th August 2017. Specialist sports TV production company, Media Sport, was retained to provide live coverage to the Sport KZ television channel.
To create an efficient live production environment, Media Sport purchased two slomo.tv Arrow 442 server systems with advanced networking capabilities. Each server came loaded with several important options including Telestrator/Game Analyzer for on line analysis, SuperMotion for high speed cameras and super-fast file export.
Besides supplying the equipment in incredibly short delivery time, slomo.tv also organized full user training for the Media Sport team. Removing any risk for the production team, slomo.tv also provided engineering support for the Cup Opening Ceremony and the first day of matches. The support engineer’s presence turned to be more luxury than necessity, since the Media Sport operators sailed through the event and slomo.tv’s shadow specialist was not required at all.
"The mission of our company is to deliver sport programming of the highest quality to national and international audiences. The ice hockey teams that we support include Barys, Snow Bars and Nomad as well as other sports, such as boxing and wrestling," commented Valentin Gladkov, CTO at Media Sport. "We selected slomo.tv servers for a number of reasons - their high quality picture and robust performance combined with a very intuitive user interface, which helped to familiarize our operators in the very short time, in fact, in a few hours."
About Arrow 442
Developed by slomo.tv's engineers, Arrow 442 is a broadcast grade cost effective multichannel recording and replay server designed to meet the requirements of both sports broadcasting and standard video production. This light weight 2U size server supports simultaneous recording of four video input signals, search on all four channels and replay of two channels with transitions.
With standard features including built-in multiviewer, MultiSkin functions and advanced replay management with automatic clip making and playlist creation, working on the Arrow 442 is productive and time efficient. The server can store up to 266Hrs of HD at 100mbit data. Arrow 442 supports many mainstream broadcast replay codecs including DVCPro 50 / DVCPro HD / XDCAM50 and MJPEG.
The system's intuitive user interface facilitates straightforward training of new operators. Unlike competitors, Arrow supports many professional capabilities that are necessary when covering major sporting events - network operation, SuperMo cameras, Game Analyzer and 4-channel videoReferee® option. The 442 model has two HDMI / SDI inputs, which can be useful when working with prosumer cameras with HDMI outputs. Recorded material can be exported using a wide range of codecs, including XDCAM 50, MPEG2 Long GOP, H.264, MPEG4 and DVCpro 50 / DVCPro HD.
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TORRANCE, CA (August 10th, 2017) – On its booth (8.B40) at IBC 2017, slomo.tv, a leading international supplier of cost-effective, high performance server-based video recording and replay systems, will introduce the ninth generation of its videoReferee® system. Designated videoReferee® VG, the system supports up to 24 discrete 3G SDI video channels and supports 3G/HD/720p signals in any combination.
The system records upto 24 camera channels. The referees can analyze in-play incidents frame by frame simultaneously from several cameras and if necessary, the video image can be magnified (zoomed in). The slow motion playback is of sufficient quality that besides being used by the judges, it can be included in television broadcasts, explaining the referee’s decisions during a game.
In addition, videoReferee® VG provides an extra multi-viewer output for the referee's assistant. It supports the vR-Keypad, which enables the assistant to easily mark and label in-play incidents for subsequent or immediate search. The new system supports timing of 1/10 second increments from scoreboard computer. To achieve this level of precision slomo.tv has worked closely with more than 20 scoreboard controller manufacturers.
To comply with the latest Continental Hockey League requirements regarding archiving of recorded material, slomo.tv has developed batch export functionality in H.264 and XDCAM formats, so that the operator can start exporting with the push of just one button.
Ultra fast, intelligent operation
With slomo.tv’s videoReferee® systems, events can be marked live or on recorded video and the footage is instantly available for review. When an event is created, the system remembers the active channel, and when returning to this event starts with the same view. Also, broadcasters using slomo.tv replay servers can use marked events to create video highlight packages with controversial moments from the game.
Using a special vR-Keypad, the operator or assistant can assign different event tags with a single click. A special search engine enables instant retrieval of tagged events - for example, all goals scored by one team or all off-sides by another.
The standard videoReferee® system setup includes two monitors – an engineering interface monitor with built-in multi-viewer of all the channels and a folder of marked events and a separate referee's monitor with a controller for the video judge. The video referee can work with 1, 2, 3 or 4 cameras simultaneously in live or search mode. The view from several cameras simultaneously helps accurate and quick decision making. The system can also magnify any frame for detailed analysis.
Besides the referee's and engineering monitors, videoReferee® VG can accommodate a 3rd monitor working as a separate multi-viewer. This is useful when there is a video assistant who can mark events on live video when the referee's monitor is used for analyzing in-play incidents.
In sports events, controversy can be closely related to timing. For example, in ice hockey, a goal scored after time stoppage does not count; in basketball successful throw 0.1 sec. before the end of the game or attack time is counted. That is why the judges must have access to official game timing data. VideoReferee has two ways of solving this - using a special interface for receiving data directly from the scoreboard computer or selecting the appropriate scoreboard clock view and displaying it as a picture-in- picture (PIP). In both cases, information is recorded in each video channel of the system. For the unlikely situation when none of the 24 channels contain a scoreboard image there is an option - dedicated to scoreboard camera input device, which supports SDI and HDMI cameras. videoReferee® makes it possible to use 720p, 1080i and 1080p cameras in the same project.
TV audience sees what the ref sees!
In sports broadcasts today, TV viewers are eager to follow the referee’s decision making process. If this is not prohibited by the league regulations, the referee's monitor image can be provided to broadcasters via optional SDI output module.
Also, many sports federations require a video report in the form of H.264 or MPEG files. In addition to marked moments, the system can batch export all video channels with the use of single button, which significantly reduces the time spent export.
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IBC 2017 Preview
Stand number: 8.B40
15-19 September 2017
RAI, Amsterdam
Enhanced products and new strategic alliances signpost a new stage in company's evolution – best IBC ever predicted by CEO
TORRANCE, CA (July 20th, 2017) – On its booth (8.B40) at IBC 2017, slomo.tv, a leading international supplier of cost-effective, high performance server-based video record and replay systems, will showcase a range of enhanced and extended server-based products designed to meet the specific requirements of sports, and especially live TV production. All the products on display are currently being used by broadcasters throughout Europe and Asia.
At IBC 2017, slomo.tv will provide the first European showcase of videoReferee®-V - the latest addition to the company's sports video judging family which is designed to meet video refereeing applications in Soccer, Handball, Basketball, Ice Hockey and Athletics (Track and Field). With 24 channels, this 4U server supports both 3G and HD formats and has four graphics outputs for monitors of up to 4K resolution displaying GUI, Multiviewer and Referee's interfaces. It is designed to provide immediate file transfer into the sports arena network for easy decision making during in-play incidents. Also, its broadcast quality output meets all broadcasters' arena TV needs.
First introduced at IBC last year, slomo.tv’s Simple RII compact production server has already attracted attention from sport broadcasters worldwide thanks to its advanced functionality and affordable price. At IBC 2017, the company debuts an enhanced version, complete with extended 3G SDI support, six recording channels, search capabilities on all six channels and two playback channels with transition effects. In addition, slomo.tv will offer a new 8-channel 3G video refereeing option.
A key focus of the slomo.tv booth will be its Dominator AT/3G server, which was launched at NAB and now features an enhanced AVC Intra encoder option which makes it compatible with Panasonic AVC Intra and Sony XAVC media formats.
Another key development is the integrated solution for remote broadcast based on slomo.tv's Dominator AT/3G server and Production MAM by industry newcomer, HTS (booth 8.A82). This powerful combination enables users to remotely create Summaries and special Playlists as well as event logging and pre-editing during the live recording of shows.
"At IBC, we will demonstrate how slomo.tv is entering a new phase of development - capitalizing on our technological success, we are expanding into new markets," commented Mike Gilman, CEO of slomo.tv. "Kate Krivitskaya has taken on the challenging role of General Manager, which will leave me more time to work with partners and investors around the globe. We are expecting the best IBC in our history."
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First major order for revolutionary new video referee system comes ahead of its IBC worldwide debut!
TORRANCE, CA (August xx, 2017) – Slomo.tv, a leading international supplier of cost-effective, high performance server-based video recording instant replay systems, has announced that professional hockey team Ak Bars from Russian Federation has tested, approved and purchased the company's new videoReferee®-4G system. The news is remarkable since the new videoReferee® won’t be officially launched until IBC 2017 next month.
Video refereeing has become a vital element of modern Ice Hockey. Europe's Continental Hockey League (KHL) now dictates that video referee systems are required in addition to investigating goal line incidents also control the blue line offside situations. This requirement means that the system must be able to record and replay an additional four channels, so judges can clearly monitor all in play incidents. Following this new requirement, the Ak Bars team, based in Kazan, Tatarstan, has purchased four additional slomo.tv vR-Cam cameras and upgraded its existing system that it acquired in 2014 to the newest version - videoReferee®-4G.
Already, slomo.tv's previous 12-channel 3G SDI system effectively doubled the recorded detail when compared with other systems and eliminated "washed" video. This superior detail allows all in-play incidents to be quickly and easily reviewed with a much better picture resolution. The system was capable of recording up to 10 channels in any combination and analyzing simultaneously up to four channels. Also, it also produces video archive recording in H.264 format.
Now, the new slomo.tv videoReferee®-4G system, which will be launched worldwide at IBC2017, supports up to 16 discrete 3G SDI video channels, as well as providing the capability to work with 3G/HD/720p signals in any combination. This space saving capability is key when the system is installed within an OB vehicle environment.
In addition, videoReferee®-4G provides an extra multiviewer output for the referee's assistant. It supports the vR-Keypad, which enables the assistant to easily mark and label in-play incidents for subsequent or immediate search. The new system records time in 1/10 second increments: to achieve this level of precision slomo.tv has worked closely with more than 20 scoreboard controller manufacturers. To comply with the latest KHL requirements regarding archiving of recorded material, slomo.tv has developed batch export functionality in H.264 and XDCAM formats so that operators can start exporting with the push of just one button.
"Back in 2014, Ak Bars' home stadium - Tatneft Sport Arena - was the first arena in the world equipped with 3G SDI Video Judging system. Installed by slomo.tv’s videoReferee® 3G SDI, it enables us to gain clear vision of all details of a fast-moving and challenging Ice Hockey game and avoid critical referee mistakes," said Arena Head of TV Department, Andrey Dubinin . "Since then, all referees that work here remark on how efficient and intuitive this system is.
"Slomo.tv has supplied the server system and the progressive HD cameras that are fitted within the goals. After the KHL requirement changes, we have no doubt who we will ask for a system upgrade. Having a very positive experience in support and service with slomo.tv, we have selected the new videoReferee®-4G, which enables us to have up to 16 3G channels and now the new system has been delivered. Also, we have purchased four vR-Cam - 60p, supporting 3G," Andrey Dubinin concluded.
About Ak Bars:
Ak Bars (eng. Snow Leopard) Hockey Club, also known as Ak Bars Kazan, is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Kazan, Tatarstan. They are a member of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Their playing records are impressive:
- 1st, gold medalist(s) Gagarin Cup (2): 2009, 2010
- 1st, gold medalist(s) Russian Super League (2): 1998, 2006
- 1st, gold medalist(s) IIHF European Champions Cup (1): 2007
- 1st, gold medalist(s) IIHF Continental Cup (1): 2008
