BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY
20
KVM plays leading role in IP shift
Terence Teng , managing director , IHSE APAC , tells APB why keyboard , video and mouse ( KVM ) technology can be an integral component in a broadcast IP infrastructure , and shares the company ’ s vision for the broadcast industry .
What changes do you foresee in the broadcast indu stry ov er the nex t few years ?
T erence T eng : A shift to IP-based technology is predicted in the broadcast industry , and was the major topic of conversation at IBC and NAB Show this year . New studios and outside broadcast trucks are being built that incorporate IP content distribution and it is already used to transmit content from remote stadiums to broadcast studios .
Quite how , and when , this will become the dominant technology and replace , or be incorporated within , current workflow models is still unclear . Traditional methods are very well established and there are , as yet , few standards that enable interoperability and enable systems integrators to combine products from different manufacturers together .
It will come , and like the advance of computer-based broadcast technology , which was unheard of in the broadcast industry 15 years ago , it is inevitable and widely expected . Large IT manufacturers and IP network designers are becoming established in this sector and incumbent equipment producers are extending their ranges to incorporate interaction with and connectivity to IP networks , making their solutions allencompassing .
�ow does ��M technology �t into that v ision ?
T eng : KVM extension and switching has always been positioned at the end-points of the workflow . By that , I mean that it allows operators at their workstations , which are at one end of the chain , to connect to and manage devices that are at the other end — the ‘ business end ’ if you like . It provides them with far more efficient ways of operating . These advantages are clear and very well-understood throughout the industry : primarily , any operator can connect to any source device and devices can be shared , to be used as needed .
When you consider how content will be transmitted over IP networks , it becomes clear that there will still be a requirement for broadcast operators to manage and control IP data streams and to work on them . This will still be achieved using computer workstations , so KVM remains an integral part of the overall solution . In fact , because there will be an increase in the number of functions that are needed to be managed within the workflow , it is highly likely that the demand for additional devices will increase .
What is IHSE ’ s approach to produ ct dev elopment in the broadcast sector ?
T eng : It is a declared objective of the company to continually develop KVM technology that matches advances in prevailing signal resolutions and formats , and which remains compatible with peripheral equipment . Otherwise our technology would not be relevant to the broadcast industry , or any other for that matter . Equipment must be futureproof . In the broadcast environment , capital costs are high and technology advances rapidly , so replacement of outdated equipment is not usually a viable option .
We have recently introduced the Draco ultra extender , which uses the highly efficient Lici codec , developed in conjunction with
A large KV M switching system is currently being integrated into the broadcast env ironment at Mediacorp ’ s new complex at Mediacorp C ampus .
“ It is a declared objective of [ IHSE ] to continually develop KVM technology that matches advances in prevailing signal resolutions and formats , and which remains compatible with peripheral equipment .”
— Terence Teng Managing Director , IHSE APAC
Fraunhofer IIS to transmit visually lossless content at 4K / 60H� , 4:4:4 .
We have also just developed and launched the Draco tera S6 KVM switch , which is compatible with Avid ’ s hugely popular Pro Tools S6 audio control surface . This KVM switch allows audio engineers and producers to switch between Pro Tools , and other digital audio workstations , directly from the S6 surface using hard- or soft-buttons or fader controllers . The advantage is that it provides instant switching and users don ’ t have to think about the process , which together increase the efficiency of the operation by allowing operators to focus on their job , rather than on the equipment .
Other developments are in the pipeline that will further streamline the broadcast workflow and keep up with rapid advances in the industry .
�an you also explain how this ties in with IHSE ’ s corporate strategy for the broadcast indu stry ?
T eng : Both of the new products mentioned are a result of close cooperation and partnership with major industry organisations . Partnerships are symbiotic : both companies benefit from the collaboration — in creating new techniques and devices , and launching new products to their customers . The industry benefits too , by having more sophisticated , higher performance technology available to them .
This is something that we believe is of great importance and we are actively pursuing product development ideas in collaboration with significant companies .
Our mantra and generic business approach is that we listen , and respond , to the needs of users and customers . In fact , that was how the Draco tera � S6 came about ; by a request from a leading systems integrator for a Hollywood production studio .
We will be following both these strategies in the future .