Market Focus: Media Servers

MARKET FOCUS

MEDIA SERVERS

In recent years, media servers have opened the doors for show designers, allowing further integration of video into touring productions - from single screens all the way up to fully immersive stages. TPi takes a look at some of the leading media server brands from the world of live events.

DISGUISE

disguise’s new vx 4 server has been engineered to play back video at higher quality and resolution than ever before. Previewed at Integrated Systems Europe 2019, where it scooped the Installation Best of Show 2019 Award.

The vx 4 is optimised for playing up to four times uncompressed 4K60 using its high-performance NVME RAID drive array; as well as the capability of playing lossless 10-bit video. Additionally, it can capture either 16 3G-SDI sources, or four 4K sources (2160p60).

With the introduction of r15.2 and the vx 4, disguise now supports HDR content and provides a means of applying colour profiles. Consisting of a colour space and a gamma curve, users can now set a colour profile to their content, or capture images and disguise does the real-time conversion. The vx 4 also offers users a choice of content quality using industry

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MEDIA SERVERS

recognised codecs, from delivering high quantities of compressed content to the higher visual fidelity of uncompressed image sequences (TGA, TIFF and DPX).

The new flagship pro range server has even more network bandwidth with dual 25GbE and dual 10GbE ports; enabling faster media file transfer and higher resolution networked live video capture.

Like other pro range servers, the vx 4 is ultra-rugged with a crossbraced stiff chassis and isolated core components. The new chassis design also features a new hi-res OLED front panel for more detailed system information.

The vx 4 also features disguise’s unique VFC technology, which allows users to output DisplayPort, DVI, SDI or HDMI without changing the system, as well as mix signal formats and resolution types in the same project, with guaranteed frame synchronisation and near-zero latency. The vx 4 ships

standard with the latest in disguise’s VFC technology, the HDMI 2.0 VFC cards.

The vx 4 has been engineered to play back video at higher quality, smoothness and resolution than ever before.

Optimised for playing up to four times uncompressed 4K60 using its high-performance NVME RAID drive array; as well as the capability of playing lossless 10-bit video. Additionally, it can capture either 16 3G-SDI sources, or four 4K sources (2160p60). The vx 4 has dual 25 Gb/sec and dual 10 Gb/sec ethernet ports, enabling faster media file transfer and higher resolution networked live video capture.

The vx 4 features an all new hi-res OLED front panel for more detailed system information. It’s even tougher in its design with a redesigned back panel, improved cross-bracing and isolated core components. www.disguise.one

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MEDIA SERVERS

AV STUMPFL

AV Stumpfl PIXERA is a 64-bit system for real-time media processing, compositing and management, built around the key theme of usability.

A radical new interface logic enables first-time users to intuitively understand the main software mechanics. Users can gradually discover the options and features and can smoothly transition from being a beginner to becoming a specialist.

Actions in the 2D and 3D space follow the same mechanisms. The system is designed allowing users to execute the most important basic actions in record time and with minimum effort.

Pixera’s three main interface tabs are called Screens, Mapping and Compositing. Every single tab allows for a different point of view and point of access to the overall creative setup. The Screens tab offers users an overview of your project space where you can arrange your screens, LED walls and objects. Mapping is where warping, soft edge adjustment and output routing happens. Within the Compositing tab you can be creative and use content to create and program your shows.

With Pixera, AV Stumpfl combines one of the most powerful render engines in media server history with a ground breaking new interface approach. Some of the highlights of Pixera include an extremely userfriendly GUI and seamless integration of 2D and 3D spaces for fast show programming, compositing and warping/projection mapping. Integrated projector and LED display databases for drag and drop pre-configuration. Flexible and powerful API that allows external applications to build on Pixera features. It supports NDI streaming with a powerful render engine for ultra-high-resolution content.

Among the different Pixera media server systems available, the versatile Pixera two media servers are particularly suited to the rigours of live-event and touring scenarios. Pixera two is a 2U server model that that can play

back uncompressed 4K (4:4:4) at 60fps. Its compact chassis is only 46cm deep and is therefore very easy to transport. The server offers many customisation options and a redundant power supply. Pixera two is available with 2, 4 or 8 outputs and supports the new FLEX input card technology.

Customisation and upgrade options include GUI cards, NVMe harddrives, various CPU and graphics card upgrades, video and audio input/ output cards and uncompressed playback licenses.

In order to make it easy for customers to pick the right components for their PIXERA two media server, the AV Stumpfl team has created a user-friendly online-configurator, which allows the selection of different hardware components. The online configurator is available on the AV Stumpfl website.

Pixera two users also have the option of integrating the acclaimed camera based VIOSO auto-calibration into their workflows. With this powerful technology, Pixera two servers can be used to automatically align multiple projectors with soft edge blending and geometry correction. When working on shows or live events that feature a large number of projectors, the ability to assist the image warping and blending process by using automatic camera-based calibration becomes particularly useful and can save the crew a lot of time.

The 2018 incarnation of LUMINA Light Festival which consisted of 17 works of art; namely 7 light installations, an interactive light installation, a performance light installation, and 8 mapping / projection-related works. Two of these installations – Colours and Forms by OCUBO, The BLKBRDS & JUKEBOX crew, in the Citadel of Cascais, and Of Dreams and Life by Robert Sochacki, in the prominent Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, were realised using technology a pair of AV Stumpfl’s new PIXERA two media servers. The compact, 2U systems can play back uncompressed 4K content at 60fps and come complete with a redundant power supply. As well as the PIXERA two systems, the team made use of AV Stumpfl Wings Engine Raw and Stage systems.

Pixera servers can also be used as Notch host systems. AV Stumpfl recently released a free demo version of the Pixera system. www.avstumpfl.com/pixera

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MEDIA SERVERS

Green Hippo’s Hippotizer V4+ media servers stand out for its ease of use yet powerful real-time system at the heart of touring productions worldwide.

Green Hippo has a long history on tour starting with Basement Jaxx in 2002 Pixel mapping on Hippotizer V2 systems. Today’s Hippotizer V4+ Media Server embodies the philosophy learned from 19 years of continuous innovation and touring experience.

Hippotizer V4+ is a range of servers from one 4K output (Amba+) to6 (Taiga+) designed for life on the road. Custom designed hardware includes critical details such as quick filter changes without un-racking the system. Hippotizer V4+ is also rental friendly thanks to included tools for automatic system restore to ensure fast and easy workshop turnaround.

All V4+ systems run the award-winning Hippotizer software. Known for its ease of use and seamless DMX integration, Hippotizer is a favourite for touring video and lighting operators alike.

Controlled across the network, Hippotizer systems are frequently seen running backstage while the designer at FOH is programming the servers and ingesting media from their laptop running Hippotizer software.

Network based control also extends to Hippotizer’s 3D projection mapping and display management tool, SHAPE. Included with all V4+ systems, SHAPE is the third dimension of Hippotizer enabling projection mapping, automatic alignment and output mapping all from a familiar 3D interface.

GREEN HIPPO

The unique network structure of Hippotizer and SHAPE ensures that programmers and designers can work in parallel during the critical pre-tour production period.

Hippotizer’s real-time engine guarantees the system responds instantly to changes whether its new media added or cueing changes. Though the system has a timeline, it does not have to be used; in fact, many productions program Hippotizer directly from the lighting desk. Real time control, extensive Notch integration and a range of built-in tools from BeatBridge to Video mapping make Hippotizer a creative media server.

In many ways, tours reflect the desire for fans to be wowed: the touring stage is in a race to stay ahead of video screens that now permeate every aspect of life. Hippotizer V4+ Media Servers provide the flexibility, power and speed to not only create a memorable show, but ease of use and reliability do so day after day around the world. www.green-hippo.com

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