NAB 2006 Product Preview
A sampling of products to be featured at the 2006 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, April 24-27 in Las Vegas.
Audio connectors
Neutrik has released its Shielded, Lighted, and Sealed EtherCon connectors. Designed for data rates up to Cat5, the Shielded connector provides a closed metal housing to combat EMI or crosstalk, according to the company. The Lighted connector (pictured here) includes two light pipes for 3 mm standard LEDs that indicate data transmission and status. Aimed at applications requiring data rates up to Cat5e, the Sealed connector eliminates EMI and crosstalk, according to the company. Price: N/A (all models). Availability: currently available (all models). For more information, see Neutrik at NAB booth 1223, or contact the company at 732-901-9488 or at www.neutrik.com.
Media converter
Laird Telemedia’s LTM-6000D media converter is a standalone device that supports multiple audio and video formats, including SDI, DV, component, S-video, AES/EBU digital audio, and balanced analog audio. The converter includes a timecode insertion feature and a web-style menu system. The LTM-6000D controls compatible equipment via FireWire, and offers full remote control through RS232 and proc-amp control. Price: N/A. For more information, see Laird Telemedia at NAB booth 3334, or contact the company at 845-339-9555 or at www.lairdtelemedia.com.
Touchscreen LCD monitor
Wohler Technologies has introduced the Touch-it LCD touchscreen monitor with mini router function and multi-screen output. Designed to monitor and route multichannel video, the monitor includes dual 7-inch LCD panels that enable users to view up to 12 channels of composite video. The first panel displays 12 1.8-inch tiled video windows, which can be viewed as a 7-inch image on the second panel. The monitor has 12 stereo analog audio inputs and internal speakers for monitoring any of the 12 channels. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Wohler Technologies at NAB booth 5132, or contact the company at 510-870-0810 or at www.wohler.com.
Broadcast racks
Targeted at systems integrators and broadcast engineers, the Stantron Broadcast Racks from APWMayville are low-profile, 22-inch-wide racks available in multiple heights and depths. All models include cooling fans, internal lighting, and thin-profile power strips for space savings in high-density wiring applications. The racks feature horizontal lacing brackets, which simplify cable management by spreading cables to the front and back, according to the company. The racks are available in heights ranging from 40U to 52U rack sizes. Price: $1,050 to $1,500. Availability: currently available (all sizes). For more information, see APWMayville at NAB booth 1248, or contact the company at 800-558-7297 or at www.stantronracks.com.
Multichannel server
The Leightronix NEXUS multichannel server is a digital video playback and recording solution designed to integrate with other video playback devices such as DVD players and VCRs. The server includes WebNEXUS, a web interface that enables authorized viewers to log into the NEXUS server using any standard web browser to upload slides, manage existing slides, or create new slides using text editing and formatting tools. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Leightronix at NAB booth 4593, or contact the company at 800-243-5589 or at www.leightronix.com.
Switchable HD camera
Panasonic’s AK-HC1500 1080i/720p switchable high-definition (HD) camera is a multi-format camera designed for videoconferencing and studio use. The camera includes Panasonic’s 1-megapixel, 2/3-inch three-CCD IT-CCD, a 14-bit A/D converter, and digital signal processor. The 3.3-pound camera provides variable frame rate functionality and cine Gamma curve. The unit offers a standard HD-SDI output, a 12-axis color correction circuit for saturation and hue adjustment, 2X image magnification, and a mini, 15-pin connector. Price: $19,950. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Panasonic at NAB booth 2518, or contact the company at 800-528-8601 or at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.
Video server
Designed for high-definition playback in large-screen presentations and digital cinema applications, the V1-HD high-definition video disk recorder from Doremi Labs provides simultaneous dual-channel, locked playback of two HD-SDI video streams. The server can simultaneously record both HD streams, record two video streams in two separate passes, and record streams by transferring TIFF files via Ethernet to the server. The device offers selectable JPEG-2000 video compression up to 300 Mb/s. The server can store approximately 4 hours of video at 160 Mb/s. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Doremi Labs at NAB booth 5712, or contact the company at 812-562-1101 or at www.doremilabs.com.
HDTV upconverter
The Quasar HDTV upconverter from Snell & Wilcox incorporates the company’s Ph.C motion compensation and Prefix pre-processing compression technologies. The upconverter supports video, film, graphics, and mixed media sources, upconverting interlaced SD 525 and 625 signals to 720p and 1080i HDTV formats. The device incorporates an onboard aspect ratio converter that includes multiple fixed presets for common conversions. The Quasar offers audio support for embedded, AES, and compressed formats. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Snell & Wilcox at NAB booth 156, or contact the company at 818-556-2616 or at www.snellwilcox.com.
Video converter
The VxScaler from VertigoXmedia is a field-upgradeable module that converts the company’s VertigoXG character generator into a broadcast graphics engine with built-in standards conversion. The module provides upconversion and downconversion, which enables simultaneous HD/SD output. The VxScaler uses motion estimation, de-interlacing, and scaling at 10-bit YUV 4:2:2 in its three-step conversion process. Price: N/A. For more information, see VertigoXmedia at NAB booth 4726, or contact the company at 514-397-0955 or at www.vertigoxmedia.com.
Memory software
Broadcast Pix has introduced its Scripts advanced memory software, which is designed to be used with the company’s production switchers. The software works with the production switchers’ built-in graphics systems and clip stores to recall camera and lens settings, as well as exact clips, titles, and animations to fill the keys. The software includes programmable presets that enable individual cameras to be selected, positioned, and brought to air. Price: free to download for existing Broadcast Pix customers. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Broadcast Pix at NAB booth 2400, or contact the company at 781-221-2144 or at www.broadcastpix.com.
Signal processor
The FA-9000 signal processor from For-A Corp. of America supports multiple video signal input and output formats, including HD-SDI and SD-SDI digital signals and component and composite analog signals. The processor also provides digital analog input/output for audio signals. The unit incorporates 12-bit internal processing, and functions as an upconverter, downconverter, color corrector, media-based noise reducer, logo generator, and Dolby-E decoder. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see For-A Corp. of America at NAB booth 9248, or contact the company at 714-894-3311 or at www.for-a.com.
Fiber distribution rack
Gepco’s HDRA angled, two-rack-unit, hybrid fiber distribution rack includes a front panel designed to reduce connector protrusion and cable strain, according to the company. The rack provides solutions for onsite installation of SMPTE hybrid fiber interconnections. Each hybrid fiber connector is broken out into separate single-mode fiber ST connectors in an electrical five-pin connector. The unit’s component level termination enables ST and electrical termination methods, which eliminate the need for specialized hybrid fiber termination methods, according to Gepco. Price: N/A. Availability: currently available. For more information, see Gepco at NAB booth 5733, or contact the company at 631-659-2309 or at www.gepco.com.
