IMS Productions

The solution

The team removed the baseband system from IMSP’s trucks — routers, multiviewers, and frame syncs — and replaced it with Imagine Communications’ Selenio™ Network Processor (SNP). The decision to partner with Imagine on this project was based on three key factors: BeckTV’s familiarity with the company’s solutions, the ease and speed in which these solutions could be deployed, and the unmatched flexibility of the SNP, which features four processing engines. Each of these engines can be assigned a different personality, enabling us to quickly configure the units for a range of production functions, while minimizing the equipment needed to save valuable space.

In total, 70 SNPs were deployed across five trucks, creating a cohesive, connected facility. Thirty-three of the units are configured as multiviewers — an essential function in motorsports, where directors must make split-second decisions based on fast-moving action. The SNP Multiviewer delivers exceptionally low latency and incredibly crisp imaging quality, supporting native 1080p and UHD or 4K output directly to the monitor wall. Several SNPs are utilizing the IP Synchronizer personality to enable high-density, ultra-low-latency SDI/IP gateway functionality, while the Conversion personality is being used in others for up-, down-, and cross-conversion.

The SNP’s ability to perform edge conversion is particularly valuable for IMSP’s operations. It allows incoming signals to be normalized — such as upconverting 720p to 1080p — when they come into the system, while also applying frame sync and color correction. Performing this processing at the edge minimizes complexity in the core system and ensures format consistency throughout. The SNP also has powerful audio capabilities integrated within its various personalities, which became key in this project. IMSP’s audio system remains baseband, and the SNPs are interfacing with it via 38 paths of MADI conversion.

For control, BeckTV relied on Imagine’s Magellan™ Control System. Its intuitive interface allowed IMSP’s team to become proficient very quickly. It only took the engineer in charge of the truck a couple of shows to become comfortable using it, and now he’s creating and managing more complex shows with greater ease and speed than is possible in a baseband environment.