SNP offers high-density SDI interconnectivity for next-gen IP live production platform

TORONTO, March 29, 2022 – As broadcasters and production companies transition towards IP infrastructures, a proven technology partnership between industry leaders Imagine Communications and Panasonic is delivering practical, easily implemented and highly efficient hybrid and IP solutions using open, standards-based products. In yet another application for Imagine’s widely deployed Selenio™ Network Processor (SNP), integrators are using the software-based media processing platform to provide a high-density SDI on- and off-ramp for the Panasonic KAIROS IP live video production platform.

Imagine Communications is a KAIROS Alliance Partner. The Alliance encourages vendors to collaborate in areas like SMPTE ST 2110 interoperability and device connection verification to simplify the implementation of hybrid and IP systems.

“Today, live production companies are striving to achieve maximum benefits from the move towards an all-IP infrastructure without the need to dispense of existing hardware, and implementing proven, hybrid solutions helps to ease the transition,” said John Mailhot, CTO Networking and Infrastructure at Imagine Communications. “The seamless interoperability between the SNP and KAIROS is a perfect example of this type of solution. We have already seen a number of successful SNP/KAIROS implementations delivering tangible operational and commercial benefits.”

The powerful 1RU SNP platform has found wide acceptance in the global broadcast and live production markets.  Hosting a broad range of processing functions, it will handle conversions between ST 2110 and SDI, including 12G SDI as required, as well as up-, down- and cross-conversion between HD/UHD and SDR/HDR formats.  It also offers an HDR-capable production multiviewer personality, SNP-MV, which can integrate content from different video formats and HDR systems into a consistent display environment. The latest SNP release incorporates JPEG XS compression capabilities to provide production-quality, low-latency interconnection that enables remote production workflows. The innovative design of the SNP enables the device to be easily reconfigured with any of these personalities, as well as ensuring the SNP can be field-upgraded to support new functionality as additional software modules are developed.

Panasonic’s KAIROS platform offers an open architecture system for live video switching with complete input and output flexibility, resolution and format independence, maximum CPU/GPU processor utilization and virtually unlimited ME scalability. As a native IP, ST 2110 system, KAIROS supports transitions to live IP workflows and can eliminate dedicated hardware constraints.

In conjunction with the KAIROS switcher, the SNP can provide conversion for large numbers of SDI sources, multiplexing them onto a single fiber connection, eliminating the additional complication of a COTS switch. This fiber could allow the SNP and KAIROS to be several kilometers apart ― ideal for large-scale outside broadcast production or campus installations.

Mailhot continues, “We see SNP as the perfect partner for KAIROS because of its PTP versatility, huge range of available functionality, density of processing and, of course, cost-effectiveness. Tightly integrated with KAIROS, the SNP delivers powerful functionality and operational simplicity that is readily implemented, and as each customer is ready to transition to IP, SNP delivers all the ST 2110 benefits alongside its remarkable flexibility. We look forward to continuing collaboration with Panasonic, not only on KAIROS implementations, but also on driving forward standardization and best practices on interoperability.”