Ross Video Community

Ross Video’s new MC1 Master Control was a huge success at NAB 2012! The world’s simplest and most cost effective master control solution received a lot of attention at its first official launch. The MC1 is an openGear, card based master control, which integrates seamlessly into any of our routers from the NK product line. Driving the MC1 is the world’s easiest control GUI, now built into DashBoard v5.0 control software, or it can run under any automation system supporting the PresMaster automation protocol.

“It is such a simple and easy system to operate, our demos literally took 5 minutes, and people were walking away as certified Ross Video Master Control operators!”

The big hit however, was not the simplicity or feature set, but the price! At $3495, the MC1 openGear card becomes one of the most cost effective way to launch a channel to air. Adding a second channel gets even easier, just add another MC1 openGear card to your openGear frame and it connects with the same router and uses the same control GUI. A touch screen is available for manual operation, or simply KVM the DashBoard control system off of your automation system to save space and cost.

Housing itself in the openGear frame has its advantages beyond master control. The remaining slots in the 2RU frame can offer openGear solutions such as Dolby encoding/decoding, Loudness processing or Nielsen Watermarking, along with hundreds of other openGear solutions. Visit the MC1 webpage today for more information.

We had a fantastic showing of our Carbonite series again at NAB!  Well all of the switchers showed well and I will make sure to add an update post for Vision as well!

NAB was our kick off for version 6 software which we will be shipping in May of this year!  Some really amazing feature additions were added and like before version 6 will be a FREE Upgrade for our Carbonite Users.

Features include:

MultiViewer:

We will be releasing 29 Total layouts with Version 6.  Each MultiViewer output (2 total) will be able to have up to 16 windows in it and each is discrete so it is possible to have 32 desecrate sources on the MultiViewer.

Aux Buses are now assignable to the MultiViewer and the source label will follow with the assignment as well.

HD MultiViewer in SD mode – Fantastic feature that will see 1/4 size boxes having a 1:1 pixel representation.  Will require you to use Outputs 7 and 8 as the MV outputs but we are sure it is worth it to get this HQ MV in SD operation.

Added modifiers per window for things like Source Label On/Off, 4×3 Safe Area On/Off, Border On/Off, Tally On/Off for Red and/or Green tallies and also an option for Box Tally or Label tally!

MediaStore Enhancements:

Added is the ability to have Audio Files in the Media Store as well.  MultiChannel WAV for up to 16 channels of audio for Media 1 and Media 2.  Each will embed the audio on their video outputs.  When the Audio File is named the same as the TGA/PNG sequence it will autoload the two together.  Further you can load and play just Audio Files as well!!  You can now use the Media Store to add Music and Sound effects to your productions!

Embedded audio can be extracted by sending the MediaStores out the switcher to some Audio De-Embedders or an Audio Mixer that supports this kind of input.  Even Better though is that you can save your Aux Outs and select the Media Stores Ancillary Data (where the Audio is kept in the Video signal) on each MultiViewer.  So you can put Media 1 on MV 1 and Media 2 on MV 2.  Now you don’t have to use any additional outputs!

Capture Still images to USB now.  Select and input you like and then capture a frame of video to the usb for later recall.

Device Control Additions:

We have added RossTalk!  This is a TCP/IP protocol that we use to send commands and have full integrated control over the XPression Graphics system.  This was a big hit at the show as we were able to drive all of the content on a single channel since we now had full control of the system and all of it’s layering ability.  Further you can now use this protocol to send commands to the Carbonite!  open a simple SSH session to the Carbonite over TCP/IP and you will be able to send simple commands to control the Switcher!

Audio Follow Video for DM-1000 and 01V96 Audio consoles form Yamaha!  just make sure you order the SMC-9901 Serial to Midi Converter for connecting the the two together!

AMP Server protocol adds the ability to CUE clips in Custom Controls.  Now when you are building your Custom Controls you can “learn” the Clip ID that is on the server.  When the CC is triggered Carbonite will now be able to send that Clip ID to the Servers for cueing — The BlackStorm Video server is great for this!!!  It Cues fast and has an Instant play!

External Control:

You can now add a Custom Control Shot Box (SideShot!) to the switchers – get access to all 96 macros in a dedicated module.

Aux Bus panels are also now available with version 6 — up to 8 can be chained together and have full access to all sources and Aux Outputs.  You can also program each with restrictions on what outputs that they can control.

Other Additions include:

1080pSF 23.98 Video format

Tally Assignment menu with a 1-Many and Many-1 relationship.  Add as many combinations per Tally as you would like!

GPI Assignment Menu – pick which function you would like on each GPI instead of having to use the assigned default table.

We also showed a preview of version 7 software which will be this fall and with it will come the DashBoard Based Live Assist Menus that some people had seen before in the WebUI.  We have moved to DashBoard with the Launch of DashBoard Version 5 at NAB.  With all new features DashBoard has made it easy to put the Carbonite Live Assist Menu in.  Now Carbonite will be available along side your openGear terminal gear and your BlackStorm server.  This is really exciting and we can’t wait to get this out later this year!

Thank You!

It was really great this year at the show being able to meet a bunch of the community users and chat.  Lot’s off feedback was given and it was apparent that everyone is really liking their Carbonite switchers.  The team has been working extremely hard to get these releases out and in your hands!  Oh and there will be more

Les

In preparation for NAB 2012, we’ve launched a new look and new web content for XPression, including a new landing page at www.xpression.com.  You can either access the XPression main page from the Ross website, or the new XPression.com URL will take you directly to the XPression section.

Speaking of NAB, there is a long list of new features and functionality that will be debuting in XPression version 4.0 shortly after the show.

Multiple Project Loading

XPression can now load and unload multiple projects at the same time without disrupting on-air operations.  Enhanced Project Server functionality allows users to load only the elements they need for a show, instead of everything they might ever need for a newscast.

MOS Graphic Re-skinning

In a MOS newsroom environment, journalists can now select from multiple looks or styles for the same MOS object.  Drag a graphic from the morning news rundown and re-skin it for the evening news with the click of a button.  The look of a whole newscast can also be changed in the control room from the Remote Sequencer, even while on-air!

Improved Masking Tools

Masking is now handled at the layer level, instead of the scene level, so multiple masks on various layers is now possible.

More 3D Primitives

The addition of a cylinder and torus primitive help round out the selection of basic 3D objects.

New Shader Types

XPression now adds bump mapping and refraction to the list of supported shader types!

Spell Check

The XPression MOS Plug-in now supports spell check in multiple languages.

XPression Custom Keyboard

For fast-paced live environments, the optional XPression Custom Keyboard gives users dedicated keys for common functions and the ability to create their own custom keys or macros with powerful keyboard mapping software.

Virtual Set with Camera Tracking

In partnership with North America’s premier virtual set integrator, Unreel, XPression now supports virtual sets with camera tracking, using Unreel’s, UX (Unreel XPerience) software.  Unreel handles all of the tracking data from encoded camera heads with an optional touchscreen GUI for handling media and moving virtual set pieces.

64-bit XPression Codec Support

XPression’s highly-efficient Video Codec is now supported by 64-bit design and animation programs for rendering directly into XPression’s format.

GV Aurora NLE Plug-in

The Grass Valley Aurora editing system now supports the XPression NLE Plug-in for access to all of the live-to-air XPression templates and full-motion previews inside the NLE environment.

Integration with AVID Command

AVID’s Command production control system for iNews now has full control of XPression in a MOS environment with graphic thumbnails and preview frames.

Integration with Mosart Automation

Mosart production automation now controls XPression for automated playout of graphics.

Daktronics & OES Scoreboard Interfaces

XPression’s Datalinq Server is now compatible with Daktronics and OES scoreboard systems to receive “clock & score” and other supported data for multiple sports.

If you are attending the show I hope to see you there, if not, here’s a preview of what’s coming soon to an XPression near you.

Now that we have launched the fabulous new BlackStorm playout server we have been able to put together some really valuable new Studio Systems packages. With CrossOver, Carbonite or even Vision it is now possible to buy ‘best in class’ production technology from Ross that includes switcher, graphics and servers – just add cameras and displays. The really cool thing about these packages is not just that they work flawlessly and really well together, but also offer the best bang for the buck without comparison.

I am really looking forward to NAB – it’s exciting to be able to show folks how they can get the job done faster, better and for less.

If you’ve been watching any of the award shows this year, including the biggest of them all, you’ve seen XPression hard at work cranking out graphics for tens of millions of viewers.  With that big of an audience, you have two options – be perfect or be perfect.  So far, so good!

In addition, for hardcore award show fans, XPression is being used in many of the Red Carpet shows doing Twitter feeds and even crazy, multi-channel DVE-like moves in 3D space with integrated graphics.

http://youtu.be/ioDlQyt6m24

While the entertainment industry has embraced XPression as the next live graphics platform of choice, XPression is also forging ahead in news, branding, sports, info channels, and virtual sets.

If you’re looking to get some hands-on time with XPression, the XPression Road Show is off and running, coming to a town near you.  We’re also planning some amazing things for NAB 2012 in Las Vegas (April 16-19).  Or, just contact your local Ross representative to set up a demo.

Very Happy that version 14.1 has been shipping since the end of January.  This version added a couple of small Features like Additive Key Enable button — important as the only way to induce additive Keying was to assign a Auto Key source with a Shaped modifier.  Also we added the ability to have independent Dissolves for Keyers, this requires the 4 Keyer Video Processor boards, now keyers no longer have to be part of a Transition for multiple keyer dissolves.

Version 14.1 was also the OverDrive v11 support release.  Version 14 was released at the beginning of January and saw quite a few additions to the MultiViewers bringing the total number of layouts available to 20.  Layered MLE Alpha Mode was added and we even threw in an option for MLE-Stores.  Allowing you to send up to 2 MLE-Stores back into the Main Crosspoint making them available system wide.

There were additional Devices added in 14 as well including the new FlexClip Device type with the Advance Media Protocol (AMP) driver.  Great support for SoftMetal Servers as well as servers from other vendors that did not already have VDCP support but did have AMP.

Contact Tech Support today so that we can help you download and upgrade your system!

Les

Iterative Development is a method of developing software that simplifies development by breaking a project down into small sections.  This allows product managers and developers to apply lessons that they learned during early development cycles, ensuring that the final software application is more feature-rich, more reliable and more user-friendly.

There is a similar concept in the marketing world called “plusing”, which is defined as “the act of continuously improving something; adding detail and tweaks to something already satisfactory”.

Today Ross Video announces the launch of the BlackStorm line of Video Servers.  BlackStorm development was an amalgamation of both concepts. We took an already satisfactory amazing product, the SoftMetal 3000 series, and evolved it based on customer feedback (User Acceptance Testing), user experience (extended Beta Test period) and our own internal wish list.
The result was the BlackStorm 102P Playout Server.
This first model of our new product line features a smaller, more compact chassis built on world class Dell server hardware and contains the latest generation processing power, including the Intel i7 Chipset, a parallel processing architecture and a 6Gb/s internal bus.  It also features a new User Interface built within Ross’ DashBoard Control System, providing user customizable layouts, client/server architecture and multi-server control within a single UI.
From day one, the BlackStorm team realized that a simple, easy-to-use content workflow was the key to a fantastic server product. By using the industry standard .mov file wrapper, with support for the DV family and QuickTime animation codecs, BlackStorm provides a drag and drop media workflow, with direct support for Final Cut Pro, the Adobe family of products and the Avid line of NLE products.

The final result was a new, powerful, feature-rich product, or as we say “Concentrated Server Power”, that is Easy to Use, Affordable and Future Proof.

Just returned from the BES show in New Delhi. Carbonite was a huge hit! Saw a lot of folks from news and sports who were really excited by the tremendous power available from this inexpensive product. They were particularly interested in the new Studio system packages with XPression.

Introducing the modular Nielsen WaterMarks encoder, now released and shipping!

This new 3Gb/s, modular encoder offers up several new benefits including density; up to 5 modular encoders can operate in a 2RU frame with redundant power, bypass relays for video and discreet audio signals.

The NWE-3G is the ideal solution for inserting Nielsen Watermarks into the audio for television programming. The timestamp structured watermarks make use of the “SID” (Source Identifier), which is a serial number used by Nielsen and the television industry to uniquely identify program content, to ensure proper crediting of viewing.

Visit the NWE-3G product page for more information.

We are extremely excited to announce that we have released version 5.1 for carbonite.  In the Release we have added the Media Manager WebUI.  This allows full control of the Media Store channels with an Intuitive GUI through a Web browser.  The Manuals, Release Notes and Software are available right now from the website – http://rossvi.de/oDR88m .  Get your upgrade and manuals to get started with a wonderful new addition to the product line.

With that said we are currently hard at work trying to get the next release into QA.  This version will add all kinds of new features and functionality to the Carbonite Series of switchers.  As we get closer to release we will start posting some details to keep everyone up to date on what is coming!  Yet again this will be a FREE download with all kinds of new additions that won’t cost you  a cent.  Thanks again for helping to make Carbonite one of the most successful products we have brought to the industry.  These are flying off the shelves and popping up all over the world in rapid numbers!

Keep the feed back coming and we hope you continue to join in on the discussions here in the Ross Video Community!

Les