At IBC 2024, Sony Electronics is showcasing a full range of products, solutions and workflows designed to fuel new creative possibilities for the future of broadcast. Under the theme of “Creativity Connected,” the Sony exhibit will feature hardware and software products – camcorders, studio cameras, monitors, switchers, and storage – combined with the latest advancements in Cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IP technologies to form a dynamic ecosystem of content creation and media production.
Sony will highlight the latest developments in its Networked Live, Creators’ Cloud and Ci Media Cloud platforms; highlight its growing network of strategic partnerships; and present live demonstrations of its media solutions in real-world applications.
“The media industry is shifting towards hybrid workflows that combine hardware and software components, allowing users to easily work without constraints across multiple infrastructures,” said Olivier Bovis, Deputy Head of Pan European Imaging Product and Solutions, Sony Europe B.V. “Different projects call for different solutions and workflows and our goal is to provide customers with as many technology options as possible. That diversity and breadth of resources will be on full display at the Sony IBC exhibit.”
Creating the building blocks for a dynamic media facility
Sony’s Networked Live ecosystem, designed for users to take full advantage of resources in high-quality live productions, has various new announcements. Working with its Nevion team, Sony delivers a holistic view to any production requiring end-to-end platform-agnostic workflows.
Sony continues to work with mobile operators worldwide, including Deutsche Telekom, Orange Poland, 3 Denmark, on multiple trials of low latency 5G live transmission. Workflows include cameras, the CBK-RPU7 remote production unit and the portable data transmitter PDT-FP1, which was released earlier this year and provides strong support for direct 5G streaming from cameras.
Key Tools for Hybrid On-Premises and Cloud Production
IBC 2024 marks the debut of Sony’s M2L-X, a software-based switcher that provides agnostic flexibility and capability in a production workflow due to its Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) approach and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) deployment, coupled with interoperability with third party applications. The M2L-X also integrates seamlessly with a software-defined platform that allows developers to easily build live media applications.
As live production operators increasingly seek scalability, sustainability and modularity, Sony’s new version of its MLS-X1 switcher provides the perfect solution, with more modular flexibility and operational capabilities. Its single node version (V2.2) with half M/E and I/O count means that smaller production companies can also harness the dynamic and scalable qualities offered by the platform. From an operational standpoint, The MLS-X1 sees several enhancements such as Conditional Action and Panel Memories, for more efficient story creation (V2.3.
In parallel, the camera control Network adaptor, CNA-2, adds new functions for managing and configuring cameras on a set: the GMCS (Global Multi camera System) is a new scalable and highly secure control system which allows any studio camera system to be expanded to up to 300 chains, using Logical Dividing to easily allocate and configure each chain. Multi-camera control and configuration can also be accessed through a web browser using the license-based software HZC-MSUCN2.
As part of Sony’s hybrid production vision, Nevion is enhancing media transport, network and resource orchestration across facilities and the cloud. Nevion Virtuoso will offer SRT transmission and advanced HEVC video compression for bandwidth-constrained applications. The Nevion VideoIPath media orchestration platform now supports routing and control of cloud processing resources while VideoIPath Operate continues to re-imagine broadcast control for live hybrid production. In addition, the new version (V1.1) of the media edge processor NXL-ME80 achieves ultra-low latency transmission of eight (8) HD channels and can also be used as a receiver for 5G wireless transmission.
Cloud and AI for enhanced infrastructure and workflow flexibility
Sony is announcing the creation of service-led templates, aligned with specific content use cases such as live production or news gathering using integrated software running on cloud services and COTS based hardware. Building on Sony’s strong experience in the live sports industry, these templates will allow users to deploy the most efficient broadcast and production operations according to their needs and resources.
Sony’s Creators’ Cloud announcements
Since its inception, Sony’s Creators’ Cloud platform has seen several expansions with specific developments aimed at individuals or enterprises.
To enhance post-production workflows, Sony’s Ci Media Cloud platform will premiere a native integration with Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve at IBC. Available in fall 2024, the integration allows users to search for footage stored in Ci, preview it, download proxies, check comments and upload new cuts, all directly from their non-linear video editing software (NLE).
Sony’s C3 Portal also sees its connectivity widened to the latest cameras and is now capable of receiving streaming feeds from third-party transmitters such as LiveU or generic SRT encoders, allowing quick and easy deployment of cameras feeds into the cloud. Teradek’s Node II, Node II CBRS and Node 5G wireless modems are now compatible with select Sony camcorders to transmit streaming or recorded files to the C3 Portal. On the receiver side, C3 Portal can connect, amongst many options, to the now available PWA-RX1 steaming receiver software, launched at NAB this year.
Creators’ Cloud for individuals
Sony Electronics is announcing new features to its Creators’ Cloud for individual’s platform including:
Visitors to the Sony stand will be able to try out Sony-owned AI analysis engine and AI Rule Engine Maker to create live highlight videos, scene clips and metadata tagging in the A2 production suite. Integrating with the A2 Production Suite, the M2 Live cloud-based switcher and its AI automatic highlight, instant replay and Clip Transition latest features will also be on display.
