High Definition (HD) KVM DVI Draco matrix switches are capable of mixing both CATx and fiber optic connections

OOBAXS (pronounced Out of Band Access), the console access authority for data centers and broadcasting today announced that it is bringing High Definition (HD) KVM DVI Draco matrix switches capable of mixing both CATx and fiber optic connections between source and target to the US market. The switches are manufactured by IHSE Germany, a leading developer and innovator in high speed, high definition DVI and KVM/Video extension and switching solutions.

OOBAXS, one of Hollywood’s leading technology integrators will provide installations, support and guidance on deployments at numerous post-production facilities. “The Draco series is the fastest core switching product on the market,” said Alan Frank, technology strategist and founder of OOBAXS. “IHSE’s willingness to be a responsive partner with their end-users has led to the evolution of a product that is changing the way movies are made.”

The Draco offers DVI video extenders over CATx or Fiber for “mission critical” server and computer access, as well as, fiber optic HD-KVM matrix switches. The Draco, featuring ZERO blocking, high speed switching, HD DVI to 1920×1200, and four HID, has already made its impact on Hollywood studios.

Working with OOBAXS to design and deploy a solution using Draco, Shapeshifter Post was the first post-production facility in Hollywood to embrace the high speed technology. “We had been researching KVM Matrix switching/extension options for many months, and needed a robust solution that could support all our input devices without issue, including our Avid Symphony, DS, and Media Composer, as well as De Vinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro workstations,” said Russo Anastasio, president of Shapeshifter Post. “We knew that by installing the IHSE Draco, we would increase our productivity, but didn’t realize the extent of that increase would be such a game changer!”

“Post-production tasks can be time consuming and draining on resources and typically depend on individual hardware and locations,” added Alan Frank. “An editor may have traditionally worked in one bay for picture editing, but then would need to move to a new location to add in special effects or color-time. With the Draco, an entire production house worth of resources becomes accessible at any single end-point.”

OOBAXS (pronounced Out of Band Access) provides anywhere, anytime console access to broadcast facilities and data centers. The company has a long track record integrating access solutions to help data center managers gain access to any appliance or piece of equipment in their network. OOBAXS.COM has been instrumental in bringing the latest technologies to data centers helping them improve anytime access, image/video quality, productivity, access speed, and a more flexible infrastructure. OOBAXS has brought modern data center tools and techniques into the broadcast world. The result is a client list that includes the world largest movie, recording, radio and television studios as well as Fortune 100 company data-centers. As video, speed and visual interfaces continue to improve; OOBAXS will remain a leading resource for CIOs, CTOs, and broadcast engineers.

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November 29, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids today announced the release of version 3.7 of the Digital Rapids Stream software for the company’s StreamZ, StreamZHD and Flux encoding and live streaming solutions. New features in Stream 3.7 include expanded format support including encoding to the Panasonic AVC-Intra format; 64-bit operating system support; cue point insertion for live streaming with Adobe(r) Flash(r) technologies; and enhanced H.264 and MPEG-2 encoding. These new capabilities join numerous additions in the previously-unannounced version 3.6 upgrade released in August, including Dolby(r) Digital AC-3 audio pass-through and updates to Civolution NexGuard forensic watermarking support. more

November 24, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids announced today that the StreamZ Live ABR adaptive streaming encoder has been honored with the 2011 Streaming Media Readers’ Choice Award in the Over-the-Top (OTT) Video Solution category. The award was presented during the Streaming Media West conference and exhibition in Los Angeles. more

November 16, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids announced today that the company has joined Akamai’s NetAlliance Solution Partner Program. Akamai has expanded its partner program to encompass the digital media ecosystem through the NetAlliance Solution Partner Program, with Digital Rapids joining as one of the new expansion’s inaugural members.

“We’ve worked closely with Akamai on projects from live streaming of high-profile events to large-scale, multi-screen initiatives for some of the world’s largest media and entertainment enterprises, and we’re pleased to be further strengthening our relationship through the NetAlliance Solution Partner Program,” said Brick Eksten, President of Digital Rapids Corporation. “We look forward to continuing our success with Akamai as our customers tackle new opportunities and new challenges in the rapidly expanding media landscape.” more

November 9, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids announced today that Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is using a large-scale deployment of Digital Rapids’ StreamZHD multi-format encoding systems and the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager automated transcoding software to transform live feeds and on-demand content for delivery to multiple viewing platforms in support of Turner’s multi-screen video offerings and the pay television industry’s “TV Everywhere” initiatives.

An array of StreamZHD encoders are used by Turner’s Network Operations group for ingest and encoding of live sources, while a distributed, multi-node Digital Rapids Transcode Manager deployment transcodes high volumes of mezzanine source files into a wide range of output formats for VOD and viewing on devices from PCs to mobile phones and tablets.

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October 12, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids has been selected by Streaming Media magazine as one of the inaugural Streaming Media 100, defined by the publication as “the 100 companies that matter most in online video.”

The goal of the Streaming Media 100 list was to identify the companies that are the most important, most innovative, have had the most impact on the space in the recent past and are likely to continue to do so in the future. From an initial list of nearly 200 companies proposed by Streaming Media magazine’s staff and contributing editors, the judges discussed and debated the relative merits of each until arriving at the final list. Companies evaluated spanned the entire online video ecosystem, from content creation and production, to ingest and encoding, to distribution, syndication, and monetization. more

September 29, 2011 — Markham, Ontario: Digital Rapids announced today that the upcoming version 2.0 of the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager high-volume, automated media processing software has been honored with two prestigious industry awards following the 2011 IBC Conference and Exhibition in Amsterdam. Transcode Manager 2.0 received a TV Technology Europe STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) Award and a TVBEurope “Best of IBC2011″ Editors’ Award.

Powered by Digital Rapids’ groundbreaking Kayak application platform, Transcode Manager 2.0 builds on the proven quality, format flexibility and performance that have made Transcode Manager the preferred choice of leading media organizations for applications from post production and archive to broadcast and multi-screen distribution. New features in version 2.0 include intelligent, logic-driven workflow automation; dynamic licensing; and elastic scalability with support for both on-premises and external clouds. more

DTS Codecs Integrated into Digital Rapids Transcode Manager 2.0 — Showcases Newly Launched DTS MediaPlayer at IBC 2011

September 9, 2011 — IBC (Stand #2.B50), AMSTERDAM: DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), a leader in high-definition audio, and Digital Rapids, the leading provider of tools and solutions for bringing television, movie and Web content to wider audiences, have announced the companies’ first tools to support the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem’s (DECE) UltraViolet(tm) standard. DTS will showcase its newly launched DTS MediaPlayer in Stand 2.B50 during this year’s IBC exhibition, using UltraViolet Common File Format (CFF) files created with Digital Rapids’ upcoming version 2.0 of the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager automated transcoding software. Digital Rapids Transcode Manager 2.0 will feature encoding and multiplexing of a wide range of profiles of the DTS-HD codec, from lossless DTS-HD Master Audio down to low bit-rate DTS Express, and will be showcased at the Digital Rapids Stand, 7.G41. Both products support UltraViolet CFF files and serve the standard’s goal to combine the benefits of cloud access with the power of an open, industry standard-empowering consumers to use multiple content services and device brands interchangeably, at home and on-the-go. more

Portable Suitcase Design Allows for
High Quality Video Transmission in an Easy to Use Package

AMSTERDAM, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 – Integrated Microwave Technologies, LLC (IMT), a Business Unit within the Vitec Group’s Videocom Division, and a leader in advanced digital microwave systems serving the Broadcast, Sports & Entertainment and MAG (Military, Aerospace & Government) markets, introduces its RF Central PHT-IV portable high power transmitter, specifically designed for the African broadcast market, at the 2011 IBC Show (Hall 1, Stand D40).

Incorporating the RF Central award-winning microLite HD transmitter, the PHT-IV HD upgradable portable digital transmitter is flexible in design, allowing the microLite camera transmitter to be used standalone at 100 mw or with an integral power amplifier that delivers 5W output power.

“We continue to witness the phenomenal growth of the broadcast sector across all African countries,” says Integrated Microwave Technologies President Stephen Shpock. “This growth was made possible by opening Africa’s broadcast market to new investment and competition from IPTV and satellite operators as well as an increase in advertising revenues and available TV channels. The PHT-IV was designed to provide the emerging markets with a reliable and cost-effective product that can handle their new video transmission needs.”

Configured as the PHT-lV-H model, the transmitter is available with a standard 7W power output. The PHT-IV is highly portable and purpose-built with a tough plastic miniature suitcase design. It is ideal for use as a temporary transmitter for fixed or mobile applications.

The unit boasts a simple and user-friendly design with top-mounted controls that include all fundamental MPEG video and channel programming parameters. In addition, there is a linear variable attenuator to control power output. Power on/off and over-temperature alarm indication is also available. Cooled by three internal high velocity fans and housed in a weather-resistant case, the PHT-IV can operate in either a closed or open case configuration.

The PHT-IV can transform virtually any vehicle into a COFDM digital microwave “live car” with access to 12 VDC and the addition of an optional antenna. The PHT-IV is also usable in a fixed position or standalone mode for temporary transmit application.
Available formats include 480i, 576i, 720p and 1080i. The unit can be configured to accept composite, component, HD, SDI and ASI inputs. Audio capabilities include analog, digital AES and fully embedded audio.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for African broadcast operators to keep up with the pace of the pursuit for viewers and subscribers, as licensed and unlicensed operators embrace new technologies such as online and mobile TV,” adds Shpock. “Broadcasters will also face another challenge due to the imminent switch to all digital broadcasting while the number of new competitive television and radio stations will continue to grow. The PHT-IV is an example of IMT’s commitment to providing the global broadcast industry with solutions that allow them to operate more efficiently in today’s ever changing environment.”

About Integrated Microwave Technologies, LLCIntegrated Microwave Technologies, LLC (IMT) is a Business Unit within the Vitec Group’s Videocom Division. The company comprises the leading microwave brands Nucomm, RF Central and Microwave Service Company (MSC), offering broadcasters worldwide complete broadcast solutions. Nucomm is a premium brand of digital microwave video systems (including COFDM and VSB) for portable and fixed link applications. RF Central is an innovative brand of compact microwave video equipment for licensed and license free broadcast applications. MSC is a premier provider of engineering, integration, technical support, installation and commissioning services.

More information can be found at www.imt-broadcast.com.

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September 9, 2011 — IBC 2011, Amsterdam, Stand 7.G41: Digital Rapids – the leading provider of tools and solutions for bringing television, movie and Web content to wider audiences — is providing a preview of the upcoming, carrier-grade StreamZ Live Broadcast hybrid encoder as part of the company’s comprehensive range of live encoding solutions being showcased at the IBC 2011 exhibition in Amsterdam.

StreamZ Live Broadcast combines the superior quality and flexible, multi-screen output capabilities of Digital Rapids’ StreamZ Live encoder family with robust features for the unique demands of broadcast, cable, telco and satellite television operations. StreamZ Live Broadcast features simultaneous encoding for ‘traditional’ television and ‘any-screen’ streaming delivery to a broad range of devices — including mobile phones, tablets, PCs, IPTV set-top boxes, game consoles and more — in a single 1RU encoder. more