FOR-A has introduced its IMPULSE solution, which consolidates functions provided by FOR-A products into one host machine. IMPULSE (Integrated Media Platform with UnLimited StructurE) features signal processing, multiviewer, switching, graphics, audio mixing and a media player as software function nodes.
Operators can connect nodes by using the platform’s graph editor to create production pipelines. Because it’s a software-based solution, it’s easy to reconfigure the pipelines depending on the specific application, FOR-A America President Satoshi Kanemura said.
“Until recently, live production has required purchasing large-scale physical equipment and combining a variety of devices,” Kanemura said. “We are introducing a fully software-based platform that’s easy to change as you like depending on the application.”
There were several issues FOR-A wanted to address immediately, he added: the shortage of technical talent, efficient use of equipment resources and streamlining workflows. The system supports distributed production environments, enabling collaboration across multiple locations and allowing remote control and adjustments from anywhere, Kanemura said.
Kanemura introduced past SMPTE President Robert Seidel, whom he called “Mr. ST 2110.” Seidel said that when SMPTE was just starting to roll out the 2110 family of standards, it was envisioned facilities would be connecting a series of boxes all strung together over an IP network.
“But things have changed a little bit in technology,” Seidel said. “We’ve seen a massive improvement in processing power within GPUs [that] enables a whole new thinking and process that will allow us to process a lot more in a single box. Why not move all of these other functionalities into the box?”
FOR-A said the IMPULSE platform can be deployed seamlessly on-premises, in data centers or within public cloud environments. For cloud deployments planned for future delivery, IMPULSE will allow users to scale instance sizes on demand.
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