The K2 server scales from a stand-alone system with several channels to shared-storage systems supporting more than 100.
Following the success of its Profile XP media Platform server, Grass Valley has announced a next-generation digital video server, based on the Internet SCSI (iSCSI), Gigabit Ethernet, and CIFS computer-industry protocols, called K2. The system was demonstrated at the BIRTV show in China last week and will also be on display at IBC (Hall 11, Stand #551), in Amsterdam next month.
The K2 server and associated media client system supports SD and HD content on the same timeline, including a mix of interlaced and progressive HD formats as well as automatic translation of closed-caption data from VBI to HD ANC data (and back) as necessary.
Support for the iSCSI networking protocol delivers high throughput and storage area network performance over standard Ethernet connections. Using Grass Valley’s optimization techniques, the K2 system provides deterministic bandwidth and availability for editing and playout applications.
Using a PC and the K2 media client, users can preview up to 16 channels and have full control over content on any of those channels and others. The media client interface features an analog-like jog/shuttle control feature as well as support for Grass Valley’s NetCentral remote-monitoring software.
Scaling from stand-alone systems with several channels to shared-storage systems supporting more than 100, the K2 server offers simultaneous playout and recording, network support, clip editing and trimming, playlist creation, and the ability to exchange materials with a variety of systems and applications (such as third-party automation vendors) using industry-standard protocols.
The server supports content compressed as MPEG-2 (4:2:2 and 4:2:0) in the I-frame or Long GOP format, as well as SD DV files, on the same timeline. It also offers native handling of either MXF or GXF (SMPTE 360M) streams over IP as well as a universal conversion architecture for flexible support of other common formats such as AVI and QuickTime. The system also includes a full range of I/O support (SDI, ASI, and IP) and future MPEG-4 expansion capabilities.
For more information, visit www.thomsongrassvalley.com.
