Harmonic Extends Spectrum Media Server Family With Codec Support

Harmonic extended the MediaPort 7000 Series with the release of the MediaPort 7300, which adds MPEG-2 encode capability.

IT infrastructure specialist Harmonic announced additions to its Omneon Spectrum media server product line. The Omneon MediaDeck 7000, a fully integrated four-channel media server system, offers high capacity, performance and modularity in a 1-RU form factor. In addition, the company is adding new I/O modules to its recently introduced Omneon MediaPort 7000 Series that supports MPEG-2 encode and simultaneous generation of H.264 proxies.

The MediaDeck 7000 system is the newest member of the Spectrum media server family, and it offers multiple-codec playback; up, down and cross-conversion; HD/SD simulcast capabilities and two-channel modularity. Supporting all members of the MediaPort 7000 family of I/O modules, the MediaDeck 7000 server is an economical unit that is suited for applications requiring two to four channels in an integrated 1-RU package.

Harmonic has extended the MediaPort 7000 Series with the release of the MediaPort 7300, which adds MPEG-2 encode capability to the product line, extending the family's codec support. The MediaPort 7000 Series also now streamlines ingest workflows with real-time H.264 proxy generation available on all models, including the new MediaPort 7300.

"With broad and flexible codec support, as well as valuable conversion and simulcast capabilities, the MediaDeck 7000 system is optimized to serve as an ingest or play-out edge server, delay server or stand-alone media server," said Mark Cousins, senior product line manager for media servers at Harmonic. "Our new MediaPort 7300 modules address the reality that media server customers use MPEG-2 far more often than any other codec. By integrating conversion and simulcast with multiple-codec recording and play-out, the new modules also simplify multi-format ingest and play-out workflows."

The new MediaDeck 7000 system employs two hot-pluggable MediaPort 7000 Series modules to provide video and audio I/O, as well as interfaces for external reference, time code and automation control. These modules can be mixed in any combination, providing flexibility for support of mixed-codec (MPEG-2, XDCAM HD, AVC-Intra and SD/HD DV) workflows. The MediaPort modules offer built-in up/down/cross-conversion, as well as separately configurable primary and secondary outputs.

Each of the two MediaPort modules within the MediaDeck 7000 system supports two independent bidirectional video channels for a total of four channels per 1-RU system. The media server system itself provides 6TB of usable media storage (225 hours at 50M bps), protected by the Spectrum system's reliable software RAID architecture. A detachable front panel with color status display provides access to the drive modules. Dual redundant hot-pluggable power supplies bring broadcasters peace of mind, as well as power system maintenance flexibility. A single power supply can run the system indefinitely, the company noted.