No, it is not meant for media companies on a diet.
But, it could cut costs while improving efficiencies — always a good thing for those in the C-Suite cutting the checks for new gadgetry and tech tools.
At the recent 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas, German tech firm Rohde & Schwarz officially rolled out “lean encoder packages” to its R&S AVHE100 encoding and multiplexing tool.
This, R&S says, allows customers to enhance the R&S AVHE100 — and third-party platforms — with new, higher performance encoders.
The R&S AVHE100 software platform supports high dynamic range (HDR) video transmissions and is prepared for SMPTE ST 2110; it also supports HEVC, H.264 and MPEG-2. All available codecs and resolutions can be mixed, even in combination with the statistical multiplex function. Network operators can continue using legacy formats until any planned transition to newer formats is completed.
“The intelligent allocation of data rates results in enhanced efficiency, making it possible either to transmit more programs at a time or to transmit programs at a higher picture quality,” R&S says, adding that the R&S AVHE100 “offers the highest picture quality currently available for HEVC-encoded content thanks to its integrated HEVC encoder developed by the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI).”
R&S continues, “In many cases, network operators do not replace complete headends. Instead, they replace encoders with new, more powerful devices one by one, while taking the opportunity to install higher performance codecs with higher resolutions. This allows a more efficient use of available bandwidth in order to broadcast a more attractive range of channels. The German premium vendor Rohde & Schwarz now offers dedicated encoder packages optimized for specific applications. Available models include, for example, 1x UHD, 4x HD HEVC and 8x HD H.264, each in a single, compact box. Another model addresses the ISDB-T market in particular, providing 1x HD, 1x SD and 1x One-Seg in a single device.”
