Thunder, streaming for broadband "nets".....................
digitalproducer.com
Pinnacle Systems Launches Video Server For Broadcast and Internet
Multi-channel Clip Server to Aid Video Industry's Transition to Digital Television, and to Support Internet video Browsing and Internet Video Broadcasting
Thunder enables Intranet & Internet Browsing of Clips as well as Internet Video BroadcastingThunder MCS 4000, a multi-channel Broadcast media Server
Mountain View, California, - Pinnacle Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLE), a leading provider of solutions for the broadcast industry including character generators, still stores, and digital video effects solutions, announced Thunder MCS 4000 and MCS 2000, the Company's first MPEG-2, multi-channel video and audio clip servers. The new Thunder family of servers is a complete, compact solution that is based on Pinnacle Systems' architecture, which features custom chip technology and award-winning software.
Ready to integrate into today's mission critical broadcast environments, Thunder represents a wholly new class of video server that can handle multiple digital recording formats, transitions between clips, browsing clips across a network, as well asplus browsing and streaming of clips across the Internet. Remote users can view video proxies via standard streaming technologies on the Internet, using connection rates from T1 down to as little as 28.8kbaud (i.e. over a modem). Media stored on the Thunder is therefore available for immediate repurposing for use on the World Wide Web.
Thunder is intended to become the mainstay server in any video production or broadcast facility needing high quality content recorded, stored, played-out to air or to the Internet. Thunder is also BroadNetTM compliant, enabling seamless linking to all of Pinnacle's industry leading Broadcast solutions for effects, graphics and image management.
"Thunder brings together technology from all segments of our broadcast business, and adds an amazing arsenal of hard-hitting features. Thunder offers significant cost savings by delivering unique video processing functionality to each one of its four channels. This functionality includes that of a traditional multi-channel server, the M/E of a production switcher, an audio mixer, and a downstream keyer," said Bob Wilson, vice president and general manager of Pinnacle Systems' broadcast products group.
"Thunder has several interesting and unique attributes that will differentiate it in the market. We are very pleased that Pinnacle has implemented the Odetics DDR control protocol, thus making integration of our systems available from the start," noted Tim Crabtree, vice president and general manager of Odetics Broadcast. Odetics Broadcast (NASDAQ: ODETA and ODETB), is a world leader in video asset management and broadcast automation.
Thunder Browsing & The Internet
Thunder creates a separate video/audio proxy for every clip it records allowing users to scan the database and view the full-frame rate proxies of the clips stored on Thunder. These high-quality, low data rate images are available to any standard PC with a network connection to Thunder. Thunder users can even trim clips for play-out to air immediately without the need to make extra copies or tie up Fibre channel bandwidth transferring clips across storage systems.
Thunder is 100% BroadNeT Compliant
The Thunder clip server can exchange files with DVExtreme, AlladinPro, Lightning and the Deko line of Pinnacle Systems products. BroadNeT empowers all of Pinnacle Systems' broadcast products to quickly and easily move clips, proxies, graphics and text across both standard video and computer networks even the Internet. This integrated broadcast products solution enables networking of third-party platforms such as PCs, Macs and even Quantel Paintboxes, without additional interfaces. Images and data can quickly be imported from the Internet into BroadNeT-empowered applications and converted to broadcast-ready formats on the fly. BroadNeT's interconnectivity creates a new collaborative workflow, allowing effects and graphics to be created for real-time playback to air.
Pricing and Availability
Available QX fiscal 1999, Thunder systems will start at $75,000 (NTSC).
More About Thunder
The Thunder MCS 4000 and MCS 2000 are the first members in Pinnacle System's new family of media server products. Unlike many legacy broadcast solutions, the Thunder system uses many off-the-shelf storage components to provide its users with an unsurpassed level of support flexibility. Thunder's storage options are scalable and are based on separate Fiber channel disk arrays. Multiple Thunders can be networked together using standard Fiber channel networking solutions. Storage array's are based on Fiber channel networking and are scalable with RAID and mirroring options. Every Thunder video processor chassis and storage array include redundant power supplies.
Thunder supports the simultaneous, back-to-back record, playback, and storage of MPEG-2 and native DV formats. It processes four video streams in MPEG2 and DV formats simultaneously. Thunder performs seamless real time transitions between clips, regardless of compression format or data rate. Transitions include dissolves, wipes cuts and audio crossfades.
Each individual channel of Thunder records and plays back 601 video and key (i.e. 4:2:2:4) and 4 channels of high quality 20 bit digital audio. Video data rates from 2 to 50 Mbits/sec are supported on all four channels simultaneously, guaranteeing users an uncompromising level of image quality. An internal DSK allows each channel to key off disk material over any of the 4 live inputs to the system, avoiding the need to purchase external switchers and keyers to perform these functions. Thunder also offers IEEE 1394 (firewire) I/O as standard, along with optional analog I/O. Thunder is based on the Windows™ NT platform, and housed in a 4RU Pinnacle rack mount chassis.
Thunder includes a proven on-air application for identifying clips, transitions and stills and sequencing their play-out to air. Thunder's on-air application is based on Pinnacle's LightningTM, the leading image management system in the broadcast industry. Powerful features such a sophisticated asset management system and an intuitive user interface make Thunder an easy choice for broadcasters planning their migration to Digital Television.
Thunder allows users to manage the picon-based image database and perform search and sort operations in a highly intuitive manner. For larger installations, Thunder supports Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) SQL server. The Thunder application offers drag-and-drop file import and export, edit windows for trimming clips, and a powerful sequencing engine capable of playing clips at a specific time of day, on command from the GUI, on a GPI closure, or immediately following the playback of the previous clip. Support for multiple simultaneous sequences is also included.
Thunder will debut publicly at the National Association of Broadcaster's convention in Las Vegas in April. Pinnacle supports Odetics, Louth, and other automation protocols to enable Thunder to integrate with industry standard automation systems. Thunder is designed to work side by side in automated broadcast systems with older first generation video servers, and of course, Thunder fully integrates with Pinnacle Systems' award-winning Lightning still store.
More About Pinnacle Systems
Pinnacle Systems' broadcast, desktop, and consumer groups provide video professionals and consumers, the digital video editing tools needed to create dazzling productions faster and more affordably than ever before. These innovative tools perform a variety of on-air, production, and postproduction functions such as the addition of special effects, image management, capture, storage, and playout, as well as graphics and title creation.
Web Site: pinnaclesys.com
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