Nevion’s upgrade to its orchestration platform VideoIPath now makes media workflows for live production easier to handle, and Nevion’s Virtuoso software-defined media node now includes SRT for media transport.
Nevion’s orchestration platform VideoIPath has received an upgrade that includes a simplified configuration, multi-language support and single sign-on (SSO), designed to make it easier to handle media workflows for live production. Neviion’s software-defined media node Virtuoso has also been updated, adding support for hardware-accelerated SRT (Secure Reliable Transport).
Nevion VideoIPath is a key component of Sony’s Networked Live system of products, services and partners, which combines hybrid on-premises and Cloud processing with network connectivity, and is now deployed by content producers and service providers in many locations. It is in use in applications as diverse as broadcast facilities, contribution, remote production, OB trucks and cloud production.
Combining broadcast control, orchestration and monitoring capabilities, VideoIPath is an open system that users can integrate into existing environments. It has interfaces to most devices and equipment currently in use, with support for familiar control surfaces.
No Code Customisation
VideoIPath is designed to hide the complexity of managing broadcast infrastructure, helping organisations achieve their production goals quickly and efficiently without needing support from technical experts. Nevion regularly updates VideoIPath’s user interface and customisation and configuration features to improve usability – not only for users, but also for system administrators.
In recent months, Nevion has enhanced the Panel app, which operators can use to create bespoke panels without programming, just by dragging and dropping widgets on a web-GUI canvas. The resulting software panels can then be used to control workflows through computers, tablets or panels equipped with touch screens. The Panel app’s no code approach is continuously enhanced with, for example, new widgets that further simplify customisation.
With a large number of new features, the new VideoIPath release reorganises the users’ desktop. All settings have been moved to a separate unified view, leaving the default desktop with just the apps required to operate the software. The list of apps shown to individual users is also configurable based on user profiles, for instance, clearing the desktop of unnecessary tools.
VideoIPath now supports multiple languages. Languages can be assigned to individual users, who can then switch between languages dynamically without restarting the system. Development continues to make other commonly used languages available, and it’s also possible for 3rd parties, including customers, to create their own language files to use in VideoIPath.
Security
A further major enhancement to VideoIPath is the support of SSO, single-sign-on verification. This means that external users can be assigned access to VideoIPath within a corporate user administration system, for example, with the option to have users sign-on to the platform with the same credentials they use for other corporate applications. This feature would markedly simplify user administration.
Beyond usability, the latest release also features interfaces to Sony and 3rd party equipment, and general enhancements across the system.
Arne-Johan Martinsen, Nevion Product Director for VideoIPath, commented, “Our industry is full of products with great functionality. But, as they are designed by technical people with technical people in mind, they can be very difficult to use. We have made a conscious effort for many years to invest in usability, as we believe it’s a key factor in productivity for our customers. This latest release VideoIPath illustrates this effort.”
SRT Upgrade to Virtuoso
The SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) upgrade to Virtuoso, Nevion’s software-defined media node, enables broadcasters to use unmanaged networks, including the Internet, for purposes such as connectivity back-up or GCCG (ground-to-cloud-cloud-to-ground) transport. This transport protocol, which features packet recovery, now adds to Virtuoso’s existing low-latency HEVC compression functionality.
Broadcasters may opt for unmanaged networks for less critical applications, when managed wide-area networks (WANs), usually preferred for live production, are not available or are too costly. To achieve a degree of media transport reliability over such networks, high-compression of video and an ARQ (Automatic Repeat request) transport protection mechanism are required. SRT has become a commonly used ARQ in live production.
Like VideoIPath, Nevion Virtuoso is a main component of Sony’s Networked Live, widely used for the live contribution and remote production of content around the world, including top sports events. Virtuoso’s Compress capability employs various video encoding methods including JPEG XS and HEVC, and transport protection mechanisms including FEC, SMPTE ST 2022-7 and now SRT to support low latency, reliable, high-quality transport.
As well as SRT, Nevion has made other updates to existing functionality, including support for UHD HEVC compression. Steve Hard, VP of Product Management for Virtuoso at Nevion said, “The new support for unmanaged network transport is significant, as it brings Virtuoso’s high quality to applications that have historically suffered from inferior quality.”
VideoIPath and Virtuoso will be on show at IBC 2025 in Amsterdam, 12-15 September, in the Networked Live area of Sony’s staand. https://nevion.com/
