Harris Ships Version 2.0 of NEXIO AMP Server

Version 2.0 of the Harris NEXIO AMP advanced media platform, unveiled at IBC in September, is now shipping with what the company calls significant software and hardware developments for the NEXIO AMP server, including increased I/O (input/output) density and storage capacity and reduced operating costs.

“Version 2.0 of our NEXIO AMP server platform provides the high performance, power, and flexibility essential to broadcasters, regardless of where they reside on the SD-HD continuum,” says Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications.

AMP pairs a high-definition/standard-definition server architecture with content protection, an important offering in an era of file-based workflows. Leveraging key advances in processing power and server-software development, it also increases the platform’s I/O density to four HD video channels — including two ingest channels — allowing customers to use fewer servers to ingest multiple HD feeds for greater cost-efficiency.

The system also now supports 450-GB hard drives on the NEXIO storage area network, working alongside the new NEXIO Media Host architecture to triple shared storage capacity to 72 TB. This NEXIO AMP 2.0 feature is especially important for supporting today’s demanding broadcast workflows, in which common access to shared files throughout the ingest, news-editing, and transmission processes is critical for timely turnaround of content to air.

Other new features include integrated software codec support for the Panasonic AVC-Intra format; MXF file-exchange improvements to enable greater interoperability with files from third-party vendors, such as Avid and SeaChange; integrated support for GXF file import; enhanced support for AFD (Active Format Description), including additional user control of AFD metadata handling; and expanded timecode capability.

NEXIO AMP 2.0 also offers two integrated, software-enabled media applications right on the server, with more to follow. The first two include NEXIO AMP ChannelView, a multiviewer I/O-monitoring application, enabling up to two NEXIO AMP inputs and four NEXIO AMP outputs to be viewed in real time; and NEXIO AMP PRX encoder, an in-server video encoder that creates low-resolution H.264 proxy clips simultaneously with baseband ingest.

“The new file-based workflow enhancements, integrated media applications, and increased processing power and I/O density not only exceed the capabilities of competing servers but also help ease many of the operational challenges faced by today’s broadcaster,” adds Thorsteinson. “No other server of this caliber is as easy or cost-effective to deploy, making NEXIO AMP the ideal, next-generation platform for today — and tomorrow.”