Doing a Double-Take for Abekas’ Mira 3X Super-Slo-Mo

By Carl Lindemann

The theme of the NAB Show is lighter, leaner, more cost-effective, and Abekas’ new Mira universal format multichannel HD video production server hits all the right notes. The four-channel production server does instant replay with 3X super-slo-mo capabilities for what the company claims is one-fifth the cost of the well-known market leader in the category. It’s also lighter (55 lbs.), smaller and offers more storage with capacities from 15 to 60 hours of HD video to capture an entire event without using “loop recording” and over-writing valuable content. These are all hot buttons for mobile sports production.

Junaid Sheikh, Abekas president/CEO, has no illusions about the challenges that face new entrants in a market that is owned by EVS. But Abekas is not exactly new, with over 20 years in the broadcast industry.

His strategy is straightforward. First, raising awareness by showing Mira at NAB and elsewhere is essential. Second, target the collegiate and regional sports markets looking towards smaller, less expensive mobile production facilities to contain costs. Finally, continue to build up the functional capabilities of Mira to exceed the expectations had by the name-brand competition.

In addition, Mira’s super-slo=mo capabilities can operate well alongside an EVS network.

“Super-slo mo eats up a whole EVS node, and so it makes sense to run Mira alongside the network to deliver the capabilities while conserving those resources,” said Sheikh.

Aside from the sports market, Mira is also targeted at animated graphics transitions using video, key and audio as well as on-set plasma monitor graphics feeds. Though premiering at NAB, units have already shipped to Turner Studios, Fox Speed Channel and the Golf Channel.