Leader Rolls Out New Features for LVB440 IP Analyzer

Leader Electronics has announced new additions to the capabilities of its LVB440 IP analyzer.

Designed to monitor and analyze high-bitrate media traffic in broadcast production studios, OB vehicles, master control facilities and transmission networks, the Leader LVB440 allows analysis of SD, HD, UHD and 4K data flow over media networks of any size. Housed in a compact 1U chassis, it gives production teams the resources needed to perform real-time checks on large numbers of streams and multiple resolutions in parallel at multiple locations. Operators gain the ability to survey every media transport layer of an IP network simultaneously, allowing issues to be rectified before they impact the quality of service experienced by television viewers. The LVB440 is controlled via an HTML-5 web browser and can be operated by up to eight local or remote users. Data rates of 10, 25, 40 and 50 gigabit/s are supported, extending up to 100 gigabit/s via dual interfaces.

Four new features are now available as standard. Existing models can be updated online to the latest version:

LVB440-SER22 – JPEG XS SMPTE ST.2110-22 compression analysis
JPEG XS provides a similar compression level to the JPEG 2000 standard, with lossless compression of between 10 and 15 times the original but much lower latency, thus allowing for responsive real-time broadcast production. This makes the standard particularly useful where there is limited bandwidth within a production network or where there is lack of control over the timing precision that can be achieved between PTP leader and follower clocks in long-haul networks connecting studio and venue. The ability of JPEG XS to operate across both PTP and traditional transport streams make it a highly flexible compression standard. This is fundamental to delivering content in a way that is efficient and affordable but which still ensures high image quality. In essence, JPEG XS allows broadcast networks to do more with less.

The encode process itself introduces less than 1 millisecond of latency, unlike the 60 ms typically associated with JPEG 2000. 60 ms may seem brief but delivering video as part of a production workflow soon adds up to latency that control room staff find excessive. JPEG XS promises to allow responsive and natural production. Making this possible was the extension of SMPTE ST 2110 to the ST 2110-22 standard for the transport of compressed video. JPEG XS requires less CPU processing than most other algorithms.

Integrating JPEG XS compression analysis makes the LVB440 an ideal for broadcasting networks, production studios, master control facilities, OB vehicles and public venues. The already significant capabilities of the LVB440, supporting data rates of up to 100 Gbps and thus 4K production, offer broadcasters the flexibility to monitor complex and varied network configurations that consist of both IP and legacy elements. In this way, they can ensure reliable high quality of service from anywhere in the world simply by accessing the probe through an HTML-5 browser.

Closed captioning measurement
Closed captioning is a process of displaying text with a broadcast television feed to provide additional or interpretive information. It typically carries a transcription of the audio portion of a program or an alternative translation of a primary audio language. The LVB440 now supports OP-47, CEA-608 and CEA-708 data analysis, including on-screen display and technical debugging.

Support for 7.1 surround sound, 5.1 surround sound and mix-down to stereo pair
This feature adds 5.1 and 7.1 multichannel surround sound display capability plus LUFS (Loudness Unit Full Scale) monitoring mix-down to stereo pair for remote monitoring via a web-browser.

Rolling packet capture measurement
This mode supports continuous capture of data packets in a loop mode, simplifying faulting-finding if an error is detected.