NAB 2016: RT Software announces latest developments supporting virtualisation of graphics products
Broadcast graphics, interaction and control technology specialist RT Software has revealed its latest developments regarding the virtualisation of its graphics products as the industry-wide move towards virtualisation of software and channels continues to accelerate.
The company says it is addressing this trend in two primary ways: firstly, a virtualised option for its main products including tOG-2d (2d graphics overlays), tOG-3d (3d graphics overlays) and tOG-Sports (sports analysis and telestration); and virtualising its real-time OEM 2d and 3d graphics libraries used by major Channel in a Box (CiaB) vendors such as S.A.M. with its ICE product.
On the NAB booth RT Software is showing nine live channels of graphics and video running on a single HP Gen 9 DL380 server. The solution uses nVida grid enabled GPUs and AJA Corvid cards for video I/O. The channels can be a combination of SDI and VoiP, all with their own live independent graphics.
RT Software is also drawing attention to the rise of distributable, web-based control of graphics – something is describes as being “crucial” for graphics and channel virtualisation as a single server can now be handling many live graphics channels so a directly connected terminal for live control is no longer an option.
On the booth the company is showing a single web page controlling all 9 examples of virtualized graphics channels running on the HP DL380. The web control solution includes full administration allowing management of users, giving users access to channels and access to associated graphics and graphics control options for each channel.
The ability to generate an affordable 4K 2-camera stitch is also being highlighted at NAB. tOG-Vista combines the output of two statically-mounted 4k cameras at a sports venue, stitching them together live into a panoramic view and then allowing an operator to move a virtual camera around this to follow the action – again all live in real-time. RT Software has also partnered with S.A.M. “Live Touch” and EVS video servers to add a replay capability crucial for sharing “off the broadcast” incidents and analysis stories.
Specific new products on display at the show include tOG-Grid, a framework for running RT Software licences on a virtual machine; and tOG-WebControl, a web-based application for controlling graphics live to air.
“It’s been a terrific NAB for us with lots of useful appointments and walk-ons. We are really encouraged by the response,” says RT Software commercial director Mike Frederiksen.