Designed for colourists , postproduction editors , and other content creators working with 4K / UHD images in all SDI and HDMI formats , Omnitek ’ s Ultra XR waveform analyser is capable of analysing more than 1,700 video formats from SD-SDI to 12G-SDI .

❝ Ensuring that the image quality is maintained when it reaches the viewer via different display devices takes a lot of work , and requires T & M tools that can support all video formats , including 4K / UHD with SDR and HDR .❞

— Alan Wheable , Communications Manager , Omnitek

Particularly for 4K / UHD HDR content , Wheable explains , T & M solutions must be able to provide a picture monitor highlighting 4K / UHD HDR content , a waveform monitor with nit graticules and display modes for hybrid log gamma ( HLG ) and perceptual quantiser ( PQ ) content .

But before post-production editors are able to add the 4K /

UHD HDR dimension to the image quality , they have to address many different standards covering image size , frame rate , colour space , bit depth and link type .

Hence , T & M equipment has to support the video formats that the operators are currently using , and also the formats that they are likely to face in the future , Wheable advises .

To ensure that the programme image quality is maintained at the resolution required in all of the delivery formats , T & M equipment must also provide the necessary instruments , such as picture monitor , waveform monitor , CIE chart and gamut histograms .

“ When working with image content originated in different colour spaces , a CIE chart is essential to ensure that content created in one colour space is still ‘ in gamut ’ in the delivery colour space ,” he adds .

This reasoning drove Omnitek to develop the Ultra XR 4K / UHD waveform analyser , which supports 12-bit 4:4:4 SDI input formats in YCbCr and RGB , emerging standards for WCG RGB — ITU-R BT . 2020 , as well as HDR inputs in ST2084 / PQ and HLG .

Designed for colourists , postproduction editors and other content creators working with 4K / UHD images in all SDI and HDMI formats , the Ultra XR is capable of analysing more than 1,700 video formats from SD-SDI to 12G- SDI , with all of the different cable permutations , while allowing the detailed analysis of SDR and HDR content , says Omnitek .

While the control of T & M equipment using software-defined networking ( SDN ) will become

vital , Leader ’ s Salvidge highlights that operational and production staff are likely to be working in a hybrid world and will need T & M tools that allow them to “ simply and intuitively ” monitor and analyse video signals , irrespective of whether its transport layer is SDI or IP .

Although IP has the potential to “ completely revolutionise ” broadcasters ’ facilities and the way they operate , Salvidge admits that very few broadcasters will be able to leap from SDI to IP in a single step ; instead , it will be a steady migration from SDI to IP as technology and infrastructure are replaced over time .

He continues : “ This migration will result in T & M equipment becoming a necessity . Broadcasters will be sending video signals into a world where they have very little control over how they are routed and managed . Video signals will get broken and it is going to be imperative that T & M equipment can identify the broken signals , as well as identify where the problems are occurring .”

With the imminent ratification of the SMPTE ST 2110 standard , Salvidge urges broadcasters to start moving away from manufacturer-developed , proprietary IP solutions , and start planning for a future of incorporating

interoperability between equipment manufacturers .

“ Broadcasters must start to demand hybrid solutions from T & M equipment manufacturers , which will allow them to initiate the migration to an IP future while maximising their existing SDI infrastructures ,” he adds .

Another factor potentially driving the transition to IP within the broadcast industry is to be able to compete with content created and delivered on over-the-top ( OTT ) platforms , where working practices are not constrained by traditional broadcast processes .

Omnitek ’ s Wheable concludes : “ To be able to compete with the flexibility that OTT providers enjoy , broadcasters will need to embrace the challenges of the IP world to gain the benefits and flexibility that IP potentially offers them .

“ The pragmatic approach being taken by many adopters is to implement SDI and IP solutions alongside each other , and choosing the most practical and cost-effective solution in each individual case . This offers the best of both worlds as it provides broadcasters the flexibility to adapt their existing infrastructures and workflows instead of starting from scratch .”

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