By Elina Shatkin, September 30, 2003
360 Systems has released its new Image Server 2000, a MPEG-2 recorder/server designed for broadcast and video production. It is able to play three independent video programs at once, each with four digital audio channels. A video input is also provided, and recordings may be made while two video programs are playing.
The server’s internal drives provide up to a Terabyte of program storage, giving 128 hours of broadcast-quality video. A RAID disk array is used to protect program material from loss in the event of a drive failure.
Image Servers support most MPEG-2 broadcast standards for NTSC and PAL, and can operate in Main or 4:2:2 Profile, with data rates to 50 Mb/sec
. Both I-frame and long-GOP formats are supported. Each channel has both composite and SDI video ports, as well as analog and digital audio, to ease the transition to a digital plant. Other standard features include LTC and VITC time code, VDCP automation control, closed captioning, and P2-editing to single-frame accuracy.
Image Servers employ a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed transfer of program material at very low cost. The MXF file wrapper -- now an SMPTE standard -- offers compatibility with a growing number of products from many manufacturers.
The Image Server 2000 will be available in May 2003, and priced at about $10,000.
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