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Abekas Mira Production Server
- 1. Mira Production Universal Format ď‚ź Digital Video Production Server
- 3. Mira Production C U S T O M E R S
- 4.  Hundreds of channels in service around the world! CUSTOMERS Mira Production Server
- 5.  Hundreds of channels in service around the world! CUSTOMERS Mira Production Server
- 6.  Hundreds of channels in service around the world! CUSTOMERS Mira Production Server
- 7. Mira Production A P P L I C A T I O N S
- 8.  On-Set Monitor Displays • Looping animated graphics to “decorate” your studio set  VKA Animated Switcher Transitions • Extremely streamlined file-based workflow, especially when compared to competitive production video servers  Program Delay • Manual or Automatic Playback control OVERVIEW How can Mira Production be used?
- 9.  Live Ingest and Clipping • HD-SDI video recording with built-in Clip Trimming tools  Playlist Playout • Live on-air playout of any number of Playlists • Mouse+QWERTY (and/or) 3rd-party “XKeys” control panel  Media File Creation • Ingest HD-SDI base-band video, then export media files using built-in Media File Export tools OVERVIEW How can Mira Production be used?
- 10. Mira Production U S E R I N T E R F A C E
- 11.  Primary User Interface • App can also be installed on Windows-7 and Windows-10 computers for remote control  Via DisplayPort USER INTERFACE Mira Explorer
- 13.  MultiViewer • Can be undocked and moved onto extended desktop computer display • Connects to Mira server via second DisplayPort output USER INTERFACE Mira Explorer
- 14.  HD-SDI Output(s) • One output on 4-Channel Mira • Two outputs on 8-Channel Mira  Overlay Transparency USER INTERFACE Quad Viewer
- 15.  MiraConfig Utility • Configures all engineering aspects of Mira Production server • Simple and elegant operation • Engineering Staff all appreciate this comprehensive user interface! USER INTERFACE Mira Engineering Setup
- 17. Mira Production F I L E - B A S E D W O R K F L O W
- 18.  Hardware accelerated Import • Import at real-time and faster  Works on a queue basis • Watch Folder support, too!  Import wide range of popular media files • Import both Movies & Stills • RGB+Alpha support for VKA FILE-BASED WORKFLOW Import Media Files
- 19.  Pair channels for Video+Key  One asset to import, store, load & play “VKA” clips • Enormous streamlining of VKA clip creation, import & playout control • No competing server comes close to such an efficient VKA workflow FILE-BASED WORKFLOW Video+Key+Audio
- 20.  Multiple Channels for “Wide & High” multi-panel video displays.  One media file asset to import, store, load & play “Multi-Screen” clips—such as this, at EverBank Field: FILE-BASED WORKFLOW Multi-Screen Display
- 21.  Export to most popular media files with MOV & MXF wrappers: • AVC-Intra | Avid DNxHD | DVCPro-HD Sony XDCAM | MPEG-2 | MPEG-4  Native Media File Export • AVC-Intra & DVCPro-HD export at speeds of 5X to 15X real-time & faster • JPEG-2000 exports at near real-time FILE-BASED WORKFLOW Export Media Files
- 22. Mira Production O P T I O N A L F E A T U R E S
- 23.  Accommodates vertically-oriented “on-set” monitors  Pan & Crop control on each video channel  Use with live “EE” or “Off-Disk” clip play OPTIONS “Video Flipper” (Hardware for J2K only)
- 24.  AES Discrete Digital Audio • 8-Track AES Audio I/O on each video channel • Includes Analog LTC Timecode I/O per video channel • Small external 1RU / 2.5” deep breakout chassis OPTIONS AES Digital Audio (Hardware)
- 25.  16-Track Embedded Digital Audio • Expands 8-Tracks to 16-Tracks per video channel • Can be added to Mira Production server at any time, via Internet license installation OPTIONS Embedded Digital Audio (Software)
- 26.  Create Customized User Interfaces • Controls one or many Mira servers via Ethernet • iPad and Android applications allow remote control via Wi-Fi from tablet computers  Easy to Program • Application runs on Mira server itself, or on a remote Windows computer OPTIONS Mira MultiPLAY (Software)
- 27.  Game Shows  Multimedia Shows  Live Event Replay • Maximum creativity for any remote control need OPTIONS Mira MultiPLAY (Software)
- 28. Mira Production T E C H N I C A L
- 29.  (4) or (8) HD-SDI / SD-SDI Video Channels • Every Video I/O Channel can act as Recorder or Player  Choice of one Native Recording Video Codec • AVC-Intra: 50Mb/s or 100Mb/s • DVCPro-HD: 50Mb/s or 100Mb/s • JPEG-2000: 25Mb/s up to 200Mb/s (twenty bit-rate presets) TECHNICAL Video
- 30.  Video Formats • Operates in: SD / HD / UHD-4K  Line Standards • 526/59.94i & 625/50i • 720/50p; 720/59.94p & 720/60p • 1080/50i & 1080/59.94i • 1080/50p & 1080/59.94p • UHD-4K TECHNICAL Video Formats: AVC-Intra
- 31.  Video Formats • Operates in: SD / HD  Line Standards • 526/59.94i & 625/50i • 720/50p & 720/59.94p • 1080/50i & 1080/59.94i TECHNICAL Video Formats: DVCPro-HD
- 32.  Video Formats • Operates in: SD / HD / UHD-4K  Line Standards • 526/59.94i & 625/50i • 720/60p; 720/59.94p & 720/50p • 1080/59.94i; 1080/50i; 1080/23.98pSF & 1080/24pSF • UHD-4K (8-Channel servers only) TECHNICAL Video Formats: JPEG-2000
- 33.  Easily and instantly reconfigure video channels for: • Individual single video channels • Pair channels for Video+Key • Group video channels for “ISO” Record and Multi-Screen Displays • Pair channels for Stereoscopic 3DTV TECHNICAL Video
- 34.  Embedded Digital Audio • Featured on every video channel, on both HD-SDI input and output • 8-Track Embedded—Standard • 16-Track Embedded—Optional  Embedded Data—J2K Only • Closed-Caption Data supported • ATC / VITC Timecode supported TECHNICAL Audio & Data
- 35.  AES Discrete Digital Audio (Option) • 8-Track AES Audio I/O on each video channel • Includes Analog LTC Timecode I/O per video channel • Small external 1RU / 2.5” deep breakout chassis TECHNICAL Audio
- 36.  Input & Output Audio Router • Route Input Recorder Audio • Route Output Player Audio  Each video channel with unique route  Saves external equipment costs TECHNICAL Audio
- 37.  RS422 Serial Control Port on every Video Channel • Odetics / Louth VDCP / Sony BVW-75 • Connect via “Octal Breakout Cable” • RJ45-to-9D adapters included TECHNICAL RS422 Remote Control
- 38.  Ethernet control can access every Video Channel • AMP & VDCP Industry-standard Protocols supported • Mira Native Ethernet Application Programming Interface (API) freely available for customized control  Published & available on abekas.com website TECHNICAL Ethernet Remote Control
- 39.  RAID-6 Parity Protection—Standard Feature • Allows two media disk failures without affecting operations  SATA Media Disk Drives • Latest off-the-shelf disk drive technology, with ultra-fast performance and very high storage capacities  Instant access (5 frames) to play an active recording • Provides reliable “delayed” playback of active recording TECHNICAL Media Disk Array
- 40.  Hot-Swap Media Disk Drives • Very quick failed disk replacement—no hand tools required • Automatic “background” rebuild from parity data  Plug in new drive, rebuilding starts automatically TECHNICAL Media Disk Array
- 41.  Several Storage Capacities Available: • 4K & HD 1080p Storage Capacities:  6- to 88-Hours (at 400Mb/s & 200Mb/s) • HD 720p & 1080i Storage Capacities:  25- to 350-Hours (at 100Mb/s) • SD Storage Capacities:  100- to 1,400-Hours (at 25Mb/s) TECHNICAL Media Storage Capacities
- 42.  Standard Feature  Hot-Swap modules • No interruption to operations  Protects against power supply and external power circuit-breaker failures TECHNICAL Redundant Power Supply
- 44. Mira Production Universal Format ď‚ź Digital Video Production Server Thank you! Visit abekas.com for more information
Editor's Notes
- Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the Abekas Mira Production server. Abekas Mira Production server is a multi-channel video server that can be outfitted with either “four” or “eight” symmetrical video I/O channels. What we mean by “symmetrical” is to say that any video channel can act as either a recorder or as a player. Mira Production server is tailored for live television production applications, and has been selling in the professional television marketplace since 2008.
- This is a typical view of the primary user interface for the Mira Production server—which is called “Mira Explorer”. This user interface is typically displayed on a single computer monitor. However, the “MultiViewer” portion of the user interface (which is shown on the LEFT monitor ) may be displayed on a second computer monitor as part of an “extended Windows desktop” within the Mira server.
- Over the years since Mira Production server first started shipping, we’ve accumulated quite a large installed customer base, including a multitude of high-profile end-user customers…
- There are literally hundreds of channel’s of the Abekas Mira Production server installed and in use within live television environments around the globe. These are just a few of the most-recognizable end-user customers…
- These customers include high-profile television networks; small regional broadcasters; colleges and universities; corporate television networks…
- …”Houses of Worship”; military television facilities; sports news studios; professional sports arenas & stadiums—located all around the world!
- The Mira Production server fits into a multitude of applications within the live television production environment…
- Mira Production server is used to display animated graphics into “on-set” monitor displays, which are used to decorate many of today’s sets used in live television productions. Mira is also used to feed “Video & Key” content (also known as “Matte & Fill”) into the “keyers” of live television production vision mixers and switchers. This “Matte & Fill” content is used to transition from one scene to another during live television broadcast productions. Another application in which Mira Production servers are used: for “Program Delay”; which records one or more live television feeds for latter playback during a future program airing time-slot.
- Mira Production servers are also used to ingest live or pre-recorded television feeds, and then human operators “clip-off” content with simple trimming of “heads” and “tails” from the captured content. Mira is also used to play out content from any number of user-defined “playlists” — either during live television broadcasts, or during semi-live pre-recorded studio shows. Mira Production servers are also used to capture live camera content, and then later export that content as one or more type of media files.
- We had a peek at the Mira Production server’s User Interface at the beginning of this presentation. Let’s now take a closer look…
- The “Mira Explorer” application in the Mira Production server acts as the primary user interface. This application runs on the Mira server platform itself, which features the Windows-7 operating system. This application may also be installed onto one or more remote computers running the Windows-7 operating system, and includes all operational controls over the Mira server across a Gigabit Ethernet LAN The only caveat is the lack of real-time video panes within the remote instance of Mira Explorer—those video panes don’t appear in the remote instances of the Mira Explorer application. When running Mira Explorer on the Mira server platform itself, the Mira Explorer user interface is presented on an industry-standard DisplayPort computer monitor output.
- Here is a close-up view of the Mira Explorer application. The upper half of the user interface contains the video channel “transports” which are used to perform all record and playback operations. The two “teal-colored” tabs just above the “ChA transport” changes the upper half of the screen to display the additional four video channels (ChE through ChH) in an 8-Channel Mira Production server. In this screen shot of Mira Explorer, the “ChC” transport has been combined with the ChA transport, to act as the “Key” or “Matte” channel for the ChA transport—that’s why the “ChC” transport is missing. The lower half of the Mira Explorer user interface consists of the “Clip Library” in which all Clips and Playlists are stored and managed. Clips may be arranged inside any number of “Clip Folders” and “Sub-Folders”, as depicted by the “yellow folder” icons in this view of Mira Explorer.
- Another feature of the Mira Explorer application is the built-in “MultiViewer”. This MultiViewer provides an alternate view within the Mira Explorer application; or the MultiViewer can be “Un-Docked” from the main window of the Mira Explorer application, and then positioned onto a second computer monitor connected as an “Extended Desktop” within the Mira Production server computer. The MultiViewer is quite useful for production staff to get a single-screen view of the status of all four or eight active video channel transports within the Mira Production server.
- In addition to the MultiViewer built into Mira Explorer—which appears on the computer desktop—there is also one or two built-in “Quad Viewers” which appear on dedicated HD-SDI “base-band” digital video outputs. “4-Channel” Mira Production server has “one” Quad Viewer HD-SDI output. “8-Channel” Mira Production server has “two” Quad Viewer HD-SDI outputs. The Quad Viewer outputs display the active video that’s recording or playing in each video channel. Also presented: Audio Metering; Clip Name; Timecode; and the “RECORDING” / “PLAY SPEED” indicator. All text can be programmed with any level of transparency, which is independently set for the text and black background behind the text. The overlay may also be turned OFF completely.
- For Engineering staff, configuring the Mira Production Server is very straight-forward.
- The “Mira Config” utility allows all engineering aspects of the Mira Production server to be quickly and easily programmed by technical staff. Channel Configuration; Video Format; Audio configuration—including a built-in Audio Router; Remote Control via RS422 and Ethernet; and additional parameters are all configurable. We will talk a bit more in-depth about the technical aspects of the Mira Production server later in this presentation…
- The Mira Production server not only handles “base-band” HD-SDI video and audio; it also includes standard features to support a 21st-Century file-based workflow.
- Every Mira Production server includes a built-in Media File Import application. Native-Format media files can be imported in the background; while media files requiring transcoding can be imported with hardware-based acceleration. Operations of the media file importer is very straight-forward, working on a user-defined import Queue; and any number of “Watch Folders” may be programmed to monitor media file rendering folders across a network of editors and computer graphics equipment. A wide variety of the most popular media file formats used within the professional live television industry is supported by the Media File Importer. Both “movies” and “still” media files can be imported—including media files with “alpha” or “matte” tracks contained within.
- Speaking of which: the Mira Production server provides the most advanced and most streamlined workflow for handling “Video+Key” media content—also known as “Matte & Fill”. Two video channels within Mira can be easily paired to handle Matte & Fill animated graphics content with the greatest of ease. Mira Production server treats any given “Matte & Fill” clip as a single media file asset—instead of two separate media files as is the case with all major competing video production servers. Not only does Mira’s approach to handling “Matte & Fill” clips cut down the number of media file assets to be managed by HALF; more significantly, this approach reduces the entire “Matte & Fill” workflow effort by an order of magnitude! Gone are the days of creating two separate media files—one for “Matte “ and another for “Fill”; ingesting those clips separately; loading those two clips separately; and precisely triggering the playback of the two separate video channels handling the Matte & Fill. Mira Production servers treats all “Matte & Fill” clips as a single media file—with a single load and play command triggered from the vision mixer/switcher.
- The Mira Production server’s Media File Importer also supports media files intended to be played within “Multi-Paneled” video displays. These large-format video displays are found in large sports and entertainment venues, such as stadiums and arenas. A single media file that’s formatted in multiples of a standard “HD Raster” can be ingested by the Mira Production server—whose video channels have been configured in an “ISO Group” which matches the layout of the multi-paneled large-format video display. The workflow to handle this content is quite streamlined, because the source media file is a single asset, and that single asset appears as a single clip to load and play inside the Mira Production server, when presented during the live televised event.
- Not only does Mira Production server feature a Media File Importer, there is also a built-in Media File Exporter, provided as a standard feature. Any content that’s been ingested via base-band HD-SDI video can be exported as any number of media files. Mira server’s Media File Exporter supports the most popular industry-standard media file video & audio codecs, wrapped in either MOV or MXF wrappers. Media files can be exported “in the background” when exporting with the “Native Recording Codec” of the Mira Production server—and can do so at speeds anywhere from 5X to 15X of real-time—and sometimes even faster than that!
- While the Mira Production server is chocked-full of standard features, there are a few hardware and software options available to those who need them…
- The “Video Flipper” hardware option is available only for Mira Production servers fitted with the JPEG-2000 Native Recording video hardware. This Video Flipper hardware option allows each video channel output to be independently rotated clock-wise or counter clock-wise, along with user-defined “Crop” and “Pan” controls—in order to fit horizontally-oriented video images onto vertically-oriented HD picture monitors. This optional feature is quite useful for feeding content into “On-Set” HD video monitors which are mounted vertically and are used to “decorate” sets used in live television productions.
- All Mira Production servers feature 8-Track “Embedded” digital audio I/O on every video channel. For installations also requiring AES Audio I/O, the AES Digital Audio Option may be purchased. 8-Tracks of AES Audio I/O are provided for EACH video channel. Also provided with this hardware option are “Analog LTC” timecode I/O—which is provided on each video channel.
- As just mentioned, every Mira Production servers feature 8-Track “Embedded” digital audio I/O on every video channel as a standard feature. For those installations that require even more embedded digital audio tracks, the 16-Track Embedded Digital Audio option may be purchased. This option may be added at any time, and can be installed over the Internet from the Abekas factory after purchase.
- The Mira “MultiPLAY” software option allows end-users to easily create their own customized user interfaces—which can be used to control any number of video channels in any number of Mira Production servers—all via Ethernet control. Any number of clips may be simultaneously loaded onto any number of video channels across any number of Mira Production servers connected on a LAN; all programmed to be controlled with a single tap of a button or single click of a mouse. Free iPad and Android Apps are also available for MultiPLAY, to provide remote control over the Mira Production server via Wi-Fi—so “on-air talent” may easily trigger clip “load and play” events directly from a tablet computer.
- These are just a few examples of user-created custom-designed user interfaces that have been developed to control Mira Production server for various live television production applications.
- Now let’s get an overview of the Technical aspects of the Mira Production server…
- The Mira Production server may be fitted with either (4) or (8) video I/O channels. Each video channel is “symmetrical”—allowing any channel to act as a “Recorder” or “Player”. When purchasing the Mira Production server, only one of three “Native” video codecs may be installed: AVC-Intra; DVCPro-HD; or JPEG-2000 (also known as “J2K”).
- Mira Production servers fitted with AVC-Intra native recording hardware support Standard-Definition (SD), High-Definition (HD), and Ultra-High Definition 4K video formats. While operating in the 1080p HD video standard, the video channel count is not reduced: 4-Channel Mira servers remain at (4) channels 8-Channel Mira servers remain at (8) channels Ultra-HD 4K Support: 8-Channel Mira Production servers: ONE UHD-4K channels 8-Channel Mira Production servers: TWO UHD-4K channels
- Mira Production servers fitted with DVCPro-HD native recording hardware supports both Standard-Definition (SD) and High-Definition (HD) video formats — including 525 & 625 for SD; and 720p & 1080i for HD. Ultra-HD 4K is NOT supported.
- Mira Production servers fitted with JPEG-2000 native recording hardware supports both Standard-Definition (SD) and High-Definition (HD) video formats — including 525 & 625 for SD; and 720p; 1080i & 1080pSF for HD. Ultra-HD 4K Support: 4-Channel Mira Production servers: NOT Supported 8-Channel Mira Production servers: ONE UHD-4K channel
- Using Mira Config utility, video channels can be instantly re-configured for the needs of the day. As seen earlier in this presentation, video channels can be paired for “Matte & Fill”— also knows as “Video & Key” operations. 4-Channel Mira Production servers: can be configured with one or two V+K pairs. 8-Channel Mira Production servers: can be configured with one to four V+K pairs. Likewise, video channels may be grouped together in “ISO Groups”—anywhere from (2) to (8) video channels can be combined into an ISO Group. These ISO Groups allow the video channels to record and to later playback live multi-camera feeds—or to playback synchronous multi-angle animated computer graphics content onto “multi-paneled” large-format video displays with resolutions beyond standard HD video. And for those folks still holding out hope for the eventual rise of stereoscopic 3DTV, video channels can also be easily paired to handle classic stereoscopic 3D.
- As mentioned earlier in this presentation, every HD-SDI video channel in all Mira Production servers features 8-Track Embedded digital audio I/O. As an option, the number of Embedded audio tracks can be expanded to 16-tracks, through the purchase of an optional license. And as a standard feature, every video I/O channel also supports embedded “closed-caption” data, as well as “ATC timecode” in HD and “VITC timecode” in SD video signals.
- For installations requiring AES Audio I/O, the AES Digital Audio Option may be purchased. 8-Tracks of AES Audio I/O are provided for EACH video channel. Included in this hardware option is “Analog LTC” timecode I/O, provided on each video channel.
- As a standard feature, Mira Production servers include a built-in Audio Router, which can be used to re-route both input (Recorder) and output (Player) audio tracks on an individual basis. This feature is quite useful to swap audio tracks, or to duplicate audio tracks from one recorder channel onto another recorder channel. The same applies for playback channels.
- Every video channel in Mira Production server features a dedicated RS422 serial control port, for purposes of remote control from other equipment in the television production facility. RS422 Serial Protocols supported include: Odetics; Louth VDCP and Sony BVW-75. The physical RS422 connection can be achieved with either industry-standard RJ45 or with D9, with the use of included adapters.
- Ethernet control is also included, for remote control over any video channel in Mira Production server from other devices across an Ethernet LAN. Industry-standard “AMP” and “VDCP” protocols are supported—along with the “Mira-Native Ethernet API”. Using this freely available Mira-Native Ethernet API, end-users may program their own customized remote control interfaces with the Mira Production server.
- The Mira Production server contains an integrated high-speed media disk array, with RAID-6 parity protection as a standard feature. RAID-6 provides two redundant media disk drives; so up to two media drives may fail at the same time—without destroying any stored media content—and without affecting recording or playback performance. The media disk drives in the media array are industry-standard high-speed SATA disk drives. The media disk array provides plenty of bandwidth—enough to support simultaneous real-time recording and playback with as little as 5 frames of delay between recording on one video channel, and playback of the same content on another video channel.
- Since all media disk drives are mounted in the FRONT of the Mira server’s 3RU chassis, any failed media disk drive can be quickly and easily removed, and replaced with a new media disk drive—all without the need for any hand tools—and with no need to power OFF the Mira server. Once the new disk drive is inserted, rebuilding of the data for the new disk occurs automatically “in the background”— without affecting real-time record and playback performance.
- There are five storage capacities available for each type of Mira Production server: 4-Channel Mira Production servers: 25-Hours to 350-Hours (for HD @ 100Mb/s) 8-Channel Mira Production servers: 35-Hours to 350-Hours (for HD @ 100Mb/s)
- Every Mira Production server is fitted with a Dual-Redundant Hot-Swap Power Supply. Each of the two power supply modules is engineered to fully operate the Mira server—in case one of the redundant modules fails during operations. A failed module can be easily swapped—with no need to turn OFF the Mira server.
- This concludes our presentation of the Abekas Mira Production server!
- Please visit the Abekas website to download brochures, specification sheets, or to read stories of our customer’s experiences with Abekas products. Thanks again for your interest in the Mira Production server.