The Telestream MPI210 PRISM Media Platform with 3RU Half Rack, Integrated 9 in. HD Display and Touch Panel, and 4 SDI BNC Inputs with SD/HD/3G Formats is an ideal solution for monitoring SDI/IP hybrid environments, including master control rooms, production studios, OB trucks, and signal contribution/distribution centers. The base unit comes with a broad range of connectivity solutions. It is enabled for both SDI and multiple IP standards to address the needs of production and editing. It is also easy to scale it up to address high-end technical QC and engineering. MPI2-10 is designed to be future-proof and provide investment protection for the end user.

The MPI2-10 is one tool with a common platform, a common UI, and a scalable feature set that removes the need for compromise, eases facility design, and reduces staff training and interchange.

Production

A tool for making quick and accurate decisions on set

Modern productions enhanced with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) technologies mean there are less opportunities to fix content in Post. Production teams must get it right at acquisition to avoid a costly reshoot. Lighting engineers, cinematographers, and directors need tools that enable quick scene creation, camera setup, and editing decisions to minimize the time on set. MPI2-10 is equipped for the job with patented STOP displays to setup cameras and show highlights, CIE Charts, and automated transfer functions/color space conversion to measure and adjust HDR and WCG quickly and easily. Tools that help you get it right first time lead to quick decisions and clean and objective communication across the whole creative team.

Live Production

A tool for ensuring the content that leaves the truck is high quality regardless of format

Live production is all about one shot to get live action, high value content captured and delivered in the highest possible quality, in multiple formats for delivery to viewers in multiple ways. Increasingly, live production teams are required to deliver both 4K/HDR/WCG and HD/SDR/BT.709 content simultaneously. Ensuring that both feeds have a consistent look and are high quality is a real challenge.

MPI2-10 provides the tools required to handle live production. For traditional productions there are expected tools including waveform, vector and diamond displays. For 4K/HDR/WCG, MPI2-10 introduces new and innovative displays like the decade nits scale in the STOP display. STOP display makes setting the black, white, and gray levels and controlling the specular highlights easy. MPI2-10 also provides CIE charts and vector with automatic color space adjustment for color management.

Post Production

A tool for objective quality assessment, enabling consistent and efficient workflows

Post production workflows are challenged with creating great looking and sounding content as quickly and efficiently as possible. Increasingly, creatives are required to master content for multiple end points, ranging from SD/SDR/709 for DVD to 4K/HDR/2020 for VOD, while maintaining artistic integrity and a consistent look.

MPI2-10 can simplify the work to create, grade, and QC the content in a single workflow regardless of the mastering format. There is support for a wide range of HDR standards, 4K formats, and tools allowing objective ways to measure and manage composition, luminance, color, audio and standards. MPI2-10 is equipped with Waveform, Vector, and Diamond displays and with the addition of integrated transfer/color space conversion, editors can extend the use of these familiar tools for HDR/WCG editing. MPI2-10 also specifically supports an innovative tool set for the unique challenges in multiple formats like STOP display and CIE chart, which maximize the degree of creativity.

Broadcast Engineering and R&D

A tool with trusted Telestream measurements for both SDI and IP technology

Broadcast and R&D engineers are faced with a level of change and technology transition never seen before. They need tools that enable them to see and solve network or design issues quickly and effectively, whether they are working in an SDI or IP environment. As standards change engineers require tools that will evolve as the standards evolve, a range of options that allow them to configure the instrument to meet their needs, and a comprehensive set of tests and measurements they can trust.

MPI2-10 connects to almost any signal in the facility or laboratory such as; SD/HD/3G/6G/12G-SDI, ST 2110-20/30/40, ST 2022-6, ST2022-7, ST 2059 (PTP), and NMOS IS-04 and IS-05. Coupled with the connectivity is a comprehensive set of displays and measurements that are designed to provide information they need to find and solve problems. The instrument provides IP Statistics, PTP Timing analysis, Video and Audio session displays, Black Burst to SDI timing, and 12G-SDI Eye pattern measurement. MPI2-10 also provides specialized measurements such as ST 2110-21 buffer analysis to understand what happens to the system under different traffic flow situations. Generator functionality provides a series of known good test patterns for testing in ST 2110 or SDI formats. A full API allows MPI2-10 to be connected to control systems for remote monitoring applications.

Innovative Feature Set for HDR/WCG Content Creation

CIE chart display

Stop display (stop, nits)

Transfer function / color space conversion

Diamond / Lightning display

Adjust Color in a Consistent Way

The Vector display has been used to adjust picture color since the analog composite era. However, using Vector displays where there are multiple formats with different RGB/YCbCr matrices, different color primaries, and/or different gamma curve requires a lot of subjective interpretations. This problem affects operators who need to master a program in a variety of formats.

The CIE display provides a trace based on x, y color coordinates, so that a single color is always placed on the correct location regardless of video format. This means operators can create/evaluate color in consistent and objective ways regardless of the video format they are working with. This also means that color monitoring for SD/SDR/709 mastering for DVD and 4K/HDR/2020 mastering for VOD can be done using the same workflow.

Simplify Camera Setup in Complex HDR Productions

One of the challenges in creating HDR content is the need to understand the new reference white/grey levels required for each transfer function used in HDR content acquisition. This requires the camera operator to adjust the camera exposure accordingly for the specific OETF.

The Telestream patented Stop Display application allows operators to adjust camera exposure in a consistent manner without worrying about the transfer function (OETF) of a camera. The Stop Display reverses the OETF to convert the video signal from the camera to linear scene light using an internal integrated look up table and then represents the light level as a log2 (stops) waveform with over 16 stops of range in one display.

The vertical axis on the Stop Display can be in either "Stops" referring to scene light or "Nits" referring to display light. The reference levels in the graticule are consistent regardless of which transfer function is selected.

Balance Colors in HDR/WCG Without Changing Your Workflow

ITU-R BT.2020 color and many custom camera color primaries have a wider color coverage than the traditional ITU-R BT.709 color gamut. Because of differences in both color primaries and gamma, the trace presentation in a typical color difference vector display is different from the familiar BT.709 vector display, which forces the camera operators to interpret the colors differently depending on the color format used.

The integrated transfer function/color space converter converts a HDR/ WCG signal to an SDR/709 gamut signal. This allows camera operators to confidently monitor the color of the scene they are shooting and allows colorists to use familiar displays to check mid tones in HDR/WCG content creation. It also ensures a consistent look between content in simultaneous SDR/HDR content creation. This feature is available in the Waveform, Vector, Diamond, and Picture applications.

Simplify Gamut Monitoring and Camera Setup With Tektronix-Patented Displays

The Tektronix-patented Diamond and Split Diamond displays simplify the process of identifying and correcting RGB gamut errors in digital video signals. Since the Diamond display has the traces on G/R and G/B planes, the trace position moves linearly as a response to RGB adjustment by the color editor. This allows editors to quickly identify and correct gamut issues. With the integrated transfer function/color space converter, the operator can check 709 color gamut error of WCG signals. During camera setup, the operator can quickly adjust BW balance by monitoring linearity in the center of the display.

Customize Your Display to Quickly See Exactly What You Want

A combination of Full/Quad/Vertical extended tile configuration provides more flexibility in how an operator views the application displays. As a vertical extended tile, the 9 inch, 16:9 display panel can show the Vector display in an equivalent size to a 6.5 inch, 4:3 display panel. This provides a practical single-box solution with the Waveform and Vector displays shown side-by-side for camera shading applications.

Rich Feature Sets for IP Engineering

IP Status

IP Session / Graphs

PTP Session / Graphs

SMPTE2110-21 buffer modeling

PTP Timing, Stream timing

PIT Histogram

Event log

SMPTE2022-7 monitoring

IP Generator

IP Capture

Identify the Streams in a 10G Ethernet Link to Set Up Systems Properly

Engineers designing and evaluating a hybrid IP/SDI broadcast system face challenges in determining the status of the system they are building. While an SDI coax system typically carries one signal, a 10G Ethernet link can carry multiple streams and it can be difficult to determine what content is carried on each of the streams within a IP based broadcast system.

MPI2-10 offers a range of tools to quickly identify the streams in the 10G Ethernet link and the content in each stream. The IP Status application shows the protocol, source IP address and port number, destination IP address and port number, Source MAC, Destination MAC, PTP Domain, RTP Seq Error, RTP Clock Freq, and RTP Marker Freq of all streams available in an incoming 10G Ethernet link.

An engineer can view further details using the Video/Audio/Data tabs in the IP Session application, which shows the RTP header information in the selected ST2022-6 or ST2110-20/30/40 streams, including High Bit Rate Media header information for ST2022-6 stream with Green/Red LED error status. The status LED on an application tab indicates the aggregated error status for the monitored items under that tab.

An engineer can determine the number of streams available on the link as well as the quality level of each stream. The selected stream can be decoded to the Picture and Audio applications to let the engineer verify the content in the stream. The selected ST2022- 6 or ST 2110-20/30 stream can also be output through the AUX output with IP/SDI conversion for an extensive monitoring solution.

Monitor and Verify PTP System Setup to Ensure Genlock of Facility Equipment

In a hybrid IP/SDI broadcast system, a variety of reference signals may be used to synchronize equipment within the facility. Traditionally, black burst (BB) or tri-level sync (TLS) references have been used for this purpose. For IP networks, PTP (IEEE1588/SMPTE ST 2059) is used for system synchronization.

PTP uses a series of protocols and message interchanges to create accurate synchronization, higher system robustness and further flexibility in the system integration. For example, the Best Master Clock Algorithm (BMCA) is used to determine the Grandmaster. Another example is the communication model to choose the message transport model to convey the time stamps. However, those mechanisms work as designed only when engineers have set up the system correctly.

In the IP Status application, MPI2-10 displays the PTP traffic with Domain information available in the 10G Ethernet link to let users quickly check for the presence of PTP messages. The PTP tab in the IP Session application provides the lock status, including the phase lag to the Grandmaster, and interpretation of the PTP metadata within the Announce Message. The PTP metadata includes the Master ID, PTP time in UTC and master characteristics (clock quality, priority, etc.) to let engineers ensure the settings of the PTP system are correct.

In the PTP Graphs application, MPI2-10 plots the network delay, network delay variation, and Master/Slave phase lag. The network delay and network delay variation plots are available for both signal directions on the network, Master to Slave (Tms) and Slave to Master (Tsm). The network delay values are calculated directly from the PTP message time stamps, while the variation numbers are calculated from the delay as per RFC1889. The phase lag is the filtered difference Tsm-Tms, and is used to adjust the local PTP clock. Therefore, as MPI2-10 locks to the PTP master unit, it will adjust to minimize the phase lag and make Tsm and Tms equal.

The PTP graphs show the effects of both network delay and adjustments to the slave unit timing. However, since the contribution from the adjustment is low after establishing a lock to the PTP master unit, the PTP network delay becomes dominant in the graphs.

In the ideal PTP system, Tms/Tsm network delay should be constant and identical. The variations in real applications, however, may impact the PTP lock process in the slave unit and could cause a PTP unlock situation if they are excessive.

The PTP graphs allow the detection of adverse network conditions, such as too much traffic on the PTP ports.

Use ST2110-21 Buffer Modeling to Ensure Standards Compliance in Senders

ST2110-21 specifies a timing model for ST2110-20 video RTP streams with the following parametric models:

the following parametric models:

A network compatibility model to regulate the burst characteristics of senders, which promotes the compatibility with the switches

A virtual receiver buffer model to ensure there is no buffer overflow/ underflow in the receiver that could cause the packet loss and picture quality degradation

The IP Graphs display provides a trend graph with both types of modeling to help engineers properly setup the packet delivery timing in the RTP packet sender.

Validate System Timing in IP and SDI

The importance of timing adjustment in an IP broadcast facility is unchanged. As the alignment mechanism uses the timestamp in the streams, correct time stamping at the source device is important. The variance of transmission time at the mixing point, such as a production switcher, needs to be less than the buffer size chosen for the minimum latency.

The Tektronix-patented Timing application makes facility timing easy through a simple graphical representation, which shows the relative timing of the SMPTE 2022-6 stream and the PTP reference on an X-Y axis and visualizes the one-dimensional time delay in terms of the picture parameters. This allows timing adjustment in units of lines and microseconds.

Since ST 2022-6 streams are complete SDI signals encapsulated in IP, the timing measurement treats these IP signals as if they were SDI. Therefore, the timing system detects the start of the IP frame, and then extrapolates to the 0h point of the encapsulated SDI. Then using PTP as the reference, the ideal alignment point for that frame rate is calculated based on the PTP epoch. Finally, the offset between the ST 2022-6 signal and the ideal alignment is displayed. The display shows both the absolute time and the time parsed into lines or horizontal delay as time and pixels.

One use for the Timing application is to measure the delay in a gateway and network. If a properly timed SDI signal is applied to a gateway, then the timing measurement on the resulting IP flow will display the combined latency in the gateway and the network. Another use is to measure multiple signals and compare the relative timing.

In the ST2110 system, the timing of received packets of each element is critical because they have to be presented to the viewers in a time-aligned manner based on the time stamp. The Timing application displays the timing of the Video stream against PTP and the Stream Timing application shows the timing of the Video, Audio and Data as it was received relative to the embedded RTP time stamps. It also shows the relative delay between Audio/Video and the Data/Video, which is the amount of delay needed to re-align the two essence types. Video engineers use this information to make sure the packets of all the elements are received within the tolerance of the receiving buffer. They can then align the timing of each stream based on the time stamp in RTP packet header.

In a hybrid SDI/IP broadcast facility, there are instruments that accept either analog reference signal or PTP. Therefore, the system must prepare both analog signal and PTP as reference system, and it is important for engineers to ensure that they are locked. The Timing application in MPI2-10 offers relative timing measurement of BB/TLS or input SDI signal against PTP reference and helps engineers to quickly setup a robust reference system required in a hybrid broadcast facility.

Monitor Service Quality of Networks to Ensure Robust Performance

The asynchronous nature of an IP system can produce a wide variety of bandwidth usage; in extreme cases this can result in the loss of packets. Therefore, it is important to be able to monitor the network traffic and engineers need tools to evaluate packet loss.

MPI2-10 provides a Packet Interval Time (PIT) histogram and trend graph for ST2110 and ST2022-6 streams. It also provides the trend graph of Time Stamped Delay Factor (TS-DF) standardized in EBU-TECH 3337 for the ST2022-6 stream to help engineers determine how the packet interarrival time from a sender is affected in the system. These measurements can help engineers determine the root cause when packet loss has occurred.

Debug Hybrid IP/SDI Broadcast Systems to Isolate Root Causes

Engineers debugging a hybrid IP/SDI system first need to isolate the root cause of the error to find whether the error is in the IP layer or in the content layer. Details of the error can then be determined by examining the identified layer. MPI2-10 offers error detection feature sets in both the IP and content layers using the Event Log application.

The graphical displays show the error trend correlated to historical data. In these displays, the errors detected in both IP and content layers are time correlated, which allows the engineer to verify the error is in the IP or content layer. For example, if an error is detected in the content layer but not in the IP layer, then the error may have happened before the content was wrapped by the IP headers.

Monitor Redundant Paths in Networks to Ensure Primary and Backup Are Operational

For broadcasters that are committed to their clients, ensuring 24/7 quality broadcasting is a minimum requirement. SMPTE 2022-7 was standardized to build and operate a redundant IP system for broadcasters. MPI2-10 provides broadcast engineers a monitoring solution to properly setup the redundant ST2110 system.

When an input configured with SMPTE 2022-7 enabled is selected, the difference in the receive time of datagrams on path number 1 and 2 is monitored to help engineers determine the signal path and buffer setting in the receiver. MPI2-10 also offers packet header interpretation and error detection for the two paths simultaneously.

The reconstructed output stream is fed to the content layer applications, such as Picture and Waveform, and to the AUX output.

Use Known Good Signals to Check Receiver Devices and Signal Paths

Finding a known good signal in the broadcast facility for a quick test can be time consuming. MPI2-10 provides ST2110-20/-30 with ST2022-7 and 12GSDI test signals that can be used to quickly check the receiver device and the signal path in complex IP/SDI facilities.

Capture Problem Streams for Offline Analysis

When engineers require detailed analysis with an offline tool, the IP capture feature in MPI2-10 allows them to quickly access the stream they need to analyze. The 2 GB capture capability can create a pcap file of up to 1.6 seconds at 10 Gbps.

Familiar Feature Set for Broadcast Engineering

Picture, Waveform, Vector, Audio bar, Video Session

Timing measurement

Eye / Jitter measurement

Monitor Quality of Content With Familiar Feature Sets

In any broadcasting system, ensuring the quality of Video and Audio is the most important task for broadcast engineers. The Picture, Waveform, Audio and Video Session applications are available for engineers who need the familiar feature sets to instantly check the quality of content.

Measure Integrity of the SDI Infrastructure Up to 12G

In an SDI video system, checking SDI signal quality and integrity is one of the most important tasks before starting to shoot a show. MPI2-10 has unique capabilities such as providing various jitter filters from 10 Hz to 100 kHz for SD/HD/3G/12G-SDI signals.

In addition, MPI2-10 can also perform automated eye amplitude, automated rise/fall time, and automated overshoot/undershoot measurements. These capabilities, along with the integrated SDI signal generation feature, help broadcasters and network operators detect and diagnose signal quality problems quickly and efficiently.

Ensure SDI is In-Sync and Aligned

Audio/Video synchronization is an important challenge in the processing of video signals. The Tektronix-patented SMPTE RP168 compliant Timing display makes facility timing easy through a simple graphical representation which shows the relative timing of the input SDI signal and the reference signal (or a saved offset reference) on an X-Y axis.

With quad link connection for 4K format transmission, it is important to ensure that four SDI links are time aligned at reception. The timing display provides Quad interlink timing measurement to ensure the time alignment difference between links is compliant to the standard and no quality degradation in picture presentation.

Easy Integration into Wide Range of Environments

Web control

API

NMOS/SDP

Dual display module

AUX output

Operate PRISM Remotely to Provide Immediate Facility Assistance

Within a hybrid IP/SDI facility, there are a wide variety of tasks an engineer needs to perform to troubleshoot issues and to quickly provide assistance to operators to ensure deadlines are met and facilities remain on air. The remote-control feature in MPI2-10 allows the engineer to remotely access the unit with a Web browser application running on a PC or tablet computer. This allows the engineer to immediately provide assistance by starting to diagnose the problem from their desk, minimizing down time, and helping to isolate the cause of the problem.

Control PRISM from System Management Software Using NMOS/SDP and API

Operators in SDI facilities have used SDI router control panels to select the SDI source to monitor on a waveform monitor. In an SDI/IP hybrid facility, the system integrators need to provide similar capability for the operators. This requires system management software to discover and register the endpoint equipment and send commands, so they can subscribe to streams through IGMP V3.

The NMOS/SDP and API allows system integrators to build an IP system with MPI2-10 being managed by system management software. The software discovers, registers, configures inputs, and selects the active input for monitoring.

Configure PRISM for Desktop, Rackmount, or Console to Suit Every Use

MPI2-10 has a 3RU half-rack width to allow the instrument to be easily integrated into different environments. Use it with touchscreen or KVM, depending on application or operator's preference.

Extend PRISM Display to Maximize Screen Area in Confined Spaces

MPI2-10 provides innovative and unique accessories to save space and cost. Dual display accessories can be used to save space and remove the need for a second instrument in shader/video engineer positions.

Build Audio/Video Monitoring Set in 4RU

The MPX2 can be fitted with high quality integrated speakers and quick audio channel selection to provide audio monitoring and waveform monitoring in a single instrument. Combining with extended display, customers can create fully integrated audio/video monitoring suit in 4RU.

Use AUX SDI Output as Gateway for Local Reference Picture Monitor

In a IP broadcast system, MPI2-10 can be used as a gateway to drive SDI reference picture monitor. AUX output follows a selected input signal regardless of IP or SDI and includes embedded audio. It simplifies the control system and minimize the number of cables and IP ports.