V__matrix Software defined IP Core routing, Processing & Multi-viewing Platform

Lawo’s new V__matrix IP broadcast video core infrastructure product will change your idea of what a broadcast facility looks like from legacy to future, quickly transforming any broadcast installation into a flexible, future-proof production facility, addressing a wide range of workflows and supporting your transition to a totally IP-based environment.

V__matrix is the first of its kind. Free from the restrictions of legacy hardware platforms, it offers a completely virtualized real-time routing and processing infrastructure. Instead of connecting single purpose modular products in elaborate production chains, V__matrix employs data center principles of flexibility, fabric computing and COTS economics and makes these available to any live production broadcast environment. Whether an OB truck, a TV studio or a broadcast operation center, V__matrix creates a fully virtualized facility infrastructure. The V__matrix ecosystem is based on generic high capacity FPGA-based processing blades upon which Virtual Modules (VM) are loaded to create the functionality required. Multiple cores are connected through redundant 40GE (or 4x 10GE) Ethernet interfaces to an IP network to form a distributed IP routing and processing matrix that provides frame-accurate, clean switching just like a legacy baseband matrix.

The V__matrix ecosystem scales linearly from tens to thousands of I/O and processing functions which make it ideal for any size live broadcast facility, small or large. Capabilities easily scale as well. An entire production workflow can be remapped in minutes when requirements change from production to production. The functionality of any processing blade can be exchanged, enabling system capabilities to easily be modified or upgraded to address your constantly changing business requirements. The V__matrix pool of generic processing blades provides ultimate flexibility; with software-defined functionality they can be configured and called upon to handle the peaks and troughs of seasonal production demands and with Lawo’s innovative licensing model, Virtual Modules can be assigned to a particular processing blade or be stored in an on-site license server allowing for unprecedented flexibility.

The V__matrix ecosystem can be divided into two parts: physical and virtual. The physical consists of the C100 processing blade and associated hardware which provides the compute and processing capacity of the platform; the more compute power you have the more functions you can run. Since V__matrix is a fully IP-based platform, the C100 processing blade can be placed anywhere there is an IP network. It can be decentralized and spread over one or more facilities or centralized in a core facility or OB truck. A hybrid approach is also possible where some core equipment is kept on-site while a pool of processing power is kept in a remote data center. This decentralized approach allows the technical operation center to be situated in a purpose-built data center outside of town where space, power and cooling is inexpensive, while talent and studios can be in another area.

The virtual world is centered around the software which defines the functionality of the platform. The software packages are called Virtual Modules (VM) and in the V__matrix they allow the function-agnostic core processing hardware to build complex workflows by simply running the appropriate VM. Combining VMs allows the creation of complete production chains fulfilling all broadcast requirements in a fully virtualized environment. As all functions of the V__matrix ecosystem are software-defined it is the ultimate future-proof platform. Changing the functionality of your broadcast plant is as easy as changing the software modules loaded onto the processing blades. By cascading multiple VMs together, the V__matrix scales linearly up to thousands of SDI I/O and audio/video processing functions for unparalleled scalability, flexibility, versatility and cost-efficiency. The current line-up of V__matrix Virtual Modules include:

• vm_streaming – SDI-to-IP Gateway
• vm_udx 4K/HDR Format Converter – IP Up/Down/Cross and Color Space Converter
• vm_mv16-4, vm_mv18-4 & vm_mv24-4 — 4K Multiviewers
• vm_dmv – World’s first expandable distributed 4K IP Multiviewer

V__matrix multiviewer VMs are controlled by Lawo’s groundbreaking touch operated configuration system “theWALL”. This unique HTML5 based GUI makes mosaic configuration with borders, colors, UMDs, tally etc. a simple case of drag and drop.