Nevion, a Sony Group Company, has expanded the video encoding options of its Virtuoso software-defined media node by incorporating a low latency H.265/HEVC capability.
This new media function offers encoding and decoding with low bitrate and low latency while maintaining quality, making it suitable for bandwidth-constrained applications such as contribution, remote production, and ground-to-cloud-cloud-to-ground (GCCG) operations.
Applications and Deployment of Virtuoso
Virtuoso is a significant component of Sony’s Networked Live offering and has been deployed globally to transport, process, and monitor signals in real time. It is integral to many IP-based production facilities, supporting SMPTE ST 2110 adaptation and various media processing functions. Additionally, Virtuoso is utilized in covering major events, including international sports tournaments and competitions.
Expanded Codec Support
Prior to this enhancement, Virtuoso supported several high-quality codecs for video transport, including JPEG XS, JPEG 2000, and TICO. The introduction of the H.265/HEVC media function adds another compression option, providing low bitrate encoding and decoding with high picture quality and minimal system latency. This addition broadens Virtuoso’s applicability in environments where bandwidth is limited and production quality must be maintained.
Technical Specifications of the H.265/HEVC Function
The newly added H.265/HEVC media function supports low latency 10-bit 4:2:2 encoding and decoding. It utilizes standards-compliant Transport Stream over IP (TSoIP) encapsulation, ensuring synchronized transport of video, audio, and ancillary data, as well as compatibility with third-party equipment.
Integration and Scalability
The H.265/HEVC capability is integrated into a new Low-Bit Rate (LBR) media accelerator card based on Sony’s technology. Multiple media accelerator cards can be installed in Virtuoso MI or Virtuoso RE appliances. Each card can handle multiple simultaneous encode or decode channels, providing high density within a 1RU chassis and allowing the system to be scaled according to requirements.
Upcoming Enhancements
An upcoming software release will introduce support for Ultra-Low-Latency (ULL) mode to the H.265/HEVC media function.
Benefits of the H.265/HEVC Function
The integration of the H.265/HEVC media function with Nevion’s protection mechanisms facilitates the real-time transport of professional media with reduced bandwidth usage, ensuring high reliability and availability.
Statements from Nevion Leadership
Jan Helgesen, Head of Product and Solutions at Nevion, stated that broadcasters, media companies, production houses, e-sport organizations, and telecom service providers rely on Virtuoso to transport mission-critical signals across various locations, sometimes spanning thousands of kilometers. The addition of Sony’s H.265/HEVC technology provides users with an additional codec option to select the most suitable for their specific applications.
Helgesen further commented that Virtuoso is designed to offer versatility. The inclusion of the H.265/HEVC capability enhances the compression options available for bandwidth-constrained environments without compromising on quality or latency.
Demonstration at IBC 2024
Nevion’s new HEVC capabilities will be showcased at the Sony booth during IBC 2024, held in Amsterdam from September 13 to 16.
About Nevion
Nevion is a Norwegian company, founded in 1996, specializing in virtualized media production solutions. It provides media network and broadcast infrastructure products and services, primarily for broadcasters, telecom service providers, and government agencies. Nevion’s solutions are increasingly based on IP, virtualization, and cloud technologies, supporting real-time media transport and processing across various locations.
News source: Nevion
