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Reader SurveyDVEO Ships World’s First Realtime HDV-to-DVB-ASI Converter
Feb 17, 2006 4:17 PM
DVEO, the broadcast division of CMI, announced that they are now shipping FireBridge, its HDV-to-DVB-ASI converter with FireWire input. Designed for broadcasters and content providers, FireBridge converts high-definition 1394 output from the new generation of HDV cameras to DVB-ASI for use in professional environments.
As an advanced capability, when used with the JVC GY-HD100U camcorder, FireBridge converts the camera’s 1394 firewire output from 720 30p to 720 60p, making the output fully compatible with standard broadcast 720 60p equipment. FireBridge is the only ASI bridge available today with this advanced feature.
FireBridge is a realtime transport stream converter that takes the FireWire output of HDV cameras and converts this signal to a more prevalent form known as DVB-ASI. FireBridge output is compatible with DVB-ASI equipment from Tandberg, Terayon, and Harmonic. FireBridge is also compatible with DVEO’s T-Streamer/ASI, a transport stream recorder/player with a built-in transport stream analyzer.
FireWire, also called IEEE 1394 or iLink, is a cross-platform standard for high-speed digital connections between computers and peripherals—providing up to 800Mbps.
Transport streams are a type of MPEG-2 video stream used by broadcasters to distribute content. This type of MPEG is not sent as a file, but sent as a series of packets with additional information included to help the decoder decide how best to process them.
HDV is a new high-definition video format established by JVC, Sony, Canon, and Sharp. DVEO is one of the latest members of the HDV Format Supporters. HDV supports both 19Mbps and 25Mbps MPEG-2 transport streams that record to existing standard DV format digital videocassettes, including the MiniDV shell.
“We are delighted that FireBridge not only converts 1394 to DVB-ASI, but it also converts our GY-HD100U camcorders native 720 30p to 720 60p,” says Lawrence Librach, assistant vice president of business development for JVC Professional Products Company. “This allows the user who purchases the FireBridge to feed GY-HD100U content via satellite or microwave, and be assured that all standard HDTV decoders including Tandberg, Tiernan, or JVC can decode the footage captured on location with our GY-HD100U. Customers can also capture network satellite feeds directly on our ProHD SR-VDA300U ASI mastering deck, then utilize our SR-VD400U player deck for connecting to the FireBridge to convert the 1394 TS from the satellite feed to ASI for reloading a ‘to air’ ASI server. One TV station has been using such a system as a beta test for nearly a year with great results, and the FireBridge would be great in that application. We can capture all data including video, Dolby AC-3 2, and 5.1, as well as closed captioning with such a system. Capturing up to three hours of HDTV from the network for $14 a tape is a real money saver.”
“FireBridge is perfect for our customers who are doing reality TV, satellite uplinks, electronic news gathering, movie or video ‘dailies’, or any application that needs cost-effective HD content,” says Laszlo Zoltan, sales manager for DVEO. “FireBridge replaces expensive HD cameras and MPEG-2 encoders.”
FireBridge is Linux-based and designed for dependable 24/7 operation. FireBridge is designed as an appliance that requires no changes or settings.
Suggested Retail Price: $4,995 U.S.
For more information, visit www.dveo.com.
