The Omneon MediaPort 5300 multi-rate MPEG-2 HD encoder is a powerful single or dual channel high definition ingest module for Spectrum media servers. Supporting a wide range of encoding bit rates, the MediaPort 5300 offers broadcasters maximum ability to balance picture quality and storage utilization. With support for two channels of HD ingest in a single rack-unit, the MediaPort 5300 provides higher channel density and a lower cost per channel than standalone HD encoders. Like all MediaPorts, it integrates easily into both new and existing Omneon Spectrum™ SD and HD systems without requiring changes to other system components, simplifying deployment and operation.

The MultiPort 4100 Series supports simultaneous playback of both SD and HD MPEG-2 material. In addition to its MPEG-2 decoding capability, this family of media interface components provides built-in up- and down-conversion enabling broadcasters to mix HD and SD material on the same timeline, with synchronized continuous HD and SD outputs. For broadcasters who have a mix of SD and HD material, and who must support both HD and SD channels, the MultiPort 4100 Series reduces automation complexity in half since both HD and SD outputs can be controlled as a single channel. With support for up to 2 channels of MPEG-2 HD and SD outputs (4 total outputs, each HD/SD pair as an independent channel), the MultiPort 4100 Series supports LGOP and I-frame HD playback for bitrates ranging from 19 Mbps to 78 Mbps and LGOP, I-frame and IMX SD playback for bitrates ranging from 3 Mbps to 50 Mbps. Both 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 chroma sampling is supported along with 1080i/25, 1080i/29.97, 720p/50 and 720p/59.94..

The MediaPort 4010 provides an integrated ingest solution for HD MPEG content that simplifies workflow and reduces time to air. By combining MPEG transport stream ingest and de-multiplexing in a single unit, the Omneon MediaPort 4010 allow you move directly to a file-based workflow. It supports direct ingest of ASI streams via backhaul feeds up to 100 Mbps.

The first step in moving to a tapeless playout environment is the integration of modular and scalable media servers into your real-time workflows. While enterprise-wide station automation and digital asset management are often important long-term goals, the immediate concern is to utilize new digital technologies to increase efficiencies without increasing complexities. That means a specific focus on the fundamental real-time control of the ingest and playout processes. The Omneon MediaController panel integrated with the cost-effective and modular Omneon Spectrum™ media server can immediately provide ingest, studio playout, packaging and master control efficiencies. Omneon now offers a dedicated control panel that is easy to learn and use. Broadcasters can implement new, more efficient workflows in hours.

The central component of any Omneon Spectrum system, the MediaDirector manages the flow of data to and from all other components in the system, including storage (Omneon MediaStores), real-time media (Omneon MediaPorts and MultiPorts) and network traffic (Gigabit Ethernet). Media ingest, storage and playout are all coordinated through the MediaDirector, which manages bandwidth requirements to ensure that all real-time media I/O receives guaranteed, uninterrupted data throughput. The MediaDirector also manages the file system and provides software RAID capabilities to access and protect all data stored on the system's disk arrays. MediaDirectors access system storage arrays through multiple Fibre Channel loops, ensuring both resiliency and performance necessary for on-air operations. Interface to Omneon MediaPort and MultiPort audio and video I/O components is managed with multiple high-speed serial buses. This design provides maximum flexibility with regard to video format while also ensuring channel count scalability. A Gigabit Ethernet connection provides high-bandwidth data communication via SMB, FTP, and AFP (Apple® File Protocol). MediaDirectors are available in two models to provide a choice of price points and system bandwidth and capacity. All MediaDirector units incorporate Omneon designed Smart Scalability, ensuring that any element of an Omneon Spectrum media server system can be expanded or re-configured at any time, without any disruptive upgrade process. Systems can be configured with the entry-level MCP 2100 and then add the higher-performance MCP 2101 as their system requirements grow.

The modular design of Omneon MediaPorts allow for configurations that precisely fit each facility's requirements without forcing the purchase of unneeded I/O. Also, because MediaPorts operate independently of other components of the system, media I/O can be added without adding additional storage or processing components. Omneon Video Networks provides a full line of MediaPort interface adapters for video, audio, timecode and control. As with all Omneon Spectrum media server system components, these MediaPorts can be included in initial configurations or added to server system already on-line. Omneon Spectrum systems can support multiple MediaPorts to support multi-channel and mixed format requirements. Each modular MediaPort can be added, removed or configured on line and can support a broad range of formats, profiles and bit rates.Omneon MediaPorts provide the ultimate in redundancy and reliability. Each MediaPort incorporates an independent power supply and interfaces to the server system infrastructure through a robust high-speed serial data bus

The System Manager acts as the administrative hub of an Omneon Spectrum media server installation. Its streamlined and intuitive browser-based user interface allows users to make rapid adjustments to system configurations, integrate additional components and identify fault conditions. In fact, the System Manager's fault reporting and alerting capabilities can head off issues before they become critical.

• Facility-wide control: The System Manager integrates with your existing data network and allows administrators and technicians to monitor and manage the media server from any web-enabled computer in real time.
• Active Monitoring and Alerting: The System Manager constantly monitors dozens of characteristics of every component in the system, alerting the designated administrators to abnormal conditions such as temperature, power, data connectivity, etc. If a fault is discovered the System Manager automatically sends an email or page to the system administrator.

The ContentServer is an intelligent storage device that interacts with other components of the Omneon MediaGrid to achieve the system’s very high access bandwidth and storage capacity. Each ContentServer contains disk storage and network connectivity, both of which are used by the system to provide capacity and access bandwidth. Multiple ContentServers can be interconnected on an Ethernet fabric to provide capacity and bandwidth scalability.All ContentServers in a MediaGrid system participate in storing and retrieving data for clients. When a client makes a file request, it connects to multiple ContentServers that either store or retrieve file data as requested by the client. Since many ContentServers are active in all read and write operations, the clients benefit from the aggregate performance of these ContentServers and see file access speeds far better than traditional networked storage systems.

ContentDirectors manage and direct the overall operation of the Omneon MediaGrid. They enable clients to interact with the system by creating and presenting a single virtual file system constructed from MediaGrid's many individual ContentServer storage devices. All clients initially contact one of the clustered ContentDirectors for file access requests (e.g. open, read, write, etc.). The selected ContentDirector responds with a list of target Content- Servers for the transaction, enabling clients to then connect directly to a set of individual Content- Servers for data access. During write operations, ContentDirectors determine the distribution of slices, which are the units of data stored across multiple ContentServers in a MediaGrid system. ContentDirectors use a heuristic algorithm weighing dynamic usage factors including ContentServer load and capacity to allocate slices to individual ContentServers. For subsequent read operations, this distribution enables the ContentDirector to actively load-balance the available storage and bandwidth of the system in order to ensure reliable, high-performance operation. With multiple ContentServers serving an individual client's read/write request, this approach eliminates any bandwidth bottlenecks commonly found in NAS storage systems that pass content through a single controller

For direct access to the MediaGrid file system, client software is available for a number of operating systems including Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. For customers running other operating systems, the ContentBridge provides an open interface to allow access to the MediaGrid file system. Non-native clients can access the MediaGrid file system through a ContentBridge using standard network file system protocols. In response to a client file access request, the ContentBridge interacts with ContentDirectors to complete the necessary operations before forwarding the result back to the client. For example, in the case of a read operation, the ContentBridge will compile file data together before presenting the complete file to the client.

ContentManager is an easy to use software application for setting, reviewing, and changing attributes on associated files, directories, and user permissions of the MediaGrid. As an example, administrators can set a file- or directory-level "replication factor" for data protection and access bandwidth purposes to ensure data is replicated an appropriate number of times within the MediaGrid.ContentManager is a Windows-based application that offers a Windows File Manager-like graphical user interface. It can support one or more MediaGrid systems, reducing the need for separate administrative tools to manage multiple storage systems.