ASPEN (Adaptive Sample Picture ENcapsulation), which was submitted to SMPTE as a Registered Disclosure Document (RDD 37) is now published in the SMPTE digital library. 

ASPEN is an open framework that enables independent flows for video, audio, and metadata in an IP-based broadcast and media facility. ASPEN  expands on the MPEG-2 Transport Stream (IEC 13818-1 or ITU-T Rec. H.222.0) standard to include uncompressed UHD/3G/HD/SD video over TS. The ASPEN framework also utilizes open standards for transporting audio (SMPTE ST 302) and metadata (SMPTE ST 2038). SMPTE 2022-2 is used to encapsulate the transport streams into IP.

“As the number of global installations grow, achieving this milestone is very exciting. The publication of the SMPTE RDD-37 reinforces our commitment to supporting open-formats in the IP transition. The ASPEN framework takes advantage of IP to allow for independent video, audio, and metadata flows, while utilizing the proven MPEG-2 Transport Stream architecture to enable facilities to move to IP today. The publication of the RDD-37 also enables the ASPEN Community to promote interoperability, and encourages others to participate, to provide the industry a comprehensive open format solution,” said Mo Goyal, co-chair of ASPEN Community.

“Ross Video will be showing ASPEN I/O on our Acuity Production Switcher Series at NAB 2016, demonstrating the ability to plug and play in the Evertz ASPEN routing environments that mutual customers, of Ross and Evertz, have deployed,” said David Ross. “Opening up ASPEN as a published set of specifications that anyone can adopt is an important step in closing the gap between the promise of IP and the practicality of today’s easy SDI connectivity.”

“The ASPEN initiative is very dynamic and has started to be well-spread in the TV broadcast community”, says Christian Dutilleux, CEO of DELTACAST, “We will be proud to provide our customers with easy access to ASPEN devices through our products”.

Broadcast Pix is in the process of adding the ASPEN protocol for IP video to their Granite integrated live production switcher. Broadcast Pix is also exploring the addition of support for ASPEN across their entire product line, along with other IP protocols. “We like the ASPEN protocol for its separation of video, audio, and ancillary data. This ability to separate streams is important to us for the professional post production environment. The efficient transport of the video essence that ASPEN provides allows for more signals through an IP network than other competing uncompressed standards. The format agnostic nature of ASPEN will also help us in our transition to 4K and beyond workflows,” says Benjamin Taylor, CTO, Broadcast Pix, Inc.

Other members of the ASPEN Community echoed those comments:

“Pixel Power customers will be very pleased to see our IP playout demonstrations at NAB,” said Nick Wright, CTO Pixel Power, “and now that we have reached a key turning point with the ASPEN open standard being published by SMPTE as RDD 37 it enables continued trust as we deliver our virtualized software solutions.”

“We are happy to be participating in the ASPEN interoperability demonstration at NAB with our new Hybrid IP/SDI media analysis platform: PRISM. Here, we will be showcasing our upcoming software option to support RDD 37 flows within PRISM. With ASPEN being based on the proven legacy of transport streams, the integration of the capability into our new product was straightforward and well supported,” says Charlie Dunn, GM, Video Product Line, Tektronix.

Current members of the ASPEN Community include: Abekas, AJA Video Systems, Broadcast Pix, ChryonHego, Cinegy, CSP, Inc., Deltacast, Diversified Systems, Discovery Communications, Dome Productions, Edit Share, Embrionix, Evertz, FOR-A, Game Creek Video, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Limited Inc., I-MOVIX, LEADER Electronics Corp., Macnica America Inc., Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd., Myricom, NBC Sports Group, NEP Group Inc., Neutrik, Nextera Video, PacketStorm, PHABRIX, Pixel Power, Providius Corp, Ross Video, Sony, Streampunk Media, Tektronix, Time Warner Cable SportsNet, The Weather Channel, TV2, TVU Networks and Vizrt.