Lawo Expands V__matrix Virtualized Platform with New Multiviewer Modules

Lawo continues to add new capabilities to its software-defined V__matrix suite of audio and video modules and at the 2017 NAB Show it unveiled two new high-quality multiviewer components that are designed to monitor both IP and SDI sources.

The new Lawo V__matrix vm_mv24-4 and vm_mv16-4 virtual modules (VMs) work in tandem with the platform’s c100 core processing module. These VMs can monitor uncompressed 4K/UHD, 3G, HD and SD video as well as both embedded and discrete audio while generating high quality mosaic views with ultra-low latency.

The V__matrix, premiered at last year’s NAB, is a software-defined IP core routing and processing platform that takes advantage of fabric computing and the use of standard off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Designed to provide a completely virtualized real-time production infrastructure, V__matrix leverages multiple cores connected to a high-capacity COTS IP network with redundant 10GE and 40GE connections to form a distributed IP routing and processing matrix with frame-accurate, clean switching (much like a legacy baseband matrix).

The vm_mv24-4 can monitor up to 24 sources or a maximum of 36 Gbps of IP or SDI video while the vm_mv16-4 is capable of handling up to 16 sources or up to 36 Gbps. Both multiviewer VMs can generate up to 4 output heads (mosaics) and scale and display any source on any output head without limitation. The same source can be displayed on multiple output heads at different resolutions. The output heads can be configured as either HD, 3G or 4K and output over IP interfaces or, using the modular rear-plate I/O, as SDI.

Both VMs also optionally support SMPTE2042 VC-2 compressed video, which further increases their monitoring capabilities by allowing monitoring of more 3G and 4K/UHD signals without hitting their respective processing capacity maximums. The VC-2 option also includes the ability to compress the IP output heads that allows for 4K/UHD mosaics to be transported over a 10Gbps IP network.

The V__matrix multiviewer VMs can be controlled by Lawo’s touch-screen configuration system called “theWALL”. This HTML5-based GUI can be used to generate mosaic configurations with borders, colors, UMDs, tally etc. via a simple drag and drop method.

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