EVS Strengthens Neuron Network Attached Processor With New Capabilities

EVS has released two new product lines and added several important software capabilities to its Neuron Network Attached Processor, driving further efficiencies for IP-based media productions.

Built on an IP backbone, and providing SDI connectivity as an option, Neuron is one of the core pillars of EVS’ flexible Media Infrastructure offering. It is known in the industry as the ‘modular glue’ for IP infrastructures and can perform any of the real-time processing tasks a broadcaster needs in any SDI, IP, or hybrid production environment.

Neuron COMPRESS: JPEG XS encoding & decoding
The introduction of Neuron COMPRESS provides new JPEG XS encoding and decoding capabilities. This codec offers visually lossless quality, at very low latency with a typical compression ratio of 10:1, to help broadcasters reduce bandwidth usage within IP-based infrastructures. Like all other products in Neuron, COMPRESS is a high-density solution, offering up to 32 UHD or 64 FHD encoders/decoders in one rack unit.

“By adding JPEG XS compression to EVS Neuron’s already extensive product suite, EVS is setting new standards in terms of network performance and flexibility in various IP environments,” says Jean Pierre Nouws, Solution Manager at EVS. “It is a key enabler for the successful deployment of remote production workflows, providing low latency transport of high-resolution signals for easy sharing between multiple sites, while preserving the quality of the video.”

Neuron PROTECT: Intelligent backup switching
Named a winner of the NAB Best of Show Awards, Neuron PROTECT fully protects broadcast networks from single points of failure, using intelligent, redundant, isolated (automatic) change overs. These communicate with each other, meaning that if one fails, the other continues to output content on the network, ensuring full redundancy in any scenario.

Available within EVS’ Neuron real-time IP media processor, the PROTECT line use all modern encapsulation standards like ST2022 and ST2110 and are capable of handling up to 16 channels of full HD or 4 channels of UHD and transporting these over two redundant 100Gb/s Ethernet connections. Optionally, Neuron PROTECT can be enhanced with an SDI I/O module. This will add 40 physical SDI HD-BNC connectors, allowing easy integration of existing SDI operations in an IP environment, acting as bridge or gateway. PROTECT can be used as a multi-channel A/V-over-IP transceiver, A/V probe, Up-down-cross converter, automatic change over (ACO) and firewall.

“With Neuron PROTECT, broadcasters benefit from the redundancy assurance they were accustomed to in the traditional SDI domain, but that has been missing since the migration to IP,” says Nouws. “It introduces a new, intelligent backup switching method to provide protection from unreliable or even hostile sources, ensuring full peace of mind during every live broadcast.”

Alongside these new product lines, EVS has introduced other functionalities in the following domains:

• Audio processing: Not only is Neuron now able to work with 64 channels per IP audio stream, it also provides MADI compatibility as an option.
• SDR <>HDR conversion: Neuron now features LUT-based SDR<>HDR conversion in addition to dynamic conversion.
• Color correction: Besides the RGB correction, EVS has added YCrCb and Hue adjustment settings in all the color correctors within Neuron.