PlayBox introduces enhanced AirBox playout
See PlayBox Technology on booth N5434, NAB 2014, Las Vegas Convention Center
PlayBox Technology has chosen NAB 2014 as the launch venue for the latest version of its AirBox universal playout and streaming automation server.
AirBox provides automated content playout for satellite channels, cable head-ends, over-the-air broadcasters and corporate TV users. At a fraction of the price of any digital videotape player, a single AirBox server delivers the same high quality video and audio via its single or multi-channel SDI outputs. Integral features include multi-language audio, graphics and subtitle insertion, last-minute playlist changes and clip editing.
“AirBox forms the nucleus of every PlayBox Technology installation,” states PlayBox Technology Chief Product Officer Plamen Georgiev. “It can be programmed locally or remotely to operate unattended every hour of the day, every day of the year. The new enhanced AirBox incorporates a GPU-enhanced graphics mixing engine which allows video rotation effects and depth-order laying effects to be performed in real time. Logo animation facilities are also added with a multiplicity of applications in titling, captioning or channel branding. The audio capabilities of AirBox are also expanded with support now provided for Dolby E and Dolby Digital Plus. Such capabilities facilitate proper content handling when audio channel re-mapping is needed. Handling Dolby encoded signals ‘in the box’ allows for flexibility and saves the need for expensive external equipment.”
In its automated playout mode, AirBox allows fixed-time scheduling for weeks ahead. Gaps or time overlaps in a schedule are automatically resolved to ensure continuous operation even when conflicting timed events are present. AirBox also allows completely unattended remote operation. Playout sessions are logged for monitoring and control purposes. The log can be later used for extracting the actual playout sequence with precise timings, or to identify user intervention made during a playout session.
AirBox can be used for live production as well as automated playout. Every clip in the playlist, except the one currently playing, can be trimmed, edited or repositioned seamlessly without stopping current playout session. Playlist order can be changed on-the-fly with commands like skip to next or jump. Live productions are controlled via the AirBox Live Show Clipboard which allows insertion and/or execution of various events or live streams.
The new enhanced AirBox makes its first US exhibition appearance on booth N5434 at NAB 2014, Las Vegas Convention Center, April 7-10.