For its return to the fair with a physical booth, the company will present its vision for the industry, structured around 3 pillars: Creators’ Cloud, Networked Live and Connected Content Acquisition.
Sony is pleased to announce today, at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2022 being held in Amsterdam, a series of new products and solutions that support its Architecting the Future of Media vision. This ambitious new Sony journey is based on 3 proposals that will shape the future of the content industry and continue to fill the world with excitement.
Sony, the architect of this vision, will bring to life new technologies that will enable production with an increasing focus on sustainability, anywhere and at any scale, through IP for industry players. This strategy will be based on 3 pillars developed by Sony: Creators’ Cloud, Networked Live, and Connected Content Acquisition.
Olivier Bovis, Head of Media Solutions at Sony Europe, comments, “When we look at the future of the content industry, taking into account the explosion of channels and demand for content that has taken place in recent years, we know that we need to move away from one-size-fits-all products and move to a block solution strategy, introducing highly modular ecosystems at every stage of the production chain. Modularity is key in enabling customers to achieve their business and sustainability goals.”
1 – Creators’ Cloud – From the ground to the cloud, from the clous to the ground.
Today, Sony is introducing an ecosystem of cloud tools, services, and integration points built around security, user-centricity, and scalability that is a distinctive approach to production technology. Creators’ Cloud is the next-generation cloud production platform for capturing, creating, sharing and distributing content, from any network to any device. Creators’ Cloud will see the federation of Sony’s current, trusted set of cloud-based solutions, such as Ci or C3 Portal, with new tools such as M2 Live, a scalable cloud-based live processing service system for OTT (Over The Top) distribution, and A2 Production, an automated production AI solution to drive workflow efficiency and content enrichment (see more details below).
In the near future, the ecosystem will be built with a user-centric approach, and will offer Single Sign On, common storage, and billing through common authentication. All content creators, whether freelancers, OTTs, production houses or broadcasters, will be able to adapt the tools and platforms according to their needs, optimizing their use and avoiding redundancies, thanks to the elasticity of the ecosystem.
How to bring content to the cloud
Creators’ Cloud will allow you to directly connect images from various types of cameras, upload and store content in the cloud. Different video formats, aspects and versions can be quickly produced based on pre-existing requirements.
Sony’s “Cloud Gateway” enables direct connection of content to the cloud using tools such as C3 Portal to transfer files or a camera’s live feed through field applications with network communications devices such as 5G smartphones. In addition, C3 Portal is now compatible with the PXW-Z750, PXW-Z450, and PXW-Z400 shoulder camcorders, and existing compatible PXW-Z280 and FX9 cameras will see their connections strengthened with C3 Portal *1.
Producing in the cloud
As part of the Creators’ Cloud vision, Sony’s “Production Tool-Chain,” based on a Microservices architecture, will enable, among other things, simultaneous live and file-based video production, remote operations and collaboration, as well as continuous enrichment of workflows with metadata powered by artificial intelligence.
Sony is also announcing today A2 Production, its new AI-powered automated production system, an expansion of its existing Media Analytics Portal offering.By combining various capabilities from Sony and others in AI, and integrating them, production workflows can be simplified for editing, managing, and distributing files. For example, by using metadata generated at the time of image capture, sports highlights can be automatically generated and the production preparation process automated.
Management and collaboration in the cloud “Ci Media Cloud”
Ci Media Cloud is a multimedia management and collaboration platform that enables teams to access and collaborate on files being produced and finished media content. The latest release on Sept. 7 features improvements in collaboration, enhanced security and updated subscription plans for online clients. Users can collaborate more effectively by blocking images and video frames to indicate specific areas, eliminating ambiguity in file comments. The watermarking function has been extended beyond MediaBox sharing links, ensuring that high-value content is always displayed with a dynamic, visible watermark. New Pro and Team Workspace subscription plans will be introduced for Ci in the fall. Starting in October, Ci’s online subscription plans will offer nearly 40 times more storage space to support smaller teams and individual creatives. The new Team plan includes an unlimited number of users, so teams can collaborate at no additional cost per user.
Distribution from the cloud
Multi-format distribution creates and maximizes the value of content by enabling delivery and distribution of content in the optimal format for multiple channels. This optimizes content monetization.
Sony today announces M2 Live, i.e., Multipoint to Multipoint Live, a scalable cloud-based live processing service for OTT (Over The Top) content distribution without the need to use on-premises resources for one-sided productions. The purely cloud-based software enables users to adopt an OPEX approach for a significant portion of their workflow. M2 Live focuses on the production of small events where a high-value presentation is needed, but simplicity of operation is equally important. Using an easy-to-use, Scene-based user interface and Sony’s A2 Production for automatic highlight creation, complex and sophisticated programs can be delivered to social media channels.
M2 Live can also be used as an OTT streaming tool for localization of any major program. Taking the clean multilateral feed of a sporting event as an example, localization can take the form of additional graphics or logos, unilateral camera inputs, commentary and local language dubbing. The Tally/Return function allows for easy collaboration with an on-site operator, and for the transmission of field data from the camera to the cloud, a stable remote connection is created through Sony’s QoS protocol provided by the application installed on the Sony camera or compatible smartphone.
In live production, where the image’s composition is constantly changing, pre-configuring the composition, M2 Live enables simple recall of scene settings to instantly and efficiently create highly sophisticated production effects instantly and efficiently.
Sony is already collaborating and will expand collaborations with third-party partners for the Creators’ Cloud ecosystem at every stage of production, from acquisition to distribution. For example, in August 2022, Sony and Teradek announced an upcoming integration that will allow on-set productions to upload Teradek encoding products directly to Ci Media Cloud. In addition, the same link for uploading files to C3 Portal is under development. Sony will demonstrate at IBC, together with Teradek, these camera-to-cloud workflows for both Ci Media Cloud and C3 Portal.
2- Networked Live – to simplify remote and distributed production from anywhere.
Sony and Nevion today announced several new services and products that will continue to accelerate the transformation of workflows to facilitate distributed and remote production: Networked Live announces a new era of hybrid distributed studio/cloud production solutions that increase the potential for remote and distributed production based on universal connectivity. Sharing resources between geographically distant locations enables high-quality live production and processing from anywhere. This will enable users to produce anywhere and at any scale, improving the overall quality of productions and increasing efficiency through better distribution of human and technological resources, overall ensuring long-term business sustainability.
Networked Live will focus on introducing federated orchestration in IP-based networks, improving transport of multimedia elements, and further enabling hybrid processing and operations.
Network and resource orchestration
Nevion has introduced federated orchestration in its VideoIPath network solution, which enables control and distribution of systems and resources, avoiding the risk of a single point of failure and enabling the combination of secondary systems into larger systems for remote and distributed operations. Again, scalability is increased, which is critical for optimizing the orchestration of production resource management and network signal transport.
Nevion also announced the integration of its flagship multimedia orchestration platform, VideoIPath, with AWS Media Services, focusing initially on ground-to-cloud and integration with AWS MediaConnect and MediaLive services. This allows a video source to be connected locally to a MediaConnect instance in the AWS Cloud and distributed to other MediaConnect instances in other regions, or back locally, effectively enabling the use of the AWS Cloud as a transport network.
Media Transport
JPEG XS support for system cameras.
Sony’s extension adapters for IP cameras, HDCE-TX30 and HDCE- TX50, will support the compressed JPEG XS streaming format, compatible with the SMPTE ST2110-22 standard through a software update. In addition, at IBC 2022, Sony will show a new low-latency codec, which will enable a new large bandwidth reduction without sacrificing too much image quality.
Hybrid processing and operations
The new Modular Live System MLS-X1, a major component of Networked Live, is a new modular, scalable and reconfigurable production processor and switcher.
Whether in the studio, in the cloud, on-site or remotely, the MLS-X1 enables integrated operational control of processors in multiple locations from a single user interface.
Each MLS-X1 unit is networked and its physical structure can be dynamically modified, allowing it to scale to meet current and future production needs. Thanks to its modular concept, logical switchers can be configured and interconnected using one or more MLS-X1 units as needed, avoiding the need to prepare excess capacity or functionality in advance. Redundant systems, which are essential for live production, can be flexibly selected among different modes. It is also possible to manage multiple simultaneous productions made with one or more panels and crews, depending on the needs of the program.
In the future, the MLS-X1 will be able to integrate and be managed by multiple systems, not only for remote production, but also in the studio and in the cloud.
The MLS-X1 builds on the recognized reliability of Sony switchers, including the XVS-G1: its innovative architecture adds GPU-based effects and a graphics module to the processing structure, providing flexible video-based processing power. Hardware-accelerated processing supports real-time processing of 4K (UHD) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) video, with ultra-low latency. This latest addition to the Sony range supports 4K/HD multi-format production, which has up to 6 M/E, 4-channel Digital Multi Effects and 6 keyers per M/E in UHD. In addition to the format converter, an HDR converter is provided and native HDR support is offered as a system format.
Concept Video of Networked Live
MLS-X1 product video
3- Connected Content Acquisition – Capture Everywhere.
Sony is strengthening the connectivity and capabilities of its cameras, enabling users to do more with their content at the point of capture and supporting the development of remote operations.
Sony recently*2 announced the latest addition to its Cinema Line, the ILME- FR7 camera, an E-mount camera with interchangeable lens, Full-Frame image sensor and built-in pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) function.
Its versatile remote control and cinematic features open up creative possibilities for studio shooting, live productions, and cinematography.
A high-performance Full-Frame image sensor and expressive cropping from Sony’s E-mount lens range work together with remote pan/tilt/zoom control, highly flexible zoom function, and wide-angle shooting to overcome space and location limitations. It also offers the cinematic look and operability that have made Sony’s digital cinema cameras the flagship product for the film industry, as well as versatile connectivity and efficient multi-camera workflow support.
Sony also announced new updates and developments for the VENICE 2 motion picture camera system, including the release of the VENICE Extension System 2 for VENICE for greater flexibility and the upgrade to firmware version 2.00. The VENICE Extension System 2 for VENICE offers support for VENICE 2’s 8K sensor, as well as greater mobility and compatibility with a 3- or 12-meter cable, without the need for a repeater.
In addition, Sony will present a virtual production solution combining the Crystal LED B series and VENICE 2.
Sony is constantly listening to cinematographers and creatives to offer innovative products, such as the Cinema Line and CineAlta Line, in order to meet their varied creative needs, facilitating the development and creation of superior content.
Shipping dates and product prices will be available upon request and will vary by region.
