Vizrt's Latest 4K Production Workflows Rely on Matrox SDI Video Cards with Onboard Hardware Processing

Powerful, integrated, one-box system gives broadcasters a cost-effective HD-to-4K migration path

MONTREAL — April 1, 2015 — Matrox® Video today announced that Vizrt, the world's leading provider of real-time broadcast graphics, has chosen the Matrox X.mio3 SDI video card to fuel its latest 4K production workflow solutions.

Vizrt’s new workflow is powered by Viz Engine, the fastest and most powerful compositing engine available today. Integrated with Matrox’s new X.mio3 SDI video card, it’s able to handle all standard 4K formats. The half-length PCIe card provides multi-channel SDI I/O with hardware-based processing and as a result, Vizrt’s 4K workflow is equipped with 12 reconfigurable I/Os. Computer-intensive processes performed in the 4K workflow are accelerated by the card’s multi-channel processing. While operations like motion-adaptive de-interlacing, up/down/cross scaling and mixing/compositing operations are controlled by the X.mio3 card itself, the workflow’s Viz Engine is given more processing power. It allows Viz Engine to power the workflow quickly and effectively, enabling the overall workflow to manage 4K content with low-latency and high output.

“The Matrox X.mio3 card provides double of everything compared to its predecessor X.mio2 — double the bandwidth, double the memory and double the processing power,” said Gerhard Lang, chief engineering officer, Vizrt. “To put this in perspective, we can now do the same effects with 3G signals that we were previously able to do in 1080i. The card allows us to produce 4K fill and key signals from one card in all known formats. The X.mio3 allows us to use Viz Engine as a downstream keyer for 4K as well with the failover features known from HD workflows.”

“From ingest to playout, Vizrt is simplifying Ultra-HD and 4K production for news, sports, weather and promotions,” said Alberto Cieri, senior director of sales and marketing, Matrox. "Their choice of the Matrox X.mio3 cards validates our decision to pack everything needed for full multi-channel 4K broadcast solutions into high-density cards at an affordable price point.”

Matrox X.mio3 FH is a half-length PCIe card that offers up to 12 reconfigurable I/Os, from SD to 4K, along with support for AES/EBU, LTC and GPIO. All inputs have built-in frame synchronizers to generate clean SDI signals for any environment. Multi-channel hardware processing accelerates compute-intensive operations including motion-adaptive de-interlacing, up/down/cross scaling and mixing/compositing for all resolutions. Along with comprehensive Matrox DSX SDKs for Windows® or Linux® and unlimited Matrox applications engineering support, the card provides the I/O flexibility OEMs need to get quickly to market with advanced channel-in-a-box systems, video servers, broadcast graphics systems, encoders, transcoders, multiviewers, switchers and other digital media equipment.

The Matrox DSX SDKs offer a common API across all Matrox DSX Developer Products providing a full set of powerful tools including versatile file reading/writing, memory management, streaming synchronization, and a large selection of software codecs and effects. A prototyping tool provides a graphical representation of all hardware components so developers can simulate and test their use cases within minutes, before writing a single line of code.

The new 4K-enabled workflow will be showcased at the 2015 NAB Show (Las Vegas, April 13–16) in the Vizrt booth SL2417. Matrox products will be demonstrated in booth SL5817. Developers may obtain more information about the Matrox DSX Developer Products by e-mailing video_oem.info@matrox.com.

About Vizrt
Vizrt provides real-time 3D graphics, studio automation, sports analysis and asset management tools for the media and entertainment industry. This includes interactive and virtual solutions, animations, maps, weather, video editing, compositing, and playout tools. Vizrt has customers in more than 100 countries worldwide including CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, BSkyB, Al Jazeera, NDR, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK and the list keeps growing. Vizrt has nearly 600 employees and operates in 40 offices worldwide. Vizrt is a privately owned company by Nordic Capital Fund VIII. For more information, visit www.vizrt.com.

About Matrox Video
Matrox Video is a technology and market leader in the field of 4K, HD and SD digital video hardware and software for accelerated H.264 encoding, realtime editing, audio/video input/output, streaming, A/V signal conversion, capture/playout servers, channel-in-a-box systems and CGs. Matrox's Emmy award-winning technology powers a full range of multi-screen content creation and delivery platforms used by broadcasters, telcos, cable operators, post-production facilities, live event producers, videographers and A/V professionals worldwide. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada. For more information, visit www.matrox.com/video.

About New Magic Australia Pty Ltd (Australian and New Zealand Matrox Video Products master distributor)
New Magic Australia Pty Ltd is a recognised leader in the distribution and marketing of multimedia hardware and software, representing a carefully selected range of innovative, leading manufacturers and catering for both the professional and consumer markets. New Magic Australia established in 1993 is the Australian distributor of Blackmagic Design, Convergent Design, Cubix, Hauppauge Computer Works Inc, Cubix, Matrox Video Products and Sony Creative Software products. www.newmagic.com.au

Matrox and Matrox product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Matrox Electronic Systems, Ltd. and/or Matrox Graphics Inc. in Canada and/or other countries. All other company and product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of their respective owners.