Guides & Articles

Your AV Signal Management Questions, Answered

When you watched our webinar How to Easily Manage your AV Network with Maximum Flexibility, you saw firsthand how Matrox ConvertIP transmitters/receivers can help overcome the limitations of complex, expensive, and proprietary IP platforms. You had questions, and our specialists wanted to give you the answers. Read on to get the answers you’re looking for, or select a question from the list below to go directly to the response. 

Do SDI signals sent over IP need to be converted back to SDI at output? 

No, they do not. The ConvertIP transmitter’s signal type (SDI, HDMI, and HDBaseT™) are independent of the ConvertIP receiver’s signal type. One of the main reasons for this is because the entire ConvertIP Series was built on open standards. Keep in mind that the signal timings and resolution need to be supported by each of the signal types as well. For example, SDI may not have the same resolution and timing support as HDMI, but where the timings they support do intersect, the conversion from one to the other, or to/from HDBaseT is automatic. 

Does IPMX manage audio, video, and ancillary data separately like SMPTE ST 2110?

Yes, it does. Three channels of content can be streamed separately or grouped together.  

As IPMX technical recommendations and new proposed standards are all based on existing ST 2110 ratified standards, they focus heavily on user experience. Some options included in ST 2110 that ease set up and interoperability experiences between product types and brands are also foundational in IPMX. IPMX profiles and still emerging, which helps to assure that IPMX products of the same profile can be connected to one another out-of-the-box, and be capable of delivering a baseline interoperability experience instantly.

Must an IPMX stream be compressed? Can an ST 2110 stream be compressed? 

One of the key features of open standards like IPMX is the support both popular and necessary workflows. Both ST 2110 and IPMX have already ratified uncompressed, higher bitrate and JPEG-XS lower bitrate streaming for video workflows. JPEG-XS is popular in 4:2:2 workflows. It can also be used with PC graphics (desktop) content in 4:4:4 at approximately 2.5 Gbps for an optimal viewing experience. Additional video workflows are being added to IPMX as well with support for desktop content in 4:4:4 at sub 1 Gbps, which is a very popular bit rate target in enterprise AV/IT infrastructure for sub-frame latency workflows.

ConvertIP products support ST 2110 and IPMX uncompressed, JPEG-XS compressed, and a 1G Pro AV-friendly compressed format. 

Can you provide more information about user rights management with the media routing application? 

The ConductIP media routing application supports three operator levels: Administrator, Super Operator, and Operator. The Administrator has complete control over all accounts and can assign Operator/Super Operator rights for room and panel views and reset passwords and administer network parameters. Super Operators can also assign rights to Operators, make changes to rooms, and add and remove devices in rooms and panels, but cannot change passwords or administer network parameters. Operators can operate within their assigned rooms/panels by making switches and changing routing amongst the units/devices located there. 

Can you dual stream across primary and backup networks simultaneously? 

Yes. When in redundancy mode, both the primary network stream and secondary redundant stream are fully operational. This means that if the primary network goes down or loses a packet(s), the secondary network will take over and apply the loss. In this way, no signal, packets, or content will be lost, and zero stream disruption will occur. This feature uses the ST 2022-7 protocol. 

Does ConvertIP support any HDR formats?  

There are several types of potential HDR workflows ConvertIP can support using SDI and/or HDMI. ConvertIP can convert an SDI HDR source to ST 2110 while preserving the HDR in the ST 2110 signal. ConvertIP will also be able to convert ST 2110 HDR sources to HDMI or SDI while preserving the HDR content to be displayed on an HDMI or SDI monitor, respectively. 

Can a ConvertIP unit support multiple outputs, (for example, a single GPU output displayed across a multi-screen video wall)? Or, should I just use a Matrox QuadHead2Go for this type of application? 

ConvertIP has a single output, so it can only drive one display device. That single device could be a single display or a connection to a product like the Matrox QuadHead2Go.This would allow the source to be displayed across four displays in a 2x2 configuration. 

ST 2110 supports several compressed and uncompressed audio standards. How does ConvertIP support audio?  

ConvertIP does not include and compression or decompression engines. At the time of launch, uncompressed audio will be supported. This includes eight channels of audio supported on HDMI and 16 channels on SDI. Contact us to find out more about support for Dolby E audio transport. 

What are the most common applications for ConvertIP? 

ConvertIP makes an excellent ST 2110 signal monitoring device when monitoring on SDI or HDMI displays in broadcast and media applications. Applications in which lossless content and zero (or near zero) latency are high fit the ConvertIP and ConductIP products well. Many of these applications are found in a range of environments – live events, stadiums and arenas, control rooms, medical, bars and restaurants, military, process and industrial control, education, and healthcare. 

In medical environments, for example, the ConvertIP Series can be used for a range of applications, including theaters, labs, and control rooms. With ConvertIP, medical environments can get the most out of their existing installations in order to provide state-of-the-art simulation and training, collaboration, monitoring, and more.