Datasheet

iTX
4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility &
Advanced Workflow Automation

Used for smaller application (eg. powerpoint presentation)

iTX integrated playout offers outstanding future readiness with full IP/SDI format
flexibility, as well as 4K/HD/SD multiresolution support and exceptional scalability.
It also delivers advanced, end-to-end workflow tools for a higher level of process
automation.
iTX from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, combines all 4K/HD/SD Multi-resolution Support
the playout capabilities above with a proven track
iTX also provides a natural transition to 4K/UHD
record, delivering more than 17.5 million hours of
content playout for more engaging television. This is
broadcast television each year. These channels
delivered directly from the iTX Appliance 2 platform,
range from national broadcasters and global brands
using square division quad-split or 2-sample
Updated for iTX software version 2.9. to local stations, and they carry many of the biggest
interleave over SDI I/O for outstanding 4K picture
live events on television. With iTX, broadcasters are
quality.
assured that commercial revenues are protected,
while the costs of operation are minimized. Exceptional Scalability
Lower OPEX with Workflow The iTX system offers exceptional infrastructure
Automation scalability, with proven support for facilities with
more than 250 channels. This scalability stems from
OPEX reduction has always been a core strength a higher level of functional integration within the
of iTX, with major broadcasters realizing a real- Appliance 2 platform, which streamlines the playout
world 20 percent saving through a higher level of chain and results in fewer devices overall.
workflow unification and automation. Recent iTX
enhancements have included strengthened file Fully Featured Captioning/Subtitling
ingest, automated quality control and transcoding The Softel captioning/subtitling option extends
integration, which have all extended the level of iTX’s functional integration further, and represents
workflow automation. the first time a premium subtitle engine has been
IP/SDI Format Flexibility incorporated within an integrated playout system. It
delivers up to 20 languages per channel, including
iTX’s IP/SDI format flexibility makes it ideal for the major worldwide languages.
broadcasters who are aiming to migrate to IP-based
playout. It offers SMPTE ST 2022-2 MPEG-2 and
H.264 compressed IP inputs/outputs, as well as
SDI I/O. Version 2.9 introduces SMPTE ST 2022-6
input to support IP production systems. This flexible
configuration means there’s no need to change
playout hardware as formats evolve.

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation
KEY FEATURES

Unified, end-to-end workflow from ingest to playout Automated ingest, quality control & transcoding
• The iTX workflow spans ingest, quality control, content management, • iTX Delivery Manager supports a wide number of asset delivery
archiving, traffic interface, audio/video processing, graphics/subtitling, partners for automating the ingest of media and metadata, including
transmission control, transcoding and monitoring PathFire, PitchBlue and CatchBLUE for file delivery
iTX broadcast engine delivers greater scalability, lower cost of • Automated quality control via Interra Baton file-based QC
ownership • Extended transcoding with Telestream Vantage enables content to be
• The iTX broadcast engine integrates all core playout functions (source automatically transcoded
selection/mixing, file playout, up/downconversion, ARC, audio Advanced real-time graphics
processing & up/down mixing, graphics, subtitling/captioning, Nielsen • Real-time rendering using Vertigo XG graphics processor
watermarking and automation) • Powerful, HD/SD character generator allows the playout of virtually
• The iTX broadcast engine’s dual channel capability delivers more unlimited layers of animated and dynamically updated text
streamlined, high performance HD/SD simulcast with fully independent Integrated, playlist-aware monitoring
processing of both outputs, including independent graphics • Integration with iControl Playout monitoring and Kaleido multiviewers
Flexible migration path to IP enables better anticipation of potential transmission errors by opera-
• iTX is ideally suited to broadcasters who are aiming to migrate to IP, tors, as well as faster fault finding
with its support for SMPTE ST 2022-2 MPEG-2 and H.264 compressed • Publishing of real-time playlist data to the multiviewer, including now/
IP outputs plus simultaneous SDI playout next countdown information and missing media alerts
• iTX can mix IP (both SMPTE ST 2022-2 and 2022-6) and HD-SDI live Automated VOD asset preparation and publishing
inputs, using back-to-back IP and SDI clips. This allows an easy intro- • iTX On-Demand option reduces VOD preparation time for pre-recorded
duction of IP feeds into a basebase oriented system and live content and enables new revenue streams.
• Alternatively, iTX can be used in a pure IP environment
Enterprise-level resilience & redundancy
4K/HD/SD multiformat performance • Fault-tolerant framework with redundant playout configuration
• iTX broadcast engine offers outstanding 4K playout picture quality • Each output channel contains a local media cache, plus an automation
using square division quad-split or 2-sample interleave (configurable at engine that holds the playlist for that channel. This architecture allows
channel level; one input, one output) playout to run standalone in the event of the iTX Framework becoming
• Audio playback using PCM, Dolby Digital (5.1) or Dolby Digital Plus (7.1) unavailable, until the local schedule and content cache have been
Advanced subtitling/captioning exhausted
• Fully featured integrated Softel subtitling/captioning with support for up • Optional multisite disaster recovery
to 20 languages per channel, including major worldwide languages Global support
• Supports the import of subtitle files from third-party subtitling vendors, • Peace-of-mind from an enterprise level software with sophisticated
including Screen, Cavena and EBU upgrade management and version control plus detailed system health
• Output of World Standard Teletext, OP42, OP47, EIA-608/EIA-708 monitoring
closed captions Open (burnt-in, 2 languages) and DVB/teletext subtitles • Wide range of Grass Valley services for project management, training
within an IP stream and 24/7 technical support
Seamless handling of dynamic schedules & live content
• iTX manages highly dynamic schedules and late arriving media by
supporting multiple video format playbacks without the need to
transcode
• File wrapper support for popular formats, including IMX, XDCAM HD,
AVC-Intra 100, QuickTime, MXF, GXF, DNxHD and XAVC
• Responsive transmission control of live content, using GUI or a
traditional master control panel. The GUI simplifies last minute schedule
changes with instant recalculation of schedules
• Internal secondary record enables live events to be captured, with or
without graphics, removing the need for additional record ports

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Play IP and SDI Back-to-Back

The iTX broadcast engine supports compressed IP I/O, using SMPTE The IP outputs of iTX comprise fully composed MPEG transport streams.
ST 2022-2 MPEG-2 and H.264, as well as SDI I/O. This means that iTX The entire set of program elements, including video, multichannel audio,
can play out both IP and SDI simultaneously, which is valuable in mixed captions and the full complement of signal metadata are encoded and
environments. iTX can also mix IP (SMPTE ST 2022-2 and 2022-6) output by iTX as a complete multiplex and fully-compliant DVB table
and HD-SDI live inputs, using back-to-back IP and SDI clips, for easy structure. For convenience in network management, IP streams from iTX
introduction of IP feeds into a baseband-oriented facility. are accessible as multicast or unicast streams in UDP or RTP.
The broadcast engine’s IP outputs support MPEG-2 and H.264 bitrates
from 3 Mb/s to 50 Mb/s, so that OTT platforms can be fed without separate
encoders. Facilities can also run IP-only channels with the output broadcast
as a Source Specific Multicast directly to their choice of CDN (content
delivery network).

Broadcast Engine
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HD EN HD
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Files Files

iTX allows effortless mixing of IP and HD-SDI inputs, using back-to-back IP and SDI clips.

4K/UHD Integrated Playout for Ultimate Picture Quality

When used for 4K/UHD playout, iTX supports both square division quad-
split or 2-sample interleave over SDI I/O with the Appliance 2 platform; this
provides a single 4K input and a single 4K output per channel.
Audio playback is performed with PCM, Dolby Digital (5.1) or Dolby Digital
Plus (7.1). When handling 4K workflows, the iTX Desktop offers media
browsing of proxy media.
Multilayer, pre-rendered 4K graphics can be inserted by the iTX broadcast
engine, and these are created using the same graphics preparation
workflows as HD/SD.

iTX offers outstanding 4K/UHD playout picture quality.

Picture courtesy: Blender Foundation.

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Fast Service Launches

The iTX system architecture has been designed from the outset to offer
rapid linear scaling for fast service launches from a single channel to
hundreds of channels.
With iTX, broadcasters are able to launch new services, or add more
functionality, within hours using software-based licensing and a centralized
installer.

iTX offers rapid, linear scaling for fast service launches.

Integrated, Fully Featured Subtitling/Captioning

The integrated Softel subtitling/captioning option for iTX can deliver
up to 20 languages per channel, with support for non-Latin character
sets. Languages supported include Arabic and Chinese (Simplified and
Traditional).
Softel subtitling provides both automated time-of-air file replay and live
caption input, and offers seamless integration with caption files from other
third-party vendors, including Screen, Cavena and EBU, for streamlined
subtitling/caption insertion workflows.
iTX outputs World Standard Teletext, OP42, OP47, EIA 608 / EIA708 closed
captions, Open (burnt-in, 2 languages), DVB/teletext and subtitles within an
IP stream. High quality subtitling characters are output, with character and
space kerning, Edging, Drop Shadow, Glyph combining, Vertical Rendering
and Boxing.

Softel subtitling/captioning represents the first time a premium subtitle engine has been incorpo-
rated within integrated playout.

Seamless Handling of Dynamic Schedules & Live

Content
Another strength of iTX is that it is designed for handling the most complex
television, with live content and highly dynamic schedules. There are many
factors behind this capability, including support for multiple video format
playbacks, which avoids the need to transcode and simplifies and speeds
the playout chain.
There is also a choice of highly responsive control surfaces that are designed
for live operation. The range includes a GUI panel and a traditional master
control panel, which can be operated in automated, automated-assist or
manual operation modes.
The iTX Desktop GUI provides easy access to key transmission functions,
and simplifies last minute schedule changes with instant recalculation of
schedules.

Familiar manual control panel for rapid intervention.

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Lower OPEX with integral workflow automation and asset management

iTX offers much more than playout automation; it offers a unified, end-to-end workflow which spans
ingest, traffic interface, asset management, archiving and graphics, as well as transmission control and
monitoring. Recent iTX enhancements have included strengthened file ingest, automated quality control
and transcoding integration, which have all further extended the level of workflow automation.

Automated File Ingest Saves Time

The number of file delivery partners has recently been expanded for iTX, iTX can automatically segment an entire show into the iTX playlist, using
and now includes Pathfire, Pitch Blue and CatchBLUE for incoming files, episode metadata. The net effect of this powerful ingest automation is the
as well as Oracle DIVA, Masstech and SGL for archival storage. iTX’s highly elimination of many of the most time-consuming and repetitive manual
automated file ingest process involves iTX Delivery Manager monitoring tasks. This saves operating costs significantly, and also improves accuracy
content appearing from the third-party file delivery systems. The iTX system and quality by avoiding error-prone, manual activities.
offers fast processing of incoming files, and it proactively looks up new
content based on playlist needs to feed playout.

iTX Content Store

iTX supports an expanded range of file delivery partners for automated ingest and archiving.

Automated QC and Transcoding

iTX supports the Baton quality control system from Interra Systems, offering
automated QC according to the media format, with triggering by media
rules driven by iTX Delivery Manager. A QC report is stored with every iTX
asset, and can be displayed within the iTX GUI. Again, the net effect is
faster, more consistent and lower cost ingest processes.
A further level of iTX workflow automation is provided by integration with
Telestream’s Vantage transcoder. As media files undergo transcoding,
manipulation and formatting in Vantage, iTX can recover all relevant
metadata to enrich and accurately synchronize the media clip descriptors
— allowing last-minute changes to a playlist to be performed, while ensuring
the highest level of performance and accuracy on channel playout.

File QC report is accessible directly from iTX asset management.

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

The most complete, dual channel integrated playout

iTX broadcast engine delivers the most complete, dual channel playout, using real-time video, audio and
metadata processing to provide unprecedented reliability and frame accuracy.
Play Out Mixed Formats and Resolutions on the Same Advanced Audio Processing
Channel The iTX broadcast engine can perform 16 channel, multilingual embedded
The broadcast engine can mix video formats on the same channel to audio processing, with flexible channel shuffling. Advanced audio
simplify highly dynamic playout environments; there is no transcoding, so processing extends the audio functionality, allowing a true PCM stereo
you get to air faster. The channels can freely mix IMX, XDCAM HD, AVC- upmix to 5.1/7.1 utilizing a Grass Valley algorithm, along with true mono-
Intra 100, QuickTime, MXF, GXF, DNxHD and XAVC in the same playlist, to-stereo audio conversion.
performing up/downconversion as required for SD, HD and even 4K/UHD The output servers can also perform Dolby E, Dolby Digital and Dolby
content. The ability to mix HD and SD content within a single playlist is a Digital Plus decoding and encoding across multiple streams.
big advantage for facilities wanting to incorporate legacy content. The iTX
broadcast engine can also mix different resolution files and live sources on
the same channel.

Highly Flexible Ancillary Data Processing

The iTX broadcast engine can insert a wide range of ancillary data, including
closed captioning and subtitles, as well as V-Chip information, AFD data
and Dolby metadata (AC-3 and Dolby E), including the Dialnorm and Line/
RF Mode.
The advanced integrated Softel subtitling/captioning supports up to 20
languages per channel, and operates with automated time-of-air file replay
Real-time Video Processing and Graphics
and live caption input. The real-time processing can also perform SCTE-
Video processing capabilities include up/downconversion and custom 104 program trigger extraction and insertion for controlling downstream
aspect ratio conversion with AFD control. The iTX Output Server can also advertising insertion.
output the most advanced promotional and channel branding graphics,
The integration of Nielsen watermarking within iTX offers complete security
using either a pre-rendered After Effects workflow or a dynamic graphics
in asset tracking and ratings compliance, without the need for additional
workflow. The tight integration of the graphics preparation tools with the
dedicated hardware.
playout automation simplifies the preparation of schedule awareness
graphics, and also allows late schedule changes to be fully addressed.
The iTX Output Server offers a wide mix of graphics options, ranging from
an entry level logo generator to the most advanced graphics processing,
using the proven Vertigo XG graphics processor.
For the North American market, EAS emergency alert graphics and audio
messages are fully integrated, using the Trilithic EASyCAST system.

HD 16:9
Automation
Audio
Up/down/ Graphics Captions/ VANC/ Nielsen/
processing
ARC & EAS Subtitles SCTE Watermark
& up/down
Input
Selection/
Mixer
Audio
Up/down/ Graphics Captions/ VANC/ Nielsen/
processing
ARC & EAS Subtitles SCTE Watermark
& up/down

Video
Server SD 4:3

The independent, dual-channel processing of the iTX broadcast engine makes it ideal for HD/SD simulcast.

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Scalable, robust playout architecture

The iTX system represents a robust yet simplified playout architecture, which allows rapid, linear expansion
for fast service launches.
Framework Services Ingest
At the heart of the system are the Framework Servers, which hold the core To feed content into the system, there are ingest channels for SDI, and
system database. Framework Services reside on a three-server triplet an iTX Delivery Manager for accepting files from a wide range of delivery
(Principal-Witness-Mirror) for redundancy. partners, including the PathFire, PitchBlue and CatchBLUE file delivery
systems, and archive systems from MassTech, SGL and Front Porch.
The addition of a “witness” instance of the database on a third server
completes the Microsoft high availability model, and provides automated The Delivery Manager provides content transfer and cache management
failover of the database in the event of a hardware or software failure. The services, as well as handling registration in the iTX Content Store of pre-
Framework Services are shared across multiple ingest and output channels, encoded content files. iTX supports the use of a range of network attached
and handle content registration, traffic interface and the management of storage systems (NAS) as well as broadcast hierarchical storage management
transmission schedules, content metadata and storage. systems (HSM). Additionally, every iTX system comes with asset management
as standard enabling facilities to have complete control of their media at all
Network times.
iTX operates on a standard, gigabit Ethernet (1000 Base-T) local area
network (LAN), which connects servers, content storage, client workstations Content Store
and external systems such as traffic and scheduling. iTX caches content from the central Content Store to playout to provide
content redundancy. In the event of a failure in the Content Store, playout
iTX is multidomain capable, allowing geographically separated facilities to
will continue from the local content cache.
share content and tasks. System security ensures that access rights can
be assigned to specific users and groups, and Virtual Media Silos can be The use of a high availability NAS is recommended for the central Content
created to ensure there is no crossover between different channels, content Store, as this allows iTX to continue the intake and caching of new content,
or customers. even in the event of a failure of some components in the storage solution.

Client Workstation Playout

An iTX Client Workstation is a standard PC providing control, monitoring Each broadcast engine contains a local media cache plus an automation
and configuration interfaces for the iTX system. The operator can not only engine that holds the playlist for that channel. This architecture allows the
manage real-time playout but also browse all the media on the system, broadcast engine to run stand alone in the event of the iTX Framework
enabling search, preparation, segmentation and preview without needing becoming unavailable, until the local schedule and content cache have been
to tie up playout servers or ports. exhausted.
Optionally for smaller facilities, an iTX Client can be configured to perform
multiple roles like ingest, preparation and playout — all at a single position.

Third-Party Traffic System iTX Clients

Standard Ethernet Network (LAN)

Ingest Framework Playout

Router SDI

Router SDI

Router SDI

Delivery Manager Shared Content Storage

Incoming
Files
Archive Manager
or HSM
Digital Archive

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Ingest: operator interface

iTX integrated playout provides components for a range of ingest workflows. These include scheduled and
on-demand feed recording from satellite or live sources, manual encoding at the desktop, unscheduled
ad-hoc tape ingest, including batch recordings, support for digital file delivery and clip preparation for all
modes of ingest. Basic acquisition components are included as standard, while advanced modes of ingest
such as scheduled feed recording are available as add-on components.

Manual ingest Ingest manager

Ad-Hoc Tape Ingest and Clip Preparation • Provides dynamic assignment of ingest services resources, along with
the ability to carry out simultaneous recordings to multiple ingest servers
• The iTX Desktop provides intuitive control of ad-hoc tape ingest and clip
preparation using a LAN connection • With a master recording schedule, multiple users can view resource
allocation and have simultaneous access to record scheduling
• Desktop tools simplify the identification, timing and annotation of video
clips acquired by all methods of acquisition • A list view of all scheduled recordings is provided, as well as an active
timeline view with color highlighting to indicate the status of each
• Desktop components include controls for the viewing and timing of
recording at a glance
recorded clips with frame-accurate in, out and segment markers, as well
as the capture of clip metadata, such as titles, descriptions and content • Unique dual-timeline display shows the status and time allocation of
types both record sources and ingest jobs
• Requested dubs are carried out as a background task, allowing Digital Content File Delivery
additional dub requests and clip preparation work to continue in parallel
• iTX Delivery Manager provides support for file-based delivery, including
• When used with the proxy sub-system, clip preparation can be spot, program and news content delivery services such as PathFire,
performed using low resolution proxy copies of content, allowing PitchBlue and CatchBLUE (delivery) and SGL, Oracle DIVA and
multiple workstations to access and prepare content MassTech (archive)
• By communicating with the delivery services’ edge servers, the Delivery
Scheduled Recording
Manager extracts pre-encoded digital content files and associated
• iTX Ingest Manager is designed to support the demanding operational metadata from content packages, and registers delivered content in the
environments of news and sports iTX database
• A highly-flexible feed ingest system that combines the management of • Content selection from delivered packages can be filtered by site-
scheduled and recurring satellite or live feeds specified rules, or by required content lists, provided by traffic or
program management systems

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iTX 4K/HD/SD Integrated Playout with IP/SDI Flexibility & Advanced Workflow Automation

Advanced system health & playout monitoring

iTX integrated playout offers an array of powerful tools to administer the infrastructure, optimize the health
of the system and monitor on-air performance.

Configurable Alerts
Configurable alert buttons are provided to
indicate potential problems within the system,
such as an empty or low schedules, items which
are not ready, faults on the Appliance 2 platform,
or automation engine failures.
The properties of these buttons can be modified,
Engineering Views
for example, to restrict errors to specific
Engineering Desktop layouts, with a graphic
channels, or to change the audio files associated
representation of the servers in a facility, can
with each alert.
be used for obtaining diagnostics and status
information.
Channel Server indicators allow the status of an
individual Appliance 2 platform to be monitored.
Integration with Kaleido Multiviewers
The health of the services running on the
iTX integrates with Kaleido multiviewers,
hardware is shown graphically, and a context-
enabling alert and playlist data such as now/next
sensitive menu allows certain functions, such as
countdowns to be displayed alongside video
restarting the server applications or capturing log
monitoring.
files, to be carried out remotely.

Logging Service
A central logging service registers all operations
performed by the system and any corresponding
human intervention. This central service can be
monitored in real-time and log snapshots can be
viewed and saved to files. The advanced search
and filter functionality simplifies monitoring Integration with iControl Playout Distribution Control
processes. Users can search for specific log The iTX SNMP Service allows Grass Valley’s The system management console enables
items, and filter the display to show only certain iControl Playout solution to query and monitor remote upgrading of system software, with a
message categories, or messages from a the health of iTX channels. iControl can present batch mode that allows multiple channels to be
particular application, and then perform further alarms from iTX, and provide automatic pop-ups upgraded simultaneously. This makes it possible
searches on the logged data. of iTX health and media management tools. for an entire facility to be upgraded within
minutes.

GVB-1-0077G-EN-DS

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