SL NEO 5000. Broadcast Graphics

The SL NEO 5000 is a fully automated interactive Character Generators for Live Production and Channel Branding. Maximum number of Programs - 4. At the basis of on-air graphics technology is the playback of multilayer dynamic compositions with text/file/live elements and parametrization of objects with data from external sources.

Models and Specifications in the Product Sheet PDF

Overview of the SL NEO 5000

Main Functions and Workflow Operations

Capture: Full Screen Streams or Fill + Key from Live Sources

Stream Capture from SDI/HDMI, ASI/IP Interfaces: Full Screen Live Sources for Graphics Overlay or PIP Live Sources for separate Graphics Layers;
Stream Capture from SDI/NDI Fill + Key Live Sources with Alpha: used as separate Graphics Layers;
Up to 8x HD 1080i/p 50/60 or 2x UHD 2160p 50/60 Full Screen Capture Ports or Fill + Key Pairs in one SL NEO 5000 Server (depend on model & options).

File Ingest

Manual or Automatic File Content Copying: Full Screen Media Files, Still Graphics (single files and sequences) JPG, BMP. Stills with Alpha: PNG, TGA, TIFF, PSD. Video with Alpha: AVI, MOV.

Graphics Preparation and Playout

Graphics Preparation: Сreate and edit Graphic compositions with titles, video, 2D DVE in Networked Graphics Editor (SL NEO Client Software module).

Different Modes of Graphics Playback and Overlay:

In the production studio: live sources, manual and external control, Fill+Key Outputs for external Keyer;
On the Central Station: working in automatic mode, control from the broadcast automation server, reading data from external sources to visualize text information (weather, news, traffic information), graphics overlay mode on the input video or Fill+Key for external keyer;
On the Regional Station: overlaying graphics on the input video by schedule, in automatic mode, or with manual control.

Playout with File & Live Events (incoming streams from Server Capture Ports) according to internal Schedules or use «Secondary events» with markers in the Main PlayLists of Program Channels on on a separate SL NEO Playout Server (e.g. 2000 Series).

For each Graphics PGM Channel: 8x GR Players and Character Generator plus a Logo Layer.
Up to 8x HD or 2x UHD Graphics PGM Channelsin one Server Platform.
Full Screen or Fill + Key PGM Channels Modes.
Graphics Playback does not require pre-rendering.

Data Exchange (Control, CC, Text Visualization)

From External Systems and Devices:

CII Protocol for SL NEO Graphics Playback Control,
Live Close Captioning Data from FAB and Polistream Systems,
Data from Emergency Alert System (EAS) — National Warning System in the United States,
Data to Text Visualization from External Sources (Weather Stations, RSS, HTTP).

To External Systems and Devices:

GPO Ports,
TSL5/UMD Data for External Multiviewers.

SL NEO Exchange Protocol:

Between SL NEO Software Modules running on the same Server,
Between SL NEO Servers & Workstations (XML-RPC Clients),
Between SL NEO Servers, and External Systems (XML-RPC Clients) which use SL NEO Exchange Protocol.

Media Data & Embedded Ancillary Data Processing

Media Data (AV Streams): up/down/cross convertion (FPS, Color Spaces), Super White/Black Levels, Video Levels Ajust, Frame Sync, Output Loudness Normalization (R-128), Audio Levels Ajust/Normalization, DRC, Audio tracks mapping,
ANC/MPEG2 Data Decoding, Retransmittion: VITC, AFD/WSS, Closed Captions, SCTE-104/SCTE-35/DTMF, DVB/ATSC Subtitles, EPG.

Output Ports

Output Ports: SDI/HDMI, ASI/IP Interfaces. Full Screen PGM Channels Outputs with Overlayed Graphics;
Output Ports: SDI/NDI with Fill + Key PGM Channels Outputs with Alpha;
Up to 8x HD 1080i/p 50/60 or 2x UHD 2160p 50/60 Full Screen Output Ports or Fill + Key Pairs in one SL NEO 5000 Server (depend on model & options).

Fault Tolerance in the Local Network

Redundancy Schemes from N+1 to N+N: hot redundancy: parallel running of half sets, on-line synchronization of all Backup Playlists from Main Server. Automatic Media DB mirroring, copying content from the Main Server to the Backup with tracking of changes in file versions.

Best Performance & Functionality

SL NEO 5000 Performance is provided by two Intel Xeon Gold Server CPU, highly productive DDR4 RAM, and the disk subsystem based on hardware RAID from 8 to 16 Tb (depend on model).
The Wide Functionality is Powered by the SL NEO Media Platform Software.

SL NEO 5000 Server Software Licensing

Only the number of each Function type for Ports and Channels (Capture Ports, Output Ports, Program Channels) and Formats (SD or SD/HD or SD/HD/UHD) are licensed.
Any changing of Capture Port Interface type (SDI/HDMI/IP/ASI) and selecting for Capture Port any IP protocol from the list of supported, will not require additional licenses.
Changing type of Output Port Interface (SDI/HDMI/IP/ASI) within the same category (uncompressed or compressed type), selecting any IP protocol from the list of supported for Output Port, will not require additional licenses.
Increasing the number of Capture Ports, Output Ports or the number of Program Channels, format changes to a higher resolution will invalidate the current license.
To restore license validity, return the number of Ports, Channels and formats to their original values, or purchase an upgraded license that includes payment only for additional Ports, Channels and Format upgrades.

More details

GRAPHICS COMPOSITIONS

Graphic Composition as a DB Clip or File — is a key design element for programs of any format: announcements, TV news, weather forecasts, economic information, music, etc.
In addition to text and video with alpha, compositions can contain 2D, PIP effects, LIVE video from server inputs, audiotrack mixes.
The Server 5000 Series provides automatic parameterization of text objects in compositions by receiving data from external sources (RSS, HTTP, weather sensors, etc.)
Compositions are created and edited using the built-in network Graphics Editor (module of Air Manager and News CUT client applications).

LOGOS

The Logo is an integral element of the design of any TV channel. Logos can be static or animated, with audio tracks.
Source materials for logos are still graphics files, sequences and video with alpha-channel.
Logos may contain parameterized text: time, weather and other information.
To play the logo, each PGM channel runs a single player. The layer with the logo is placed on top of all other graphic layers.
The logos can change automatically during the broadcast day according to the parameters set in the playlists.

TV CLOCKS

Graphic Engine of SL NEO 5000 allows you to visualize the current time in the form of digital or analog clock (full-screen and not full-screen) of arbitrary design, with audio.
It is possible to create collages of digital and analog clocks with animated backgrounds for several time zones, as well as forward and backward counters with date and time.
Visualization of temperature data, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction, radiation background, etc. is implemented by the technology of reading the measurements from Text/Excel files with the required periodicity or directly from weather stations.

AUTOMATED PLAYOUT OF GRAPHICS EVENTS

SL NEO servers allow you to fully automate the generation and graphics playback with «secondary» events and special markers that bind the execution of graphic events to timestamps in the main playlist events.
The playback of graphics events can be implemented using playlists. The structure of graphic playlists is similar to full-screen schedules.
A separate playlist is used for each graphic layer.
Rendering of all objects and animation is performed in real time. The number of layers is limited by the capacity of the processor and is in the order of several dozens.

Functional Diagrams

SL NEO 5000 Series Servers. Software Modules Types and Interconnections

To simplify, the Base Module is not shown

The diagram shows three possible uses for the SL NEO 5000 Server:

А. In a Live production studio, the Server 5000 series plays compositions with graphic files and titles, generates Fill + Key, controlled by the operator through the Air Manager client application.
B. Server overlays the graphic on the incoming signal in internal keying mode. The Program Player «B» module can be controlled from an external automation system or controlled by the operator.
C. In an automated playout system server receives a pair of Fill and Key signals from an external system (e.g. from a sports broadcast graphics).
The Program Player «C» module is controlled from an external automation system, but operator can control a separate Graphics Layer and inserting of external graphics.

PDF Documents

SL NEO Servers and Processors. Models, Specifications & Features

SkyLark Technology Inc. About Company

SkyLark Technology Inc. About the Company 2022

F.A.Q.

How do I connect to a Web Application Server?

The Administrator Control Panel is accessed via a browser at http://server_ip:7701/admin

The settings made are not saved. «Could not save config» error appears

The software cannot save the settings due to permission restrictions. Allow the current user full access to the folder «C:\Program Files (x86)\SL NEO Media Platform» or run the program as Administrator (right-click on the Run as Administrator icon).

What are «Actions» in relation to the SL NEO Platform?

The SL NEO Server Software Modules can exchange tasks to perform certain Actions. The main part of the Action exchange mechanism is the Action Router Module, which provides registration for modules that want to send or receive Actions. Modules interact with the Action Router using the XML-RPC protocol.

What is a Program Channel?

The Program Channel is a service that is responsible for playing clips and graphics on playlists, generating events, receiving and performing actions. Manual control of the program channel is performed through playlists in the Air Manager application. Automated control is possible through the engine of actions.