XTV Suite
TV Automation Suite
XTV Suite is a professional set of software for TV Broadcast Automation which manages Video Playout, Capture, Trimming, Scheduling and CG. Granting automatic and unattended efficiency 24×7, XTV is the perfect tool for TV stations, Satellite Channels, Cable TV, News Room, Web TV, CCTV. Corporate TV, hotel pay TV channels, museums info channels and video wall display can also use it and take advantage of its user-friendly interface. XTV Channel In A Box (CIAB) architecture guarantees a linear scalability of your TV Playout facility.
XTV Suite supports SDI (HD, 4K, 8K), IP I/O such as NDI, SMPTE 2022 & SMPTE 2110 (with specific video cards), UDP, RTMP, HLS, RTSP and more. Now also ready for Cloud with the latest XTV Cloud release!
General
- All in one broadcast 4K – 2K – HD – SD playout
- Complete workflow management tools: scheduling, trimming, graphic composer
- Real-time capture from SDI-NDI-IP
- Multiple codec playout in the same playlist with resolution and frame rate automatic adaption
- Multiple format playout, automatic up/down scaling and aspect ratio adjustment (16/9, 4/3, etc…)
- File sharing on LAN architecture
- Direct file playout from NLE (no transcoding)
- Up to 16 audio channels management
- Simultaneous NDI output
- Direct streaming output transport stream MPEG2 and H.264 codec, or RTMP
- Automatic management of time during playout (delay/ahead) with filler
- Live source full handling inside the playlist control of VTR, Switcher, GPI to Cart Machine
- Multichannel and high availability configurations
- Hot Key feature for instant videos playout
- Graphic overlay: logos, clocks, tickers, animations
- High quality squeezeback with animated background
- Subtitles in overlay and Closed Caption
- Clip trimming and Metadata for advertisement graphic contents
- Support of SCTE-104 and SCTE-35 commands for AD Insertion
- Support of EAS (Emergency Alert System)
- User friendly playlist view with explicative colour scheme
- As run and system logs for certification
Versions
- XTV Suite (Software for 1 Playout + 1 Ingest)
- XTV Compact (Software+Hardware for 1 Playout + 1 Ingest)
- XPlayout (Software for 1 Playout)
- XPlayout Compact (Software+Hardware for 1 Playout)
- XIngest (Software for 1 Ingest)
- XIngest Compact (Software+Hardware for 1 Ingest)
Options
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- XMirror
Media compatibility and multiformat benefits
XTV plays out any kind of media in any resolution: DV, HDV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-1, H.264, QuickTime, MXF, XDCAM, PRORES, DNXHD, GXF, LXF, etc. XTV allows to play and mix any media format according to broadcaster’s production workflow and pros and cons of each AV codec.
XTV is compatible with the video cards from these manufacturers: Aja, Blackmagic, Bluefish4444, DekTec, Deltacast, Magewell, Stream Labs, Yuan
Dynamic Playlist: Real time playlist management without black frames nor freezes. Advanced Scheduler: Unlimited playlist length with automatic clip skipping and cutting when late.
Duration stretching when ahead of time. Sequence loop.
Automatic filler insertion for gap handling.
Log Report: Status and playout logging, with XML export for easy processing and printing.
No Database: Metadata is saved directly into media file, allowing file rename, copying and moving.
IP workflows
Support of IP I/O such as NDI, SMPTE 2022 & SMPTE 2110 (with specific video cards) turns XTV Suite to a game changer. NDI and IP sources are also supported directly on the playlist allowing playout of NDI, UDP, RTP, RTSP, RTMP, HTTP streams and setting parameters specifically, such as aspect ratio correction modes, vertical and horizontal crop to minimize letterbox on air, field dominance inversion, etc.
An internal IP encoder allows sending playout output via UDP to external multiplexers, or via RTMP, HLS, RTSP, IIS Live smooth, or windows media streaming to cloud servers for media distribution on internet. If an Nvidia GTX or better board is installed, GPU accelerated compression allows to use H264 and H265 codecs without affecting the computer’s CPU.
XTV Cloud
The new version of the well-known XTV Suite: specially designed to be installed on physical or Virtual Machines, both at your own data center or at your favorite Cloud Provider’s premises.
XTV Cloud requires a Windows Server Operating System and a hardware configuration with enough performance to act as a Video Server with IP based I/O.
Access to the Playout and Management Applications is achieved using RDP over HTML technology through any web browser on any operating system and device.
User interface is automatically scaled to the device being used and up to three simultaneous users can connect allowing control of the Playout, Media Upload, Trimming and Playlist Management at the same time.
Audio Monitoring and preview is also passed directly through the web browser allowing a seamless user experience.
Final IP output can be configured in many formats including RTMP, SRT, HLS, DASH , etc… and scaled as desired, while SCTE-35 triggers are available in SRT, UDP, HLS embedded in the video stream (not in the manifest file).
Live inputs can be configured to receive IP streams from the studio or outside broadcasts and are displayed on the Playout Multiviewer with on-screen vu meters and audio preview on the web browser.
Among the available formats you’ll find WebRTC: high quality and low latency assured plus the chance to use an AxelTech MXC as an encoder. The popular SRT format can also be used, encoding from a Vmix Software or a hardware box.
Designed to achieve a true universal format compatibility
Multi-channel TV stations and TV networks will enjoy XTV scalable structure and universal file compatibility.
XTV is designed to achieve a full universal format compatibility. XTV ties together all production departments allowing direct playout of DV, HDV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, H.265, QuickTime, AVI, MXF, XDCAM, PRORES, DNXHD, GXF, LXF, etc… in any resolution or frame rate with automatic adaption.
XTV Suite will satisfy those customers looking for second generation CIAB – Channel In A Box and will provide traditional playout deployment reliability and functionalities with the typical CIAB TCO.
SCTE-104 and SCTE-35 support
AD Insertion is a critical step for many video delivery systems and one of the most important considering the income that it should generate.
OTT (Over-The-Top) video delivery on the internet helps getting the best results in advertisement cause it is possible to send customised ads to each viewer. These systems are partially based on the AD Insertion workflow which uses the SCTE-104 and SCTE-35 standard commands as triggers.
AxelTech products for playout and encoding (XTV/XPlayout and MultiCrossConverter) support SCTE-104 on SDI outputs and SCTE-35 on IP streaming in Transport stream and SRT, inserting the SCTE metadata in the video signals/streams.
EAS (Emergency Alert System) support
The EAS (Emergency Alert System) interface, when used in conjunction with Xplayout automation software, offers broadcasters increased flexibility in broadcasting emergency alerts received from U.S. government agencies.
The critical EAS data information for on-screen text crawls received via Serial Port and audio received via a stream, are decoded by the XPlayout. The on-screen text alert is then generated, and the corresponding audio stream is delivered on-air via the SDI output (on BMD Decklink only), reducing the audio level of the current program to ensure recognition of the emergency messages.
One of the notable features of the system is the ability to customize the EAS feed for each channel. This includes adding separate logos for each channel, adjusting colors, and modifying the aspect ratio of the emergency alert graphic. These customizations can be made without disrupting the SDI signal, ensuring compatibility with existing broadcast infrastructure.
Furthermore, with the use of XPlayout, a single EAS Appliance can provide tailored EAS alerts to multiple channels simultaneously. This capability enables broadcasters to establish consistent branding across all their channels, creating a cohesive viewer experience during emergency situations.
The EAS interface in conjunction with XPlayout grants broadcasters greater flexibility in airing emergency alerts by allowing customization of on-screen graphics and audio streams, while also ensuring consistent branding across multiple channels using a single EAS Appliance.
Input Sources Multiview
In XPlayout all configured live sources in NDI, SDI and WebRTC can be displayed in a preview window on the main GUI.
The preview window features on screen vu-meters and audio waveform, audio pre listen, fast “take to air” button and a 2×2 multiview option.
XTV Suite includes:
- XPlayout > 24×7 Automation
- XIngest > real-time capture from SDI-NDI-IP
Free tools included in XTV Suite:
- XTrimmer > Metadata injector and quality control
- XScheduler > Offline playlist management
- CGComposer > CG template creator
- XLogsViewer > As run logs viewer
- XInfo > Playlist information display
- XRouter > Routing switcher sharing on LAN
- XRemote > Remote control or routing switcher
- XEmergency > N+1 playout redundancy (needs XPlayout licence)
Additional software modules not included in XTV Suite:
- XMirror > Playlist media cache copier
XMirror
XMirror is a great feature when using a network NAS workflow. XMirror copies all files which populate the playlist from the big NAS onto a small local hard disk. Copies are performed slowly (to avoid saturating LAN bandwidth) and constantly (any modification to the playlist will trigger the copy process). Old files are deleted automatically to preserve disk space. If LAN or NAS fails, files will be played automatically from the local disk. If Local hard disk path is specified as a preferred path, media will always be played locally.
XPlayout
- Supported Video Cards: Blackmagic Design DeckLink and Intensity, AJA Corvid, Bluefish
- Resolutions: SD, HD, 2K, 4K (depending on AV card)
- Simultaneous NDI output
- Simultaneous WebRTC output
- Preview output on SDI
- Up to 16 Audio channels
- Timecode rp188
- Virtual device emulation for use as capture device in 3rd party software
- Split CG layer on separate SDI or NDI in Key and Fill
- SDI or NDI inputs for LIVE sources in AV bypass
- Internal Digital Loudness processor ITU 1770 available on XPlayout to always get the right volume on the output
GUI
- Full screen GUI optimized for 1920×1080 monitor
- Channel Alias
- Preview framerate adjust for RDP optimization
- CC preview
- Drag and Drop of multiple files
- Single clip position duration and position display
- Total playlist duration and remain display
- First frame positioning
- Dual graphical or grid style playlist GUI
- Drag and Drop to GUI
- OSD vu-meters and waveform
- Realtime video preview
- GUI lock with password
- Customer Logo on main screen
- Colors according to file gender or status
Features
- Virtually any video and file format compatibility
- Automatic upscale, downscale, framerate adaptation and aspect ratio correction
- CG overlay
- Key output on SDI with 32 bits QuickTime Anim, QuickTime ProRes 4:4:4:4, bitmap sequence
- As run logs
- Log files
- VGA compatibility mode for old VGA cards
- Separate audio track file management
- Remote control of Blackmagic Design ATEM and NewTek TriCaster
- MarkIn and MarkOut management (triggering)
- Frame accurate loops REC while PLAY (for specific formats) with endless MarkOut
- Realtime Vertical and Horizontal Crop
- Realtime field swap: top bottom progressive
- Realtime aspect ratio correction mode: Letterbox, no letterbox, stretch
- Detailed info on playlist, preview and output status
- AGC – Automatic Gain Control
- Automatic switch on backup path in case of main path failure
- Automatic play from preferred path if same media copy is available
- Status file and thumbnail update of main output
- Autofill from folder when ahead of time or end of playlist
- Automatic load of playlist according to file syntax
- Emergency file with hotkeys, also with numeric keyboard
- Automatic load of last playlist at start-up
- Routing switcher remote control : Blackmagic Design ATEM and Videohub, NewTek TriCaster, any RS232 or RS422 routing switcher or master control
- VCR automation UVW, VP9xxx or and RS422 SONY
- Cart machine control: PROMATIC, DIGICART
- Fast CG for emergencies: clock, text and crawl
- Automatic CG according to file gender or user custom types
- Remote control of external CG
- Integrated master and slave workflow
- From 5 seconds to 1 day delay for SDI/NDI sources as time shifting
- Subtitle rendering for SRT files
- Advanced CG with clocks, tickers, rolls, crawls, bitmap animations, any video file format
- 2D Squeezeback with advanced background graphics layer
- All CG graphics as secondary events
- GPI in/out
- Automatic skip/cut if schedule is late
- Exact time management in cut/wait for end of current event
- CG composing tool for template creation
- Non-intrusive sub clip creation for advertisement insertion
- Crossfade/effects between files
- Traffic scheduling tool
- Quality control tool with SDI/NDI output, metedata insertion and loudness control
- Automatic media copy tool from NAS to local hard disk (optional)
- Automatic music playlist creator (optional)
XIngest
- Supported Video Cards: Blackmagic Design DeckLink and Intensity, AJA Corvid, Bluefish
- Resolutions: SD, HD, 2K, 4K (depending on AV card)
- Simultaneous NDI output
- Simultaneous WebRTC output
- Preview output on SDI
- Up to 16 Audio channels
- Virtual device emulation for use as capture device in 3rd party software
GUI
- Full screen GUI optimized for 1920×1080 monitor
- Channel Alias
- Preview framerate adjust for RDP optimization
- CC preview
- Drag and Drop of multiple files
- Single clip position duration and position display
- Total playlist duration and remain display
- First frame positioning
- Dual graphical or grid style playlist GUI
- Drag and Drop to GUI
- OSD vu-meters and waveform
- Realtime video preview
- GUI lock with password
- Customer Logo on main screen
Features
- Virtually any video and file format compatibility
- Automatic upscale, downscale, framerate adaptation and aspect ratio correction
- CG overlay
- Key output on SDI with 32 bits QuickTime Anim, QuickTime ProRes 4:4:4:4, bitmap sequence
- As run logs
- Log files
- VGA compatibility mode for old VGA cards
- Separate audio track file management
- Remote control of Blackmagic Design ATEM and NewTek TriCaster
- MarkIn and MarkOut management (triggering)
- Frame accurate loops REC while PLAY (for specific formats) with endless MarkOut
- Realtime Vertical and Horizontal Crop
- Realtime field swap: top bottom progressive
- Realtime aspect ratio correction mode: Letterbox, no letterbox, stretch
- Detailed info on playlist, preview and output status
- AGC – Automatic Gain Control
- Automatic switch on backup path in case of main path failure
Video Codecs
- MPEG 4 part 2
- Cisco OpenH264
- Intel Quicksync H264
- Nvidia NVEnc H264
- Nvidia NVEnc H264 lossless
- Nvidia NVEnc H265
- MPEG 1
- MPEG 2
- DV
- DVCPRO
- MJPEG
- FLV Sorenson
- HuffYUV
- WMV 8
- Google VP8
- Apple Prores proxy, LT, 422, HQ
- QuickTime ANIM
- Uncompressed 422 8-bit
- Uncompressed 422 10-bit
- DNxHD
- VC3
- OPEN JPEG2000
- DPX
File format wrappers
- Mpeg Program (MPG)
- Mpeg Transport (TS)
- MPEG4 part 14 (MP4)
- QuickTime (MOV)
- DNxHD (MOV)
- IMX MPEG4
- MXF
- MXF D-10 (IMX)
- GXF
- DV
- FLV
- DVD VOB
- ASF
- iPod Mp4
- AVI
- Matroska (MKV)
- WebM
- Image Sequence (DPX, PNG, JPG)
Audio codecs
- WAV (16, 24, 32, Cinema, signed, floating etc)
- MP2
- MP3
- AC3 (ATSC A/52A)
- AAC
- ALAC
- ADCPM
- VORBIS
Hardware Requirements
Suggested
- I7 8700K CPU
- Windows 10
- 16GB RAM
- NVidia GTX
Minimum
- I3 CPU
- Windows 7
- 4GB RAM
Hardware requirements depend on:
- Video capture resolution
- Video codec format
- Number of simultaneous capture/streaming/proxy
We recommend to check the requirements with your Sales Area Manager before to proceed