Lawo has announced an update to its V__matrix platform’s vm_udx application that turns V__matrix C100 software-defined processing blades into up/down/cross converters with up to eight paths of format conversion and, additionally, up to four 3D LUT color space conversion paths. The latest software release, available at lawo.com, includes additional features designed to make conversion workflows more effective.
vm_udx’s web UI allows operators to monitor which video content is currently processed by a given C100 blade, with a new Live Video Preview display allowing users to visualize the video content received by an SDI or IP input, or the output of a processing stage, directly in vm_udx’s web UI. Lawo has also enhanced the +hdr color space 3D LUT conversion engine, with each of the four vm_udx paths now offering tetrahedral interpolation for conversions between a variety of color spaces.
A range of new features also support more flexible audio workflows. A newly designed downmix engine with 2048 mono-equivalent inputs into 256 mono-equivalent summing buses can be freely configured for flexible mono or stereo summing as well as dedicated 5.1 > stereo or 7.1 > stereo downmixing.
In addition, the digital gain range for all audio leveling instances has been extended to support level adjustments between –∞ and +24dB. In addition, vm_udx is able to interface with a MADI environment simply by adding the optional +madi license and communicating with the SDI rear plate connected to the processing blade that hosts the Up/Down/Cross Converter. BNC connectors can be software-switched to MADI in almost any combination.
The new vm_udx release also supports metadata workflows with an advanced ancillary-data handling engine. Able to handle ANC data in 2110-40, 2022-6 and SDI signals simultaneously during the conversion process, users are free to keep, or remove, individual DID/SDID contained in the ANC payload.
The new +tc_gen license generates timecode flavors from PTP or other time sources and provides up to three independent generators. Generated ancillary timecode (ATC) formats, which can be embedded into TX and SDI outputs, include VITC1, VITC2, and LTC. Linear timecode (LTC) can be generated as a digital audio signal.
“With this new release, the vm_udx app boasts advanced audio and ancillary data handling which complements its powerful up/down/cross video feature set,” says Stephan Türkay, Lawo senior product manager media, infrastructure. “The software-defined nature of Lawo’s V__matrix ecosystem inherently means that its feature set can evolve as market requirements change. This flexible approach allows V__matrix users to operate at the cutting edge for many years to come.”
