Bridge Technologies equips VB440 with JPEG XS compression analysis

In collaboration with compression specialist Intopix, the VB440 provides its full range of measurement metrics and applies them to the new compression standard, ensuring the continued flexibility of the probe in a whole host of broadcast environments.

Designed for the monitoring and analysis of ST-2110 and ST-2022-6 defined high-bitrate broadcast media traffic, the VB440 is a central component of core broadcasting networks, production studios, master control centres and outside broadcast vehicles and venues.

JPEG XS delivers a similar level of compression to that of the JPEG 2000 standard – with lossless compression of between 10 and 15 times the original, but with significantly lower latency – thus allowing for responsive, real-time production of broadcasts.

This makes the standard particularly useful in conditions where there is either limited bandwidth within a production network, or where there is a lack of control over the timing precision that can be achieved between PTP leader and follower clocks in long-haul networks between studio and venue.

Simen Frostad, chairman of Bridge Technologies, said: “The triangular relationship between latency, quality and bitrate means that as production quality starts to increase into the realms of 4K and above there is a corresponding impact on delay and bandwidth requirements. JPEG XS represents a remarkable method for circumventing this; allowing for exceptionally high quality to be delivered in real time without a corresponding need to increase the infrastructure of the network.”

He continued: “Of course, at Bridge we pride ourselves on ensuring that our monitoring solutions remain at the cutting edge of broadcast – from production to contribution to distribution – and so accommodating compression standards such as JPEG XS within our technology is an obvious and important step in future-proofing the VB440 and ensuring that it continues to offer indispensable value to current and future customers.”