PANASONIC INTRODUCES KAIROS, THE FUTURE OF LIVE VIDEO PRODUCTION

Bracknell, UK, 6th May 2020 – Panasonic today announced KAIROS, a next generation live production platform that enables incredible productivity. This new IT/IP video processing platform offers an open architecture system for live video switching with complete input and output flexibility, resolution and format independence, maximum CPU/GPU processor utilization and virtually unlimited ME scalability.

As a native IP, ST 2110 system, KAIROS supports transitions to live IP workflows and can eliminate dedicated hardware constraints. This COTS-based system creates new production opportunities involving a mosaic of IT ecosystems with a variety of vendor components from several industries.

“KAIROS is introduced as the content creation industry transitions to live IP workflows, requiring broadcast and event producers to think about how they will future-proof their productions and facilities,” said Guilhem Krier, Panasonic’s Head of New Business & Market Development for MEBD & DSC Business Units. “With an ever-growing set of tools and hardware, producers need a comprehensive solution for multiple applications to break free of the boundaries of traditional hardware. As an IT/IP platform based on an open software architecture, KAIROS takes the various components of a broadcast program and virtualises them, so productions are flexible, dynamic and powerful.”

For television studios, KAIROS seamlessly integrates into a facility’s ST 2110 infrastructure without requiring additional IP gateways. For houses of worship, KAIROS handles current screen management and linear broadcast needs but can also accommodate new devices or non-traditional displays. For sports and entertainment venues or event productions, staff with diverse experience and background can employ the user-friendly GUI to deliver engaging content or set-up complex systems with limited training time.

KAIROS delivers creative and operational freedom for efficient production of expressive live video. The platform features standardised IP connectivity in place of one-to-one video inputs and outputs, which enables KAIROS to support baseband and IP signals in any combination. KAIROS also features uncompressed processing of SDI, ST 2110 as well as NDI streams of any resolution such as HD and UHD and in any format, whether 16:9 or non-traditional formats such as 32:9 for an LED backdrop display.

The GPU-based processing platform also allows users to allocate processing power with 100% efficiency to achieve performance matching a far larger scaled hardware system. KAIROS processing latency can be as low as one frame and also supports PTP (Precision Time Protocol) synchronisation.

KAIROS offers a fully customisable, intuitive graphical user interface that enables users to manage unlimited layers and effects with ease. The platform sets a new standard of usability and customisation with “Photoshop-style” intuitive live compositing interface. Since video mix processing are GUI-based, the platform does not limit the number of MEs or keys, like a traditional switcher. Keys, effects and scaling are set within each scene without restriction and the total number video layers are only dependent upon the GPU capacity.

KAIROS system centers around the Kairos Core, a main frame, which will handle all video processing. Version 1 main frame will manage video I/O through a Deltacast gateway card and/or a Mellanox 100 GbE NIC (Network Interface Card) connection to COTS IP devices and SDI and HDMI gateways. Control will all be managed on devices operating over a separate Gbit Ethernet including Kairos Creator, GUI software for set up and software-based control panel and Kairos Control, Panasonic’s premium quality 2ME style hardware control panel.

More Kairos Creator or Kairos Control sites can be added to the network wherever an operator, engineer or TD needs to be. Additional network hardware and an I/O expansion licence can grow the number of sources and screens. Additional compatibility and features will be available through additional licence keys, and adding additional main frame will create the opportunity to scale the system up to most any organisations’ requirements. KAIROS will start shipping in third quarter 2020, and the minimum configuration will be available for about €30,000, bringing the future of live production closer than one might expect.

Panasonic also announced it has established a KAIROS Alliance Partners program. which includes IP COTS hardware manufacturers and leading vendors of graphics, automation, and media servers.  For the KAIROS platform linking with other vendor’s components is important, as KAIROS utilies a variety of IT ecosystems based on COTS technology and easily expands functions and links to external devices by adding application software.