InterBEE 2024 Booths
Sony will exhibit at Inter BEE 2024 which will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
At the venue, the latest products and solutions aimed at the broadcasting and video production industries and creators will be exhibited under the theme of “Creativity Connected: Connecting Together to the Future of Content Production.”
In addition to introducing the live production solution “Networked Live,” broadcast DX solutions utilizing the cloud production platform “Creators’ Cloud,” and a wide range of imaging products, including some that will be exhibited in Japan for the first time, the exhibit will also introduce the evolution of virtual production, which is increasingly being used as a new method of content production.
Sony at Inter BEE 2024 Exhibitions
On-premise/cloud live production: “Networked Live”
Networked Live is a solution that supports more efficient live production by utilizing production resources scattered across on-premise and cloud in a hybrid manner. In addition to building a system that is not limited by location and transmitting high-quality, low-bitrate, low-latency video, it also enables integrated management of cameras and other equipment connected to the network.
The booth will exhibit the “VideoIPath” media orchestration platform, which manages total workflows; the “NXL-ME80” media edge processor, which supports HEVC compression, which is increasingly being used in video production; the “CBK-RPU7” remote production unit; and the “Virtuoso MI” software-based IP media node (support for HEVC compression is scheduled for the end of November 2024).
The corporate high-speed Internet connection service “NURO Access” will be used for media transmission between corners within the booth and to the cloud.
In addition, Sony will exhibit the software switcher “M2L-X,” which is compatible with virtual private cloud environments, data centers, and integration into COTS * servers (scheduled for January 2025), as well as a demonstration of 5G video transmission that combines the remote production unit “CBK-RPU7” and portable data transmitter “PDT-FP1” with the local 5G service “MOREVE.”
* Commercial Off-The-Shelf. This refers to ready-made products that are not custom-made.
Cloud production platform: “Creators’ Cloud”
Sony’s vaunted Creators’ Cloud is a cloud production platform that enables efficient content creation, sharing, and distribution on the cloud. As digital transformation advances in the broadcasting industry, Sony will introduce the evolution of its proposed cloud material transmission “C3 Portal,” cloud switcher “M2 Live,” cloud media storage “Ci Media Cloud,” and AI analysis service “A2 Production,” as well as exhibiting new workflows that utilize cloud services in accordance with usage scenarios such as news production, sports program production and distribution, and content management.
The news production exhibit will also introduce a new file-based system concept.
“Contents Production Accelerator,” a packaged file-based news production system (reference exhibit)
The company will be exhibiting a reference version of its news production file-based system, “Contents Production Accelerator,” which is scheduled to be available in fiscal year 2025. Conventional systems for broadcasting stations are configured on a customization basis, and have issues with post-delivery updates and maintenance being difficult, as well as a large operational burden.
Contents Production Accelerator is a new file-based news production system that uses a package format. By standardizing the specifications, it is possible to reflect regular version upgrades, making it possible to incorporate the latest innovations and security measures without waiting for system updates.
Additionally, various functional enhancements are planned to improve immediacy and efficiency, such as a web-based material browser function that allows easy previews from outside the company or remote locations, and a time-delay import function that allows materials transferred from the shooting location to be quickly edited.
A wide range of camera products, including some on display for the first time in Japan
In addition to the Cinema Line series, including CineAlta, Sony will be exhibiting a wide range of imaging products, including system cameras, shoulder camcorders, professional monitors, and cameras and lenses such as the α series of digital single-lens cameras.
In addition to the XDCAM memory camcorder “PXW-Z200” being exhibited in Japan for the first time, the NXCAM camcorder “HXR-NX800,” the 17-inch 4K LCD master monitor “BVM-HX1710N,” and the multi-purpose camera “HDC-P50A,” the exhibit will also feature the latest PTZ auto-framing camera “BRC-AM7,” which is equipped with industry-leading AI auto-framing functionality.
XDCAM memory camcorder “PXW-Z200”, NXCAM camcorder “HXR-NX800” (first exhibit in Japan)
The XDCAM memory camcorder “PXW-Z200,” capable of recording 4K 120p, and the NXCAM camcorder “HXR-NX800” will be exhibited for the first time in Japan.
Both cameras are equipped with AI-based subject recognition and autofocus, supporting high-precision autofocus shooting. With a 20x optical zoom lens and assignable ring buttons, they offer high mobility, operability, and expandability, enabling high-quality shooting and live streaming via network connection with just one camera (lens ring assignment is scheduled to be supported from June 2025 onwards).
17-inch 4K LCD master monitor “BVM-HX1710N” (first exhibit in Japan)
The 17-inch 4K LCD master monitor “BVM-HX1710N” equipped with TRIMASTER HX will be exhibited for the first time in Japan. Based on the technology developed for the master monitor “BVM-HX3110,” this monitor achieves the deep blacks and accurate color reproduction that are the characteristics of the BVM series monitors, as well as a high dynamic range, wide viewing angle, peak brightness of 3,000cd/m2, and high-speed video response, and can be installed in a 6U space on an EIA standard 19-inch rack.
This monitor also supports SMPTE ST 2110, which is said to improve convenience when used with “Networked Live.”
Multi-purpose camera “HDC-P50A” (first exhibit in Japan)
The multi-purpose camera “HDC-P50A,” which is equipped with a global shutter function and a 2/3-inch 3-chip 4K image sensor, will be exhibited for the first time in Japan. In addition to supporting IP output in SMPTE ST 2110 on its own, the camera also supports connection to a camera control unit (CCU) and the installation of a variable ND filter unit.
By connecting to the CCU, it can be flexibly operated even in shooting environments where the camera location and the control room are far apart. It can also be used in a variety of shooting scenes, such as aerial photography and crane photography, taking advantage of its small and lightweight body.
Virtual Production
The scope of virtual production is expanding, and it is beginning to be used not only in cinema and commercial shooting, but also in the broadcasting field. At the booth, the company will introduce the latest version of the “Virtual Production Tool Set” (scheduled to be available in winter 2024), which provides more authentic previsualization for the film production industry and broadcasting stations.
The CineAlta camera “BURANO,” Cinema Line camera “FR7,” and multi-format portable cameras “HDC-F5500,” “HDC-5500,” and “HDC-3500” now support a feature that enables users to simulate the camera operation and look of actual shooting in a virtual space in advance.
In addition to supporting camera operation in a virtual space using an iPad, it also supports a live camera sync function that can read changes to settings on VENICE series cameras and lenses and reflect them in the settings of Epic Games’ real-time 3D production tool, Unreal Engine.
Finally at the Sony at Inter BEE 2024 booth, a multi-camera virtual production demonstration will be held using the “VENICE 2” CineAlta camera and “HDC-F5500” system camera.
