Client News

GB Labs will give visitors to NAB Show 2022 a first look at HyperSpace Generation 3, the latest iteration of its rack-based SSD accelerator. Now delivering double the performance and an exponential increase in flexibility compared to the previous version, HyperSpace gives users access to the fastest data rates on the market when combined with GB Labs SPACE and SPACE+.

Workflows have changed significantly since the last version of HyperSpace was developed, with the increased need for flexible and remote working production creating much larger throughput highs and lows through different periods during the day and week. Creative teams are now more geographically diverse and access data through a variety of ways – on-premise as well as via hybrid or cloud-based platforms. This significantly increases random access resulting in ‘peaky’ demand that other central storage fails to deliver, leading to compromised performance and workflows. With HyperSpace Generation 3, GB Labs delivers more robust, faster and smarter algorithms that meet these shifting real-world needs.

HyperSpace Generation 3 delivers a significant uptick in performance compared to previous versions. The combination of this new technology with GB Labs’ SPACE or SPACE+ gives creative teams exceptional performance of up to 9GB/s for simultaneous read and write tasks.

Now shipping, HyperSpace Generation 3 eliminates the need for customers to install additional racks of storage to support ‘peaky’ usage. Instead, this GB Labs solution delivers storage enhancements without increasing the environmental impact in an additional 1RU. HyperSpace Generation 3 can satisfy the needs of even the busiest facility, regardless of whether creative teams are working on site, or accessing data via hybrid or cloud-based workflows. Together with SPACE, HyperSpace Generation 3 delivers the equivalent performance of numerous spinning disk drives and provides a three to ten times reduction in power consumption. HyperSpace Generation 3 provides the best-in-market for not only performance, but also power consumption, low support costs and incredible flexibility.

Dominic Harland, CEO and CTO, GB Labs commented: “Today’s production and post production workflows are becoming increasingly complex, and facilities must manage users on site, working remotely and via cloud platforms. While our customers’ operations have evolved, what has not changed is the need for zero downtime or compromises to the seamless running of a workflow. This means the demands on storage systems have drastically increased; add in the growing demand for collaborative, remote and home working and the strain on shared storage soon mounts up and places a significant load on available bandwidth. HyperSpace Generation 3 not only supercharges the performance of customers’ existing SPACE products – a game-changer, it also provides a more sustainable solution for a true, agile working environment and a flexible future.”

GB Labs will launch HyperSpace Generation 3 at NAB Show 2022, bringing significant enhancements to performance, functionality and environmental impact. The latest version of FastNAS (Generation 2), along with the new Unify Hub data management system, will make their NAB debut and visitors to the show will also have access to a range of GB Labs’ other intelligent storage technology such as Cloak DR, Mosaic and the latest CORE.4. GB Labs will highlight its ability to support on-premise, cloud-based and hybrid workflows.

The new HyperSpace Generation 3 delivers double the performance of the previous version, giving users access to the fastest data rates on the market when combined with GB Labs SPACE and SPACE+. GB Labs has taken its deep understanding of production workflows to create intelligent software and hardware enhancements to the underlying HyperSpace engine. The addition of new, predictive capability brings greater efficiency to fast-paced and often chaotic environments.

Launched earlier this year and making its debut at NAB is FastNAS Generation 2, which now delivers a 1000% boost in capability, with up to 4GBytes/sec real deliverable network performance. The system is up to ten times as quick for mixed tasks compared to the previous generation, delivering massive efficiencies. Today’s workflows typically require an effective multi-tasking storage with fast simultaneous read and write data rates and FastNAS Generation 2 easily meets these needs.

Visitors to the show will be able to see the new Unify Hub platform in action for the first time since its launch in September 2021. Designed for scenarios that combine on-premise and cloud content, this solution is available as a standalone solution or as a software upgrade to existing GB Labs appliances. Unify Hub empowers remote production while maintaining data integrity and security, managing storage – on site or in the cloud, from GB Labs or from other vendors – to create an ultra-productive environment which is simple and fast.

Dominic Harland, CEO and CTO, GB Labs commented: “At GB Labs we are driven by creating solutions that support the real-world needs of our customers, allowing them to focus on the job of creating amazing content. We are excited to show our latest innovations to customers in person at NAB Show after a long hiatus. We are also delighted to be working in close collaboration with technology partners such as Wasabi and Archiware to give customers even better performance across their creative workflows.”

Charisma Group is one of the largest and most successful production companies in the Middle East. Its success meant that it needed to add studio capacity quickly. Last March they chose an end-to-end system from FOR-A. 

Charisma has production capabilities across the Middle East, and works with international broadcasters like NBC Universal, Warner Brothers, ViacomCBS. As the COVID lockdown eased, the company needed to ramp up productions very quickly, and looked to expand. 

It elected to build a new facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cope with the unprecedented demand for entertainment and events. Since the studios had to go live quickly, and the project had limited manpower, Charisma needed a strong, trusted, local technology partner. Charisma brought in Ideas Concepts as a system integrator who has experience in fast-track project delivery. 

“Internally we went through a detailed exercise to explore the best possible options,” said Aiman Al-Ziyoud, CEO of Charisma Group. “The timescale was the most challenging factor we faced. Although we had numerous dealings with all the industry’s top players, we opted for a solution from FOR-A.” 

The production system installed at the new Charisma facility includes the FOR-A HVS-2000 production switcher, MFR-3000 router, FA-9600 multi-purpose audio and video processor, ClassX dual channel graphics generator and InSight production servers. FOR-A also provided monitors and sync pulse generators from LEADER.   

“Through detailed discussions with the Charisma team, we understood their clear vision of what they want to achieve now and how they will expand it in the future, including the prospect of scaling to 4k Ultra HD” said Khalid Sweidan, senior sales manager of FOR-A in the Middle East. “As a result, we were able to realise their vision with a system that guarantees efficiency, reliability, time savings and exceptional quality.” 

FOR-A, Ideas Concept and Charisma engineers worked collaboratively on installation, commissioning and training. The system was completed within 60 days and went live on 1 September 2021. Since then, the studio is in use for as much as 12 hours a day to meet the ever-growing demand for Charisma-produced content from the major broadcasters in the region, including MBC, Saudi Broadcast Authority (SBA), Rotana and Dubai Media Inc. 

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the Charisma team in Saudi Arabia during these challenging times,” said Khalid Sweidan. “They have been extremely co-operative before, during and after the installation. We are all proud of our work on this remarkable production facility, delivered in a very tight timeframe.”

 FOR-A Corporation played a key role in the $15 million dollar A/V upgrade of Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena. The extensive improvements by owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) focus on technological enhancements to the in-arena viewing experience for fans of professional sports teams NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals, as well as college basketball, including the Georgetown Hoyas plus the NCAA, ACC and Big Ten tournaments. 
 
The arena’s video displays combine to deliver almost 20,000 square feet of 4K UHD quality video, greatly contributing to the storytelling process of live sports coverage. The centrepiece of the in-arena fan experience is the new centre-hung scoreboard. It features a 360-degree continuous screen with 4K UHD video across eight distinct display areas. Four two-sided, curved video screens installed in the corners of the arena give even the fans in the upper levels access to stats, out-of-town scores, replays, and live action video. 
 
Behind the scenes, it requires an integrated system of video production switchers, multi-viewers, servers, keyers, recorders, character generators and slow-motion replay systems to create the monumental memories MSE demands for the Capital One Arena. 
 
In planning for their video production upgrades, MSE compared numerous systems for features, price, functionality, and reliability, as well as the customer service vital to ensure seamless entertainment up on the big screens. “I had lengthy experience with FOR-A systems at previous employers,” said Ryan Dillenbeck, Chief Broadcast Engineer at Capital One Arena, “and it’s always been a pleasure working with their reps. They have the answers I need, are quick to respond, and the equipment is always top notch and affordable.” 
 
The centrepiece of the FOR-A system is the HVS-2000 Production Switcher. With its patented MELite technology, the two M/E switcher offers six M/E performance. With a three M/E HVS-3320 panel, the switcher is expandable up to 48 inputs/18 outputs or 40 inputs/22 outputs. “It’s the primary switcher for our centre-hung scoreboard, and has expanded our keying capability and ability to easily send more feeds to more places,” said Dillenbeck. “It also has more source inputs than our previous switcher, and easy macros let us go rapidly from one in-game element to another. The result is more complex productions delivered to more screens within the building, which the fans really enjoy.” 
 
After an exhaustive, one-month testing period, the MSE video production team chose an Envivo Replay System from Variant Systems Group where its functionality, ease of use, and price point sealed the deal. This slow-motion replay system provides up to six SDI inputs and two SDI outputs, for more replay channels and more camera angles. “It was originally connected to our primary control system as a second replay system, but we’re using it as a primary now since its ability to output a highlights package at the end of the night is so much faster,” said Dillenbeck. “It has quick and easy social media plugins that make it easy to push clips to the web. The integrated tools let us publish clips, playlists or stills with branding. That it’s easy to set up and easy to learn for anyone with just basic computer skills was a huge plus.” 
 
Located in the arena’s primary control room, the MV-3240 External Multiviewer provides custom multi-view windows for producers, directors, and team coaches, and integrates easily into the switcher’s tally system. “The crop/resize feature for creating many different MV layouts for the various shows is a huge plus,” said Dillenbeck. “And the available outputs and tallys allow me to use legacy equipment and expand the system seamlessly.” 
 
The Insight Production Server lets Dillenbeck’s team record and play back packages and pre-production elements with ease. “It accepts a wide variety of file formats, so we are not constantly going back to the editors and content providers for new transcodes. Things just work seamlessly on the fly.” 
 
Dillenbeck chose the LTR-200HS7 Linear Tape Recorder/Player, a multi-format LTO-7 archiving recorder with six TB of internal storage for the arena’s archiving and exchange of recorded materials. “It lets us store whole seasons and more onto one compact, long-term archival storage tape. Each sport has its own tape, which holds two seasons, freeing up much sought-after real estate in the building. The video editors like that it works like a VTR deck, alone and without any computers or software, and has an easy interface whenever they need to get videos from the tape to the edit suite.” 
 
As one of the busiest sports venues in the U.S., Capital One Arena’s video team makes every seat in the “front row,” with an in-arena experience that incorporates instant replays, live action video, stats and out-of-town scores playing on screens throughout the facility. In addition to instantly accessing the ideal video, audio, or graphic element to run after a dramatic three-point shot wins the game, the arena enjoys the ability to push assets to social media. Dillenbeck said, “Fan love the more complex productions even if they don’t know what goes into creating that complexity.” With the switchers, multi-viewers, servers, keyers, recorders, character generators and slow-motion replay systems that MSE has purchased from FOR-A, they’re enjoying not just industry-best features and functionality, but “great value, 100% reliability and amazing customer service” that delivers a fan experience that is second to none.