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In June 2019, Ross partnered with Italian systems integrator to host an event called 12G Days. The event was an open session for Italian market vendors and broadcasters, and the aim was to discuss the new 12G SDI standard and its possible applications in the broadcast technology landscape.

Jeff Moore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Ross, was a speaker at the event, which took place at ARET’s headquarters in Milan, Italy. Moore gave a presentation that contrasted SDI and IP video standards and outlined the pros and cons of each.

Customers and manufacturers alike have been unsure whether to choose IP, SDI, or a hybrid of the two when building or upgrading their solutions. Moore’s presentation was designed to provide clarity by going into detail on the available options.

IP vs. SDI

IP has been touted by some as the future of the broadcast industry due to its higher bandwidth and connectivity capabilities, but SDI still has significant advantages in some areas and is the most commonly used protocol in the industry.

In his presentation, Moore explained that IP is appropriate for certain types of facility infrastructure, such as those that cover large distances and contain high numbers of signals. However, IP comes with added complexity, overhead and additional costs. By comparison, SDI is less expensive, and it is simple and familiar. While it may not be able to support the scale that IP can, 12G SDI can still handle 4K UHD production with ease.

Most large-scale topologies will be a hybrid of IP and SDI, both by necessity and for economic reasons. Connectivity is not a binary choice – customers should pick and choose the solution that is best meets their organization’s objectives. Moore’s final recommendation can be summed up as follows: When deciding between IP, SDI, or a hybrid, it’s important to base the choice on which option drives the clearest creative and business results for the organization.

The Ross 12G Product Line-up

Following the presentation, the 12G Days event continued with hands-on sessions featuring the Ross 12G product line-up. This included the Ultrix 12G router, Carbonite Ultra Production Switcher, Tria+ Production Server, and more. These sessions were conducted with ARET’s product specialists to allow the final operators to get involved. Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback provided by the session attendees, the 12G Days event was repeated in Rome with the participation of Ross Solutions Architect Hugo Bastos.