FAQ

ViBox refers to the main software application that is deployed on the SimplyLive commercial solutions for live production that offers live switching and replay control UIs with integration to NDI graphics and audio mixers to offer intuitive and collaborative solutions for your productions.

This ViBox application is provided in the SimplyLive Production Suite Flex or RiMotion bundles.

RefBox refers to the main software application that is deployed for the Video Review interface in the SimplyLive portfolio of solutions. This software application is specific to the user requirements for video review, which includes synchronous control across all sources with pinch and zoom, clipping, frame by frame controls, etc. used for official review, coaches reviews and similar workflows.

The RefBox application is provided in the SimplyLive Production Suite Flex or RiView bundles.

The SimplyLive Production Suite Flex is the most versatile commercial offering for all SimplyLive applications. This integrated production solution offers a scalable offering for live production for live switching, instant replay, graphic, audio mixing integration, playlists, video review, and more. As the “Flex” implies, this commercial offering gives you the ultimate flexibility and options to configure the system across the main production verticals. It allows live switching, replay, video review, streaming, playback and more.

RiMotion, RiCapture and RiView are commercial bundles that focus on a specific application and requirement, to offer cost effective options when focused on a particular need.

• RiMotion: commercial bundles for instant replay for single or multiple operators

• RiCapture: commercial bundles for ingest & playback

• RiView: commercial bundles for video review with single or multiple operators

The channel logic refers to the total I/O (inputs and/or outputs) for a server configuration. The inputs and outputs refer to the specific type of channel.

For example, 16CH is the total I/O - but we also take into consideration the “users vs. outputs", as we allocate 2 outputs to each user in the SimplyLive solutions. Those outputs can be whatever is needed for the production, but are more allocated for the systems processing of the users operations.

Basic rule: For 3 users, 6 outs need processing – 10 IN / 6 OUT.  Internal recording of PGM Clean and PGM Dirty should also be considered as channels, since they use processing and storage resources. Therefore this calculation, with the 3 users and recording of PGM Clean/Dirty would account for 8 channels.

Yes, they can be configured in any form you like, but will depend on the production format, 50i / 50p / 59.94 SDR / HDR / UHD, and the users across that server – but you can split even with a maximum of 8 outputs per server, or set it to 13 IN / 3 OUT. 

In UHD, you should refer to the technical specifications of the server model to determine supported configurations, since playback channels are more resource intensive than record channels. SLPS Flex Datasheets

A Backend server supports up to 8 simultaneous playback channels (PGM1 to PGM8, or PGM1 to PGM6 + AUX1 and AUX2, replacing PGM7 and PGM8).  This number can be constrained by the hardware resources of the server, as reflected in the description of the server and managed with the backend licenses.

DNxHD is the native format, and you can then transcode for ingest and export in ProRes (10-bit), XDCAM (extra license needed) and H264.

This depends on the server, but the only codec we support natively on the server record train is DNx – below you see the options available based on HD / UHD / SDR / HDR:

For Export the current range of codecs is much more diverse:

The RC-10 is your basic operations remote controller that allows you to assign 6 shortcuts to the camera angle shift functions, but overall, it performs your expected operations. The RC-10 would be recommended for new operators or workflows such as studio shows, VT playout and editorial heavy content, where your operations are calling clips/playlists to PGMs (program outputs). 

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The RC-200 remote controller is the step-up from the RC-10 (replacing the legacy RC-100 controller), which offers more functionalities such as:

• The option of 17 shortcuts to be assigned, including macros

• Includes two rows of camera angles to output, 1 row for PGM 1 and 1 row for PGM 2 / PRV

• Includes the best button in the industry, “Replay” to control all input angles at the same time for easy multi-cam replays.

• Natively operates within the cloud as the remote acts as a “CALLER” to connect directly

See operational manual for details on RC-200 operation Replay Controller Operation

The PS-NUC is physically smaller, and economically the PS-NUC is more cost-effective. It is provided as the standard UI PC in local workflows, where the setup will typically involve a LAN architecture.

The PS-NUC-REMOTE is larger and includes a dedicated GPU card, more memory, and is typically required for workflows where the operator is in a different physical location from the server. In this remote operation scenario, the bandwidth and latency using a standard client-server network connection becomes a problem. The PS-NUC-REMOTE includes the NiceDCV server license, which is used to negate this latency and optimize bandwidth usage in this remote operation architecture.

In a typical remote production workflow, the PS-NUC-REMOTE is installed next to the Backend server with a LAN connection, and the PS-NUC is with the user, connected to the PS-NUC-Remote through a WAN connection.

Installed on the PS-NUC-Remote is Amazon DCV server. The PS-NUC-Remote is installed by the server with a direct connection like a normal setup, and runs the SimplyLive client application (ViBox, BMR, etc).

On the operator end, the user who is remote installs “DCV Client” on their computer and remotely connects to the DCV server instance on the PS-NUC-Remote to perform operations. The Amazon DCV app acts as an optimized remote desktop app for WAN connections.

Not mandatory, but that would be the recomended best practice.

Technically, the architecture is always such that we have one (1) ViBox Application + (1) User per remote controller. For example, ViBox running with User 1 = RC-200 #1, and then ViBox running User 2 = RC-200 #2.

For specific workflows, it is possible to attach 2 remotes to 1 ViBox UI, where the first remote typically controls only the first PGM, and the second remote controls the 2^nd PGM/PRV channel, both remotes being operated by the same person.  Each ViBox UI position requires its own host PC. 

With RiMotion servers, one (1) ViBox user can run directly on the Backend server without using the NUC, but any additional ViBox users would require its own NUC. 

In the SimplyLive Production Suite Flex, each ViBox UI runs on a dedicated NUC to ensure proper performance and reliability.

No, one remote controller can manage 2 outputs = 1 PGM and 1 PVW / two PGM in the backend software.

If you need to control more than 2 outputs by a single operator, you can user the VDR Panel web application, that allows control for up to 8x output channels from the same UI.

Yes, the remote controllers connect to the ViBox application, not the server. The remotes connect over IP so allocation and routing of control to application is managed via the IP address. There is a maximum of 3 users possible per backend/server instance.

No, each user requires two outputs (PGM & PVW/PGM2) resources from the backend server. Technically, you can configure the server to only output a single PGM out, but the second output source will still be running and consuming resources on the backend.

The UHD configurations depend on the server model and software licenses installed. There are several options for UHD across the SLPS Flex, RiMotion and RiCapture offerings.

SLPS Flex options for UHD:

UHD HDR: Up to 8 Channels (8 IN + 0 OUT, or 6 IN + 2 OUT)

UHD SDR: Up to 12 Channels (12 IN + 0 OUT, 10 IN + 2 OUT or 8 IN + 4 OUT)

RiMotion options for UHD:

UHD HDR: R84 (2 IN + 2 OUT) & R166 (3 IN + 2 OUT)

UHD SDR: R84 (2 IN + 2 OUT) & R166 (4 IN + 2 OUT)

RiCapture options for UHD:

UHD HDR: i44 & i84 (4 IN + 0 OUT, or 2 IN + 2 OUT)

UHD SDR: i44 & i84 (4 IN + 0 OUT, or 2 IN + 2 OUT)

No. The system offers the flexibility to work on HD or UHD, but it must be in one format or the other for a given production.

For pure ingest applications, video content is ingested and recorded locally on each server and exported from each server to its destination (usually networked attached storage). Therefore, there is no need to create a “real-time video network” like you would with ViBox for replay applications, where you want to access any live input in real time across the network, to any playback channel.  Therefore, in such a pure ingest workflow, there is no limit to the number of ingest channels in a SimplyLive multi-server setup.

Yes, this is one of the key differentiators and strengths of the SimplyLive solution to offer an integrated production platform to address all these functions from a single server engine. 

You can have up to 3 users per server, with each of the users in the Flex ViBox model licensed for the option to be ViBox AIO (Director/TD), or ViBox replay, or RefBox video review.  It can be 3 users across these disciplines:

• ViBox Director + 2x ViBox replay

• ViBox Director + ViBox Replay + RefBox Video Review

• 3x RefBox Video Review operators/officials

• 3x ViBox Replay operators. 

At the same time, you can be using XPort to send clips to NAS and/or BMR to send PGM records to NAS, etc. 

The bandwidth limits will be determined on formats and server power.  For example, the most powerful configuration for AIO (All-In-One production) will manage a live production with up to 14 cameras in 1080p HDR with 3 users (such as 1 director and 2 slomo operators).

No, external NDI GFX are normally triggered by the 3^rd party application. SimplyLive can only trigger imported graphics files to the ViBox application, that would be local to the operation. External graphics coming from 3^rd party applications can be connected as NDI feeds (max. 2 external NDI feeds) to the Simplylive server and keyed on any video output channel of the server with several types of transitions, and possible scenario-based automation.

Yes, XPort is an independent software application. The XPort application allows you to export clips and playlists created by ViBox or VDR Panel users, based on user-defined export profiles. In these profiles, you can select the codec, format, audio configuration (which can be set differently for specific inputs), the naming and location of the file you want to export. Once created, these profiles can then be triggered with the ViBox or VDR panel applications to initiate the export or triggered from the XPort application itself.

Also, the features available with XPort will also be integrated within the new SSE web app, where you can create more profiles, create auto export rules and can also export clips from another server across the network.

Yes, the BMR application is used for master recording and file streaming in a dedicated module separate of the XPort.

BMR has the capabilities to record out to multiple target sources (up to 10) at the same time, as well as streaming to OTT platforms, all from the click of one button! The added value of the BMR solution is the local loop recording of all sources prior to streaming off to attached storage. This adds another layer of redundancy to your critical recordings.

VDR Panel is used for playback, with flexible output configurations to control up to 8x outputs for quick turnaround of inputs for delayed playback, creating clips and playlists, and loading them for playout or ganged playback of channels for monitor walls and other similar playback workflows. The VDR Panel is a lot more basic that the ViBox Slomo application, but similar functionalities are possible for sports and non-sports scenarios.

The ability to import is inherently part of the SimplyLive Backend server and can be accomplished with or without the ViBox application. Importing can be triggered via the ViBox UI (manual import) or directly managed by the Backend server through one or multiple watched folders via an auto ingest implementation.

Exporting from the Backend requires either XPort (for clips and playlists exports) or BMR (live feeds exporting/streaming) to be licensed when using the ViBox applications.

Note that with RefBox, clip exporting to files is managed directly by the RefBox application via the Backend server, therefore the XPort app is not required with the RefBox.

Yes, BMR offers this option of “chunk record” if you wanted to create these segmented files. The settings allow you to select the chunk/segment duration and the overlap duration.

Yes, all possible at the same time within the SimplyLive Production Suite with ViBox, Xport and BMR applications working simultaneously.

You are able to ingest/export in multiple formats at the same time with the options for 1 “high-bitrate” format (DNxHD, ProRes 10-bit or XDCAM) and 1 “low-bitrate” format (H264) from the SimplyLive backend server.

But, you cannot mix the resolutions, as the server must be configured as either HD or UHD and as SDR or HDR, so your formats must fit within that set resolution of the server.

Yes, there is a built-in delay function available in the ViBox and VDR panel applications to quickly set a delay for the playback channel(s). You can also take advantage of the playlist editing features to edit the program and remove or add sequences to the playback.

Yes, the same playlist can be playing back from one output, while also being recalled on another output for continued editing while playing.

MultiBrowse is a web-based application that allows the user to view any of the live ingest sources across one or multiple Backend servers and browse back synchronously across all visible feeds to mark segments of those feeds and export those selected sequences to files on connected storage. 

It is a remarkably simple and intuitive UI designed for non-technical people to review and select content to send to other destinations.  You can achieve the same with ViBox or VDR Panel, but these are more complex UIs, also intended for playback control.  With BMR, you can also do multi-camera export from live inputs, but you do not have browsing capability.  MultiBrowse is a licensed add-on that is available in SLPS Flex or RiCapture.