AJA BRIDGE LIVE Multi-Channel Video Encoding, Decoding, and Transcoding for Live Video

AJA BRIDGE LIVE Multi-Channel Video Contribution

AJA BRIDGE LIVE is the broadcast quality, low latency turnkey system for REMI, Synchronous Multi-Channel Video Contribution, Remote Collaboration, Direct to Audience Streaming, and Multi Bit Rate/Format Delivery.

BRIDGE LIVE was developed as a collaboration between AJA and Comprimato to deliver the performance, reliability, and ease of use needed for critical live encode, decode, or transcode needs. Equipped with 12G-SDI I/O plus the power and flexibility to enable real-time bidirectional encoding, decoding, and transcoding for critical UltraHD and HD workflows, BRIDGE LIVE is an essential part of any modern live video production toolkit. A compact and robust 1RU form factor with redundant power supplies and a three-year warranty means peace of mind even when dealing with the most demanding applications.

New for 2023 is the addition of a licensable option for JPEG XS input and output. Also new is RTMP input, SMPTE ST 2022-7 hitless redundancy for critical signal delivery, and Input Auto-Reconfiguration.

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, synchronous multi-cam backhaul with HDR, cloud contribution, program return, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, ABR ladder profiles to hand off for OTT packaging, BRIDGE LIVE ensures simultaneous, secure, and stable workflows whether over private lines or the public internet.

Simultaneous Bidirectional Encoding and Decoding

AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports simultaneous bidirectional encoding and decoding with UltraHD, HD, and SD sources.

For example, with a pair of BRIDGE LIVE systems, a broadcast facility can receive three incoming encoded HD camera sources from a remote location and decode them back into SDI for editing and production while simultaneously providing an HD program return to the remote location

NDI Encode/Decode/Transcode

AJA BRIDGE LIVE includes support for NDI (Network Device Interface), the high-quality, real-time, low latency live video standard developed by NewTek. BRIDGE LIVE can support up to 4x simultaneous 60p HD NDI encodes/decodes or 1x 30p UltraHD NDI encodes/decode to/from SDI. BRIDGE LIVE’s NDI functionality offers:

• SDI to NDI (encode)
• NDI to SDI (decode)
• IP Video Streams to NDI (transcode)
• NDI to IP Video Streams (transcode)

Used in conjunction with BRIDGE LIVE’s broad codec and protocol support, a collaboration between geographically separated (remote) NDI facilities can be realized.

BRIDGE LIVE provides broad NDI product compatibility across software and hardware transmitters and receivers.

Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport

BRIDGE LIVE can take independent SDI source inputs and maintain their synchronous relationship while transporting the content to end-point destinations.

This functionality can take place between a pair of BRIDGE LIVE units for a synchronous end-to-end SDI workflow, often referred to as SDI backhaul or site-to-site SDI workflows.

BRIDGE LIVE’s synchronous multi-channel capability is also supported for cloud contribution, whereby a BRIDGE LIVE system can send to a cloud instance of Comprimato Live transcoder software for delivery to various platforms/cloud services as IP video.

Furthermore, Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport can be scaled up from a single BRIDGE LIVE pair to additional BRIDGE LIVE pairs to enable workflows where multiple BRIDGE LIVE systems can be receiving SDI and sending to multiple BRIDGE LIVE systems outputting SDI, all in synchronicity.

For end-to-end SDI workflows, HDR is also supported.

SRT Ready

SRT is an open-source video transport protocol and technology stack, developed and pioneered by Haivision, that optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks with secure streams and easy firewall traversal, bringing the best quality live video over the worst networks. The SRT Open Source Project, supported by the SRT Alliance, is a collaborative community of industry leaders and developers striving to achieve lower latency internet video transport by continuously improving open-source SRT.

BRIDGE LIVE includes SRT (plus encryption) to ensure that end users are well-positioned to deliver their streaming video content securely, with low latency and secure reliability.

Metadata, HDR, Timecode, and Closed Captioning Support

BRIDGE LIVE fully supports both Closed Captioning and additional metadata which is often a neglected feature set with lower-cost encoding devices.

BRIDGE LIVE supports:

• MPEG-2 ancillary packet support, SMPTE ST 2038
• SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry, Luminance via SDI
• SCTE-35/SCTE-104 Ad insertion markers
• CEA-608/CEA-708 Closed Captioning
• Timecode
• Embedding Closed Captioning/Subtitles into H.264 SEI messages
• Metadata pass-through
• Electronic Program Guide (EPG) on input

Transport, Containers, and Protocols

BRIDGE LIVE can be configured for low latency and/or high-quality tasks. BRIDGE LIVE gives you the tools to move content and deliver according to your workflow needs.

BRIDGE LIVE Supported Protocols:

• HLS
• RTP
• RTMP
• RTMPS (output)
• SRT
• UDP
• MPTS (input)
• JPEG 200 (VSF-TR01)
• JPEG XS (VSF-TR07)
• ABR Ladder Profiles for delivery

BRIDGE LIVE supported Transports

• MPEG-TS
• NDI
• AVC-TS
• Fragmented MP4

Supported Encodes/Decodes

BRIDGE LIVE supports the following configurations for encoding and decoding between SDI and streaming formats as standard. Multiple streams/formats/destinations can be derived from a single SDI input.

NDI:

• 8-bit or 10-bit
• 4:2:2
• Up to 4x simultaneous 60p HD encodes/decodes or 1x 30p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
• NDI Inputs can be received, transcoded, and output as IP Video Streams
• IP Video Inputs can be received, transcoded, and output as NDI Streams

H.265 (HEVC):

• 8-bit or 10-bit
• 4:2:0
• Up to 4 simultaneous 60p HD encodes/decodes or 1x 60p / 2x 30p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
• SRT, RTMP, and MPEG-TS protocol support

H.264 (AVC):

• 8-bit or 10-bit
• 4:2:0 or 4:2:2
• Up to 2x simultaneous 60p 4:2:2, 10-bit HD encodes/decodes or 1x 30p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
• Up to 4x simultaneous 60p HD encodes/decodes or 1x 60p / 2x 30p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
• SRT, RTMP, and MPEG-TS protocol support

H.262 (MPEG-2):

• 8-bit
• 4:2:0
• Up to 4x, simultaneous 30p/60i HD encodes/decodes or up to 2x simultaneous 60p HD encodes/decodes to/from SDI with an HQ option
• SRT, RTMP, and MPEG-TS protocol support

Hardware

BRIDGE LIVE supports up to 4x 3G-SDI simultaneously for multi-channel HD, or 2x 6G-SDI / 1x 12G-SDI for UltraHD I/O in 1RU. Dual 10 GigE ports provide network connectivity, and dual power supplies provide peace of mind.

Administration, monitoring, and access to BRIDGE LIVE are supported via either a network browser or local DisplayPort. Indirect agnostic monitoring and automation are supported via both REST API and SNMP.

REMI (Remote Production) Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport

BRIDGE LIVE can take independent SDI source inputs and maintain their synchronous relationship while transporting the content to end-point destinations.

This functionality can take place between a pair of BRIDGE LIVE units for a synchronous end-to-end SDI workflow, often referred to as SDI backhaul or site-to-site SDI workflows.

BRIDGE LIVE’s synchronous multi-channel capability is also supported for cloud contribution, whereby a BRIDGE LIVE system can send to a cloud instance of Comprimato Live transcoder software for delivery to various platforms/cloud services as IP video.

Cloud Contribution with Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport

BRIDGE LIVE provides an efficient and easy-to-manage approach for bridging on-site signals to and from the Cloud. Used in conjunction with instances of Comprimato Live Transcoder, BRIDGE LIVE delivers a scalable and customizable solution for modern media delivery and the advanced codec support saves bandwidth and provides immediate distribution with minimal latency. Thanks to its flexible architecture, the solutions can be used on any cloud provider, such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.

Contribution – Remote Video Transport

For broadcast, BRIDGE LIVE provides an efficient mechanism for backhauling remote live SDI video sources to the media production facility in order to be converted back to SDI and made available on the internal facility SDI router for ongoing production/transmission.

Traditional secure lines for remote production can be very expensive, with additional fees being levied for a time before and after production starts and ends. BRIDGE LIVE allows source cameras and local programs to be transported using publicly available internet, with no penalty for early or extended use during production. BRIDGE LIVE also offers lower latency than traditional secure lines for time-critical productions.

REMI BRIDGE LIVE as a Receiving Hub

BRIDGE LIVE supports workflows where it is necessary to receive contribution streams from various third-party encoders, IP cameras, or AJA HELO Plus for conversion back/to SDI at a production facility.

Collaboration – Reference Video for Remote Creatives

Production and Post: Connecting remote artists and clients using reference quality video or providing a high-quality window into production for those who cannot be on-set.

BRIDGE LIVE means the flexibility to leave media and equipment at the secure, managed facility and have creative talent work together remotely with reference quality video.

BRIDGE LIVE compliments existing GUI driving technologies (e.g. RDP, Teradici) by layering on the reference quality video needed for creative confidence and client/executive sign-off. Choices between H.265 (4:2:0, 10-bit), H.264 (4:2:2, 10-bit) with turnkey BRIDGE LIVE, or via optional licenses for JPEG 2000 (4:2:2, 10-bit) and JPEG XS (4:2:0, 10-bit), mean there is choice and flexibility in how to approach your needs in terms of quality and latency.

Collaboration – Secure Window into the Remote Set or Studio

BRIDGE LIVE also offers the flexibility to tap video from on-set recording devices and stream the output of cameras (over a secure private line with encryption), providing a high-quality window into production for those who cannot be on-set.

Collaboration – Connecting Remote NDI Production Teams

BRIDGE LIVE can be used to connect two geographically separated NDI production teams via the public internet.

Streaming: Live Direct-to-Audience

BRIDGE LIVE offers a comprehensive platform for live video streaming. Streaming support includes SRT, HLS, RTMP/S, RTP/UDP, and MPEG-TS. Using these standard protocols provides wide support for streaming services such as Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live.

BRIDGE LIVE builds upon the tried and tested approach of AJA’s HELO Plus while including flexibility for multiple inputs, broad format, and bit rate support, as well as metadata and redundancy.

Also, while streaming to CDNs for a direct-to-audience delivery, BRIDGE LIVE can simultaneously deliver different stream types to partners to re-transmit, transcode, or store.

Delivery – Encoding For Content Distribution

For studio and Broadcast applications BRIDGE LIVE facilitates the primary distribution of finished and mastered content to partners for subsequent streaming to audiences.

BRIDGE LIVE can provide ABR ladder profiles or hand-offs for OTT packaging. For example, encoding to H.264 or H.265 for handoff with ABR ladder profiles, including pointing the ladder profile directly to a local packager or CDN.

BRIDGE LIVE can also provide multi-format/rate/bit rate material via HLS. The combined outputs within the HLS stream are presented as a “playlist”, meaning that devices (e.g. phones or tablets) or software (e.g. web browsers) can pull a particular format, frame rate, and bit rate based on the device characteristics and the current connectivity.

Delivery – Live Production Encoding

Telcos, IPTV, and cable operators are often presented with an SDI source or a live event or live production, which is needed as a simple MPEG-Transport Stream with H.264/H.262 encoding. The delivered stream may be required for further processing (storage, production) or else be streamed directly to an IPTV/Cable network.

Industry Leading Support

AJA’s technical support is recognized as among the best in the industry, and together with support from Comprimato, BRIDGE LIVE Annual Maintenance customers have the best of both hardware and software expertise to ensure installations and projects are executed smoothly and with confidence.

BRIDGE LIVE hardware is also backed with a generous three-year warranty as standard.