What is included in the Image Server 2000?
Most features described in the product literature are standard equipment. A summary of these appears under Features on this web site. The base-price unit includes four 120 GB drives providing 52 hours of storage at 12 Mb/sec. Extra-cost options include larger drives.

How can the Image Server 2000 be used to replace a VTR?
The server was designed to exactly replace a VTR. Its 9-pin control inputs respond to standard “P2” serial machine control commands selected from a list of popular VTRs. The built-in GUI (Graphics User Interface) provides traditional VTR transport controls, plus a time code display.



What broadcast automation controllers will Image Servers operate with?
The Image Server will operate with automation systems using the VDCP command set—which includes all best-selling models. 360 Systems has tested the server with products from Crispin Corporation, Harris Automation, Florical, DTG, NVerzion, Leightronics, and Sundance Digital. Many other automation controllers can also be expected to operate with the Image Server.

What about MXF file transfers?
Image Servers perform MXF file transfers over Gigabit Ethernet as a standard feature. Transfers can be managed by any simple FTP application resident on another computer on the network. MXF transfers can be made between Image Servers, network-attached storage, telecommunications lines, and other IP-based equipment. 360 Systems has implemented Operational Patterns 1a and 1b.

Can Image Servers be used to send video through a DSL or other broadband connection?
It’s an excellent way to transfer promos and brief news clips. Just make an FTP transfer through a DSL or other high-bandwidth line to another Image Server.

Can I play DV-format video?
The Multi-Format Image Server performs direct import of DV files over Ethernet from popular editing programs such as Final Cut Pro^® and DV Express™. The video is stored as .dv files, and can be network-transferred as an MXF-wrapped file to other equipment.

Can I play graphics?
Yes, with the Multi-Format Image Server. Popular graphics-generation programs like PhotoShop^® and After Effects^® can output TARGA files, which can be exported via FTP to the Multi-Format Image Server over Ethernet.

Can I play graphics with a key-and-fill?
Yes. The Multi-Format Image Server will automatically load key-and-fill pair graphics files for synchronized playout. Just load TARGA files for both the key and fill; they will be automatically identified by the server as a pair. A single command from an automation system initiates play of both files.

Can I import TARGA files with an embedded alpha channel?
Yes. The Multi-Format Image Server automatically separates the key (or alpha channel), and saves it as a separate file. It can then be used in the key-and-fill mode as described above.

Can an Image Server record or play compressed audio streams such as Dolby-E® or Dolby Digital?
360 Systems employs Bit-for-Bit® signal handling within the server, guaranteeing that data will not be corrupted when stored or reproduced. The server does not contain a Dolby® encoder or decoder. Encoding and decoding of Dolby signals is handled externally through products offered by Dolby Laboratories, Inc.



Can an Image Server be used with hardware-based controllers such as instant replay and transport control panels?
Many controllers that use VDCP, P2 (VTR machine control) or Odetics commands will operate the Image Server. 360 Systems has tested it with products from Ash Vale, DNF Controls, BUF, Hi-Tech and Lance Designs.



Can an Image Server play a file while it is being recorded?
Yes. An initial recording time of a few seconds is required, after which the file is available for playback.



What editing features are provided?
Frame-accurate head trim and tail trimming can be performed from the user interface. Convenient Mark-In and Mark-Out buttons, plus display windows for edit time points are provided. Edited clips may be renamed and saved.



What playlisting features are included?
A dedicated Playlisting window is available on the user interface. Clips are easily selected and built into a playlist, which can be edited, named, and saved. Playlists can then be selected for playback from any channel in the same manner as a video clip.



What provision is made for monitoring the input during recording?
During recording, output #1 serves as a record monitor, instead of a playback output.



Can time code be displayed?
Time code can be superimposed on the CVBS Output #1, if desired. Its can be displayed in play or record mode, and its position is adjustable, as is black/white reversal. NTSC model only.



How does one select between analog or digital video?
Both CVBS and SDI video outputs are available at the same time. The video input format is selected with the On-Screen graphic user interface.



How are the same XLR connectors used for analog and digital audio?
A push-on jumper block inside the Image Server 2000 selects +4 analog or AES/EBU digital for each connector. It is possible to select analog inputs with digital outputs, or to have some outputs analog and others digital.



More AES/EBU audio channels are available than with analog audio. Why?
Image Servers use XLR connectors, each of which carries a single audio channel if analog, and a stereo pair if digital. Each video channel therefore has two stereo audio pairs when a digital format is selected.




What kind of throughput can be achieved with the Gigabit Ethernet ports on an Image Server?
Image Servers employ Gigabit Ethernet, which typically achieves transfer rates of 8x real-time for MXF-wrapped files encoded at 12Mb/sec. Some server bandwidth is always taken up by normal record and play operations, so actual transfer rates depend on how busy the server is.

How long does it take to replace a drive in an Image Server?
Drives are accessible behind the front dress panel, which can be removed without tools, and without removing the server from a rack. A failed drive can be unplugged and removed from its slot, and another installed, within a few minutes. The hardware RAID controller will rebuild the drive array as a background task when server activity resumes.



Do Image Servers use software or hardware RAID?
The Image Server’s RAID controller is hardware-based, and operates in RAID-5 mode controlling an array of four separate drives. The RAID concept not only protects against drive failure, it also increases the total storage capacity and total drive throughput. This provides the data rates required of multiple video streams at 50 Mb/sec, plus network file transfer through the Gigabit Ethernet ports.



Can an Image Server be operated as a stand-alone recorder?
The server’s GUI includes a screen for operating basic recorder functions such as record, stop, play, pause, jog, shuttle, and playlisting. The Image Server is supplied with a keyboard and pointing device, and requires only a user-supplied CRT or flat-panel monitor.



What MPEG coding parameters can be set in the Image Server?
All encoding parameters are set with the GUI. Decoding (playback) parameters are automatically set to match the selected video file.
· Two types of MPEG files can be created: MPEG-2 in Main Profile @ Main Level, and MPEG-2 in 4:2:2 Profile at Main    Level.
· Bit rates can be set from 2 to 15 Mb/sec for Main Profile, and from 2 to 50 Mb/sec for 4:2:2   profile.
· Frame sequences can be encoded as I-frame (intra-frame) for ease in editing, or as a Group Of Pictures (GOP) from 2 to 15 frames.



What video card do Image Servers use?
360 Systems developed a proprietary video card to provide the features and performance levels required by the broadcast industry. It employs the same high-end LSI Logic® MPEG-2 chip set used by other leading video servers.



What kind of video and audio quality do Image Servers deliver?
By measurement and visual observation, Image Server 2000 delivers a level of MPEG-2 video quality meeting the maximum abilities of this chip set.

360 Systems is known for digital audio products with exceptional performance. Image Servers take full advantage of the capabilities of 24-bit audio, and delivers performance far better than other video servers, with an analog dynamic range (and SNR) of 112 dB, and THD+N less than .005%.



If the operating system needs to be re-loaded, how is that accomplished?
A CD-ROM copy of the operating system is included with the Image Server, and can be rapidly re-installed using the built-in CD-ROM drive. New software or firmware features can be installed the same way, or through the 100 Mb Ethernet port.



What alarms are provided by an Image Server?
Front panel LEDs show the status of Power, Genlock Input, System alarm, Drive alarm, and Fan alarm.



What is the cost-per-hour of program storage in an Image Server?
When configured with 250GB drives (100 hours), the cost-per-hour of storage is about $120/hour for 12Mb video. This important number can be compared with other video servers by dividing total drive space available for storage (do not include a RAID parity drive, if present), by the video and audio data rates in Megabytes per second, divided by 3600 to yield storage time in hours. Dividing this figure into the cost of the server produces the cost-per-hour of storage.



What time code options are available?
The Image Server can read time code from incoming LTC or VITC sources, and can insert timecode into outgoing video streams. VITC may be derived from either CVBS or SDI video streams. Time code source and destination selections are made through the GUI.



What closed-captioning capabilities are available?
Image Servers can read and write closed-captions per EIA-608B/708B (Analog/Digital).



What operating systems do Image Servers use?
Linux®. This selection was made to produce better reliability and faster machine response than other operating systems.