NAB 2011, 11-14 April, Booth C8525: Autocue announces a major new release of the Autocue Video Servers at NAB, including new firmware and hardware.

The latest firmware includes playback handling for additional formats (AVC, XDCam, DNxHD and ProRes), slow-motion playback at a selection of speeds, simultaneous high- and low-res file creation, simple logo insertion, remote control including video and audio preview from any networked PC, time delay and playback/edit during recording, and support for VDCP and P9 protocols. The latest hardware also includes an optional display panel to show key status information such as port status, disk capacity and CPU usage.

According to Autocue CTO Neil Hutchins, “Our customers will now be able to integrate our video servers into any part of their workflow, either as a traditional video server or as an e-VTR, making our product extremely flexible as well as affordable. It’s a very easy-to-use, highly adaptable system that works in virtually all known production chains.”

Autocue’s Linux-based video servers feature two or four bi-directional HD/SD channels, each of which can be switched instantly between playback and record mode. Servers can also be linked together, allowing further channels to be controlled from a single user interface. A range of storage capacities and connection options are available. Additional software modules for tasks such as creating playlists, linking ports together for simultaneous playback or record operations and marking in and out points are also readily available for all models in the range. The versatility of the product make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications including education, corporate and faith productions, live events, cinema, theatre, small TV stations as well as large broadcast operations.

Hutchins concludes, “By offering more ports, more formats, more storage and more flexibility at a lower cost, our video server range provides a better value solution than any competitive product.”