Snell Debuts New Kahuna 360 Features

"Kahuna 360 provides unparalleled flexibility in live production, and both Source Safe and Galaxy Event List enhance that flexibility by automating mundane yet critical tasks within the broadcast production workflow," said John Carter, product manager for production switchers at Snell. "Eliminating the need for manual configuration of format conversion processes and reducing the time required to set up and trigger event series, these new features increase the time that switcher operators can dedicate to more artistic aspects of live production."

Snell's new Source Safe automatically senses a signal on a Kahuna 360 input and sets up the correct processing without the need for operator or engineering intervention. With this capability, the system can detect the source format of signals coming through the plant to production and ensure that they can be brought smoothly into the workflow and safely taken to air. Addressing all variety of formats up to 1080p, Source Safe addresses both the current and future format requirements of production. The new feature enables the integration of SD content into HD programming, and also allows operators to mix progressive and interlaced material effortlessly and with confidence.

The new Galaxy Event List works with Kahuna 360's third-party device control protocols to allow automation of mundane "rinse-and-repeat" tasks, which in turn, gives operators more time for other aspects of a production. When, for example, a program or genre has a particular look and feel requiring a set series of repetitive interventions, operators can use Galaxy Event List to set these up in advance. During production, Kahuna 360 leverages third-party device control to trigger a specific sequence of actions by equipment including servers, VTRs, multiviewers, graphics systems, robotic cameras, and lighting controls. With these routine tasks handled through Galaxy Event List, the Kahuna 360 operator can spend less time setting up transitions and more time on making the elements between them more engaging.

About Kahuna 360

The Kahuna 360 production switcher platform breaks away from the tradition of fixed M/Es, fixed resources, and fixed formats while supporting multiple simultaneous broadcast productions and a mixture of SD, HD, and 1080p in a single mainframe. The system has up to six full M/Es and seven keyers per M/E, as well as a sophisticated 3D DVE package. Snell also has equipped Kahuna 360 with the company's unique Make M/E technology, which makes it easy for the operator to leverage available switcher power and create a tailor-made M/E — selecting inputs, keyers, stores, DVE, and outputs — for a specific output requirement and, as a result, free up resources to users for other productions.

About Snell

Snell is a leading innovator in digital media technology and provides broadcasters and global media companies with a comprehensive range of solutions to create, better manage, and streamline the distribution of content for today's multi-screen world. Snell provides the tools necessary to transition seamlessly and cost-effectively to HDTV, stereoscopic 3D, and 3Gbps operations. Headquartered in the U.K., Snell serves more than 2,000 broadcasters, post facilities, and global media companies in more than 100 countries through its worldwide team of sales and support personnel.