Snell Introduces the Kahuna 360 — A Revolution in Live Production

Format Fusion3

"Kahuna 360 unites the powerful feature set for which the Kahuna family is known, with unique adaptability that not only maximizes the life and value of the switcher investment, but also gives technical directors unmatched freedom in combining switcher elements, keyers, DVE, and effects to create any on-air style," said John Carter, product manager at Snell. "By breaking away from conventional fixed configurations and providing an approach that enables multiple branded outputs for any feed requirement, Kahuna 360 opens the door to greater creativity and efficiency even in the most challenging production environments."

Kahuna 360's rich feature set, powerful effects, and DVE cater to the requirements of news, sports, outside broadcast, live entertainment, and multi-screen presentations. Employing live assist and workflow tools to streamline operations, the robust new switcher platform from Snell reduces the likelihood of error and enables the turnaround of content in seconds. Rapid recall options further enhance efficiency by allowing users to reconfigure entire studios and trucks for different productions almost instantly.

Snell's proprietary Format Fusion3 technology, built into Kahuna 360, supports any combination of SD, HD, and 3G/1080p inputs and outputs, seamlessly converting them to and from the required standards. This capability eliminates the need for external conversion equipment, reduces initial capital outlay, removes system timing issues, and saves valuable engineering and setup time typically required for mobile production units and other regularly changing environments. Kahuna 360 thus accommodates a cost-effective shift to the industry's highest standards, supporting a controlled format migration capable of driving new business and revenue-generation opportunities.

Integrated into Kahuna 360 is EPP

Also integrated into Kahuna 360 is Snell's patent-pending EPP (Enhanced Progressive Processing) which provides unparalleled quality in video processing. "Snell's heritage of industry-leading image processing is clearly reflected in Kahuna 360," said Neil Maycock, CMO at Snell. "With technologies such as Format Fusion3 and EPP, Kahuna 360 doesn't simply support 1080p, it provides unmatched capabilities and image quality."

The Kahuna 360, like the rest of the Kahuna range, handles 3-D content with ease. Supporting stereoscopic video on a single M/E, the switchers have the unique capability to calibrate 3-D images internally, including the ability to change depth of focus by adjusting left right convergence.

Kahuna Care

Kahuna 360 has been designed from the ground up to serve as a robust and resilient platform with capabilities ranging from single on-air productions to multiple multi-scale productions. Snell's world-class Kahuna Care support program offers users training and operations guidance, as well as responsive technical and hardware support that ensures complete piece of mind throughout live productions.

About Snell

Snell is a leading innovator in the digital media market. The company provides customers with a comprehensive range of solutions for the creation, management, and distribution of content, as well as the tools necessary to transition seamlessly and cost-effectively to digital, HDTV, and 3Gbp/s operations. Snell's Emmy® Award-winning image processing, live production, automation, and infrastructure technologies provide customers with the ultimate flexibility, operational efficiency, and ROI required in today's multi-screen world. Headquartered in the U.K., Snell serves more than 2,000 active customers in more than 100 countries through a worldwide team of sales and support personnel.