BRIDGE LIVE is a turnkey solution built for critical streaming applications with high performance 12G-SDI video encoding/decoding, stream-based transcoding, flexible I/O, comprehensive metadata support, closed caption support and all within a compact 1RU form factor with redundant power supplies.

Designed with the ability to support both low-latency and high-quality workflows across a range of codecs, containers, and protocols, BRIDGE LIVE enables numerous use cases; multi-input live streaming to platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch, providing high quality reference video for remote collaboration in production and post, backhauling remote live SDI video sources to the media production facility, SDI to MPEG-TS conversions for Telcos/IPTV/Cable networks, through to encoding for content distribution with ABR ladder profiles or hand-off for OTT packaging, and all supported via public internet.

*plus optional annual maintenance and feature-set extensions

Video Overview

Watch this video to learn more about BRIDGE LIVE. It includes a look at real time encode, decode, and transform capabilities of BRIDGE LIVE between 12G-SDI sources and destinations. BRIDGE LIVE offers codecs from H.265, H.264, H.262 (MPEG2-TS) to optional JPEG 2000 using a variety of transport protocols including SRT for secure and reliable transport needs.

AJA and Comprimato

BRIDGE LIVE represents an exciting partnership between AJA and Comprimato, both long standing industry innovators. The merging of AJA’s hardware development and video I/O expertise with Comprimato’s transcoding and internet transport know-how means customers can expect the versatility, speed and quality needed for that competitive edge. The unique fusion of company talent between AJA and Comprimato ensures that BRIDGE LIVE delivers the performance and reliability needed for live H.265 (HEVC), H.264 (AVC, MPEG-4), H.262 (MPEG-2) and JPEG 2000* encode, decode, or transcode needs.

*Full H.265, H.264, H.262 I/O functionality included with BRIDGE LIVE turnkey system, JPEG 2000 I/O license options available.

Hardware

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

Administration, monitoring and access to BRIDGE LIVE is supported via either network browser or local Display Port. Indirect agnostic monitoring and automation is supported via both REST API and SNMP.

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 and Closed Caption 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:

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

Transport, Encoding and Delivery

BRIDGE LIVE can be configured for low latency or high quality tasks. Depending on configuration, latency can be as low as 200ms. And, BRIDGE LIVE naturally gives you the tools to move content and deliver according to your workflow needs.  

BRIDGE LIVE supports:

• RTMP, RTMPS
• RTP, UDP
• SRT (plus encryption)
• MPEG Transport Stream
• ABR Ladder Profiles
• Hand-off for OTT packaging

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.

H.265 (HEVC):

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

H.262 (MPEG-2):

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

*H.264 HQ selection limited to 30p maximum for HD and UltraHD

Optional JPEG 2000 VSF TR-01 Encode/Decode License

BRIDGE LIVE capabilities can be expanded to include high quality JPEG 2000 encoding and decoding.

JPEG 2000 (TR-01):

• 10-bit
• 4:2:2
• Up to 4 simultaneous 60p HD encodes (80-220Mbps) or 1x 60p UltraHD encode/decode (up to 800Mbs)
• SRT and MPEG-TS protocol support

Live Direct-to-Audience Streaming

BRIDGE LIVE offers a comprehensive platform for live video streaming. Streaming support includes SRT, RTMP/S, RTP/UDP, and MPEG-TS. Using these standard protocols provides wide support for streaming services from Twitch, YouTube Live and Facebook Live. BRIDGE LIVE builds upon the tried and tested approach of AJA’s HELO streaming device, while including flexibility for multiple inputs, broad format and bit-rate support, as well as metadata and redundancy. 

And, 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.

Reference Video for Remote Collaboration

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 license JPEG 2000 (4:2:2, 10-bit), mean there is choice and flexibility in how to approach your needs in terms of quality and latency.

Encoding For Remote Production

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.

Remote Video Transport and Contribution

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 time before and after a production starts and ends. BRIDGE LIVE allows source cameras and local program out to be transported using publicly available internet, with no penalty for early or extended use during a production. BRIDGE LIVE also offers lower latency than traditional secure lines for time critical productions.

Simultaneous Bi-Directional Encoding and Decoding

BRIDGE LIVE also supports simultaneous bi-directional encoding and decoding with HD and SD sources.

Using a broadcast facility as an example, you are able to receive up to three remote HD-SDI sources using the public Internet and return one program feed to a remote location. 

The broadcast facility receives the three incoming encoded stream sources from the remote location and decodes them into SDI for editing and production, while simultaneously returning to the remote location an encoded program feed. 

The remote facility in turn receives and decodes the returned program feed for program monitoring over SDI, while continuing to encode and transmit three HD- SDI sources to the broadcast facility. 

In this use case, one BRIDGE LIVE device would be installed at the broadcast facility and a second BRIDGE LIVE device would be installed at the remote location.

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 encode. The delivered stream may be required for further processing (storage, production), or else be streamed directly to an IPTV/Cable network.

Encoding For Content Distribution

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

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