Panasonic has been quite busy this year, releasing some separate and exciting pieces of gear including the PT-RQ35K and PT-RZ34K laser projectors and KAIROS, a live video processing platform.
Laser Projectors
Makers of projection technology, like almost all others in the production world, are on an eternal march toward miniaturization, along with improvements in both brightness and color rendering. These goals often are at odds with each other — more brightness often means more efficient (and therefore bigger) cooling systems, with engineers doing their level best to make efficient use of interior space. The Panasonic PT-RQ35K is Panasonic’s latest offering showcasing their 3-chip DLP Laser Projector, with a remarkable 30,000 lm2 from a projector 40 percent smaller than their earlier 26,000 lm2. Based around a dual laser-light engine utilizing both a blue-laser pumped phosphor and a longer-wavelength red laser, the Panasonic PT-RQ35K’s light engine provides incredibly deep blues and truer reds than a traditional DLP projector is capable of, expanding the available color space by 114 percent over their earlier offerings. With the capability of 3,840×2, 400 (4K) resolution, the PT-RQ35K brings crisp and vibrant images to life.
The projector includes a number of new features to increase the operational efficiency, in particular speed of setup and deployment. Panasonic now ships the projector with their Smart Projector Control software fully-enabled and ready to go — just record serial numbers and apply asset tags, and the projector is ready to roll to the first show. The line remains compatible with most existing Panasonic 3-chip DLP projector lenses, for users who have a stock of existing lenses to meet the demands of various shows.
The projector comes with other features to enhance fast and efficient setup, including built-in near-field communication (NFC) hotspot. On the side of the unit is an access “zone” which can be accessed with the projector still in a shipping box. A smart device held up against the NFC touchpoint can then be used to set the network, IP address settings, and other configuration options. Instead of spending minutes pointing a remote backward over your head, or crouching down and fiddling with menu buttons, all configuration options are available and visible within the setup app. Powering the projector isn’t even required — just hold the smart phone against the NFC touchpoint and go. Optionally, with an add-on wireless module, the user can scan a QR code on the projector for even faster setup of all wireless networking options.
For those doing projection mapping in outdoor environments, or in situations where the space is brightly-lit — for instance, load-ins with work lights on — the PT-RQ35K comes with a remote preview function. This allows a user to see what the projected image will look like, either through a web browser or through the provided multi-media control software. Another exciting feature is auto-focus, a lifesaver in time-sensitive environments. By attaching the projector and your smart phone to the same network, the projector can use incoming camera data from the smartphone to automatically set the focus on the projector using an app. The projector is also compatible with Panasonic’s existing custom camera and software* (more details at end of article) for automatically configuring even more attributes, which allows auto setup of edge blending, color-matching, and geometry correction including curves.
This projector line also features the PT-RZ34K, with identical features in a WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution output. Both projectors accept AC in from 100V to 240V, but light output will be decreased when running the projector at a lower voltage. The projectors are approximately 598 x 353 x 780mm (23.5 x 13.9 x 30.7˝), not including lenses. Video input is accepted via SDI, HDMI and DVI-D.
KAIROS Processing Platform
Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning a moment of opportunity; the right time for action. As our industry transitions more and more to moving data across ubiquitous LAN hardware instead of dedicated and specialized signal cables, the time indeed seems opportune for a product like KAIROS.
KAIROS is a live video processing platform encompassing the KAIROS Core or Main Frame, the single-rack space processing heart of the KAIROS system, the KAIROS control panel, a hardware surface for switching video inputs, and the KAIROS Creator software for configuring the entire system. Version 1 main frame will manage video I/O through a Deltacast gateway card and/or a Mellanox 100 GbE NIC connection to COTS IP devices and SDI and HDMI gateways. Control will all be managed on devices operating over a separate gigabit Ethernet. This new IP system offers an open architecture system for live video switching with total input and output flexibility, and resolution and format independence. As a natively IP / SMPTE 2110 system, KAIROS frees video processing and control from the constraints of dedicated hardware. (SMPTE 2110 is a standard from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers that describes how to send digital uncompressed video over an IP network.)
Video input/output is not limited, but in terms of simultaneous processing, a single Core unit can process a maximum of 32 inputs and 20 outputs of HD / 3G signal, and for UHD, the system can handle a maximum of 8 inputs and 4 outputs, with the possibility of mixing combinations of these or using other formats.
For houses of worship, for instance, KAIROS could handle all management of video screens and broadcast needs, but can also accommodate new devices and screens, even non-traditionally shaped video surfaces. For live event spaces or event production, KAIROS offers quick and easy setup for staff working with under production time constraints, delivering content and offering fast configuration.
The system features uncompressed processing of SDI and ST 2110 as well as NDI streams of any resolution, such as HD and UHD, and in any format, whether 16:9 or nontraditional formats for oddly-sized LED screens or advertising ribbons. As the entire system utilizes the Core’s GPU for video processing, processing latency can be as low as one frame and the system also supports the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization. GPU processing also means users can allocate processing power with 100 percent efficiency. For control, the system can be outfitted with the KAIROS Control, a 2ME style video switcher panel with dual crossfade bars. Because the video mix processing is GUI-based, the platform doesn’t limit the number of MEs or keys, like a traditional switcher. Effects, keys, scaling, and PIPs are set within each scene without restriction, with the total number video layers being dependent only upon the GPU capacity.
Since the system is IP based, additional KAIROS Creator or KAIROS Control interfaces can be added anywhere the TD needs them to be, over the network, with no physical proximity required. Each KAIROS Core comes with two multi-view outputs (HDMI, 4K/HD compatible) and can support up to 36 screens. It also offers video and still recording capability. Additional KAIROS Core units can be used to expand the capability of an existing system and add additional processing power. More compatibility and features will be available through additional license keys and adding additional KAIROS Core units will create the opportunity to scale the system up to most any organization’s requirements.
*The ET-CUK10 Auto Screen Adjustment software is pre-activated; users simply download the software and the software is ready to use with an optional camera (Nikon D5200/D5300 or successor models). The ET-CUK10 software automatically configures edge blending, color-matching and geometry correction including curves.