![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
What do the terms embedded, appliance and software-based mean to you?
One of the difficulties - but also pleasures - of working in the broadcast industry is knowing who you're talking to. By that, what we mean is that the nature of the market has changed significantly. Where once we were a merry (or tragic?) little band of engineers talking tech-speak to each other, now the industry is much more diverse in its make-up: Disciplines are merging and executive decisions are taken on the basis of their business value rather than their technical detail (though very often, the two will go hand-in-hand).
The point we're trying to make is, not everybody is quite as enamored with technobabble and engineering intricacies as we are. So, for example - when we say to you that all of our systems are now available on an embedded, server appliance or software basis, what would that mean to you? Would you nod your head knowledgably, gape perplexedly, or simply glaze over?
We'd hope not the latter - because the embedded versus server versus software debate is both interesting and important. In this month's blog, we're going to take things right back to basics - so we apologize to those who have been babbling about embedded blades and software stability since you were in diapers. But even if you know this topic inside out, there are still some interesting bits of information relating to specifically how (and why) we've addressed the hardware/appliance/software triumvirate, and how we've sought to harmonise the approach we've taken with each, bringing benefit across the board.
No such thing as best'
For the entirely uninitiated: In monitoring (and indeed, in many fields) where you place your monitoring and measurement tools along the chain - and what you place there - can have a significant impact on what you can achieve and how you can achieve it. Whilst server-based solutions sit right at the heart of operations, embedded probes tend to dangle at the edges. And software solutions - well, they kind of hover above and around, wherever you want really.
So the obvious question to ask is: which is best?
You'll be unsurprised to hear that actually, whilst obvious, that's not the right question to ask at all. Even though the market goes through waves that tend to favour and push one approach over the other, the truth is that there is no best solution, only the most suitable one based on the context and goals of the application.
So with that in mind, here's our quick and dirty overview to the benefits of software, server (also frequently called appliance') and embedded solutions. And we should note if you've been keeping up with the Bridge Show, you'll recognize many of the points from there. In fact, what are you wasting time reading this for - why not head on over and watch Rolf Ollmar and Simen Frostad, respectively CEO and Chairman of Bridge Technologies, talk about it far more engagingly than we can write about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AawUL9-ZWK0&t=1702s&ab_channel=BridgeTechnologiesBridgeTechnologies )
Embedded
Embedded is where it all started for us. And whilst we - and the market as a whole - has made a big push to be able to centralise things through server applications, the truth is, there is still so much value to be leveraged from embedded probes.
First and foremost, there's the issue of power utilization. In a world where electricity is just a plug away, it can seem crazy that power draw is an issue (though the Texans are probably raising an eyebrow round about now). But the truth is, broadcast setups draw astronomical energy.
That may be fine and dandy in an established, fixed location that has the luxury of space, cooling and access. But as the industry pushes the boundaries of production and broadcast - particularly live - then the issue of power consumption becomes all the more pressing. When you consider that the draw of a server can run from anywhere between 200 to 1000 Watts, whilst a probe draws as little as 25 Watts, then suddenly - hanging off the side of a cliff half way up a mountain to broadcast the latest extreme sports extravaganza - that seems like big difference.
This means that embedded solutions are ideal in places where power might be difficult to come by, or where power is unreliable and battery back-up needs to be heavily relied upon. Indeed, in the aforementioned Bridge Show, Simen tells an anecdote of an Arm processor developer (Arm being the processors more frequently favoured in embedded solutions) who came back after dinner to continue his experiments and enter his data, and realized he hadn't even powered the chip up - it was running off residual power! So that really tells you something about how low the draw can be in an embedded solution on the edge of a system.
There's also a robustness to embedded solutions that is difficult to match. Probes are generally developed with a MTBF (mean time between failure) of 15 years, whereas it's 5 - 7 for a server. This means that if your location is difficult to access for maintenance, or you're simply looking to maximize reliability and efficiency, embedded is ya' boy.
And the issue of space well, that almost goes without saying. Server racks aren't messing around - they're pretty hefty - so anything that can be done to reduce space use, weight and heat generation is always going to be a plus.
Appliance/Server based
Bridge has made a big push in what we've been able to do with server-based monitoring solutions in the last decade, and not to toot our own horn or anything, but it's pretty impressive.
First and foremost, with a server-based solution, you get some serious oomph. 100gig interfaces, 1000 ETR engines running in parallel, a monster of a processor: in essence, a full engine giving every lay
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...