Barco's Screen Management Platform Gets Three Important Additions

Barco's portfolio of advanced screen management processors is in continuous development with improvements of current features and new innovative solutions answering the diverse needs of the AV audience. In the run-up to InfoComm 2019, Barco announces the next generation in the E2 processing family, a new expansion card and its standards-based fiber solution for 4K video transport. Barco's image processing portfolio has become the industry standard for running high-quality shows and events. Its power, flexibility and situational awareness are why video walls and high-resolution displays worldwide use Barco processors to support the key messaging of major brands every week. To keep the platform future-proof and up to speed with the latest requirements of demanding audiences, the company introduces the following three new solutions at InfoComm 2019 in Orlando, Florida.

The newest addition to the E2 family, the E2 Gen 2, features all the great proof points of its predecessors such as the rugged and modular design, the straightforward user interface and the flexible layer management. However, it also enables impressive pixel processing power with increased 4K input capacity, due to the total number of sixteen 4K60p inputs. In addition, the E2 Gen 2 ships fully configured with our second generation of single cable 4K60p video interface cards. What's more, the improved power supplies guarantee added reliability and the new 4K Multi-viewer brings full 4K resolution or four independent HD outputs allowing for full situational awareness of all inputs and outputs in the system while operating the most impressive shows. Thanks to its linkable chassis, the E2 Gen 2 can easily expand beyond the capabilities of a single box supporting the largest canvases available without the need for additional external processing or matrix routing.

Barco also introduces a fiber solution for 4K distribution over long distances. Many of today's events and installations use fiber to transmit signals over long distances relying on external fiber extenders which increases the complexity of the show setup. With native 4k60p processing using SMPTE standard fiber formats, Barco's peer to peer fiber solution eliminates the need for external fiber extenders saving users both time and money, as well as reducing possible signal drop-outs caused by weak signal chain components. The complete fiber card solution consists of a fiber output card connected to the image processing device and a fiber input card which can be integrated in Barco's large venue projectors like the UDX.

To further support the growth of 4K signals, Barco also brings a new CXP I/O expansion card. Previously, if two or more screen management processors were linked together, the EX was not able to be included in the system. With the new CXP I/O card, the EX can be used as a stage box extension or input expansion while still keeping the main processors linked together, enabling the processing of those extremely large pixel canvases.

To conclude, the screen management's premium content support is further improved by supporting HDR 10 and HLG high dynamic range content, wide color gamut (BT.709, DCI-P3 and BT.2020), and high frame rate signals up to 120Hz natively.

Visit Barco at InfoComm 2019, June 12th - 14th at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, booth #3400. Register here to redeem a free Exhibit Hall pass with the Barco code BAR742.