Overview
BRIDGE LIVE is a broadcast quality, low-latency turnkey system that enables Remote Production (REMI), Synchronous Multi-Channel Video Contribution, Remote Collaboration, Direct to Audience Streaming, and Multi-Bit Rate/Multi-Format Delivery via a diverse range of IP video standards, SDI, or both. New to the BRIDGE LIVE family is the BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4, a high-density multi-channel UHD version of BRIDGE LIVE that supports up to 4x bidirectional 12G-SDI I/O.
BRIDGE LIVE, a collaborative effort between AJA and Comprimato, is designed to provide the performance, reliability, and user-friendly interface required for critical live encode, decode, or transcode applications. Via two models equipped with either 12G-SDI or 3G-SDI I/O, BRIDGE LIVE offers the necessary power and flexibility to enable real-time, bidirectional encoding, decoding, and transcoding for demanding UHD or HD workflows. BRIDGE LIVE is an indispensable component of any contemporary video production toolkit.
BRIDGE LIVE, with its compact and robust 1RU form factor, offers redundant power supplies and a comprehensive three-year warranty (with an option to extend it to five-years), providing steadfast reliability for demanding applications such as global live concerts and sporting events.
BRIDGE LIVE empowers reliable and secure workflows across a wide range of productions, encompassing REMI, interviews, live event streaming, synchronous multi-camera backhaul with HDR, cloud contribution, program return, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, and ABR ladder profiles tailored for OTT packaging. BRIDGE LIVE provides simultaneous, dependable, and secure operations via dedicated lines or the public internet.
Features
- BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4: 12G-SDI I/O supports multi-channel UHD (up to 4x channels)
- BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8: 3G-SDI I/O supports multi-channel HD (up to 8x channels) and multiple-frame-rate families simultaneously
- Bidirectional Encode/Decode/Transcode; H.265 (HEVC), H.264 (AVC, MPEG-4), H.262 (MPEG-2), NDI®*, JPEG 2000* (TR-01), and JPEG XS* (TR-07)
- Synchronous Multi-Channel / Multi-System Transport for SDI Backhaul or Cloud Delivery
- Protocols: SRT, UDP, HLS, RTP, RTMP/S, MPTS (input)
- Transports: MPEG-TS, NDI, AVC-TS, Fragmented MP4
- NDI Multiple Discovery Server and NDI Groups support
- Multi-bit rate/format distribution, ABR Ladder Profiles for OTT hand-off
- Selectable profiles for 12, 10, and 8-bit, 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 depending on the codec
- Unmatched metadata capabilities including MPEG-2 ANC, SMPTE 2038, Ad insertion markers (SCTE-35/SCTE-104), CC/Subtitles (EIA-608/708, Line 21, H.264 SEI)
- Hitless Redundancy via ST 2022-7 and SRT bonding
- HDR/SDR from SDI source to SDI destination in BRIDGE LIVE end-to-end configurations
- Remote WebUI or local GUI for easy administration, control, and operation
- Monitoring, Control, and Automation supported via REST API or SNMP
- Turnkey 1RU rackmountable, enterprise class form factor
- Dual 10 GigE interface for control and transport
- Dual power supplies for critical application redundancy
- Three-year warranty**
BRIDGE LIVE FAMILY I/O Overview
The BRIDGE LIVE family supports the most widely used IP video encodeing formats and transport protocols to solve your workflow needs. The BRIDGE LIVE family supports conversion between SDI and numerous IP video and audio solutions, as well as pure IP conversion and distribution workflows.
For further details on how BRIDGE LIVE facilitates REMI, Contribution, Collaboration, Streaming, and Delivery, please explore the many BRIDGE LIVE example workflows located further down this page.
Transport, Containers, and Protocols
BRIDGE LIVE can be configured to meet your IP video and audio transmission deliverables, whether it’s low-latency or high-quality signal delivery. BRIDGE LIVE gives you the tools to move content and deliver according to your workflow needs.
BRIDGE LIVE supported Protocols
- HLS
- RTP
- RTMP
- RTMPS (output)
- SRT
- UDP
- MPTS (input)
- JPEG 2000 (VSF-TR01)*
- JPEG XS (VSF-TR07)*
BRIDGE LIVE supported Transport Formats
- MPEG-TS
- NDI*
- AVC-TS
- Fragmented MP4
BRIDGE LIVE supported Audio Formats
- AAC-LC (ADTS, LATM)
- AAC-HE v1& v2 (ADTS, LATM)
- AC3
- E-AC3 (input)
- Dolby-E Pass-through
- MPEG-2 Audio
- NDI* (uncompressed float)
- Uncompressed PCM (multi-channel)
Supported Encodes/Decodes
BRIDGE LIVE supports the following configurations for encoding and decoding between SDI and streaming formats as standard. Multiple streams, formats, and destinations can be derived from a single SDI input.
H.265 (HEVC):
- 8-bit or 10-bit
- 4:2:0
- BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4: Up to 4x 60p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
- BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8: Up to 8x 60p HD 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
- BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4: Up to 4x 60p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
- BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8: Up to 8x 60p HD encode/decode to/from SDI
- SRT, RTMP, and MPEG-TS protocol support
H.262 (MPEG-2):
- 8-bit
- 4:2:0
- BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4: Up to 4x 30p or 60i HD encode/decode to/from SDI
- BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8: Up to 8x 30p or 60i HD encode/decode to/from SDI
- SRT, RTMP, and MPEG-TS protocol support
NDI*:
- 8-bit or 10-bit
- 4:2:2
- BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4: Up to 4x 60p UltraHD encode/decode to/from SDI
- BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8: Up to 8x 60p HD encode/decode to/from SDI
-
NDI inputs can be received, transcoded, and output as IP video streams. IP video inputs can be received, transcoded, and output as NDI streams, up to UltraHD resolution
*NDI is available with an optional license.
SRT Ready
SRT is an open-source video transport protocol and technology stack that optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks, providing secure streams and easy firewall traversal, bringing the best quality live video over unreliable networks. The SRT Alliance is a collaborative community of industry leaders and developers dedicated to achieving lower latency internet video transport by continuously improving open source SRT. Encryption built into the SRT protocol ensures secure streaming video content delivery with low-latency and secure reliability.
BRIDGE LIVE supports SRT bonding, enabling redundant stream support over an ISP to ensure hitless delivery of the originating source.
Metadata, HDR, Timecode, and Closed Captioning Support
BRIDGE LIVE fully supports Closed Captioning as well as additional metadata, which is often a neglected feature set compared to other encode/decode solutions.
BRIDGE LIVE supports:
- MPEG-2 ancillary packet support, SMPTE ST 2038
- SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry, Luminance via SDI
- SCTE-35/SCTE-104 Ad insertion markers
- CEA-608/CEA-708 Closed Captioning
- Timecode
- Embedding Closed Captioning/Subtitles into H.264 SEI messages
- Metadata pass-through
- Electronic Program Guide (EPG) on input
- SEI (supplemental enhancement information) timecode insertion
Simultaneous Bidirectional Encoding and Decoding
BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4 and BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 support simultaneous bidirectional encoding and decoding from UltraHD (BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4 only), HD, and SD baseband sources. Both models support UltraHD from IP-based sources.
For example, with a pair of BRIDGE LIVE systems, a broadcast facility can receive three incoming encoded camera sources from a remote location and decode them back into SDI for editing and production while simultaneously providing program return to the remote location. This example shows 4-channel capability on BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4, while BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 supports up to 8x HD channels.
Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport
BRIDGE LIVE supports independent SDI source inputs and maintains synchronous relationships while transporting the content to end-point destinations. This functionality can take place between a pair of BRIDGE LIVE units for a synchronous end-to-end SDI workflow, often referred to as SDI backhaul or site-to-site SDI workflows.
BRIDGE LIVE’s synchronous multi-channel capability is also supported for cloud contribution, whereby a BRIDGE LIVE system can send signals to a Comprimato Live Transcoder cloud instance, thereby ensuring multi-source synchronicity for delivery to various CDNs, platforms, and cloud services as IP video.
Hardware
BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4 supports up to 4x UltraHD 12G-SDI for UltraHD I/O in 1RU. Dual 10 GigE ports provide robust network connectivity, and dual power supplies offer added peace of mind.
BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 supports up to 8x 3G-SDI simultaneously for multi-channel HD in 1RU. Dual 10 GigE ports provide network connectivity, and the system features dual power supplies.
Administration, monitoring, and access to both BRIDGE LIVE models are supported via either a network browser or local monitor via the device’s built-in DisplayPort. Indirect agnostic monitoring and automation are supported via both REST API and SNMP.
Contribution - Remote Video Transport
For broadcast, BRIDGE LIVE provides an efficient mechanism for backhauling remote live SDI video sources to the media production facility, where they are converted back to SDI and made available on the internal facility's SDI router for ongoing production/transmission.
Traditional secure lines for remote production can be very expensive, with additional fees charged for time before and after production starts and ends. BRIDGE LIVE allows source cameras and local programs to be transported using publicly available internet, with no penalty for early or extended use during production. BRIDGE LIVE also offers lower latency than traditional secure lines for time critical productions.
REMI - BRIDGE LIVE as a Receiving Hub
BRIDGE LIVE supports workflows where it is necessary to receive contribution streams from various third party encoders, IP cameras, or AJA HELO Plus for conversion to SDI at a production facility.
For example, BRIDGE LIVE could receive UDP or HLS from AJA HELO Plus, SRT from a camera or encoder, and NDI (locally) from AJA BRIDGE NDI, or software such as an NLE, an NDI camera, or a third-party hardware-based encoder.
Collaboration - Reference Video for Remote Creatives
Production and Post: BRIDGE LIVE connects remote artists and clients using reference-quality video, providing a high-quality window into production for those who cannot be on-site. This enables creative talent to collaborate remotely with reference-quality video, while ensuring that media and equipment are securely stored and managed at the secure facility.
BRIDGE LIVE complements 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 a turnkey BRIDGE LIVE, or via optional licenses for JPEG 2000 (4:2:2, 10-bit)* and JPEG XS (4:2:2, 10-bit)*, means there is choice and flexibility in how to approach your needs in terms of quality and latency.
*(JPEG 2000 and JPEG XS require an optional license available from AJA)
Collaboration - Connecting Remote NDI Production Teams
BRIDGE LIVE can be used to connect two geographically separated NDI production teams via the public internet.
For example, a studio or event location could send feeds from multiple NDI cameras to an NDI production or post facility, which can distribute those sources as both NDI and SDI while also returning program feedback to the studio location.
Streaming - Live Direct-to-Audience
BRIDGE LIVE offers a comprehensive platform for live video streaming. Streaming support includes SRT, HLS, RTMP/S, RTP/UDP, and MPEG-TS. These standard streaming protocols provide wide support for services such as Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live.
BRIDGE LIVE offers flexibility for multiple inputs, supports a broad range of formats and bit rates, as well as metadata and redundancy.
BRIDGE LIVE can simultaneously deliver different stream types to partners for direct-to-audience delivery while streaming to CDNs. Partners can then retransmit, transcode, or store these streams.
Delivery - Encoding for Content Distribution
For Studios and Broadcast applications, BRIDGE LIVE facilitates the primary distribution of finished and mastered content to partners for subsequent streaming to audiences.
BRIDGE LIVE can provide ABR (Adaptive Bit Rate) ladder profiles or hand-offs for OTT packaging. For example, encoding to H.264 for hand-off with ABR ladder profiles, including pointing the ladder profile directly to a local packager or CDN.
BRIDGE LIVE can also provide multi-format/rate/bit rate material via HLS. The combined outputs within the HLS stream are presented as a “playlist,” meaning that devices (e.g., phones or tablets) or software (e.g., web browsers) can select a particular format, frame rate, and bit rate based on device characteristics and connectivity.
Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport can be scaled up from a single BRIDGE LIVE pair to multiple pairs, enabling workflows where multiple BRIDGE LIVE systems can receive SDI and send SDI to multiple BRIDGE LIVE systems simultaneously.
HDR is also supported for end-to-end SDI workflows.
Specifiications
BRIDGE LIVE & BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4 SDI Video Formats- (UltraHD) 3840x2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (2K) 2048x1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1080i 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 720p 50, 59.94, 60
- (SD) 625i 50
- (SD) 525i 59.94
- 12G-SDI, SMPTE ST 2082, 10-bit
- 6G-SDI*, SMPTE ST 2081, 10-bit
- 3G-SDI, SMPTE ST 424, 10-bit
- 1.5G-SDI, SMPTE ST 292M, 10-bit
- 270 Mbit/s SDI, SMPTE ST 259M-C, 10-bit
*Only Ultra-HD 2160-line single link is supported, as defined in SMPTE ST 2081-1 and SMPTE ST 2081-10
- SDI
- YCbCr, 4:2:2, 10-bit
- Transport Streams
- YCbCr, 4:2:2, 10-bit/8-bit
- YCbCr, 4:2:0, 10-bit/8-bit
- NDI
- P216, 4:2:2, 16-bit
- UYVY, 4:2:2, 8-bit
Video Codecs
- H.264 (AVC, MPEG-4)
- H.265 (HEVC)
- JPEG 2000 (VSF TR-01)
- H.262 (MPEG-2)
- NDI
- JPEG XS (VSF TR-07)
Audio Streams/Codecs
- AAC-LC (ADTS, LATM)
- AAC-HE (ADTS, LATM)
- AAC-HE v1 & v2 (ADTS, LATM)
- AC3
- E-AC3 (input)
- Dolby E pass-through
- MPEG-2 Audio
- NDI (uncompressed float)
- Uncompressed PCM multi-channel (SMPTE ST 302M-2007)
Metadata
- MPEG-2 ancillary packet support (SMPTE ST 2038)
- HDR over SDI end-to-end via VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry, and Luminance
- Closed Captioning (EIA-608/708)
- Line 21 Captions
- Metadata pass-through
- SCTE-35, SCTE-104
- Subtitles embedded within H.264 SEI messages
- Timecode embedded within HEVC and H.264 SEI messages
- Electronic program guide (EPG) on input
Containers and Protocols
- HLS (input)
- AVC TS segments
- Fragmented MP4
- HLS (output)
- AVC TS segments
- MPEG-TS
- MPTS (input)
- RTMP
- RTMPS (output)
- RTP, UDP
- SRT (including encryption)
- VSF TR-01
- VSF TR-07
Video Processing
- Auto Color Component Sampling based on I/O settings
- Cropping / Padding
- Color adjustments
- Deinterlacing
- Frame rate 50% down-conversion (60p->30p, 59.94->29.97, 50p->25p)
- Frame rate up-conversion (50i->50p)
- Logo insertion
- Resizing
Audio Processing
- Channel Remapping
- Gain
- Sample Rate conversion
- Up/Down-mixing (e.g., 5.1 to stereo and vice versa)
Synchronization
- Input PCR
- Global configuration (in separate transport stream)
- Local configuration (in each transport stream)
- Output PTS
- Pass-through
- Add offset to input PTS
- NTP
- Encoder Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport
- PCR
- Decoder Synchronous Multi-Channel Transport
Audio Input Digital
- 16-channel, 16 and 24-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous per SDI connection
Audio Output Digital
- 16-channel, 16 and 24-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous per SDI connection
Configuration and Monitoring
- Local “Kiosk” interface (keyboard, mouse, and monitor)
- Remote access via Browser
- REST API
- SNMP
BRIDGE LIVE & BRIDGE LIVE 12G-4 Form Factor
- 1RU turnkey system
- 4x full-size BNC (12G/6G/3G/1.5G-SDI compatible)
- 2x 10 GigE
- Local interface via Display Port and USB
- OS custom image
- Update and license via download
BRIDGE LIVE 3G-8 Form Factor
- 1RU turnkey system
- 8x Din 1.0/2.3 (3G-SDI compatible)
- 2x 10 GigE RJ-45
- Local interface via Display Port and USB
- OS custom image
- Update and license via download
Size (w x d x h)
- 17.2” x 16.9" x 1.7" (436.88 x 429.26 x 43.18 mm)
Weight
- 28 lb. (12.7kg) in box
- 18 lb. (8.2kg) server only
Power
- 100-240 VAC 50/60 Hz (Dual, redundant power supplies)
- 190W typical, 245W Maximum
Environment
- Safe Operating Temperature: 5 to 35 C (41 to 95 F)
- Safe Storage Temperature (Power OFF): -40 to 60 C (-40 to 140 F)
- Operating Relative Humidity: 8-90% noncondensing
- Nonoperating Relative Humidity: 5-95% noncondensing
