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Fraunhofer Brings Professional Codec to IBC

Fraunhofer IIS will both demonstrate and launch new digital media and cinematic solutions at IBC 2015, which takes place in Amsterdam this September.

Of particular interest is Fraunhofer’s Lici codec. IBC 2015 will see the first real-world implementation of this software in a KVM set-up. It will be demonstrated with IHSE GmbH and Viscon GmbH, as part of the IBC Content Everywhere Technology in Action theatre (11th September, 3pm in Hall 8).

Lici is intended as a cost-effective solution for image processing and transmission systems in professional production. Designed for use in cameras and other multimedia applications, the codec adapts image data streams to the available infrastructure and bandwidth. Resolution and dynamic range enhancements are maintained. The result, says Fraunhofer, is visually lossless transfer of 2k, 4k and 8k content at 30Hz and 60Hz. Lici can also be used with HDR monitors, due to its 12-bit colour depth.

New and existing systems will be able to support Lici. Future applications will include video over IP and media contribution.

Fraunhofer will also discuss the Digital Media Alliance – a rebranding of the Digital Cinema Alliance. The group says that ‘Technologies for the big screen quickly become part of the broadcast and multimedia worlds’. These technologies include shorter timeframes, new file formats and new codecs. The new name reflects the Alliance’s developments beyond cinema.

Fraunhofer’s light-field technology has been encapsulated into plug-ins for The Foundry’s Nuke software suite. Film professionals can use this with multi-camera arrays and multi-view processing. Light-field technology exploits the recording of several camera views of the same scene from a single shot. Depth maps, virtual camera movements and focus changes can be accomplished in post-production. Test licenses are available for the first professional users.