FLEX delivers highly flexible video and audio decoding capabilities as an option for Harmonic’s Electra® or IonTM encoder chassis. A single FLEX module is able to decode up to two (2) incoming channels, and an appropriately configured encoder can deliver up to four (4) channels in a single rack-unit (1-RU). The highly versatile FLEX decoder module will decode AVC or MPEG-2 in either standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) 4:2:0 formats, thereby eliminating the dependency on ingress formats.
FLEX is a unique gateway designed with the flexibility to deliver pre-compressed video to any Electra or Ion encoder. FLEX supports both ASI and IP inputs, the most efficient interfaces used to route and transport pre-compressed video feeds.
By offering an IP input interface to the encoder, FLEX delivers a key technology required for the industry’s continued migration to all-IP headends. This option enables operators to source content from IP networks or IP-ready RF demodulators/ descramblers. This solution greatly reduces overall system cost and complexity, supports the most common video and audio formats in use today, and was developed to meet the current and future needs of multi-service providers.
• Integrated decoding for Electra® and IonTM encoder product lines
• Dense and versatile, decodes up to two services per card
• Transport Stream inputs via GbE IP, ASI and 8VSB available to support DVB & ATSC applications
• Video Decoding: SD, HD MPEG-2 and AVC video; CBR or VBR
• HD to SD down-conversion
• Confidence monitoring video port
• MPEG-1 Layer II and Dolby® Digital (AC-3) Audio decoding
• Dolby® Digital AC-3, AAC, HE AAC, and MPEG-1 Layer II audio pass-through, up to 8 channels
• Level MagicTM Audio Level Control/ Adjustment
• Vertical Interval Data Services, EBIF, SCTE- 35, and DVB subtitles pass-through
• Controlled via NMX Digital Service ManagerTM or standalone web GUI