For years, Magewell has been a market leader in helping production and AV professionals bridge traditional and IP-based media workflows with innovative solutions to convert between signals and streams. Making its debut at the 2024 NAB Show, Magewell’s new Modator family brings the reliability and low-latency performance of the company’s standalone encoders and decoders to a high-density, modular, rackmount form factor.
The new Modator 2U chassis is designed to fit standard rack deployments and has slots for up to 10 modules. Users can configure frame network settings and monitor the status of the chassis and installed modules through the integrated 4.8-inch LED touchscreen or browser-based web interface. Dual power supplies and optimized heat dissipation enable reliable 24/7 operation.
The hot-swappable Modator modules each offer their own network connectivity and can work independently to convert between baseband video/audio signals and IP streams. Each module features a web-based management interface, while the Modator 2U frame and each installed module can also be centrally configured, controlled and monitored through Magewell’s optional Control Hub management software.
The first four Modator modules all support NDI video connectivity technology. Initial modules include:
• Pro Convert HDMI Plus Module: encodes HDMI input signals into high-definition IP streams in the NDI High Bandwidth format
• Pro Convert HDMI 4K Plus Module: encodes HDMI input signals into NDI High Bandwidth at up to 4K (4096×2160) resolution at 60 frames per second
• Pro Convert for NDI to HDMI Module: decodes IP streams up to 2560×1440 in a wide range of formats (including NDI High Bandwidth, NDI HX2, NDI HX3, TVU ISSP, and H.264 or H.265 delivered via RTMP, RTSP, HLS, MPEG-TS and more) for HDMI output
• Pro Convert for NDI to AIO Module: the same decoding features as the Pro Convert for NDI to HDMI Module, but with simultaneous HDMI and SDI outputs up to 1080p60
Up to ten modules can be mixed-and-matched in any combination within the Modator chassis to meet customers’ specific encoding and decoding project requirements.
“As IP-based production and distribution deployments continue to grow in scale, customers often want a higher-density form factor for greater space efficiency,” said James Liu, VP of Engineering at Magewell. “The new Modator series delivers our hallmark reliability and low-latency performance in a scalable solution that addresses this need.”
The Modator 2U and first series of modules are expected to ship within the next 60 days. For more information, please visit www.magewell.com.
