SAM adds 4K capability to new Kula switches


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Joseph O'Halloran

| 09 February 2016




In a bid to combat the growing issue of complexity within broadcast operations, SAM has made its Kula range of multiformat production switchers able to now combine SD, HD and 4K capabilities.



The company, formed after the merger of Quantel and Snell, says the range has been designed to meet a wide range of production needs and is Ideal for multiple applications, from live events, with flyaway packs OB vehicles, and broadcast production, sports and house of worship to entertainment and conference/events.

Built on the company’s existing Kahuna and FormatFusion3 switcher technology, Kula allows users to mix any format, up to and including 4KTV, eliminating, says SAM, the need for external conversion equipment. Capable of handling 4K/1080p/HD and SD in 1M/E and 2M/E versions, Kula can handle multiple formats.

In addition, the company claims that its technology, at its price point and ease-of-operation, allow operators to work quickly and efficiently, focusing on high value creative tasks. The 2M/E HD/SD version can be switched to 1M/E 4K mode, allowing, said SAM, users to benefit from higher production values.

“Today’s broadcasters face a situation that can only be described as challenging; content is being captured and delivered in a wider range of formats than ever before and all of it within the same production workflow,” remarked Tim Felstead, head of product marketing at SAM. “Added to this, we’re seeing content creation explode beyond the traditional broadcast sphere, so there are a growing number of organisations that want to benefit from high production values in order to achieve the flexibility and onscreen result they desire.”