In response to the need for economic growth and development, Toyama Prefecture in Japan formulated a new growth strategy vision called “Toyama Growth Strategy (富山成長戦略)” in February 2021. The goal of this strategy is to promote the development of the regional economy by utilizing its unique resources and strengths.
To effectively implement this vision, they launched the “Toyama Growth Strategy Conference (富山県成長戦略会議),” which brought together professionals from various fields. During the conference, members actively contributed to discussions on a wide range of topics, such as industrial promotion, innovation, talent development, and regional resource utilization. By engaging with experts across different fields, Toyama Prefecture aimed to establish a comprehensive and sustainable growth strategy.
To further disseminate the future strategies of Toyama Prefecture, the “Shiawaseru (Creating Happiness). Toyama” event was held for ten days from March 12 to March 21, 2022. The conference was organized by Mr. Kotaro EBITANI from EverT (株式会社EverT) who ensured that a hybrid format combining both real and online components was implemented across three venues, including the Toyama International Conference Center.
The video production and technical responsibilities were expertly handled by Mr. Yuto IZUMI from KAN-NARI CO., LTD AVC Division. With his expertise, the event showcased clear and engaging visual content, ensuring that the message of Toyama’s growth strategy reached a wider audience.
Challenge
This event was held on a temporary stage and in a multi-purpose hall, and it took a long time to set up cables at each venue in order to connect large screens, projectors, speakers, and other audio-visual output devices. Moreover, there were many devices utilizing images and sound such as PCs set up for cameras and podiums, PCs for remote boarding from Zoom, and backstage monitors for performers, and the cables became even more unwieldy. If many cables are allowed to be in the venue, it is needless to say that it is laborious to set up and remove them, and depending on the venue, there is not enough time to remove them, and in many cases, fast speed is required. The extensive cable layout not only posed challenges during setup and teardown but also added complexity to the overall event logistics.
“I think that the solution to these problems at once is the introduction of NDI. Compared to traditional video transmission methods, NDI transmission does not require a large number of cables, and the set up is very simple. The adoption of NDI technology can result in significant savings in cable count and a reduction in staffing for the event.” said Mr. Yuto IZUMI from KAN-NARI CO., LTD AVC Division.
Solution
To convert the video signal of the conference into NDI signal, Mr. Izumi thought of Kiloview’s N40. The opportunity for Mr. Izumi to use Kiloview’s NDI converter is said to be simple. “I myself have been exposed to a wide variety of video devices in my day and have some knowledge of them. Therefore, I was able to immediately understand how to use the playback-related device even if it was the first time I came into contact with it. However, considering the immediate deployment at the site, the equipment that can be used without any difficulty in setting up can be used for mobility.” The search for an NDI converter suitable for use by in-house members and the selection of different manufacturers through trials and comparisons. As a result, the NDI converter N40 from Kiloview was used for this event. According to Mr. Izumi, he finds the user interface of Kiloview products and the specifications of the N40 particularly user-friendly, even when compared to products from other manufacturers.
As a bi-directional converter, Kiloview N40 supports 4K HDMI video input (encoder) to NDI High Bandwidth with 4K HDMI loop-through for view on monitor, or 4K HDMI video output (decoder) from NDI High Bandwidth. N40 is a real 4K NDI converter for high image quality.
In this event, the HDMI signal output from the PC used on the stage was routed into the N40, where it underwent conversion to NDI. Subsequently, the NDI-converted signal was input into the TriCaster 2 Elite, serving as the main switcher for live streaming.
The N40 has more features that are worth talking about in addition to its strong capabilities in converting video signals:
- This tiny device (1008028mm) can do both NDI encoding and decoding, so you get two for the price of one. Changing the working mode on the UI to the mode you want, and it can easily accommodate all of your workflows.
- N40 has a big-sized bright and distinct Tally for PVW/PGM indication – all is to make perfect cooperation for your team.
- Exquisite design, small and light-weight, which can be easily attached to the camera by a threaded screw.
- N40 HDMI NDI bi-directional converters in rack-mounted forms. The groove design on both sides facilitates the rackmount installation in 1U/3U.
Outcome
Through the collaboration of these professionals, the “Shiawaseru. Toyama” event was able to successfully communicate the plans of Toyama Prefecture and promote its economic growth and development.
KAN-NARI often receives inquiries from event planning companies about event video distribution and technical components. They believe that there will be more and more online and offline hybrid events in the future. In fact, one-third of the distribution sites that KAN-NARI hosts are also hybrid events. Mr. Ebitani, the planner of the event, said that in the future, events such as music events, conversation events, and stage greetings at small theaters operated by the company will be held in a hybrid format both online and offline. They believe that the introduction of NDI will be increasingly important precisely at the delivery site of mixed events that require flexible responses.
At the same time, the professional capabilities, outstanding performance and the cost-effectiveness of Kiloview N40 are noteworthy. When compared to products with similar functionalities from other manufacturers, N40 can be introduced at a lower cost. It is also easy to propose to customers considering the IP workflows, as it supports a wide range of IP protocols, primarily NDI.
