February 2017 - HDR, A Game Changer

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February 2017

HDR: A game changer The 10 things you need to know about HDR.

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HDR – do believe the hype Consumers like it, creatives love it and everyone is suddenly talking about it.

But is HDR really the next big thing in television imaging? Peter Sykes certainly thinks so.

By Peter Sykes, Strategic Technology Development Manager Sony Professional Solutions Europe

O

f all the next generation imaging

This wave of enthusiasm has certainly not

to better understand the current state of affairs

technologies being tweeted right now,

gone unnoticed. Broadcasters and Internet

when it comes to HDR. Maybe it will even inspire

High Dynamic Range (HDR) is the

streaming service providers alike are

you to start producing content with HDR.

step-change in television quality that is considered most likely to provide viewers with the ‘wow’ factor.

Increased resolution and higher frame rates

embracing HDR. Netflix and Amazon Prime already create and stream content with HDR and, with

training, technology and solutions, becoming a

industry-wide standards for production

trusted partner in your HDR journey. n

are certainly important but the deeper blacks,

and delivery to the home being approved,

brighter highlights and richer colours afforded

broadcasters are continuing to conduct

by HDR adds increased realism to moving

numerous real-world trials. At the same time,

images and helps to make content significantly

HDR televisions are starting to hit a price

more immersive.

point that makes them a viable option for

Contrary to what you might read elsewhere,

the home.

however, HDR is not about making TV pictures

Combined, these factors point to

brighter. What HDR does is take advantage of

one thing: HDR is on the cusp of going

a modern television set’s ability to show pictures

mainstream.

with a greater contrast between the blackest

But this is not an entirely straightforward

blacks and the whitest whites. It uses that extra

shift. Moving from standard to high

dynamic range to present an image that is

dynamic range, especially within live

more detailed. The result is more natural

production, is a challenge.

looking pictures.

Content creators certainly love the additional

Fortunately, Sony has been working with HDR for some time, providing expertise and

artistic freedom that HDR offers but are consumers

technology for non real-time production

interested? Yes, I believe they are.

and now aiding broadcaster trials for live

When you show a TV viewer an HDR image

TV. We’ve already learnt a lot and we are

side-by-side with a standard dynamic range picture,

happy to share our findings with the

more often than not, they prefer the HDR one.

wider industry.

You don’t have to take my word for it. The

Find out more on www.pro.sony.eu/hdr

What is SR Live for HDR? A key challenge has been the addition of 4K Ultra HD HDR production techniques to the existing HD live production environment while simultaneously maintaining the skill sets and workflows demanded to support the creation of content for the current HD marketplace.

Sony has carried out extensive technical research and HDR trials with broadcasters and production companies, which you can read about in our free whitepaper.

We know that not all the pieces of the

Warwick Manufacturing Group (WFG), an

jigsaw are quite in place yet but they are

academic department at the University of

very, very close. It is certainly possible to

Warwick, has conducted research into HDR

start producing content with HDR right now

images. Its findings, in a paper called ‘A study

with minimal impact on costs and only

on user preference of high dynamic range over

subtle changes to existing workflows. We

low dynamic range video’, show that, based

also know that there is a genuine desire

on consultation with 60 participants, “given

among all parties to make HDR a success.

the option, end-users prefer the HDR

Whatever your starting point, Sony can help you make the move to HDR, providing expertise,

If you’re considering HDR, already

representation of the scene over its lower

working with it, or even if you are sceptical,

dynamic range counterpart.”

the following pages will hopefully help you

Download our free whitepaper at: www.pro.sony.eu/hdr

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When it comes to HDR acquisition, there are

RAW or XAVC and then working through to an HDR

which is changing the game for documentary

(DVB) group’s Steering Board approved a new

master in S-Log3.

production with its HDR latitude, and the

version of its audio-visual coding specification,

Sony HDC-4300, a 4K live system camera with

adding support for HDR. Like the ITU’s

and 4000% (4000cd/m²) dynamic range, S-Log3

HDR capabilities.

recommendation for programme making and

is Sony’s format of choice as it is designed to

exchange, it supports both the HLG and PQ

preserve the captured source light efficiently

transfer functions.

and is optimised for production, recording and

a Technical Emmy in 2016. Outside broadcast HDC-4300 for their Ultra High Definition (UHD) units.

extended its 2.0b specification to support HDR

from using Sony’s new X-OCN recording format

In 2016 Euro Media Group chose HDC-4300´s as

services. This allows set-top boxes to send HDR

which offers equivalent picture quality to RAW but

part of a deal for the supply of up to 350 cameras.

content to HDR-capable TV sets.

generates files that are up to 60% smaller.

3. Grading and client monitors for HDR are readily available

5. Post-production workflows for HDR are proven

6. More TVs with HDR are coming on to the market

One of the early challenges faced by content

One of the many positives about HDR is that it

The consumer electronics industry has been

creators wanting to make use of HDR was a lack

can be manipulated within a typical post-

quick to embrace the possibilities of HDR

of professional monitoring. This has now been

production workflow.

television displays. Among the announcements first 4K OLED TV. Part of the Bravia range, it offers

monitor that can be used for accurate colour

specification mentioned above, being agnostic is

unprecedented black levels, rich and lifelike

grading or quality control. A 55-Inch monitor, the

important. As such, Sony supports both the PQ

colour, dynamic contrast, blur-less image and a

Sony PVM-X550, that can display Quad-view

and HLG options, giving customers a choice

wide viewing angle. It will be available later this

Full HD images simultaneously with independent

of either.

year in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes.

Reassuringly, no one is going it alone when it comes to HDR. In July 2016 the ITU’s BT.2100 standard for HDR programme making and programme exchange was formally the wider industry.

1. HDR offers more life-like pictures than standard dynamic range

between the light and dark tones, and both lowlights and highlights visible at the same time,

2. HDR cameras are already in widespread use

It might sound like an obvious thing to say

HDR can help to provide a representation of the

Digital cameras that are capable of capturing

but High Dynamic Range (HDR) provides a

world that is closer to that which is seen by the

images with HDR have been around for many

and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG).

significantly better televisual experience than

human eye.

years and are regularly used on mainstream

The PQ specification, born out

movies and TV series, even if the final output isn’t

of research by Dolby, achieves

mastered or delivered in HDR.

a wide range of brightness

BT.2100 recommends two HDR options: Perceptual Quantization (PQ)

increased resolution, the quality of the HDR

content appear richer and more immersive while

image does not depend on screen size, the

for content creators, the increased dynamic

type of content being watched or the viewing

range provides further artistic choices and the

of 14+ stops latitude and wide colour gamut, they

that is tuned to match the

distance from the display itself. Importantly, it also

chance to produce ever more compelling TV

have been used on Tomorrowland, Marco Polo,

human visual system. While HLG,

looks increasingly ‘real.’

and films.

Mad Dogs, Mozart in the Jungle and more recently

developed by the broadcasters

Alice Through the Looking Glass and Billy Lynn’s

BBC and NHK, offers a degree

Long Half Walk to name just a few.

of backwards compatibility with

and displayed in the shadows and highlights within an image. With higher levels of contrast

at this year’s CES show in Las Vegas was Sony’s

delivery. For delivery, taking into account the DVB

agreed and announced to

This is thanks to the extra detail that is captured

One proven route is to separate production and

A production-to-post workflow can also benefit

a 30-inch Trimaster EL 4K OLED HDR reference

4. Standards for HDR production, programme exchange and distribution have been agreed

Sony´s F55 and F65 are two examples. Capable

future re-use.

completed in December 2016 when HDMI

picture settings, has also been released.

For viewers, this additional realism makes

The final piece of the technology jigsaw was

With similar characteristics to scanned film

facilities all over the world are adopting the

overcome with the launch of the Sony BVM-X300,

The move to High Dynamic Range (HDR) has the potential to be the biggest change to television since the introduction of colour more than 50 years ago.

In preparation, here are ten things that you really ought to know about HDR.

For post-production, Sony suggests shooting in

November 2016, the Digital Video Broadcasting

three-sensor system, the HDC-4300 was awarded

The Sony briefing – 10 Things You Need To Know About HDR

HDR content delivery is covered too. In

also two other important cameras: the Sony FS7,

Featuring the world’s first 2/3-inch 4K

Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). And unlike

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levels using a transfer function

legacy displays by matching the previously established television transfer curves.

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9. Live HDR workflows are a real-world, viable option

10. HDR is not just about technology

One of the key considerations when it comes

good as the people that use it, which is where

to live production with HDR, ironically, is how

the Digital Motion Picture Centre Europe (DMPCE)

to handle the standard dynamic range (SDR)

comes in.

Sony recognises that an HDR workflow is only as

feeds. To avoid increasing costs and re-training

A leading destination for filmmakers and

technicians, broadcasters are keen to generate

television producers, visitors to the DMPCE can

both HDR and SDR images from the same

develop their craft, work with cutting edge

production set-up.

technology and expand their network, aided by a

Sony’s solution to this problem is called SR Live for HDR. It is built around a new convertor unit

team of experts.

Sony training courses do provide guidance on

called the HDRC-4000 that will launch this Spring.

using Sony systems but they also focus on HDR in

In this proposed workflow, live feeds arrive into a 4K

general, giving course attendees a full and honest

HDR S-Log3 domain inside an OB truck where they

insight into how to successfully put in place and

are switched. Then, for the output, the HDRC-4000

manage HDR-based workflows.

converts the signal to either PQ or HLG, or to HD.

From cameras and monitors to end-to-end

The HDRC-4000 can also be used to up-convert

workflows and training, if you are considering

any incoming HD feeds to 4K HDR before they

adopting HDR for epidodic TV, feature or short film,

reach the switcher.

live broadcast trial or a full television service,

As you would expect, Sony provides many of

Sony can help. n

the components required for a live HDR workflow including the HDC-4800 ultra high frame rate

On 20 November 2016, Sony, along with other technology partners, supported Vatican Television Centre (CTV) during its live coverage in 4K HDR of the Ceremony of the Closing of the Holy Door by his Holiness Pope Francis. CTV used 12 HDC-4300 cameras and a Sony HDR S-Log3 system as well as MVS-7000X production switcher and the PWS-4400 replay server system.

camera system for slow motion replays, the XVS-8000 production switcher and the PWS-4500 4K/IP production server.

The HLG profile was used for delivery with distribution taking place via Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD satellites. Globecast provided the satellite uplink using the HEVC compression format while Ericsson, NTT Electronics and Vislink supplied the encoding and decoding equipment.

The broadcast was made available on Channel 200 of the Tivùsat free satellite platform.

Dario Edoardo Viganò, Prefect of the Secretariat for Communications for the Holy See, says, “This is a state of the art set up that reflects Pope Francis’ aim to keep up to speed with the rapid developments in global technology, to support the Catholic Church’s communication mission.”

7. Numerous live broadcast trials have been completed

the live broadcast of the Ceremony of the Closing

was shot on the Sony F55. Since then Amazon has

Even before industry standards were ratified,

of the Holy Door at the Vatican City.

also released HDR versions of Bosch, Mad Dogs

Another notable event captured in 4K HDR was

broadcasters had started taking a real interest in

with HDR was Mozart in the Jungle, a series that

and Man in the High Castle plus various movies.

HDR. But while post-produced content with HDR is

8. The first HDR services are going live

relatively straightforward, live production with HDR is

The first commercial HDR television service in

season one of its original series Marco Polo, again

still a challenge. As such numerous trials have taken

the world was launched in October 2016 when

shot with the Sony F55. Luke Cage and Narcos

place and some broadcasters have started to

Japan’s Sky PerfecTV added HDR content to its

followed. The movie streaming service Vudu

openly talk about their experiences.

Ultra HD channels.

also offers titles in HDR and YouTube announced

Sky Germany, for one, have completed live HDR

A number of web streaming services also show

Netflix followed suit in April 2016, kicking off with

support in November 2016.

trials at football and beach volleyball events. In the

HDR content. Amazon led the way, making HDR

UK, BT Sport have openly acknowledged that they

content available on its Prime Instant Video

via its iPlayer streaming platform. It successfully

The BBC has also made content available

have tested HDR for live sports.

platform in June 2015. The first title to be released

showed 4K HDR clips from the Planet Earth II wildlife series during December 2016.

AMP VISUAL TV

Get in touch on www.pro.sony.eu/hdr

Find out more about our free training on https://training.sony-europe.com