Who is Ipera Technology?
Backed by leading venture investors and run by a team of experienced executives and engineers, Ipera is a privately held company based in San Mateo, California. The company develops Pixel Xtream multi-format video transcoder software and turnkey appliance products based on its own patented technologies that enhance and improve online video quality while reducing delivery costs. Ipera’s Pixel Xtream transcoders are sold to network broadcasters, TV stations, research universities, sports stadiums, and streaming content providers worldwide.
What does Ipera do?
Besides developing, selling and support the industry leading Pixel Xtream line of transcoders, Ipera continues to focus on leading-edge video enhancement algorithm research. It licenses its core technologies to leading OEMs, and sells its unique Pixel Xtream® transcoders and encoders to broadcasters and digital media companies worldwide.
Who are Ipera’s customers?
Our customers are video and digital media companies including CDNs, TV/IPTV/Cable/Satellite broadcasters, content creators and rights owners, wireless carriers, and telcos. They also include consumer electronics OEMs of cellular phones, HDTV’s, STB’s, laptops, webcams, and PCs, among others.
Where is Ipera based?
Ipera is headquartered in San Mateo, CA, on the San Francisco peninsula between San Francisco International Airport and the Silicon Valley.
What is Pixel Magic? Is it a product, a technology, or what?
Pixel Magic is the registered trademark for Ipera’s patented intelligent and low-power video enhancement technology useful for embedded CE devices and online video creation, distribution, and consumption. Ipera’s own Pixel Xtream is a leading transcoder solution that incorporates Pixel Magic to offer the best, most efficient and most value-for-money transcoder in the market today.
Who uses Pixel Magic?
Manufacturers of products such as smartphones, personal media players, web-connected TV’s, set-top boxes, and digital cameras use Pixel Magic’s embedded solutions. OEMs supplying products such as laptops, webcams, and software use Pixel Magic’s PC solutions. Ipera’s own Pixel Xtream transcoder is a leading video transcoder product that incorporate Pixel Magic to differentiate its video quality from competition.
What is the difference between Pixel Magic CE and Pixel Magic SE?
CE is for embedded solutions such and cellular phones, STB, etc. SE supports PC-based applications such as webcams and media servers. CE is very much focused on efficiency and the low-power, low-latency requirements of consumer electronics devices. SE on the other hand takes advantage of the more powerful X86 CPU to deliver more video quality enhancements. Ipera Pixel Xtream transcoders incorporate Pixel Magic SE. Ipera continues to innovate and improve its technology offering. We usually introduce a new release of core technology every year with new improvements.
How do Ipera’s Pixel Magic solutions make my video better?
Pixel Magic is an end-to-end solution that enhances video at three different stages of the video processing workflow: acquisition, preparation, and consumption. It not only overcomes many deficiencies of video capture devices (one example is CMOS sensor noises in low light), it also removes all or most compression/conversion related artifacts such as mosquito noise, blocking, and ringing. In addition, Pixel Magic dynamically analyzes color, contrast, and details of the video and suitably adjusts them when needed. When the video is ready to be consumed, Pixel Magic enhancements are applied based on a deep understanding of human visual perception to display the video at its best on the screen. Depending on the application, Pixel Magic intelligently determines whether to apply all or some of the video enhancement techniques. Meanwhile, high quality deinterlacing and scaling also contribute significantly to output video quality, making Pixel Xtream, which incorporates Pixel Magic video enhancement technology, the best video quality transcoder in the market today.
What processors are supported by Pixel Magic? What do you plan to support in the future?
Pixel Magic currently runs on ARM, TI OMAP, TI DaVinci, and X86 platforms. Support for more processors is being added regularly. Please contact marketing@iperatech.com if you want more information.
What video formats are compatible with Pixel Magic? Where can Pixel Magic be used?
Pixel Magic is completely video format independent. With different configurations, it can be used for pre-processing, post-processing and middle-processing (such as in Pixel Xtream transcoders).
How are Pixel Magic solutions sold and priced?
Pixel Magic solutions are licensed based on the customary model of upfront license fees plus per unit royalty. There may be additional NRE involved if customization or porting is required. Contact sales@iperatech.com to discuss your specific needs.
What is Pixel Xtream®?
Incorporating our breakthrough Pixel Magic® video enhancement technology, Pixel Xtream is a family of high speed transcoder software products and appliances. It currently includes Pixel Xtream multi-format transcoder software and Pixel Xtream® L2xxx transcoder appliances. More products and more platform support are being added to the Pixel Xtream product family regularly.
What’s unique about Pixel Xtream?
Ipera’s Pixel Xtream has several advantages that bring significant value to our customers.
- Quality: Pixel Xtream is the only transcoder on the market that incorporates automatic/intelligent video quality enhancement technology that assures its output streams will always have superior video quality compared with competing products. Bit-rates are also reduced with our innovative bit-rate reduction technology.
- Speed/Throughput: Our highly efficient algorithms and patent pending transcoding architecture deliver a significant speed/throughput advantage. Pixel Xtream consistently runs between 2 to 5 times faster than other leading software transcoders currently on the market (detailed benchmark data is available). Our automatic quality adjustment features also greatly benefit the throughput/productivity as no human intervention is required when transcoding very large volumes of diverse files.
- Productivity: Besides Pixel Xtream‘s intuitive GUI layout and workflow, we have added numerous features including side-by-side preview to further improve usability. The side-by-side preview is a very convenient feature that allows you to immediately know what you are getting before you start your transcoding job. Lots of our users get right into using Pixel Xtream without even reading the manual.
- Reliability: Pixel Xtream can reliably transcode large volumes of jobs. Our longest stress tests run for over a month. Unlike other products that may crash and even have the GUI disappear, Pixel Xtream is highly fault tolerant, and is even able to process “toxic files” that contain errors that crash other transcoders.
- Cost: Not only is Pixel Xtream priced competitively, the fact that it is a low-touch, high-throughput product means you can get more work done with less money spent. In addition, Pixel Xtream has much lower computational requirements which turns into savings on server hardware costs.
Is there a Software Development Kit (SDK) for Pixel Xtream?
No. However, Pixel Xtream has an XML-based API for high volume users that need to interface with other broadcast/streaming equipment. If you need assistance automating tasks within a production facility, or to use Pixel Xtream as a back-end transcoding service from an OEM application, please contact Ipera at support@iperatech.com. Pixel Xtream can be customized for your specific application if you have a unique setup.
Does Pixel Xtream come with hardware?
Pixel Xtream is a software transcoding application that you may run on any Windows machine that meets the minimal requirements. Pixel Xtream L2xxx models are software-based appliances that incorporate video capture, streaming in, and streaming out capabilities. They are turnkey solutions that you can start using by hooking up the cables.
What formats are supported by Pixel Xtream?
Pixel Xtream can transcode many broadcast, post-production, and streaming media file formats. Currently, Ipera supports a very complete set of media formats. If there is any new format that a customer may need, Ipera’s flexible and configurable software architecture allows it to be added quickly. For a complete list of encode and decode formats, please download our datasheet or contact sales@iperatech.com.
How can I scale to higher performance transcoding?
Pixel Xtream typically requires an i7, i5, or Xeon-based server or PC. For high performance transcoding, we strongly suggest you use the newer generation of i7 or Xeon servers. Please contact support@iperatech.com to discuss your specific situation.
Does Pixel Xtream support closed captioning in transcoding process?
Yes, Pixel Xtream supports closed captioning either as an integrated stream, or as a side car file. In the former case, the closed caption information inside MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264 (MPEG-TS or PS) or MXF/J2K can be passed onto the output bit-streams. You can also ingest closed caption information by including a standard .SRT file.
Does Pixel Xtream allow the addition of logos and watermarks?
Yes, Pixel Xtream supports adding your own logos and watermarks.
Does Pixel Xtream ingest DVDs?
Yes, it can directly ingest entire DVD movies for streaming or archiving. It can also ingest VOB files and transcode them into appropriate formats. If the content is protected, you may need to have a 3rd party codec installed to access the content. Please contact support@iperatech.com to discuss your specific situation.
Does Pixel Xtream handle HD?
Yes. Pixel Xtream can handle up to 4K resolution if required.
Can I capture video from tape or live feed for transcoding?
Pixel Xtream L2xxx support live feed from a tape player, DVD player, other playback servers, or from a satellite. Pixel Xtream L2xxx can also accept a stream input that is compatible with Microsoft MMS, UDP or HTTP.
Does Pixel Xtream support priority jobs?
Yes. Pixel Xtream support four different levels of priority jobs. The user can submit a higher priority job if he or she needs it done immediately ahead of other jobs in the queue.
Does Pixel Xtream support ftp input and output?
Yes. Pixel Xtream can take input file from an ftp mount point or directly send the output to a remote machine/location via ftp.
What other cool features might I like?
Pixel Xtream has many unique features that make it stand out in terms of usability.
One example is that it can give you a side-by-side preview so you know what your output file is going to look like before you hit transcode. It makes it much easier for you to set up the transcoding parameters to meet your quality and bit-rate requirements.
Another cool feature is it quickly pre-scans the files for error so you won’t have to wait for a long time before you know whether your job can be completed.
The main UI and transcoding tasks are separate such that the main UI will never crash and kill all the unfinished jobs (or worse, the unsaved settings).
Pixel Xtream can automatically enhance the video quality for you. Alternatively, you can tell it what quality improvement you want to focus on by using the manual setting mode.
Pixel Xtream can monitor and warn you about disk usage before and during a transcoding session. You can “hot swap” out a drive if your server has such capability.
Pixel Xtream is feature rich. You have to explore it to find out!
Does Pixel Xtream notify me when the job is finished?
Yes. Pixel Xtream can inform you when a job is finished via email or text message. It can also send a tone.
Does Pixel Xtream automatically de-interlace?
Yes, if it detects that the input bitstream is interlaced and the output is progressive-scan. However, you can also set up the software so that it will continue to transcode the file in interlaced format. You will notice Pixel Xtream’s de-interlacer brings much more satisfactory results to highly complex texture and high-motion video content.
Does Pixel Xtream support sophisticated scaling and frame-rate conversion?
Yes, Pixel Xtream has a built-in high quality scaler that is free from artifacts and blurring. It supports Auto, Stretch, Letter Box, and Pan Scan scaling mode for sophisticated users.
How long have you tested your software?
We have strict regression tests that run hundreds of jobs at a time. We test it on many different versions of Windows OS and different machines. We have run live transcoding tests as long as a month in our lab. That’s why our customers complimented our product as “rock solid”.
Is Pixel Xtream licensed on a per CPU or per computer basis?
Pixel Xtream is licensed on a “per computer” basis. You may run it in a computer with any number of CPUs (or CPU cores). Pixel Xtream can run multiple transcodes simultaneously, taking maximum advantage of each processor core in your system.
What OS do I need for Pixel Xtream?
You can run Pixel Xtream under almost all 32 bit or 64 bit versions Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 2003 Server or Windows 2008 Server. Pixel Xtream is not available at this time for Linux or Macintosh. Please contact support@iperatech.com to discuss your specific situation.
How does the security dongle work for Pixel Xtream?
Currently, each server or system that runs Pixel Xtream requires a USB security key (also known as a “dongle”). Please contact support@iperatech.com to discuss other options that may be available.
What is your support policy?
Support contracts are available for purchase on an annual basis and are typically required for the first year after purchase. Support contracts cover technical support as well as maintenance updates including all generally available updates to the product and included codecs. Support hours are 8am to 5pm Pacific Time (USA) Monday through Friday. Please contact sales@iperatech.com to discuss pricing and options.
How do I automate transcoding?
Pixel Xtream provides various automation tools for transcoding. You can set up multiple watch folders with the application. Any files appearing in these watch folders will be automatically transcoded and sent to the specified location, according to the transcoding parameters defined by the user.
Can I get a free evaluation copy?
Yes, please fill in the trial version request and we will send you an evaluation copy.
How do I back up my custom settings?
By saving a job, you can save all the settings and reuse the setups for future transcoding.
Can I tell which folders are being monitored as Watch Folders?
Yes, from the Job Queue Manager user interface.
Can I access files and use Watch folders across all machines on my network?
Yes, if the network drive is accessible from the machine you install the software.
I purchased Pixel Xtream through a reseller. Who should I contact for support?
You should always attempt to get service through your reseller first. They are familiar with your setup and will probably know what you need to do. If you do contact Technical Support, please mention that you bought Pixel Xtream through a reseller and who that reseller is.
I have a file that I cannot import into Pixel Xtream. How should I proceed?
First you want to make sure the file format is among the formats supported. Also, you might want to examine to see if the video file has any errors in it. For example, see if one or more video players can play it. Or use a bitstream analyzer to examine it. If you need further assistance, contact support@iperatech.com.
Why does Pixel Xtream fail to install on my computer?
Make sure to extract the .rar (or .zip) file first, then install. And for Windows Server 2008R2 and 2012, make sure Desktop Experience is installed on the servers running these Operating Systems. If not, follow the instructions in this link to install: Desktop Experience.
Why won’t Pixel Xtream start?
Check to see if the USB dongle is plugged in. You should keep the USB dongle plugged in all the time during the transcoding sessions. The Safenet license manager constantly checks the USB key and validates the license.
Why won’t the Pixel Xtream evaluation software start?
Check to see if your Internet connection is working. The trial software relies on the Internet to validate the evaluation license.
Did you forget to install the AC3 audio decoder?
AC3 (or Dolby Digital) decoder is not included in the installation package. Each user will need to click on the link in the readme.txt file: AC3 Audio Codec Download to install it to transcode video with AC3 audio; otherwise, an error message of: “Transcode failed: Failed to create transcoding framework” will occur. Many broadcast files contain AC3 audio and it is important to have this codec installed prior to using Pixel Xtream.