High Definition media playback is becoming more and more accepted as the default resolution for large scale projection and display of media. There are plenty of players out there that will do the job. But what if you want the quality of true 1920 x 1080 resolution media playback but with the realtime functionality of a Hippotizer media server? Let us introduce you to the Hippotizer HD.
Hippotizer HD is the most powerful media server on the market today. Many servers claim to play back HD resolution media but don't be fooled by those playing the domestic HD standard 720p format. Hippotizer HD will play multiple layers of media in sizes up to full 1080p resolution. As with all Hippotizer servers, you can add effects, manipulate the media with thousands of combinations and all without compromising the rock-solid playback engine at the heart of the system. For many devices the strain of large HD format files means unreliable playback and trade off in quality. The Hippotizer HD uses the latest hardware and highly optimised software to ensure your quality isn't compromised when you want to push the envelope.
Add effects, rotate, colour and scale your media. Do all this in realtime from the built-in timeline with confidence. Connect together several Hippotizer HDs using HippoNet and you have the controls to create events on scales previously only dreamt of.
Hippotizer HD drives some of the world's most acclaimed theatre, television and Rock n Roll projects. Because it delivers time and time again, day in, day out, its track record is proven and our new Hippotizer V3 software elevates this to new heights.
And our on board media engine respects the resolution of added media, so if you occasionally need to use the Hippotizer HD for smaller projects it will always be ready, working for you time and time again but with the headroom to tackle the monster tasks when needed.
Green Hippo
Green Hippo Ltd was formed in 1999 to provide new and innovative solutions for display of media.
With backgrounds in Corporate presentation, control systems and the arts, we decided to glue all these diversities together and create something few others had: A professional team capable of combining technical ability with a creative flair.
Early systems controlled DVD players via InfraRed since affordable hard drive playback for video was a nonestarter. However we soon progressed to servers displaying linear pieces of video via a touchscreen - hardly inovative by todays standards but at the time we knew we had the fastest and most stable system available and our first product was quickly snapped up by Luminar Leisure for their Liquid nightclub chain and the ball was rolling.
But perhaps the biggest step forward came in 2001 when we teamed up with Swiss, Canadian and Siberian partners to develop the worlds first off-the-shelf realtime VJ console and, voila!, The Hippotizer was born. Launched at BAR 2001 the unit soon became recognised as THE realtime video server for the leisure industry.
In spring 2003 we were approached by digital content providers Scene Change Ltd to develop a new variant of The Hippotizer. Digital Video Lighting is the biggest innovation in the lighting industry since the moving head and within months, V1 of the Hippotizer DMX range were born.
Launched at PLASA 2003, the new DMX variants had dealers and users alike clambering to get their hands on the future of media display. These units are controlled via a lighting desk and use the industry standard DMX protocol for control. Suddenly we were ploughing into unchartered territory as one of the pioneers of this exciting new age of media display.
By 2004 we were onto version 2 of the Hippotizer. Not solely for lighting anymore, the units are controllable by all the common industry protocols. Suddenly, with the addition of a seperate control center, dual output on the stage and a whole host of innovative features we were no longer the young upstarts. The system had matured and before long the majority of our systems were finding themselves on broadway shows, A-list Rock n Roll tours and in clubs around the globe. We are flattered to see that the competition now rushes to implement versions of OUR features into their systems! But receiving the Entertainment Design EDDY award for Projection Product of the Year 2005 gives weight to our belief that we make the most complete and useable media servers in the world. But don't take our word for it. Get your hands on one and let us know if we're right!
By summer 2005 things were getting really scary with our new higher profile and we looked at ways to improve the way we work. So we implemented the inevitable and merged with Scene Change Under the Green Hippo banner to strengthen and streamline our team. We now have a core group of enthusiatic worker ants ready to take on the challenges that LED and new applications keep throwing our way.
We're still only seeing the tip of the iceberg with regards to media servers. Keep checking back to see how the adventure is shaping up.
Used Media Servers
Media servers are a type of software application or computer hardware which are primarily used to store, share and process media files. Media servers can be specialist enterprise class machines that are capable of providing video on demand, or they can just be a simple PC or even attached storage device, although dedicated software and/or machines is used for professional applications.
The video processing server, as media servers are often labeled, is becoming steadily more popular in theater, concerts, corporate events, exhibitions and night clubs due to the increasing usage of motion graphics in such events. For this purposes, the image processing system is likely to be a high-spec PC, with a boosted hard drive, graphics system and RAM, together with something like a solid-state hard drive or a RAID system.
These media servers serve as a high performance video engine, as they will run software which allows technicians to control and manipulate the media content, such as controlling the playback of the content. In order to do so, media servers will usually included a MIDI or DMX512-A input.
A media processing engine is usually able to capture media, using specialist hardware like tuner cards, which can capture broadcasted media from analog signals. Once this media is digitally encoded, it can then be saved onto media servers and then manipulated according to the desires of the technician.
