Leading Japanese Video Production Company Selects Matrox Monarch EDGE for World-Class Remote Productions (REMI)

A full-service video production company, Tokyo Sound Production Inc. (TSP) provides video coverage of live entertainment and sporting events across Japan. In order to both optimize resources and expand its online live streaming offering, the company needed an encoder and decoder pair capable of transporting multiple channels of exceptional-quality video over long distances using a VPN. With the adoption of the Matrox® Monarch EDGE E4 encoder and D4 decoder, TSP was able to begin affordably producing high-quality remote productions for events across Japan and limit the presence of on-site staff.

Searching for a superior multi-channel video transport solution

When TSP began broadcasting video over the internet using remote production in 2019, the company’s goal was to make more live event content readily available to viewers, as well as reduce the number of on-site staff required for productions.  “As a pioneer in the video production industry, TSP is aiming to consistently improve the content we deliver and the way we produce it,” said Kengo Kaketa, Chief Digital Officer, Strategy and Sales Departments at TSP. “Once we found out about the Matrox Monarch EDGE encoder and decoder pair, we knew that the innovative devices would enhance our workflow by enabling us to optimize everything from video quality to staff interactions.” After learning more about the Monarch EDGE encoder and decoder pair at the Inter BEE trade show, TSP knew that the products would allow the company to achieve its goal of expanding its live web content offering. Monarch EDGE’s ability to securely transport multiple streams of HD video made the product ideal for delivering broadcast-quality, multi-camera-angle productions to the company’s web interface.

Improving efficiency through remote production

As TSP covers live events in various regions across Japan, a small crew of camera operators and assistants typically travels to the remote site. Four SDI cameras capture the 1080p event video and send it directly to the Monarch EDGE E4 4:2:2 10-bit encoder on-site. From there, streams are sent via VPN using either SRT or MPEG2-TS to the Monarch EDGE D4 decoder located in the TSP production studio in Tokyo. At the studio in Tokyo, audio is added, and the produced video is delivered to TSP’s website. There, viewers can watch high-quality, multi-camera-angle broadcasts of their favorite live entertainment or sporting events in near-real-time.

Remote productions that stand out from the crowd

The Monarch EDGE encoder and decoder pair have enabled TSP to cover more live events with a reduced amount of staff and a simplified set of equipment. As a result, the company even has plans to soon expand its offering to cater to clients in the enterprise sector as well as provide interactive, multi-viewer live streams to audiences. “The Matrox Monarch EDGE encoder and decoder devices have allowed us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by giving us the means to cover more of the live events viewers want to see,” said Kaketa. “Taking advantage of Monarch EDGE’s REMI capabilities has not only allowed us to create the visually outstanding video but also keep our staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting their travel and in-person interactions.”