PixelHue Q8 - 4K + 8K Video Presentation Switcher

The PixelHue Q8 presentation switcher offers incredible real-time 4K video processing power. It comes with at most 72x 4K input connectors and 48x 4K output connectors, supporting up to 48x 4K concurrent inputs and 16x 4K concurrent outputs. A maximum of 32x 4K mixing layers (true seamless transitions) in switcher mode or 64x 4K single layers in PGM only mode are supported.

Additionally, multiple different connectors (DP 1.2+HDMI 2.0+12G-SDI) are designed on each input or output card and the Q8 has the 8K video processing capability, allowing you to design and manage all live events easily and economically. Thanks to the *VPU-based architecture, double quantity of layers can be added on one output card and you will never worry about not enough layers.

In addition to the ability of outputting content from the 4K connectors, the Q8 presentation switcher is also capable of transmitting signals to the LED controllers from NovaStar¹ over a long distance (up to 10 km with single-mode optical fiber) without fiber converters. This method not only ensures the signal stability but also lowers the transmission cost, making it a perfect fit for long-distance signal transmission.

The Q8 is very easy to operate and supports flexible control options. It can be controlled via the versatile event controller U5/U5 Pro and all-new event management software PixelFlow, satisfying most control needs. You can use either of the control methods to realize various operations, such as preset related operations, blackout, freeze, and PVW to PGM operations. This makes onsite control and operations a breeze.

The Q8 works with the new PixelFlow, which has fully upgraded architecture, graphical user interface, interaction and ease of use designs. The new architecture enables the software to run 24/7 stably. The visualized user interface is adaptive to different screens of event controllers and computer, and the software allows you to change the skins of event controller buttons with one click, giving you a great look and feel. What's more, the event controller encoders and faders can control the software parameters, making operations smoother. With distinct function areas, hover menus and almost all the functions required in an event, the software guides you from beginning to end of any events with as little complex operation as possible.

The Q8 presentation switcher supports full-link backup, from input source backup to device backup and power backup, to safeguard your live events. Once the input source is not stable or disappears, it will be switched to the backup source seamlessly. When the primary device fails, the backup device will take over the work immediately to ensure uninterrupted operation. Switching from the primary to backup input source or device with no downtime makes the solution highly reliable and worry-free.

Features

• Switcher and PGM only working modes
• Up to 6x input cards with up to 72x 4K input connectors and up to 48x 4K concurrent inputs
• Up to 4x output cards with up to 48x 4K output connectors and up to 16x 4K concurrent outputs
• A maximum of 32x 4K mixing layers (true seamless transitions) in switcher mode or 64x 4K single layers in PGM only mode
• Multiple different connectors on each input or output card, such as HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2 and 12G-SDI
• Built-in *VPU function allows layer resources of one output card to be used by another output card
• *Two Q8 devices linkable for input source sharing and uniform output mosaic and management
• 48kHz 64x64 Dante audio networking hardware and support
• Very easy to control via event controller and PixelFlow
• Device backup, input backup and output card backup, seamless switching from primary to backup 7" touchscreen on the front panel, support for real-time device status monitoring
• Optical copying output supported, 10km long-distance signal transmission over single-mode optical fiber
• 4:4:4 4K@60Hz 10-bit internal processing
• Cross-connector layer within a card does not occupy extra resources, full screen roaming
• Flexible layer features, including mask, border, flipping, copying and mirroring
• Still image management
• Luma key and chroma key for input
• Sync with input and external bi-level or tri-level Genlock signal
• Live input view in PixelFlow
• Custom timing and frame rate on outputs
• AOI function
• Input EDID management
• Custom layout of output connectors
• Output connector copying to quickly offer multiple same sources for backend devices
• Output mapping to enable easier screen configuration
• Batch change of resolutions and frame rates of output connectors
• HDCP 1.3, HDCP 1.4 and HDCP 2.2 for full-link content protection
• Multiple backup modes, device diagnostics, project file import and export, log export and 2+1 power backup for super stability and reliability

Specifications

Inputs

• Up to 48x 4K concurrent inputs through 6 input cards
• Standard, custom and advanced EDID settings
• Custom resolutions: 3840x2160@60Hz, 4096x2160@60Hz, 8192x1080@60Hz, etc
• Input source deinterlacing processing on 4 connectors of each input card
• Input source cropping
• Status LED indicators provided for easy troubleshooting

Outputs

• Up to 16x 4K concurrent outputs through 4 output cards
• Standard, custom and advanced output timing settings
• Output width up to 8192 pixels, better choice for LED applications
• Status LED indicators provided for easy troubleshooting

Multiviewer

• Two dedicated output connectors configured as Multiviewer connectors, with
• resolutions adjustable
• Independent and copying modes: The two connectors display different
• Multiviewer images, or the HDMI 2 copies the HDMI 1 output
• Monitor all inputs and screens (PVW and PGM)
• Customizable layouts for easy use
• UMD display and color adjustment
• Border adjustment for Multiviewer windows

Screens

• Output configured as single screens or edge-blended widescreens
• Bezel compensation and edge blending
• Irregular screen mosaic and output AOI function, ideal for complex and irregular LED screen applications
• The sync source can be set independently for each screen

Transition & Effects

• Luma key and chroma key
• Cut and fade transitions
• Customizable transition durations
• PVW to PGM via Take, Cut or T-bar operation
• Copy or Swap mode for PVW to PGM transition

Layers

• Each Q8 supports up to 32x 4K mixing layers in switcher mode or 64x 4K single layers in PGM only mode
• Full screen roaming supported
• Fade and Cut effects for PVW to PGM transition
• Adjustable layer mask and border with different border effects
• Layer flipping, copying and mirroring

Still Image Management

• Still images can be imported or captured from input or output
• Unlimited still image quantity in 1G storage space
• Still images can be used as BKG and still layers
• Independent BKG for each screen
• BKG filling the whole screen by default

Processing

• FPGA based high performance image processing architecture with
• SuperView scaling engine inside
• Ultra-low latency, as low as 1 frame in proper configuration
• BT.601, BT.709, BT.2020, DCI-P3 color space processing support
• Advanced keying capability: chroma key and luma key
• Compatible with HDCP 1.3, HDCP 1.4 and HDCP 2.2

Control Options

• Event controller U5/U5 Pro
• Event management software PixelFlow

PixelFlow Functionalities

• Long-term stable running
• Upgraded and visualized UI, adaptive to U5/U5 Pro/PC screens
• One click to change skins of U5/U5 Pro buttons
• Software parameter controllable by U5/U5 Pro encoders or faders
• Distinct function areas and hover menu for ease of use

Input Card

• 8x 4Kx2K concurrent inputs per input card
• 4x HDMI 2.0
  • Up to 4Kx2K@60Hz 10bit 4:2:2, or 4Kx2K@60Hz 8bit 4:4:4
  • Support for processing of 8-bit, 10-bit and 12-bit inputs
  • Support for 4:2:0, 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 inputs
  • Support for processing of Full and Limited range videos
  • Support for HDR video inputs
  • HDCP 1.4 and HDCP 2.2 compliant
  • Support for deinterlacing processing
  • Custom resolutions
    • Maximum width: 8192 pixels
    • Maximum height: 8192 pixels
• 4x DP 1.2
  • Up to 4Kx2K@60Hz 10bit 4:4:4, or 4Kx2K@60Hz 8bit 4:4:4
  • Support for processing of 8-bit, 10-bit and 12-bit inputs
  • Support for 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 inputs
  • Support for processing of Full and Limited range videos
  • Support for HDR video inputs
  • HDCP 1.3 and HDCP 2.2 compliant
  • Custom resolutions
    • Maximum width: 8192 pixels
    • Maximum height: 8192 pixels
• 4x 12G-SDI
  • Support for ST-2082 (12G), ST-2081 (6G), ST-424 (3G), ST-292 (HD) and ST-259 (SD) standard video inputs
  • Compatible with SD-SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI and 6G-SDI
  • Support for interlaced signal inputs
  • No support for EDID management or bit depth settings

Output Card

• 4x HDMI 2.0 and 4x 12G-SDI connectors are divided into 4 groups. Each group includes 1x HDMI 2.0 and 1x 12G-SDI connectors. In each group, only 1 connector can be used for output each time.
  • Connector 1 (HDMI 2.0) and connector 5 (12G-SDI) are in a group.
  • Connector 2 (HDMI 2.0) and connector 6 (12G-SDI) are in a group.
  • Connector 3 (HDMI 2.0) and connector 7 (12G-SDI) are in a group.
  • Connector 4 (HDMI 2.0) and connector 8 (12G-SDI) are in a group.
• 4x HDMI 2.0
  • Up to 4Kx2K@60Hz 8bit 4:4:4 output
  • Support for 8-bit and 10-bit output settings
  • Support for 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 output settings
  • Support for YCbCr and RGB color space settings
  • No support for interlaced signal outputs
  • Custom resolutions
    • Maximum width: 8192 pixels
    • Maximum height: 8192 pixels
• 4x 12G-SDI
  • Compatible with SD-SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI and 6G-SDI
  • Support for interlaced signal outputs
• 8x 10G OPT
  • Support for single-mode and multi-mode optical outputs
  • Transmission distance up to 10km in single mode
  • OPT ports copy outputs on video connectors
    • OPT 1 and OPT 2 copy the output on connector 1 or 5.
    • OPT 3 and OPT 4 copy the output on connector 2 or 6.
    • OPT 5 and OPT 6 copy the output on connector 3 or 7.
    • OPT 7 and OPT 8 copy the output on connector 4 or 8.