MetaDeck

“Swiss Knife” Portable Media Deck

Camera media offload, professional A/V I/O expansion, and dual-channel 4K recording/playback integrated into a compact unit for studio, OB van, and field production workflows.

Overview

MetaDeck is a portable all-in-one media processing unit that integrates media upload/offload, professional A/V I/O expansion, and dual-channel 4K recording and playback. It can be deployed as a standalone desktop unit or rack-mounted, supporting both studio and field production workflows.

Challenge

The transition from capture to post-production often creates workflow bottlenecks: camera media comes in different formats, inefficient transfers can impact metadata integrity, and professional monitoring requires additional signal conversion solutions.

01

Card-format fragmentation

CFexpress, SD, and SSD media from different cameras often require separate workflows, slowing down media management and transfer.

02

Metadata integrity

Manual file transfers can affect camera metadata integrity, reducing the efficiency of post-production and MAM workflows.

03

Monitoring complexity

UHD workflows require flexible monitoring with simultaneous HDR and SDR outputs for broadcast monitors, HDR displays, and review environments.

04

Recording reliability

Field production requires professional recording formats and reliable capture with hot-swappable media support for extended operation.

Solution

MetaDeck bridges acquisition and post-production workflows in a single integrated unit.

  • Media ingest and managementSimultaneous access to CFexpress Type A and UHS-II SD media, with dual hot-swappable SSD bays enabling continuous recording through alternating SSD swaps. USB4 provides high-speed media exchange between removable storage and NLE systems, while maintaining Sony camera metadata compatibility for efficient, lossless transfer into post-production.
  • Professional A/V I/OCaptures 4K HDR and HD SDR signals from cameras and field sources, supports LUT-based up/down conversion, and enables simultaneous HDR and SDR output through 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0. Optional ST 2110 connectivity arrives through dual 25G SFP28 ports for IP-based broadcast environments.
  • Recording and playbackDual-channel 4K/HD recording and playback with professional formats including ProRes, XAVC, AVC-I,MPEG-2 and H.264, in 2-Rec, 2-Play, or 1-Rec + 1-Play configurations.
  • On-device editingBuilt-in EDL editing marks in/out points and creates playlists directly on the device, while open data specifications enable media exchange with shared storage and asset management systems.
Ingest & RecordingRemote Production

Scenarios

Professional recording with SSD-based media capture MetaDeck captures professional media in industry-standard formats including ProRes, XAVC, AVC-Intra, MPEG-2, H.264 , recording directly to SSD storage for efficient handoff to post-production teams. Camera footage from CFexpress Type A and SD cards can also be quickly transferred to SSD storage, delivering high-quality source files for post-production workflows.

Portable on-site media management and NLE workflow companion. Footage from CFexpress Type A, SD cards, and SSDs can be directly exchanged with NLE systems via USB4. With professional I/O expansion, MetaDeck supports NLE signal capture, SDI output, LUT-based up/down conversion, and simultaneous HDR/SDR monitoring for efficient on-site production.

Compact recording and replay solution for mobile broadcast production. MetaDeck supports OB van workflows with dual-channel recording/playback, hot-swappable SSD operation, and EDL-based playlist management for recording, playout, and highlight replay applications.

Standalone emergency playout solution for broadcast reliability. MetaDeck provides local media playback and playlist operation when primary production or storage systems are unavailable. Built-in EDL editing allows users to quickly prepare playback sequences directly on the device.

Result

MetaDeck simplifies the transition from acquisition to post-production by combining media offload, professional I/O, signal conversion, and recording/playback workflows in one portable unit — reducing equipment complexity and enabling faster, more flexible production workflows.

0

4K record/playback channels, configurable as 2 Rec, 2 Play, or 1 + 1.

0

12G-SDI ports — 2 in, 2 loop out, 4 out — plus dual HDMI 2.0.

0G ×2

Optional SFP28 media links for ST 2110 main/backup connection.

0kg

Easy to hand carry 210 × 131 × 337mm

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