ICE - Automated Channel Playout
Flexible, Scalable, Reliable Integrated Playout Solution
Grass Valley understands that broadcast master control and playout is a complex operation where a large number of sophisticated systems must all work together flawlessly. When we designed an integrated playout solution, we focused on what it takes to make a great channel, not just a box of features, so we created ICE.
ICE is an integrated IT-based system that delivers the operational, technical, regulatory and commercial functionality required for broadcast playout environments. ICE dramatically increases efficiency while reducing complexity. It is a proven system that helps you lower your costs, rapidly launch new revenue-generating services and grow your business. Best of all,...

FEATURES
- Reduces your CapEx for new projects compared to discrete hardware devices
- Eliminates broadcast chain integration headaches
- Choose between the 2 RU appliance with unsurpassed feature set, or the software-only solution
- Scales to any size of system
- Uses proven automation technology from the world’s premier playout automation provider
- Reduces your carbon footprint
- Delivers IT efficiency without losing broadcast resilience
- ICE systems have resilience at the core of every design, capable of achieving up-times in excess of 99.999%
- Grass Valley systems evolve with our users’ needs, ensuring a long life and maximum ROI
- ICE is built around inherent flexibility. Flexicore ensures you can use the internal device the way you want, and can easily reconfigure as requirements change
- All functions conform to the relevant SMPTE and EBU standards
- Options for SDI, uncompressed IP (SMPTE ST 2022-6, SMPTE ST 2110), and compressed IP (H.264 over RTP)
- Hardware ICE appliances offer up to 4 channels from a single unit
- Minimizes the need to transcode. ICE supports a multitude of codec and wrapper formats
- Play out multiple file formats back-to-back
- Full master control functionality
- Make playlist changes 2 seconds before air with confidence
- Multiple DSKs and DVEs
- RSS/XML text crawls
- Still and animated logos
- Audio overs. Live from AES3, SMPTE ST 2110-30 inputs or pre-recorded from internal file players
- Dolby E decode and encode
- Loudness assessment and adjustment
- Closed captions and subtitles in multiple formats and languages
- Up/downscaling of closed captions and subtitles
- Advanced 3D graphics for premium quality broadcast branding
- Automatic HD upscaling and SD downscaling that respect source AFDs
- ARCing and AFD insertion
- V-Chip and XDS insertion
- Audience measurement from Nielsen or Kantar Media
- Fixed latency from input to output
- Mix transitions between any sources, including live inputs
- Ancillary data: Preserve, pass-through, insert, and up/downscale
- Hardware appliances include up to 3.6 TB of local storage, plus ability to add Quantum’s SAN storage
- Media optimized file system is StorNext from Quantum on the 2 RU ICE appliance
SPECIFICATIONS
Multiformat File Support – Play
Any of the supported SD or HD video files can be played back to back; removing the need for transcoding systems and allowing easy migration from legacy video servers. Grass Valley provides a full service to verify your files are supported so you can enter a project with confidence.
ICE supports the following resolutions and frame rates:
- PAL 4:3 720x576 25 fps
- PAL 16:9 720x576 25 fps
- 720p 50 1280x720 50 fps
- 1080i 50 1920x1080 25 fps
- NTSC 720x486 29.97 fps
- 720p 59.94 1280x720 59.94 fps
- 1080i 59.94 1920x1080 29.97 fps
PAL and 1080i50 or NTSC and 1080i59 formats can be played back-to-back on the same decoder.
Grass Valley Recommends: ICE has industry-leading file format support, but every new project should have its playout content validated early on to ensure compatibility.
ICE supports the official SMPTE format standards, however where leading server manufacturers have developed nonstandard implementations, ICE can be configured to match, ensuring files can be exchanged for interoperability.
Supports standard and nonstandard implementation of Long GOP pre-charge values.
Supports the selection of which type of timecode to use where a file is delivered with inconsistent header and timecode tracks (refer to the Ancillary data section).
Supports some types of proprietary Seachange MXF and MPEG files.
In addition to main playback, ICE supports preview functions such as Jog / Shuffle.
DPP – Grass Valley is an official participant in the UK’s AS-11 DPP Compliance Program.
MXF – These options are supported: OP1a, AS-02/OP1b (mastering format), AS-03 (distribution format), AS11 (UK DPP Shim).
MOV – Internal and external essence formats are supported. An odd number of audios can be supported with external essence MOVs, up to 64.
GXF – Support conforms to SMPTE ST 360.
AVI – Wrapper formats support video only with no audio.
MPG – Wrapper supports MPEG Main and High levels.
Play while transfer is supported for MXF OP1a and MOV external essence files.
Multiformat File Support – Record
Any files marked with TDIR can be played back within seconds of the recording starting.
For shared storage for our ICE and ICE LE appliances please refer to the SAN section.
Secondary Master Control Functions
Up to 8 DSKs per mixer
Up to 4 DVE tiles per ICE unit
Up to 4 Audio overs per mixer
Video Playback Formats
Format | Codec | Bit Rate Mb/s | Audio Channels |
Supported Wrappers |
Ancillary Data |
DV25 | DV25 | 25 | 2,4,8,16 | AVI, MOV, MXF, GXF, LXF | MOV, MXF, GXF |
DVCPRO 25 | DVCPRO25 | 25 | 8,16 | AVI, MOV, MXF, LXF | MOV, MXF |
DVCPRO 50 | DVCPRO50 | 50 | 8,16 | AVI, MOV, MXF, LXF | MOV, MXF |
DVCPRO HD | DVCPRO100 | 100 | 8,16 | AVI, MOV, MXF, LXF | MOV, MXF |
IMX | D10 | range | 4,8 | AVI, MXF, LXF | MXF |
XDCAM HD 420/422 | XDCAM | 50 | 4,8 | MXF, LXF | MXF |
XDCAM EX 35 | XDCAM | 35 | 4,8 | MXF, LXF | MXF |
MPEG-2 420/422 (SD/HD) | MPEG-2 | range | 2,4,8,16 | AVI, MPG, MXF, GXF, MOV | MOV, MXF, GXF |
SD MPEG with alpha | MPEG-2 | 40 | 0 | AVI, LXF | x |
HD MPEG with alpha | MPEG-2 | 60 | 0 | AVI, LXF | x |
Pro-Res 422 HD | Apple Pro-Res | 147 | 2,4,8,16 | MOV | MOV |
DNxHD | Avid DNxHD | 36,145 | 2,4,8,16 | MOV, MXF | MOV, MXF |
AS-11 | AVC-Intra100 | 114 | 1 – 16 | MXF | MXF |
WMV | WMV9, 10 ,11 | range | 2 | WMV | x |
Video Record Formats
Format | CODEC | Bit Rate Mb/s | Audio Channels | Supported Wrappers |
Ancillary Data |
TDIR |
DV25 | DV25 | 25 | 2, 4 | MXF, GXF, MOV | x | MXF |
DV50 | DV50 | 50 | 2, 4 | MXF, GXF, MOV | x | MXF |
DV100 | DV100 | 100 | 4 | MXF, MOV | x | MXF |
IMX | D10 | 30 | 4, 8 | MXF | MXF | MXF |
IMX | D10 | 40 | 4, 8 | MXF | MXF | MXF |
IMX | D10 | 50 | 4, 8 | MXF | MXF | MXF |
XDCAM HD 422 | XDCAM | 50 | 8 | MXF | MXF | MXF |
MPEG-2 420 | MPEG-2 | 12 | 2, 4 | MXF, GXF, MPG | MXF | MXF |
MPEG-2 422 | MPEG-2 | 15 | 2, 4 | MXF, GXF, MPG | MXF | MXF |
HD MPEG 420 | MPEG-2 | 40 | 2, 4, 8 | MXF, GXF, MOV | MXF, GXF | MXF |
HD MPEG 420 40 | MPEG-2 | 40 | 2, 4, 8 | MXF, GXF, MOV | MXF, GXF | MXF |
HD MPEG 422 35 | MPEG-2 | 35 | 2, 4, 8,16 | MXF, GXF, MOV | MXF, GXF | MXF |
HD MPEG 422 50 | MPEG-2 | 50 | 2, 4, 8,16 | MXF, GXF, MOV | MXF, GXF | MXF |
HD MPEG 422 100 | MPEG-2 | 100 | 2, 4, 8,16 | MXF, GXF, MOV | MXF, GXF | MXF |
SD MPEG with alpha | MPEG-2 | 40 | 0 | AVI | x | x |
HD MPEG with alpha | MPEG-2 | 60 | 0 | AVI | x | x |
AS-11 | AVC-Intra100 | 114 | 2, 4, 8,16 | MXF | MXF | x |
Pro-Res | Apple Pro-Res | 147,102,45 | 2, 4, 8,16 | MOV | MOV | x |
Avid DNxHD | Avid DNxHD | 145,200 | 2, 4, 8,16 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Full Specifications are available in the Datasheet
MEDIA GALLERY





ORDERING INFORMATION
ICE Tiered Functionality
Select the level of ICE functionality that meets your needs and your budget.
Grass Valley's services include System Architects who are on hand to ensure the system design you need will perform as expected. They will feed your required functionality into a Configurator to ensure effective resource usage, and can advise where a design can be optimized.
ICE — Quantities of SDI Inputs and Outputs
ICE Models and Input/Output Options for SDI and IP Streaming Versions
SDI Functionality | Audio | |||
Model Number | STD | Advanced | Enterprise | AES3 (AES/EBU) |
ICE8STDXM3 | 0/8 up to 8/0 | — | — | 0/0 |
ICE8ADVXM3 | — | 0/8 up to 8/0 | — | 0/0 |
ICE8ENTXM3 | — | — | 0/8 up to 8/0 | 0/0 |
- The video I/O of these ICE versions are configurable at install time to any number of inputs and outputs split across the total 8. e.g., 7/1, 6/2, 5/3…
- If requirements change the software can be reinstalled to accommodate a different split
SDI Functionality |
Audio | |||
Model Number | STD | Advanced | Enterprise | AES3 (AES/EBU) |
ICE12ADVXM3 | — | 8/4 or 4/8 | — | 16/0 |
ICE12ENTXM3 | — | — | 8/4 or 4/8 | 16/0 |
- The video I/O of these ICE versions are configurable at install time to either 8 in/4 out, or 4 in/8 out
- If requirements change the software can be reinstalled to accommodate the other option
ICE SDC — Quantities of Uncompressed IP Streams*
Functionality | ||||
Model Number | LITE* | STD** | Advanced** | Enterprise** |
ICESDCCELITE | 1/1 | — | — | — |
ICESDCCESTD | — | 2/2 or 0/4 | — | — |
ICESDCCEADV | — | — | 2/2 or 0/4 | — |
ICESDCCEENT | — | — | — | 2/2 or 0/4 |
The above grid is based on uncompressed SMPTE ST 2022-6 or SMPTE ST 2110, and using a suitable hardware specification. Please discuss with Grass Valley whether your project will be based on a baremetal installation or under the management of a virtualization hypervisor as this may affect quantities of IP streams.
* ICE SDC LITE is a license for use with record or preview only and not able to be used for channel playout.
** Quantity of inputs and outputs is dictated by the hardware platform provided by the customer for ICE SDC. Please contact Grass Valley for guidance on this.
ICE-CHAS-CX5A – IP-enabled COTS Server
If you would like the benefits of our ICE SDC software, but without needing to specify the hardware to run it on, Grass Valley can provide a COTS server, pre-fitted with a Mellanox Connect X-5 network adapter, plus local storage and all the necessary licensing. This provides uncompressed IP video, either SMPTE ST 2022-6 or ST 2110. If you would prefer to provide your own hardware systems, please contact Grass Valley to discuss in detail.
FEATURES | ICE | ICE SDC | |||||
STD | ADV | ENT | LITE | STD | ADV | ENT | |
FILE PLAYBACK | |||||||
Numbers of decoders | 10 | 10 | 10 | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Numbers of native graphics players | 4 | 4 | 4 | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Up/downconversion | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
ARC | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
MASTER CONTROL | |||||||
Master control transitions (video & audio) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Number of keyers per channel mixer | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Static or animated logos | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Text crawls from files | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Number of DVEs | N | 1 | 2 | N | N | 1 | 2 |
Text crawls from RSS or XML | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
AUDIO | |||||||
Dolby E pass-through | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
4 audio overs & audio players per mixer | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
Audio Expressions for track shuffling | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
Discrete Dolby 5.1 downmix | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Omneon Track Tag audio shuffling | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Audio description (UK) | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Dolby E decode/encode | OP | OP | OP | N | OP | OP | OP |
CLOSED CAPTIONS & SUBTITLES | |||||||
Captioning (608/708) and subtitling pass-through | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
File-based insertion of CC & subtitles | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
Up/downconversion of CC & subtitles | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Open subtitles | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Live insertion of CC & subtitles | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
ANCILLARY | |||||||
XDS V-Chip insertion | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
TC User bit insertion | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
Generate DTMF tones | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
SCTE-104 generation | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
AFD-based scaling & data insertion | N | N | Y | N | N | N | Y |
MISCELLANEOUS | |||||||
Media Biometrics | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Delay server | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Horizontal and vertical line timing adjustment | Y | Y | Y | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
RAID | 10 | 10 | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Number of media disks | 8 | 8 | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Usable storage capacity | 3.6 TB | 3.6 TB | 3.6 TB | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Number of OS disks | 2 | 2 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
FTP transfer speed (please discuss with Grass Valley) | 60 MB/s | 60 MB/s | 60 MB/s | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
SDI video connectors | SMB | SMB | SMB | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Timing – Trilevel or blackburst | Y | Y | Y | PTP | PTP | PTP | PTP |
Dimensions | 89 mm x 483 mm x 705 mm | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
Weight | 23.6 kg | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||
OS | Windows Server 2016 | Windows Server 2016 | |||||
CHARGEABLE OPTIONS | |||||||
Apple Pro-Res | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Avid DNxHD | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Dolby E encode/decode | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Loudness assessment and adjustment | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Audio Upmix | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Advanced Graphics | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
Nielsen/Civolution | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
EAS | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP | OP |
OP = Optional * Please contact Grass Valley for all ancillary data requirements over compressed IP.
Codecs
All codecs except the following are included in all levels of ICE:
- Apple ProRes
- Avid DNxND
Certain functionality is available to all tiers of ICE, but requires a separate license. These include:
- Dolby E encode
- Dolby E decode
- Loudness assessment and adjustment
- Advanced graphics
- Media Validation II
- Nielsen/Kantar audience measurement
- EAS