Processing that fits your workflow, not the other way around
Densite X
Densité X: Virtualized Signal Processing for Modern Media Operations
Densite
Summary
Densité X is the virtualized evolution of Grass Valley’s trusted Densité family, engineered for modern operations that demand flexibility, integrity and real-time performance. Running on AMPP OS, it brings the full depth of professional signal processing into software defined environments where location should never limit capability. With Densité X, every operation can run the processing it needs exactly where it needs it across on-prem, private cloud, public cloud or GV Hosted deployments and scale instantly with your demands and without compromise.
One Unified Densité Family
Signal processing sits at the heart of the operation, whether signals originate in SDI, IP or cloud native workflows. Grass Valley’s Densité family has proven its excellence and reliability for decades. Densité X continues that legacy while extending it into virtualized and distributed operations. It carries the same focus on integrity, precision and operational freedom that made the original Densité family trusted worldwide. The difference is that Densité X removes physical limitations and lets you deploy professional processing wherever your operation needs it.
Why Densité X Exists
Modern operations increasingly span multiple locations, data centers and cloud regions. Signals need to be managed where they flow, not where hardware happens to sit. Traditional fixed frame processing is still essential for many SDI- and IP-driven facilities, but today’s hybrid environments require agility.
Densité X is designed for those moments. When you need scalable processing, when signals enter or leave IP domains, when you build pop up control rooms, when events spike your technical load or when you want low latency tools deployed at the edge without building new infrastructure.
Densité X is the Densité DNA, virtualized for an operation that never stands still ang brings you further.
Densité vs Densité X Comparison Table
| Requirement | Densité Hardware | Densité X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Deterministic, local, low latency | Deterministic performance across edge and cloud, low latency |
| Signal Domain | SDI native, SMPTE 2022-6, SMPTE 2110, DVB ASI and 2022-1/2/3 | SMPTE 2110, SRT, NDI, RTMP, AMPP Streaming, H.264, H.265 |
| Scalability | Card by card, Frame by frame | Elastic and unlimited |
| Deployment | In facility | On Prem, Cloud, Hybrid, GV Hosted |
| Cost Model | CAPEX cards and feature options | OPEX, on demand usage |
| Best Fit | Central facilities, fixed routing and flight packs | Distributed, hybrid, pop up, Cloud-native and scalable workflows |
Operational Freedom Without Architectural Constraints
Densité X allows you to place processing exactly where it delivers the most value. It runs on AMPP Edge for on prem scenarios, in private or public cloud compute for distributed workflows and on GV Hosted for hosted capacity when timelines demand it. Instead of forcing operators to work around infrastructure, it aligns to the way people actually run productions. This allows teams to experiment, adapt and scale without redesigning their core routing or compute environment.
Proven Broadcast Integrity in a Virtualized Form
Grass Valley built Densité X on the principles that defined the Densité line: signal correctness, format flexibility and predictable performance. Every application maintains deterministic behavior even in decentralized environments, ensuring accurate switching, precision keying, format aware muxing and reliable timing. Engineers do not sacrifice the professional expectations they have built over years of Densité use. They simply gain deployment flexibility and dynamic capacity.
Business Agility and Real-Time Scalability
Processing needs are highly uneven across live events, pop up studios and remote workflows. Densité X offers the agility to scale capacity instantly, using pay as you go models and flexible deployment locations. This reduces idle hardware, prevents over provisioning and ensures that operational teams always have the right tools available for the workload at hand. It is a direct extension of Grass Valley’s strategy to give customers economic control without compromising quality, reliability or creative intent.
ACE-3901-GRID: The Bridge That Connects Today’s Facility to Tomorrow’s Flexibility
Many facilities want the agility of virtualized processing yet cannot redesign their entire infrastructure to get there. Signals still move through SDI islands, legacy IP domains or fixed routing layers that were never built for software defined workflows. The ACE-3901-GRID solves this by acting as a universal gateway inside the Densité family. GRID converts and routes signals between SDI, creating a flexible access layer that exposes your existing operation to the power of AMPP OS based applications. It lets you introduce Densité X processing without disrupting your current plant so virtualized tools become an incremental extension rather than a replacement. With ACE-3901-GRID in place, your operation gains immediate interoperability, gradual migration options and a future proof path to expand with other AMPP OS capabilities whenever the workflow demands it.
Key Features
Flexible deployment anywhere
Runs on AMPP OS with elastic deployment across edge, private cloud, public cloud and GV Hosted environments
All-in-one signal processing
Provides a complete set of signal processing tools including switching, keying, muxing, delay, monitoring and timing
Trusted HD/UHD performance
Delivers deterministic performance in HD and UHD so engineers can trust signal behaviour in any operational setup
Built-in self-healing resilience
Uses Dynamic Device Replacement, with GV Orbit orchestration, to self heal when hardware becomes unavailable
Scales instantly for any demand
Supports unpredictable production demands so operators always have the right tool in their toolbox at the moment they need it
No spares needed with virtualized resources
Eliminates the need for dedicated spare modules because AMPP OS resources can take any shape required by the workflow
Modular apps tailored to your workflow
Structured as modular applications so teams only use and activate what their workflow requires
Application Categories
The processing applications for Densité X offer various solutions in the total production chain.
Signal Processing
Signal processing defines the visual and auditory quality of your production. Clean switching, precise keying and reliable muxing ensure that every signal is shaped correctly before it reaches routers, switchers or distribution paths. These functions give operators confidence that pictures and audio will behave exactly as expected even in complex or fast changing environments. With Densité X, processing becomes location independent which allows teams to apply high quality processing in a distributed or hybrid workflow.
| Application | Input/Layer Variants | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Cut | 2,4,8 Inputs | Seamless switching with deterministic timing |
| UHD Clean Cut | 2,4,8 Inputs | Clean UHD switching for multi feed workflows |
| Single Layer Keyer | 1 Layer | Precise HD keying for overlays |
| 4 Layer Keyer | 4 Layers | Multi layer HD keying for complex compositions |
| Single Layer UHD Keyer | 1 Layer | UHD precision keying |
| 4 Layer UHD Keyer | 4 Layers | UHD multi layer keying |
| AV Mux | N/A | Audio, video and metadata muxing |
| CC Mux | N/A | Closed caption muxing |
Protection Switching
Protection switching is the safety net of live production. These tools guarantee continuous output even when a primary feed fails, allowing operators to switch sources without visible or audible disruption. For end users this delivers peace of mind because the system responds instantly to problems without introducing visual artifacts. Densité X brings this resilience into virtualized environments so redundancy logic is no longer tied to hardware availability.
| Application | Input | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Changeover: 2x1 redundancy switching | 2 Inputs | UHD aware redundancy switching |
| Advanced 3x1 Changeover UHD: 3×1 redundant clean switching with video/audio error monitoring and failover prioritization rules. | 3 Inputs | UHD aware redundancy switching |
Delay and Timing
Small timing adjustments often prevent major operational issues. Delays compensate for path differences, synchronize distributed sources or create controlled program offsets. Timing tools help operators align signals so everything arrives in the right order, which is critical in cloud and hybrid architectures. With Densité X, these timing functions can be placed at the edge or in the cloud so synchronization becomes part of the workflow rather than a constraint imposed by infrastructure.
| Application | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Densité X Delay | Frame accurate delay insertion |
Test and Utility Tools
These tools give operators practical control over timing, reference patterns and synchronization. Test signals help validate new paths, clocks and timers support operational coordination and the PTP client ensures alignment across distributed systems. For end users these functions make workflows cleaner and easier to manage by removing friction during setup, testing and live execution. In Densité X, these tools remain available everywhere without requiring dedicated hardware.
| Application | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Test Signal Generator | Reference test patterns |
| Clock | Accurate clock outputs |
| Timers | Countdown and timing utilities |
| S2059 PTP Client | PTP alignment for hybrid workflows |
| VideoScope | Waveform and vectorscope monitoring |
| VideoScope Monitor | Multiview waveform and signal analysis |
Playback and Recording
Playback and recording functions support simple content workflows without relying on large servers or asset systems. Operators can roll clips, record feeds and create quick turnarounds directly inside the processing layer. This reduces operational overhead and speeds up reaction time during live events. With Densité X, these capabilities can be deployed on demand in any environment which offers flexibility for pop up productions and distributed teams.
| Application | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Clip Player HD | Fast playback for live workflows |
| Clip List Player HD | Managed playback lists |
| Clip Recorder HD | Live signal recording |
Mosaic
Channel guide mosaics and multi feed compositions play a crucial role in distribution workflows. They give viewers a complete overview of available channels or feeds in a single output and make navigation easy. Densité X Mosaic brings this capability into virtualized environments by allowing operators to combine multiple live inputs, position them as PiPs or boxes and enrich the output with HTML based overlay
| Application | Input | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Densité X Mosaic | 4 Inputs | Multiple PiPs with individual scalers and positioners, HTML overlay support |
| Densité X Mosaic | 8 Inputs | High density channel guide mosaic with PiPs, scalers, positioners and HTML overlays |
Densite X - AMPP Application Range
Densite X extends Densite trusted signal processing into software applications on AMPP OS
Densite -X Audio Processing App
Audio Processing App is a streamlined interface for configuring multichannel audio processing, signal routing, and audio transformation workflows. It provides an intuitive workspace for managing audio streams, format conversions, and processing chains in real time.
Densite -X Audio DownMix 5.1 to 2.0 Stereo App
Audio DownMix 5.1 to 2.0 Stereo App provides seamless conversion of 5.1 surround audio into high-quality stereo output, ensuring optimal compatibility for stereo playback environments while preserving audio clarity and balance.
Densite -X Up/Down/Cross Processing App
Up/Down/Cross Processing App is a streamlined interface for configuring real-time video synchronisation, format conversion, image processing, and associated metadata handling. It supports a single video input with a permanently available primary output and an optional secondary output within a focused, signal-flow-based workspace.