H.264 Streaming Media Player and Decoder

The Extron SMD 202 is a compact, high performance media player and live stream decoder used in H.264 streaming applications. It provides the flexibility to present a locally connected AV signal, decode a live streaming source, or play back media files from internal memory, removable SD card, local USB, or network storage. The SMD 202 supports a wide range of media file container formats and streaming protocols, making it adaptable for use with a variety of encoded media. Advanced signal processing, scaling, and aspect ratio management supply high quality signals to AV displays. An intuitive, interactive on-screen menu makes setup and source selection using front panel buttons or the optional handheld IR remote control easy. Designed for pro AV applications, the SMD 202 can be controlled using Ethernet, RS‑232, IR, or wired IR.

Flexible High Quality Media Playback
The SMD 202 provides the flexibility to playback media files from a variety of locations including the internal memory, removable SD memory card, locally connected USB storage device, and network shares. A wide range of media file container formats that carry H.264 video and AAC audio can be used including: MP4, M4V, M4A, and MPEG-2 Transport Streams - TS. The SMD 202 presents and plays back content gracefully. Still image files are presented with a variable rate dissolve or a hard cut. Seamless file transitions can be produced using "fast start" MP4 files or TS files in conjunction with .m3u8 format playlists. Closed captions and subtitle can be rendered on-screen from timed text streamed with the video or by using stand-alone SubRip and WebVTT files. The variety of storage media options, container format compatibility and playback features available from the SMD 202 make it flexible to use in many applications, including those with high quality production expectations.

Effective Management of Live Streaming and Playback Sources
The SMD 202 offers powerful tools for managing streaming and playback sources. Playlists and channel lists simplify control and management of streaming content from front panel controls, an SMD 202 remote control, or an external control system. Playlists may be used to organize playback of motion video and still image files, allowing pre-roll video or logos to be inserted prior to stream playback. Playlists may also be assigned to channel presets. The SMD 202 features an interactive on-screen display – OSD, which provides an efficient interface for device setup and identifying device configuration. Content can be efficiently selected by navigating to channels, streams, and media files. The OSD supports a variety of languages including: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.

Broad Streaming Compatibility
The SMD 202 supports decoding of H.264 video and AAC audio using a variety of AV streaming transport and session management methods. It is compatible with the H.264 Baseline, Main, and High profiles up to Level 4.2 supporting bit rates up to 40 Mbps. Pull and push session management methods are both supported. RTP/RTSP, RTSP interleaved, and HTTP tunneled transport methods are available for use in pull streaming applications. Push streaming applications can make use of native RTP transport or the MPEG-2 Transport Stream - TS container format can be used with RTP or UDP protocols. Session Announcement Protocol - SAP and Session Description Protocol – SDP are available for push streaming applications. The flexibility to apply push and pull streaming session management and a variety of transport protocols makes the SMD 202 compatible with a variety of H.264 encoders, IP cameras and streaming network and system configurations.

Advanced Signal Processing
SMD 202 video processing features deliver superior quality and simplify AV integration. The SMD 202 can scale its output signal to a wide range of display frequencies and resolutions, from 640x480 to 1920x1200, including 1080p providing consistent, reliable image quality. The output format can be manually selected or initially configured based on EDID communication with the connected display. Aspect ratio management includes a FILL mode, which provides full screen output, a FOLLOW mode, which preserves the image’s original aspect ratio, or a ZOOM mode, which produces a full screen output that maintains the original geometry of the image. EDID Minder® ensures that all sources power up properly and output content reliably. Key Minder® authenticates and maintains continuous HDCP encryption from the connected source, ensuring reliable presentation on the connected display. Internally generated test patterns aid in validating optimal display configuration. These video processing features support efficient integration and deliver superior quality for AV systems.

Powerful Control and Configuration Options
There are many methods to configure, control, and manage the SMD 202, either directly or as part of a system. The embedded webpage provides an intuitive interface to create playlists and channel lists supporting efficient selection of streaming and media sources, and configuration of SMD 202 signal processing and control parameters. The multi-language, interactive OSD provides an effective interface for device setup and selecting sources directly from the front panel or using the handheld SMD 202 IR remote control. The SMD 202 also supports pass-through of bi‑directional RS‑232 control over Ethernet, providing the flexibility to manage devices such as presentation displays from a central control system.

Applications
The SMD 202 offers diverse streaming, playback, control, and signal processing features packaged in a compact, energy-efficient form factor. It can be used as a stand-alone playback device or as a multi-function source in professional AV systems. Ideal applications include:
- Media player
- Decoding of live streaming sources
- Multi-channel AV streaming systems
- High resolution AV signage systems
- Multi-media presentation source
- Media playback in exhibits or kiosks