NAB 2026: Glookast Integrates Cinnafilm Tachyon Plugin to Enable GPU-Accelerated Video Processing

Why It Matters

The plugin accelerates broadcast and post‑production pipelines while cutting hardware costs, giving broadcasters a faster, higher‑quality, and more flexible workflow.

Key Takeaways

• Glookast adds Tachyon plugin powered by RTX 5070 GPU.
• Plugin offers GPU-accelerated conversion, frame rate change, de‑interlacing.
• Supports Live Mode low‑latency streaming and File‑Based high‑quality processing.
• 6,144 CUDA cores and 12 GB GDDR7 enable 4K multi‑stream handling.
• Reduces need for separate hardware, streamlining broadcast infrastructure.

Pulse Analysis

The broadcast and post‑production sectors have long wrestled with the trade‑off between image fidelity and processing speed. Recent advances in consumer‑grade GPUs, especially NVIDIA’s Blackwell‑based RTX 5070, are reshaping that balance by delivering desktop‑class compute power at a fraction of traditional hardware costs. Glookast’s decision to embed Cinnafilm’s Tachyon engine into its Media Producer and Media Services suites reflects a broader industry move toward software‑defined video pipelines. By leveraging a single GPU card, broadcasters can now perform standards conversion, frame‑rate adjustments, and de‑interlacing without dedicated ASICs. This shift also accelerates adoption of cloud‑native production environments.

The Tachyon plugin taps the RTX 5070’s 6,144 CUDA cores and 12 GB of GDDR7 memory, while its fifth‑generation Tensor Cores handle motion‑compensated detail preservation. Two operational modes cater to distinct workflows: Live Mode prioritises low latency for on‑air events, whereas File‑Based Mode applies multi‑pass motion analysis for archival and OTT master creation. This dual‑mode architecture enables seamless scaling from HD to 4K streams, delivering pristine output that meets the stringent quality expectations of live sports, newsrooms, and multi‑territory distribution. The engine’s AI‑enhanced scaling further preserves fine grain texture across variable bitrates.

From a business perspective, the integration promises immediate cost reductions by eliminating separate conversion appliances and simplifying infrastructure footprints. Broadcasters can repurpose existing server racks, deploying the licensed add‑on across Glookast’s platform without extensive hardware upgrades. The automation baked into the plugin also reduces manual intervention, shortening turnaround times and freeing engineering resources for higher‑value tasks. Early adopters report up to 40% reduction in hardware spend and faster market rollout. As more media companies adopt GPU‑accelerated, software‑centric workflows, the competitive advantage will shift toward those who can deliver flawless, real‑time video at lower total‑ownership cost.