Network solutions for program-making on the basis of Pinnacle Liquid systems

By Oleg Bondarev

Review contents:

Network solutions in TV production Network solutions of company Avid for broadcasting and video production Automation of broadcasting: DIP solutions Networking for live television production Solutions of the JC System Integration Company VSN — all in one Network disk arrays of company Maxtronic Network file-based broadcasting with On-Air Central Video server The tvSuite as the output module of system for organization of the off-the-air broadcasting built with application of network technologies Network solutions for program-making on the basis of Pinnacle Liquid systems Network production from Sony Network solutions Vectorbox

Pinnacle Liquid

At IBC2004 the Pinnacle Systems Company has presented its new development named Pinnacle Liquid 6. It is last version of the popular line of Pinnacle Liquid systems with new opportunities which combination can be named as unique. Among them, for example, editing on one video time scale of different formats (HD, DV, uncompressed, MPEG-2) without recalculation, support of multicam function, Dolby Digital 5.1, etc.

As is known, the systems of Liquid family already for a long time have opportunities of network integration. And in this connection it is necessary to remember, that important feature of Liquid is the presence of the whole range of solutions of different level both at the price, and at capacity, thus all of them have not only practically identical interface, but also full compatibility both over a format of projects, and on media data. There are some features, making the Liquid line very convenient from the point of view of use of network technologies. The main feature is an opportunity without any additional program shifts to operate with the same project on several workstations, naturally, with the common disk space.

It is the most convenient to unitize some stations by means of technology Storage Area Network (SAN). This technology allows using the data of a uniform disc array, provided with connections over Fibre Channel interface. Such construction provides, first, high streams (up to 4 Gbit/sec), necessary for clear processing of uncompressed videomaterial, and it is almost 20 MB/sec, and second, an opportunity of territorial diversity of stations (up to 200 meters and more). To calculate correctly the common productivity required from SAN-file, it is necessary to take into account, how many streams each station will process in real time into the system, and also number of these stations. For example, Chrome allows to process up to four streams, and if station number is three we shall receive 20×4×3=240 MB/sec. So, let’s suppose, that we have built SAN with necessary output (being conformed to all requirements stated above) and have connected three Chrome stations. What advantages we can receive?

The first advantage: we may open the same project from three stations simultaneously, moreover, all changes will at once be visible to everybody that is any appearing clips, titles, effects, and headbands and so on can be used jointly.

We may simultaneously enter the material into one project from three stations simultaneously, or, for example, to start input from two stations, and on the third practically at once to start editing. Moreover, using the tool named Ingest Tool; it is possible to start operation with a file which is not digitized yet. As soon as you have begun “to force”, say, the half-hour cartridge, the clip duration of 30 minutes will appeared in the project and the clip will have the beginning, but the termination is absent (there is the black field). Nevertheless, its part which is already digitized becomes accessible and may be edited, subtitled or subjected to color correction. At correct distribution of problems this allows to accelerate the operation over the project in some times. You can ask, what for it is necessary, what for in general it is necessary to accelerate the process? There are many other problems when the editing speed has supreme value, among them daily serials, Reality show, cyclic transmissions, news.

Well, if for the higher speed it is necessary to process the same sequence (time line) from several workstations? Such operation mode in Liquid also is possible. Certainly, it is possible, but not directly. Do you remember the fable “Swan, crayfish and pike”? And now let’s imagine, what will be the chaos if some editors will begin to correct the same clip? Therefore only the one who has come into the project the first, we shall name his “Master”, has all rights over the project, the others only may look through the changes of material, but they can not to make the changes. However if the Master will divide the project into some so-called containers*, and his neighbors, came in the own container, may operate with its content without any problem. The Master also may process his part of the project, to look through the current condition of any part of the material, supervising all process and upon termination of processing to transfer the finished film on the external device — the tape recorder, a server etc.

*Container allows to unit in the allocated area of the time line any number of clips together with effects and titles in one virtual clip. Further it is possible to work with the clip, as with general clip. This function is convenient for operation with multilayer fragments and allows to not blocking up the editing by complex constructions. At the same time, if necessary to modify something inside the container, it can be made, simply it having opened.

Well, and if such powerful editing stations as Chrome are too expensive for you? It is no problem — in the common system it is possible to include some inexpensive stations, such as Liquid Edition. Certainly, in comparison with Chrome the station Edition have the limited opportunities, however for rough-cut editing these some stations is enough of their professional interface and correct time-code operation. If internal format of Edition is DV, and it is no more than 4 MB/sec and there are no such rigid requirements to the stream, as for Chrome, and application of NAS** will be quite reasonable, to which the necessary number of rough-cut stations and one clean station for final editing and operational development (see the scheme). Let’s specify, that the concept “rough-cut editing” in relation to Edition is relative — you see if you work with DV-material on an input and the master-cassette also write on DV, for you this format is clean, and thus the network solution on base NAS and Edition turns in clean even if in the network there are no stations Chrome.

** Technology NAS (Network Attached Storage), as against SAN, uses as the channel of distribution of a signal the general Ethernet network, therefore NAS is cost the cheaper than SAN where it is necessary Fiber Channel, but also may operate with smaller streams.

Also it is necessary to say, that the sixth version of Edition Pro may process uncompressed video, and also video in format MPEG-2 that allows to make the clean editing on it also. The operational development and transferring to a tape can be carried out at station Liquid Chrome as it is provided with all professional interfaces: SDI, HD-SDI, AES/EBU etc. If the final version will be presented in HD format, it is necessary to provide the station of operational development with a local disk array to not load the common array. In this case Liquid will allow, having opened the draft project, to carry out automated assembling of HD-materials, using a local array and thus without change of the draft material.

Among other pleasant network novelties of the sixth version of Liquid there is an opportunity of dialogue in conference between all stations connected to one local network. Let’s imagine, as far as it is convenient to have an opportunity of transmission of instant messages when there is a parallel work over one project, when the stations are especially far apart one from another. Thus there is no necessity neither in application of additional software, nor in connection to the Internet.

Company Pinnacle has the own network solution named Palladium. It is the complex in which besides the array with the server the database server named Project Server is included also. The basic difference from the solutions described above is in it and in the specialized software installed on user stations. Besides the teamwork over the project, this solution also allows to carry out the system centralized management. For example, the tool X-Find included in the solution may carry out the global search of a material in all projects and stations over set of various attributes. Furthermore, the Palladium may be joined to the majority of broadcast systems Pinnacle: video servers, subtitle stations etc. Besides the Palladium carries out the management of system and allocates the problems by degree of the importance. For example, if the video capture will be defined as priority problem the station which at present is engaged in input, will have advantage before station which is the simple edition station. That is, when the bandwidth is short for the common array (such situation is theoretically possible), the failure will be received by editing station, and the station of input will notice nothing.

Vortex — NewsRoom from Pinnacle Company

Pinnacle Vortex is a system of news and sports production which is intended for capture, editing, storage and playback of video materials in the air by means of the common disc array. The main thing, that becomes clear at the first acquaintance with Vortex, is the complex, instead of isolated assemblage of the components somehow connected each other. The number of various modules is rather great, and in short article it is difficult to tell about everything, therefore it is necessary to underline only the basic modules.

Base part of the complex is the centralized data storage Palladium Store which capacity may reach 16 TB on one cabinet that corresponds to 1120 hours of video of DV25 format. Besides the storing of large data files Palladium provides 100% redundancy, and also the access of many users to the data, in this case the TV journalists. For example, the younger model of Palladium Store 100 provides simultaneous work up to 22 user stations.

One of versions of the Vortex system building is shown on the block diagram. It is the easiest to receive representation how the complex operates, passing over the chain, starting from input of materials and finishing by their playback according to the off-the-air schedule.

Let’s begin with capture of video. There are several different ways of material getting to the system:

• By means of software application Vortex Capture and capture station Vortex Media Loading Station. It is, so to say, the centralized capture. It is carried out from external lines (for example, from satellite channels), from “alive” sources (in particular, from TV studio) or from the tape recorder. During capture the special hardware modules named encoders (Vortex I/O) are supplied;
• By means of the capture stations of system of broadcasting automation of the third party company-manufacturers;
• Over FTP by means of Vortex Media Gateway (VMG). For example, it may be loading of the files-scenes which are on servers of different news agencies;
• Directly by means of local stations of editing Local editor ingest, applying software Liquid. Such input is carried out by the TV journalist from notebook and portable DV-camera.

It is necessary to notice, that the capture means not only the receipt of AVI-files DV25 (with high resolution), but also simultaneous receipt of video files with low resolution. These files are stored on a separate server. At the further editing on the TV journalist workplace the files of low resolution (MPEG-1) which during transmission practically do not load the network are used. If necessary it easily allows the workplaces addition, without change of the system and hardware topology.

During capture the description of materials is made also, comments by which the necessary fragment can be found further in the common base are added. To each clip the unique identifier ID is automatically assigned and after it creation the clip occurs in the common database and becomes accessible to the further operation. An opportunity of viewing and access to the material the user receives already after some seconds after beginning of the capture. There is no necessity to wait while all material will be captured. Module Vortex Logger allows in addition entering the comments not only to the videofile, but also to any frame of video material.

Video editing which is carried out directly by the TV journalist, may be carried out at stations of several kinds:

• Vortex Storyboard — is provided with the simplified interface giving an opportunity of direct splice. Using this application, the journalists may easely and quickly create the roller from the original material located on Palladium Store. Scripts (Stories), created in any system Vortex Storyboard, may be immediately issued in the air or transferred to the more powerful editing systems for final processing. Vortex Storyboard may operate with any computer (desktop or notebook), connected to the network Vortex Network. During the editing the files of low resolution (MPEG-1) are used;
• Vortex DeskEdit — is more perfect version, allowing to carry out the editing on a time line. It is provided with such tools as transitions in real time, editing over three points, trimming. There is the function Voice Over — the recording of a voice on the separate sound track directly during viewing of edited material. During editing the files of low resolution (MPEG-1) are used;
• Vortex Edit — is even more powerful editing system. The standard functions of the nonlinear editing which has been built-in in Vortex Edit, are given to the user all opportunities which are necessary for creation of video. In comparison with DeskEdit this system has additional opportunities among which are the following: the playback with various speed, an opportunity of the VTR control, the capture of DV25 files over interface IEEE of 1394 directly on the time line. Vortex Edit may operate with DV25 videos of full resolution and supports the majority of existing formats of audio and video files;
• Liquid Edition, Blue, Chrome — there are stations for complex processing, creation of art programs, prompts and in general for carrying out of any editing problems (including multilayer editing). The service of this station is provided not by TV journalist, but editor or the editing director.

As the separate system working simultaneously with video editing environment Vortex, also may be present NRCS (News Room Computer System) development of the third companies, such as ENPS, Dalet, iNews etc. which is intended for text preparation. There is the more effective variant when the user software NRCS is built in all Vortex stations. It is interesting that Vortex builds the NRCS window directly in its interface by means of ActiveX technology that allows to the journalist, typing the text, automatically associate it with a video scene, to count the text timing and than to speaj this text in a microphone or, for example, to send it in the TV prompter which the announcer will make use of at commenting of the scene.

When editing of a scene is completed, there is so-called publication, and the material occurs in the common database as an integral scene, instead of several clips. Further it may be placed in the off-the-air playlist. Here it is necessary to explain one important feature. When there is an editing of a scene, the various edits, titles, elements of graphic registration may be used. The editing is carried out in real time and does not require the calculating. Those effects which were applied during editing and were not calculated are carried out in real time directly at improvement of the off-the-air schedule by means of issuing (playout) decoder Vortex I/O. Titles and graphic elements applied in the scene, are also put in real time by means of the Deko VIA system. Such organization of the operation allows inserting the changes in the scene and titles at any moment, even directly before of the issue in the air; it is possible because the changes do not require any calculating. Besides the disk space is not filled by the calculated fragments and is used more rationally.

Playback and air delivery may be carried out by means of automation systems supplied by the third companies. It is especially important, when it is necessary to join a plenty of different devices, such as matrixes, tape recorders, mixing control panels, logo generators and so forth. When such system is applied the video capture (ingest) may be made automatically according to the schedule made for some months forward. Such method is frequently applied for operation with external, for example satellite, TV channels.

Subsystem Vortex Media Gateway provides the data transmission to other devices included into the system, in particular, to the archiving system.

Thus, the Vortex system is the completed solution for the news production, providing with a full set of necessary functions. The popularity of Vortex is confirmed with the fact that for the first 8 months of 2004 only in Europe there are 18 systems were installed.

Material provided by ProVideo Systems Company