Network solutions Vectorbox

By Maxim Babulin

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

From the beginning of development of systems Vectorbox they have positioned as a base for design of production broadcasting complex on the basis of computer networks. In process of growth of productivity of network solutions and reduction of their cost the ideology based on minimization of use of videotapes during production and broadcasting, found the increasing application. At present similar solutions are most proved from economical and technological points of view.

The opportunity of Vectorbox to be a base of similar network production and broadcasting complex is based on the following main moments:

• Compatibility practically with any system of nonlinear editing;
• Open interface for integration with any systems of planning and preparation of the air;
• Flexible architecture of designing of the broadcast complex, based on interaction of different functional components of a complex through a local network.

Each of the mentioned factors allows by the best method to organize the appropriate functional blocks necessarily presented in the complex, built on tapeless technology on the basis of computer networks.

Editing and broadcasting. Compatibility of files

In the network industrial complex one of the basic questions is the compatibility of media data. However it is necessary to distinguish the format of media file and the type of compression used for compression of video data.

As a rule, at designing of TV channel the uniform type of compression is chosen. Accordingly the engineering of the certain format is got, for example DVCAM (DV25, 4:2:0), and any other equipment — from camcorders up to broadcast system — will support this type of compression.

But frequently there is no opportunity to built the channel with use of the same NLE systems which supply a uniform media file format. It is connected, as a rule, by what not all systems of editing equally well approach for the solution of different problems. One system is good for fast editing of news, other is optimum for more complex editing. More often the format of mediafile, used at editing, does not correspond to the file format of broadcasting system.

The problem of complex designing on the basis of Vectorbox system is solved as follows: special software MediaCopier provides conversion of the media file format “in passing”, during its transfer over local network. MediaCopier allows to unit the system Vectorbox with the production-editing complex built actually on any systems of nonlinear editing. As classical examples of realization of the similar circuit it is possible to name a combination in uniform complex of Vectorbox systems and network editing complexes Avid LANShare or Pinnacle Palladium.

Thus, Vectorbox ability to reproduce the materials created by any system of nonlinear editing, allows designing a production-editing complex optimally, precisely having picked up an editing system under actual problems. The problem of integration of already existing, frequently various editing equipment into again created network structure is solved simultaneously.

Control of media data

The modern broadcasting complex designed on the networks, for short term accumulates large volumes of media data used for editing and broadcasting.

With every media file a plenty of the auxiliary information which accompanies with it during the whole “life” inside a network complex is always bound. It may be, for example, the information about the validity of the contract with the customer of advertising roller, or the description of the event of the roller, prepared to news program, or the text which should be made by the announcer during playback of the roller in news program etc.

It is clearly, that at the certain stage of development of network broadcasting complex it is necessary to apply the tools, allowing to simplify manipulations with the large volumes of the data to ensure an opportunity of search and compositing of programs of playback (off-the-air schedules) for broadcast systems. This problem is solved due to application of databases for the media material control.

Systems Vectorbox are compatible with any similar database and Newsroom system because they are able to perceive the off-the-air schedules of TXT (XML) format.

At the same time, Vectorbox offers the own solution of problems of cataloguing and media data control at the network production-broadcast complex of any scale. This system refers to as ActivaStation and includes three functional blocks: ActivaBrowse, Activa Scheduling and Monitoring, ActivaTransfer.

ActivaBrowse is the multimedia database which provides the multiuser access to media data from any workplace connected to the network. The system is scaled and at present, when high-speed Internet channels became accessible, is allowed to unite the head office of TV channel and local correspondent offices in the uniform network of media file exchange.

ActivaBrowse allows to users carry out the search of video fragments over different criteria.

Each time when new video file occurs on one of disk recorders known to the system of the complex, ActivaBrowse automatically creates its copy of low resolution. After that the fragment becomes available to viewing for the users authorized by the system. ActivaBrowse belongs to new generation of multimedia databases which do not require double capture of the video material — in standard and low resolution. ActivaBrowse automatically generates the clip of low resolution from existing video fragment which is on the disk array Vectorbox or any storage located in the complex or removed, accessible over network. This scheme is more reliable and accurate as the clip of low resolution reflects all features of an original clip (defects of the picture, sound etc.). In the case of ActivaBrowse if the clip is visible also the sound is audible, it is possible to have the 100% guarantee that the original video fragment is in a good state.

Module Activa Scheduling and Monitoring allows creating and importing the playlists created by programs of external manufacturers. The specialized tools for planning of the air allow visualizing and simplifying the process of the off-the-air playlist creation for some weeks forward.

Moreover, Activa Scheduling and Monitoring provides an opportunity to the authorized users for remote operation of performance of the off-the-air schedule of Vectorbox systems, and also to collect and analyze the reports created by system of automation of broadcasting by results of playback (as-run log).

Module ActivaTransfer operates by any device of storage of mediadata, accessible in the complex: VTRs, disk recorders, devices for data archiving (for example, DVD or tape libraries). ActivaTransfer provides a safe transfer of the data over network inside the complex. These operations are carried out according to the present occurrence of mediadata on the broadcast storage of Vectorbox system and requirement for the data for on-the-air of the actual off-the-air schedule.

ActivaTransfer “knows”, where there is information which is planned to use on air. According to the received schedule this application creates lists of video capture for recording system Vectorbox Recorder (if the fragment is necessary for taking from the cartridge), sends demand for the data access from archive or transfers the media files from other disk recorders to the local file of the broadcasting system Vectorbox.

All program modules of Activastation system may be supplied with interface for Russian user.

Network broadcasting complex Vectorbox News

In the line of Vectorbox systems it is possible to allocate two basic models of broadcasting systems: Vectorbox and Vectorbox News.

Vectorbox is a classical system of automation of broadcasting with the built-in video server. Due to the flexibility it may be applied to the organization of different types of translation — from the regional insert to the round-the-clock broadcasting in 24/7 mode.

Vectorbox News is a system of automation of broadcasting with the built-in video server, provided for the programs on the air. The main features of the system are the following: an opportunity of GPI control from any off-the-air mixer, unique dynamic structure of playlist, focused on control of events on the air, control support by the built-in and external TV prompter.

These systems may operate as the separate independent devices incorporated with other part of complex by a network only for data acquisition — media files from an editing complex and playlists from system of preparation of the air. At the same time the architecture of Vectorbox system allows to solve more complicated problems and to unite some different Vectorbox systems in a single whole.

As example of similar integration here can be presented the off-the-air complex where it is necessary to combine classical broadcasting planned beforehand over the playlist (Vectorbox system) with news or talk-shows, going directly in the air (Vectorbox News system).

The local network allows to the basic broadcasting system Vectorbox and specialized system Vectorbox News “to see” each other and automatically (for example, on fixed time in the off-the-air schedule of system Vectorbox) to transfer control of the air for the period of “direct” transmissions to Vectorbox News system. The system of automation Vectorbox will carry out a necessary switching so that there will not be any pause on air during transition of control from one system to another. Vectorbox thus traces the duration of “direct” ether and in real time recalculate time of an issue of the following programs in the off-the-air schedule. Thus, the playlist of basic system Vectorbox always reflects the real time ratio and eliminate the need of hand-held adaptation of broadcasting over the planned schedule.

Control recording of the air

According to the modern legislation in sphere of mass media TV channels should record programs broadcasted in the air and to keep this information not less than 40 days from the moment of its on-the-air.

Traditionally for these purposes VTRs of VHS format were used. This scheme has many technical disadvantages and requires the continuous control of the operator.

Within the margins of the uniform concept of the production-broadcasting complex which is described in present article, the new system I-Caster ScheduleStream for the organization of automatic control recording of the air is offered.

System I-Caster provides automation of video capture from any source over several channels simultaneously. The input signal is kept in stream format with the quality comparable with VHS.

Creation of the record lists for control of video capture over each channel, may be carried out both directly in system without a stop of process of recording and to be imported from Activa Scheduling and Monitoring. It allows to have the control lists of recording, according accurately to the off-the-air schedules of those channels which record is carried out by system I-Caster.

All recorded video reels are registered in ActivaBrowse database and are accessible to viewing from anyone authorized workplace of network. If necessary any fragment of video material may be recorded on the VTR or DVD.

If necessary, after the expiration of the period of storage of video material established by the legislation, the system provides automatic removal of the information.

Material provided by Artos Company