Case Study ATS Helps Degeto To Break the Logjam
20/10/2014
Stefan Raupp
Stefan Raupp, Senior Technologist at Degeto Film GmbH in Frankfurt am Main, had a series of workflow bottlenecks that needed addressing One of the biggest problems was getting our material into R128 compliance. In the past, we would use a J nger Audio C8000 modular system during ingest to process our content.
This is a realtime operation, and it performs audio manipulation in various ways. However, because it is realtime, it produces delays during processing. Every step has to be checked very carefully because you have both decoding delay and encoding delay. Depending on the workflow steps, you have to compensate the processing delays by delaying the video relative to the audio so that its in phase again.
For Degeto, varying video delay wasnt the only issue. A second problem was the realtime processing during the ingest process. You never know the exact audio data over the whole program duration, only in a time window (dictated by the realtime hardware). This makes for a complex problem to get accurate (EBU) R 128 (loudness measurement) data for the entire film.
Degeto Film is the Film Archive and Production Partner for the ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der ffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, a joint organization of Germanys regional public broadcasters). We have a lot of different films in our archives, from black and white old stuff to modern HD premium material. We are trying to deliver the best material and get the best postproduction results for the ARD. When we receive films, sometimes the audio and video has to be remastered. Also, multichannel (5.1) audio is part of our daily business.
Raupps workflow issues are compounded by legacy format limitations. When we are doing XDCAM HD, we have the problem that it only has eight audio tracks. This is not enough for our needs. We also have to deliver an Audio Description so that sight impaired people can also enjoy the film even though there may be no dialogue. Stereo, Audio Description and 5.1 together use ten tracks, which does not fit in the XDCAM HD format. So, the discrete 5.1tracks have to be transcoded into Dolby E. When we have to work with Dolby E in our Final Cut systems, it has to be decoded back into discrete tracks.
Our HD tape formats are Sonys HDCAM SR as the premium format and XDCAM HD422 for dailies. For tape ingest, we are using Omneon Components. The codec is MXF wrapped 100 Mbit AVC-Intra for our premium material and XDCAM HD422 for the dailies. The ingest is done with Omneon MediaCenter. From there, the files are transferred to the (Harmonic Omneon) MediaGrid, which is our central working storage. Connected to the MediaGrid are, among other things, three Final Cut systems, Amberfin iCR, (Minnetonka Audio) AudioTools Server (ATS), and Telestream Vantage. After finishing all processing on the files, they are transferred to our Spectra Logic (T680) tape library.
We build a directory structure for the ingested files depending on their audio content. As an example, a separate directory for:
files with audio on 1/2 only, which can be mono, stereo or surround
files with audio on 1/2 and 5/6, with 5/6 being the tracks for the audio description
files with audio on 1/2 and 7/8), with 7/8 carrying Dolby E encoded content
files with audio on 1/2, 5/6 and 7/8
files with discrete multichannel (split mono) audio tracks
A Copy routine transfers the files from the ingest directory to ATS, which has the same directory structure. The ATS server is multiprocessor hardware with a 2.5 TB RAID. Specifically, it is an HP ProLiant DL380 G5 with dual 3 GHz Xeon 5160s with 20 GB RAM and five 500 GB RAIDd SAS drives as local storage. The server is running Windows Server 2008R2. This system is fast enough for our work.
We are working 10 hours a day, so there are 14 hours of free time for the system. When we start in the morning, all jobs are done and have been copied back to their places, so there is no need for expensive hardware. Our tests indicated that copying the MXF files to the local storage of the ATS system, doing all audio jobs locally, then copying the corrected MXF files back to the CMS system is the fastest and best way for our environment. Doing the audio extraction and all jobs over the network and not on local drives results in heavy network traffic and makes no sense for us. Our network is mixed 1 and 10 Gigabit, depending on the various systems. Besides that, we can program time slots for the Copy processes while network traffic is low.
The RAID System can hold about 20 films. During processing, the RAID is filled about 60%, so utilization is perfectly balanced. After processing, the MXF and the log files are moved back to the Omneon MediaGrid, where they made known to the CMS system and written to our data tape library. Our CMS system is an arvato Systems VPMS.
The ingest station
With the help of Minnetonka Audios (professional services) staff, we created workflows for adding and embedding ADR (Audio Description) WAV files into existing MXF files. This is a big help for us, for completing films with ADR which were ingested in the past. For editing films in Apples Final Cut Pro, AudioTools Server does the Dolby E decoding and re encoding. All files are checked and corrected for (EBU) R 128 compliance. Dolby E source material and metadata are also corrected by ATS. The ATS log files are saved together with the MXF files in the CMS system, so we also have access to the (loudness) measurement file (for compliance verification).
Degeto Film worked with system integrator Netorium GmbH to realize both the original and new AudioTools configurations. Netorium installed the systems, and provided integration services to insure seamless interoperation with Degetos existi
LINK: | http://www.minnetonkaaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=artic... |
See more stories from minnetonkaaudio |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with URSA Broadcast G2
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
20/04/2024
PBS Kids Adds American Sign Language to Streaming Content
As part of a push to improve the accessibility of its content, PBS Kids has announced that it has integrated American Sign Language (ASL) interpretations into m...
20/04/2024
Survey: Concerns About Deep Fakes Spike As Election Approaches
SAN JOSE, Calif. Online security solution provider McAfee has released new research exploring the impact artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of deepfakes ...
20/04/2024
FCC Sets April 25 Vote on Net Neutrality Rules
The Federal Communications Commission has announced the agenda for an Open Meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024 that will include votes on Net Neutrality Rules a...
20/04/2024
Virtual Reality Becomes the New Production Reality
Virtual reality and its close relatives, such as extended reality, have been completely accepted into the workflow of high-end productions. Stepping into an LED...
20/04/2024
Video Games Round Out the Entertainment Package
Video Games Round Out the Entertainment Package Andy Marken April 19, 2024 0 Comments By this, I take it you think everybody is who they say they are...
20/04/2024
With Bears on the Clock, NBCU Local Chicago Plans Extensive NFL Draft Coverage
With the Bears picking first, NBCUniversal Local's properties in Chicago plan extensive coverage of the NFL draft next week....
20/04/2024
Fox Sports Hires Veteran Ad Sales Executives
Fox Sports said it hired two veteran advertising sales executives, with Jen Durda and Kathy Lydon both named VP....
20/04/2024
Daytime Emmys Announce Some Nominations Early
Daytime fans got a sneak peek at nominations for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys, with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announcing the...
20/04/2024
DAZN Weighs in With Content Ahead of Haney-Garcia Fight
DAZN is launching its Run It Up, its first multi-sports original vodcast, or video podcast, and a set of micro-podcasts ahead of the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia fig...
20/04/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Got 27% Raise to $49.7 Million in 2023
David Zaslav, CEO of troubled Warner Bros. Discovery, got a 27% increase in total compensation for 2023....
20/04/2024
April 19, 2024
New copper-catalyzed C-H activation strategy from Scripps Research Two-mode reactions inspired by human detox enzymes offer powerful new tools for drug discover...
19/04/2024
Thank You for visiting us at NAB 2024!
Thank You for visiting us at NAB 2024! Thank you for joining us at the ToolsOnAir booth during NAB Show 2024! We were delighted to showcase our latest inno...
19/04/2024
Stress Positions Mines Health Anxieties for Comedy
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) John Early and Theda Hammel attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Stress Positions premiere at Library Center Theatre on ...
19/04/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the Filmmakers Behind Sugarcane
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
19/04/2024
Mexico City Watchlist: 7 Documentaries About Working in CDMX
Pictured: Midnight Family By Stephanie Ornelas A great way to get to know a city as culturally unique and rich as Mexico City is to listen to the stories tol...
19/04/2024
SNS Dominates NAB Show 2024 With Triple Win For MOD
St. Louis, MO - April 18, 2024 - Studio Network Solutions (SNS) announced today that MOD won three prestigious industry awards at NAB Show 2024 held this week i...
19/04/2024
How Spotify Approaches Safety With Sarah Hoyle, Global Head of Trust and Safety
Spotify's mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the ...
19/04/2024
Spotify and Taylor Swift Create a One-of-a-Kind Library To Celebrate THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT'
It's a beautiful day to be a Swiftie. Today, Taylor Swift dropped her 11th s...
19/04/2024
L3Harris Announces Quarterly Dividend
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 19, 2024 - The Board of Directors of L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.16 per common share, payab...
19/04/2024
Intel Lays Out 8K Production, AI Tech Plans for Paris Olympics
PARIS Intel has announced that its plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will include using artificial intelligence technology powered by Intel ...
19/04/2024
Tech Advances Boost Adoption of 8K Production
LAS VEGAS Technologists working on all aspects of the 8K media production chain offered an optimistic update at the 2024 NAB Show on the state of 8K in video pr...
19/04/2024
OpenDrives New Software-Defined Platform Atlas Wins 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award
OpenDrives New Software-Defined Platform Atlas Wins 2024 NAB Show Product of the...
19/04/2024
Grass Valley Showcases Next-Generation T3 Series 4K/HD Digital Recording and Playback for Venues and Stadiums
Grass Valley Showcases Next-Generation T3 Series 4K/HD Digital Recording and Pla...
19/04/2024
NiTRo's M-CUBE Studio Levels Up Esports Productions with AJA Gear
NiTRo's M-CUBE Studio Levels Up Esports Productions with AJA Gear Brie Clayton April 19, 2024 0 Comments Esports' rapid rise to popularity can...
19/04/2024
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 19
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 19 Brie Clayton April 19, 2024 0 Comments Major update adds new DaVinci Neural Engine AI tools, new color ...
19/04/2024
Sony Considering Bid to Acquire Paramount
Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly in talks with Apollo Global Management to make a bid to acquire Paramount which itself is currently discussing a merge...
19/04/2024
How 1185 Films created the VFX on new horror, All You Need Is Death
Simon Wilkinson, head of VFX at 1185 films, talks about the technology behind the newly-released horror By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 Simo...
19/04/2024
Could Sony be preparing a bid for Channel 5's parent company?
The global electronics company is said to be considering joining forces with investment firm Apollo Management to bid for Paramount Global By Jenny Priestley ...
19/04/2024
EBU report highlights contribution of free-to-air sport broadcasting
The report broke the economic footprint of EBU member sports broadcasting into three main areas By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 The report b...
19/04/2024
CBS Stations Launches CBS News California Investigates' Segments
CBS Stations has launched CBS News California Investigates , with Julie Watts named regional CBS California correspondent. She will uncover and raise awarenes...
19/04/2024
MediaCo Acquires Estrella Media's Spanish-Language Network, Content Assets
MediaCo Holding, which owns radio stations WQHT (Hot 97) and WBLS in New York, said it acquired Estrella Media's Spanish-language video, audio and digital c...
19/04/2024
Season 5 of The Witcher' Will Be Final One
Netflix has ordered season five of fantasy drama The Witcher, which will be the final season. Production has recently begun on season four, and the two remainin...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream To Carry Eight More The CW Affiliates
DirecTV Stream said it added eight more The CW affiliates to its lineup on Thursday....
19/04/2024
CBS Orders More Elsbeth'
CBS has renewed Elsbeth for the 2024-2025 season. The drama, with Carrie Preston in the lead role, debuted February 29....
19/04/2024
With Bears on the Clock. NBCU Local Chicago Plans Extensive NFL Draft Coverage
With the Bears picking first, NBCUniversal Local's properties in Chicago plan extensive coverage of the NFL draft next week....
19/04/2024
Comcast Launches NOW
PHILADELPHIA As government subsidies for broadband services come to an end, Comcast has launched NOW, a new product portfolio of lower-cost Internet, mobile and...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream Adds CW Affiliates
DirecTV Stream has added more local CW stations for its streaming customers in Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hartford-New Haven Conn., Phoenix, San ...
19/04/2024
MediaCo Acquires Estrella Media's Content and Digital Operations
NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES MediaCo Holding Inc. has announced that it has acquired all of Estrella Media's network, content, digital, and commercial operations....
19/04/2024
Adobe Launches New Adobe Express Mobile App with Firefly AI
SAN JOSE, Calif. Adobe has announced that the all-new Adobe Express mobile app is available to all users, bringing features powered by Adobe Firefly generative ...
19/04/2024
Netflix Adds 9.3M Subs in Q1
LOS GATOS, Calif. Netflix reported another blockbuster quarter by adding 9.33 million new subscribers in Q1, 2024 as global paid memberships hit 269.6 million, ...
19/04/2024
The Current State of the Industry and the Future Impact of AI
The Current State of the Industry and the Future Impact of AI Hillary Lewis April 18, 2024 0 Comments The Entertainment Industry: How did we get here ...
19/04/2024
After Effects Tutorial Text Blur Reveal
After Effects Tutorial Text Blur Reveal Andy Ford April 18, 2024 0 Comments Here's a way to do a quick blur reveal for your text layer. Start by...
19/04/2024
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced Wireless Transmitter / Receiver
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced Wireless Transmitter / Receiver Colin Smith April 18, 2024 0 Comments This tutorial shows the new wireless transmitter rece...
19/04/2024
Resolve Fusion: Writing Expressions with Lua
Resolve Fusion: Writing Expressions with Lua Simon Ubsdell April 18, 2024 0 Comments The answer to the very frequently-asked question: what is the pro...
19/04/2024
B+C,' Next TV' Announce Winners of Best of Show Awards at NAB Show
B+C and Next TV have announced the winners of Best of Show Awards for the 2024 NAB Show. The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts at the convention...
19/04/2024
Cate Blanchett Narrates Nature Series on Netflix
Cate Blanchett narrates the Netflix series Our Living World, which premieres April 17. The four-part series looks at the extraordinary creatures around the glob...
19/04/2024
For All Mankind' Spinoff Is in the Works at Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus has a spinoff of For All Mankind in the works. It is called Star City and details the cosmonauts, engineers and intelligence officers working behi...