SRT and Remote Working
07/07/2020
By Lewis Kirkaldie, Cinegy
As the ramifications of the Coronavirus pandemic descended on all our lives, those of us who could made the shift to working from home wherever possible.
While in our industry a great many of us were already fairly used to doing at least some work from home on occasion, we weren't normally doing it while simultaneously wondering whether we should invest in the next trade show, where we would find our next egg or bag of flour, or if we'd be able to earn enough to buy it if we did.
Some, like Cinegy, implemented business continuity plans and simultaneously took advantage of the period of cocooning for some deep introspection, focus, and idea generation. It also gave us and many others a chance to work out how to prepare for what we expect a new normal to be like (which in our view is basically to bring forward by a year or two what it was going to look like anyway). It has to be said that although it was a bitter pill to swallow, not having to prepare for, engage in, and follow up major trade shows has, at least in the short term, had its benefits.
Many have been forced - not unwillingly - to learn in a compressed space of time a lot more about how to successfully work remotely, without leaving our current, often home-based, workspaces to fill in gaps that used to just involve a daily commute. I've missed the smell of a whiteboard pen
In broadcast, one of the first things to go while working remotely is cables - running SDI leads to staff houses isn't going to be viable (or will just create some truly epic trip hazards). Enter the alternative - the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol. SRT demonstrates its value with two key strengths:
Secure - you can use SRT for AES 256-bit audio and video stream encryption, which is critical in times like these with widely dispersed workforces and distribution channels. Circuits that were once under physical lock and key at a broadcast or production facility now must travel back and forth to someone's home or workspace, wherever in the world that might be.
Reliable - if someone is operating a channel or conducting an interoperability test from home, as a great many are right now, they must have a reliable stream to ensure that what they think they are transmitting is actually happening. It's also possible that they could be up-link contributing or simply carrying on as best they can to fulfil deployment obligations. In any case, it's imperative that people can have the confidence that what they believe is happening is reliably taking place.
SRT provides that security and confidence. To describe SRT as a safety-net below a high-wire would be a poor metaphor. SRT laughs at the safety net, uses that high wire to drop some civil engineers at the far end, and throws up a four-lane suspension bridge. Then it sets some fireworks off for New Years from the support struts and loans out selfie-sticks for tourists. SRT is a bit of a show-off.
And recently, SRT was put through its paces in the second of a series of global SRT interop plug fests hosted by Haivision. Over three days, vendors from around the world joined forces to list and provide SRT-enabled streams for people to test the veracity of their respective technologies with SRT acting as a truly open interoperability enabler. It turns out that the midst of a pandemic, truly awful as it is, turned out to be an ideal opportunity to focus on the kind of widespread and highly detailed remote testing that many organisations don't always have enough time to do as thoroughly as they would like during their usual course of operations.
You can only do that kind of testing, especially in current conditions, with some form of formal, cross-industry collaboration, which in this case in this case the SRT Alliance, an industry wide open-source initiative dedicated to overcoming the challenges of low-latency video streaming, which now has more than 350 member companies.
And 350 members and counting is pretty close to the saturation point for companies that have a vested interest in video streaming and is a percentage of membership almost unheard of in any field of interest. Collectively, these companies have seized upon the vision of SRT Alliance founders Haivision, plus early adopters such as Cinegy and strong supporters such as Microsoft, Avid, and many others. It's actually far easier today to name the handful who aren't members of the SRT Alliance, and that's great for everyone involved and the industry at large.
SRT has changed the way companies work. Following the initial paralysis of the pandemic, many companies realised they should have moved their disaster recovery plan further up the company agenda and took immediate steps to bring it to the fore. Those and other plans are now being implemented, albeit while working under a number of understandable constraints.
One of the upshots of this is that it has shone a more positive light on both the benefits of the viability of home working for some, and the benefits of cloud computing. Why sit in the same physical location as the technology your broadcast backend runs on? The concept of distributed platforms is finally getting the traction it deserves - the benefit of distributed platforms requiring no operational human visits suddenly looks like a silver bullet. If something is amiss in London, you can fix it by spinning up a new virtual machine from your sofa in Singapore.
As a result, cloud-based operations have carried on throughout recent events with little or no disruption. Those who have such an operation now appreciate it even more, and those that don't have started looking far more seriously as to how they might migrate some or all of their relevant operations into that model.
In short, remote production has gone from being the catchphrase o
More from Cinegy
08/04/2024
Cinegy at NAB Show 2024 - Innovation, Strategy, and Sustainability in Broadcast Technology
As we prepare to make the journey to Vegas once more to meet clients and show of...
27/03/2024
Cinegy Multiviewer 24.2 - Scales of Efficiency
SL6031, NAB Show, Las Vegas, 14-17 April 2024: Cinegy, the premier provider of software defined television technology for digital video capture, processing, ass...
14/03/2024
Cinegy Captures More with Cinegy Capture
Cinegy Capture 24.1 SL6031, NAB Show, Las Vegas, 14-17 April 2024: Cinegy, the premier provider of broadcast software technology, has added yet more power and ...
05/03/2024
Cinegy at HPA Tech Retreat 2024 Laura's Blog
HPA 2024 Laura Thommen in Rancho Mirage, CA Laura Thommen, Cinegy M&E Advisor, recently (18-22 Feb 2024) attended the HPA Tech Retreat in Rancho Mirage, CA, ...
05/03/2024
Cinegy demos exciting new ingest, playout and multiviewer features at NAB 2024
Cinegy at NAB 2024 SL6031, NAB Show, Las Vegas, 14 - 17 April 2024: Cinegy, the premier provider of software defined television technology for digital video ca...
23/02/2024
Cinegy at ISE 2024
Sergio Alekseev, International Sales Manager for Cinegy, recently attended ISE 2024 in Barcelona and met with partners, customers and industry contacts. ISE 20...
05/02/2024
Cinegy Capture System Enhances Notre Dame Studios
Munich, Germany, 5 February 2024: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software defined television technology for digital video capture, processing, asset manag...
31/01/2024
Latest Cinegy Air 24.1 update enhances playout with intuitive user features and reinforced security
Cinegy Air 24.1 GUI Full size image Munich, Germany, 31 January 2024: Cinegy ...
30/11/2023
Leading Kazakh broadcaster PTRK integrates production and delivery with Cinegy
Photo: View of studio and control room. Munich, Germany, 30th November 2023: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video process...
01/11/2023
Webinar in Spanish: Discover the Future of Digital Broadcasting with Cinegy!
Webinar Date: 14 November Time: 16:00 CET Registration page: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/4911784957353445216 Embark on a digital expedition with Cine...
31/10/2023
Britt Broadcast implements Cinegy Air PRO at TBC (Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation)
Britt Broadcast at TBC Installing Cinegy Air PRO Munich, Germany, 31 October, 2...
06/10/2023
Cinegy brings production and transmission synergies for Channel 31
Munich, Germany, 4 October, 2023: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression and...
07/09/2023
Cinegy appoints Sergio Alekseev to its Sales Division
Cinegy appoints Sergio Alekseev to its Sales Division Munich, Germany, 5 September 2021: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital v...
27/08/2023
Cinegy @ IBC 2023 Size Matters!
Cinegy Proves Size Matters Efficiency Equals CO2 Footprint Cinegy GmbH is emphasizing at IBC2023 (15 - 18 September, Amsterdam RAI, stand 7.A01) that today...
27/06/2023
Cinegy @ IBC 2023 Preview
Very soon IBC 2023 will be upon us. We intend to show some cool new products and solutions and have a surprise or two as well IBC 2022 will be remembered fon...
09/05/2023
Cinegy partners with Tyrell to deliver powerful, cloud-based content delivery
MPTS, 10-11 May 2023, Olympia, London, UK, stand B40: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, v...
12/04/2023
Cinegy collaborates with Supermicro for Turnkey Data Centre Solutions
NAB Show, April 16-19, Las Vegas, Booth N2022: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video co...
06/04/2023
Cinegy joins Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program
NAB Show, April 16-19, Las Vegas, Booth N2022: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video co...
20/03/2023
Cinegy's Software Defined (Tele)Vision at NAB 2023
NAB Show, April 16-19, Las Vegas, Booth N2022: Cinegy GmbH, celebrating 20 years of being the premier provider of software technology for broadcast operations, ...
13/02/2023
Cinegy Releases Major New Version of Cinegy Air
Munich, Germany, 13 February 2023: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression an...
06/02/2023
Online Cinegy Webinar Get Your Kicks on Route 22
This event will be running two different time slots on Tuesday 7th February: 09:30 AM 10:15 AM CET (08:30 AM 09:15 AM GMT) 04:00 PM 04:45 PM CET (03...
01/02/2023
Cinegy partners with Pulzar Media on solutions in Slovenia
Munich, Germany, 1st February 2023: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression a...
15/12/2022
Cinegy transforms IP media network management with latest version of Route
Munich, Germany, 15 December 2022: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression an...
10/11/2022
Laura Thommen joins Cinegy to strengthen US presence
Munich, Germany, 10 November 2022: Cinegy, a premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression and autom...
01/11/2022
Turkey's Haber Global invests in 24-channel Cinegy Capture PRO to support expanded content offering
Munich, Germany, 01 November 2022: Cinegy, a premier provider of software techno...
27/10/2022
Cinegy appoints Media & Entertainment expert Tab Butler to drive growth in the US market
Tab Butler and Daniella Weigner @ IBC 2022 Munich, Germany, 26 October 2022: Ci...
21/09/2022
IBC Summary 2022 We will be back!
We'll be back for IBC 2023! We were delighted to wrap up IBC 2022 with a long list of positives. We loved being back in Amsterdam after three years and mee...
25/08/2022
Cinegy creates live streaming and packaging solution for NY2C
Munich, Germany, 25 August 2022: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression and ...
27/07/2022
Cinegy partners with Hannu Pro to support sales in the Baltic region
Cinegy Air PRO, Cinegy Capture PRO, Cinegy Multiviewer Munich, Germany, 27 July 2022: Cinegy, a premier provider of software technology for digital video proce...
18/07/2022
Cinegy Capture made available through HCL's new All Access Media Marketplace platform
From left to right: Cinegy Air PRO, Desktop, Capture, Multiviewer, Archive. Mun...
04/07/2022
Cinegy backs IBC 2022 showcasing 8k and cloud optimized solutions
IBC 2022, Stand 7.A01, September 9-12 Amsterdam: As it returns to IBC, Cinegy, a premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset man...
07/06/2022
MDotti delivers upgraded and expanded multichannel ingest for SBT with Cinegy Capture PRO
Munich, Germany, 07 June 2022: Brazilian IT media services company, MDotti Tecno...
30/05/2022
Cinegy User Report for TV Technology Polylegio AB
USER REPORT Simple enhancements for smart remote working Based in Karlstad and G vle, Sweden, our company Polylegio AB develops custom digital-TV solutions in...
30/05/2022
Cinegy User Report for TV Technology - Polylegio AB
Simple enhancements for smart remote working Based in Karlstad and G vle, Sweden, our company Polylegio AB develops custom digital-TV solutions involving DVB, ...
11/05/2022
NAB 2022: Innovation Captures the Eye
Another successful NAB Show done and dusted and what a show it was for Cinegy! We had a fantastic response to our latest innovations and are delighted to have ...
12/04/2022
Cinegy and TrackIt @ AWS at NAB 2022
PRESS RELEASE Cinegy and TrackIt collaborate to deliver live cloud production demonstration at NAB Show 2022 NAB Show 2022, 24-27 April, Cinegy Booth C3931...
22/03/2022
Cinegy at NAB 2022
PRESS RELEASE Cinegy highlights flexible support for businesses and real-time 8K capabilities at NAB Show 2022 Press for larger version NAB Show 2022, ...
16/02/2022
Cinegy and Telstra Partnership
PRESS RELEASE Cinegy announces Telstra partnership - Telstra to expand its broadcast services using Cinegy technology Press for larger version Munich, ...
15/11/2021
Cinegy Showing New Products at IBC2021
PRESS RELEASE Cinegy Air 21.9 and Multiviewer 21.11 Among Updated Solutions Being Showcased at IBC 2021 IBC 2021, 3-6 December, Hall 7 Stand A01: Cinegy wi...
07/10/2021
Cinegy further commits to Russia and Eastern Europe market with new appointment
PRESS RELEASE Mike Efimov joins the Cinegy Team Munich, Germany, 1st September 2021: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital vi...
07/10/2021
Cinegy Appoints ElectronicVerve as Master Reseller for Indian Market
PRESS RELEASE ElectronicVerve continues a strong history of supporting Cinegy customers in India Munich, Germany, 20 September 2021: Cinegy has appointed El...
03/08/2021
Cinegy Captures Tokyo Games in Brazil
PRESS RELEASE MDotti Deploys Cinegy Capture PRO to Support Ingest for Live Broadcasts from Tokyo Games in Brazil Munich, Germany, 02 August 2021:Brazilian IT...
03/08/2021
Tokyo Games Coming to Thailand via Cinegy Air
PRESS RELEASE C.S. Innovation Technology Deploys Cinegy Air Playout Software to Get Summer Games Action to Viewers Across Thailand Munich, Germany, 02 August...
25/02/2021
Akratek joining Cinegy A Business Partners
PRESS RELEASE Cinegy expands further with Akratek joining Cinegy A Business Partners Munich, Germany, 23 February 2021: Cinegy GmbH, global leader for broad...
22/02/2021
TVBEurope - Tying Remote Production Together
By Lewis Kirkaldie, head of product management, Cinegy The key elements for remote production and delivery have been in place for a while. The ability to handl...
19/01/2021
Aviteng Joins Cinegy A Business Partners
PRESS RELEASE Aviteng Joins Cinegy A Business Partners Munich, Germany, 13 January 2021: Cinegy GmbH opened its Istanbul office Cinegy A at the beginning o...
24/11/2020
ATV Expands Cinegy Capabilities
ATV Expand and Increase their Playout and Editing Capabilities using Cinegy Software Munich, Germany, 24th November 2020: Turkuvaz Media Group - the provider o...
29/10/2020
Travelxp - New English language channel launches in India with Cinegy Air PRO
Munich, Germany 28 October 2020 - Cinegy today announced that Travelxp, one of the world's leading travel channel brands based in Mumbai, India, implemented...
07/08/2020
IBC365 - LOOKING BEYOND 8K INTO A SUPER RESOLUTION FUTURE
By Adrian Pennington 6 August 2020 The industry isn't stopping at 8K. All bets are off in a million megapixel-plus future where massive digital screens, VR...
06/08/2020
Cinegy Multiviewer 15.2: Hail to the King
Munich, Germany, 05 August 2020: Cinegy GmbH, the premier provider of software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression and ...