ATG Danmon completes file-base ingest, transcoding and QC system for Arqiva

ATG Danmon, one of Europes most experienced broadcast systems integrators and file-based product sales businesses, announces the completion of a tape and file-based ingest, transcoding and quality-control solution providing file preparation for global television and radio transmission service-provider Arqiva. The system has been fully integrated into Arqivas playout facility at Chalfont, Buckinghamshire.

The new media file processing desk at Arqiva.

We needed a flexible and completely reliable way to provide broadcast file preparation services for a large Playout and Media Services client, which could grow to support high-bit-rate codecs like JPEG2000, comments Gregory Burns, Media Solutions Architect at Arqiva. After researching the various options, we decided on a system from ATG Danmon. This includes Dalet AmberFin file-processing and Digimetrics QC software running on multiple servers. API integration allowed the software and processes to be tightly integrated with our existing media workflow platform. The system has proved very successful and is easy to expand or reconfigure if required at any stage in the future. The user interface gives operators full control over which functions to control manually and which to automate, and the metadata plugins can be easily updated to support new schemas.

The file processing system is based on AmberFin Ingest, Play and the new services-based Dark transcoder products from Dalet together with Aurora 5 automated QC products from Digimetrics, adds Chris Elson, ATG Danmon Product Sales Manager. The system is controlled from a new operations suite via KVM allowing the operations staff full control over ingest, QC, transcode and file review. We created a specific GUI plug-in for audio tag selection to integrate with Arqivas Omneon playout servers.

Dalet AmberFin Ingest enables the best possible quality and operation of ingest from tape or file-based assets. Ultra high-quality processing maintain the value of the original material. Supported formats include JPEG 2000, Pro-Res, DNxHD, AVC-Intra and XDCAM HD. Growing file support and the ability to write directly to shared storage dramatically reduces workflow latency. Flexible closed captioning and ancillary data support offer workflow flexibility and potential time savings. All the AmberFin products can easily be automated using any combination widely supported broadcast and IT protocols such as RS422, VDCP, SOAP web services and scripting hooks within the workflow.

Dalet AmberFin Play gives operators the ability to review shared assets at any point in the workflow, eliminating the need to transfer assets off shared storage or transcode to an alternative playback format. The file player can also display any AQC data associated with the file, allowing detected errors to be quickly reviewed. Operator comments can be saved and displayed on the time line and in the QC report. Simple file editing and file segmentation increase operator and workflow efficiency, providing the ability to remove unwanted parts of a file and join files together to make a finished asset without the need to move back to a edit platform. High quality frame-accurate HD-SDI playback is also available, allowing review on a professional monitor. File properties, closed-caption data and ancillary data can be managed through the same interface. Embedded tools and plug-ins for metadata entry and review are also available and can be configured by the user to provide further control of bespoke requirements, such as creating bespoke.xml files.

Dalet AmberFin Dark is a high quality flexible transcode environment. All popular codecs are supported. Functions such as automatic cadence correction and high quality adaptive frame rate conversion can also be supported. Running as a true windows service, high availability transcode farms be created cost-effectively. Installed on commodity IT hardware, they can be built to any size and fully automated. Intelligent floating-license control removes the requirement for every server to be fully licensed and allows full load balancing, job queuing and auto license assignment. This approach can remove downtime, increase efficiency and throughput, minimising costs and enabling complete lights-out operation.

Integrated as part of the Amberfin workflow, Digimetrics Aurora is a high-volume automated file-based quality control system with an easy-to-use web-based control interface and efficient fault reporting. Features include a wide range of baseband quality measurements, multiple container and codec support, and operator-configurable test template creation.

Aurora is closely integrated with a frame-accurate player to allow efficient fault inspection and analysis. It uses perception-based artifact detection, multi-level block noise analysis, black/freeze-frame detection, silence detection and filtered audio noise detection to identify visible or audible defects in file content.

Tests possible in the professional version include macroblock noise detection, upconversion detection, comb artifacts, field swaps, tape hits, perception-based artifacts , average loudness (A/85, R128, ARIB), mono audio detection in stereo pair, HardingFPA-certified flash/PSE detection, profanity detection for text, QP blurring, audio hiss and hum, plus wow and flutter detection.

About Arqiva

Arqiva (www.arqiva.com) is a communications infrastructure and media services company, operating at the heart of the broadcast, satellite and mobile communications markets. It provides much of the infrastructure behind television, radio, satellite and wireless communications in the UK and has a significant presence in Ireland, mainland Europe and the USA. Customers include major broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, BSkyB and the independent radio groups, major telco providers including the UKs five mobile network operators, and the emerge

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