40 MANAGEMENT
May-June 2017
SAM-Masstech tie-up streamlines news production , archiving and media exchange workflows
Snell Advanced Media ( SAM ) and Masstech have formed a new partnership to speed and simplify how TV and multi-platform video newsrooms manage and move content between production , archive and distribution processes .
The integration of the SAM VIBE news solution and Masstech ’ s media management and archiving software , said the companies , empowers SAM users to easily and efficiently archive , locate , retrieve and share news content between sites .
Leveraging the new SAM interoperability alongside established integration with newsroom computer system ( NRCS ) offerings including AP ENPS and Avid iNEWS , the Masstech software enables news content to be automatically archived at the end of each newscast .
For each story in the rundown , the corresponding media files are
AJA enhances facial motion capture for Faceware Technologies
US-based Faceware Technologies , a developer of facial motion capture software , has been utilising AJA Video Systems ’ Ki Pro range of solutions to deliver advanced facial motion capture to its clients in the media industry .
The solution Faceware developed is centred on analysis and retargeting software that tracks every pixel of a facial performance , creating mathematical output of both motion and texture data . Data is captured from a headmounted camera rig that records video footage of the performer ’ s face . The signal is then channelled via a Teradek transmitter , and recorded onto AJA ’ s Ki Pro Rack recording and playback device .
Already an AJA user for more than seven years , Christopher Jones , director of hardware and capture at Faceware Technologies , pointed out that the Web interface
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■ iQIYI picks Irdeto TraceMark watermarking solution
automatically copied from SAM sQ production and playout servers into the Masstech-managed archive , and stored alongside the news scripts and metadata . Content can also be archived to the Masstech system directly from the SAM software interface , independently of the NRCS .
The benefits of the new integration are further amplified when finding and retrieving content from the archive , the companies added . Users can locate stories and clips with the native search capabilities of their NRCS software or through new Masstech tools embedded within the SAM user interface .
Unlike basic storage management solutions , the Masstech-SAM combination takes full advantage of associated news scripts during searches , making it faster and easier to locate and re-use valuable , relevant content .
Archived video clips can be
Faceware Technologies has been employing AJA Video Systems ’ Ki Pro Rack , alongside its facial motion capture software , to record performers ’ faces .
of the Ki Pro has been crucial for the recording of their projects . Jones elaborated : “ Aside from reliability and excellent support , I chose to work with Ki Pro recorders because the Web interface and published Python API ( application programming interface ) are huge for us .
“ The fact that I can start and stop , record and playback , arm or disarm decks , match timecode
A new partnership between SAM and Masstech means media files can now be automatically copied from SAM sQ production and playout servers into a Masstech-managed archive .
previewed within the SAM or NRCS interface , and then fully or partially restored to SAM servers with just a few simple clicks .
In addition to streamlining content archiving and retrieval , the integration also gives SAM News customers access to Masstech ’ s newsroom workflows , including the ability to easily exchange content between multiple sites such as station groups .
Users can search and retrieve
to clips , and name all of our files correctly via Web interface is key . With the Web interface , we can put the Ki Pro Racks on any network and control them from wherever we need to be , whether that ’ s the mocap ( motion capture ) stage or ADR ( auto mated dialogue replacement ) booths , which makes it easy for us to adapt to any location we ’ re going to .”
Designed for file-based work- stories and content from other locations ’ archives as well as their own , while the Masstech Media Wire feature lets users feed stories with video to other newsrooms in their organisations with a simple drag-and-drop action in their NRCS . In both cases , the Masstech software transparently handles all technical details with no further effort from the user , including file transfers and any transcoding required to address differing NRCS
flows , Ki Pro Rack features up / down / cross-conversion during recording and playback , enabling the delivery of material from source to editorial “ as quickly as possible ”. The 1RU recorder and player is capable of recording 10-bit Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD files , as well as on removable hard-disk or solid-state drive ( SSD ) storage modules .
Besides software development , Faceware Technologies also runs a service business , which provides the sale of a “ complete ” system to studios , game developers and visual-effect facilities . The system comprises an HD monitor , Ki Pro or Ki Pro Rack , a Teradek transmitter , cabling and accessories , a battery kit , a camera and a mocap-specific fibreglass helmet set .
Jones concluded : “ Ki Pro technology is the master VTR ( video tape recording ) for our Faceware
Chinese online video platform iQIYI has chosen Irdeto Rights for ChinaDRM to protect premium content delivery on its over-thetop ( OTT ) streaming platform .
As part of the Irdeto 360 Security suite , iQIYI will also deploy Irdeto TraceMark forensic watermarking to detect and fight against redistribution piracy .
Irdeto Rights for ChinaDRM is the first security solution to be recognised and certified by The State Administration of Press , Publication , Radio , Film and Television of the People ’ s Republic of China ( SAPPRFT ). It is also fully compliant with the standards set by Hollywood studios for premium 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) and early release content , said Irdeto .
Deng Wenhua , chairman of the China- DRM Forum , explained : “ We are very pleased to see a new commercial success for ChinaDRM , which is the Chinese independent intellectual property rights standard .
“ We believe that ChinaDRM will play an effective and orderly role to accelerate a healthy ecosystem in China ’ s video industry .”
The ChinaDRM standard plays an important role in accelerating the release of new content in China and enables Chinese consumers access to premium entertainment in earlier windows , said Hanno Basse , CTO of Twentieth Century Fox Film .
or production platforms between sites .
Neil Maycock , EVP and general manager , Media Software Solutions , SAM , said : “ Our goal is for the SAM VIBE News Solution to be the fastest and most flexible multiformat news editing and publishing system available , and our integration with Masstech enables us to seamlessly extend those attributes to archiving and content sharing workflows .”
systems , and we rely heavily on the reliability of their recording . The hardware is well built , and the drives have proven to be very reliable over the years with countless hours of repeated use .”
Basse added : “ ChinaDRM ’ s requirements provide world-class security to premium content and they are enhanced by forensic watermarking , which is something we feel very strongly about .
“ We welcome implementations like the one with iQIYI and Irdeto , as it helps accelerate the ecosystem in China and gives the studio community greater confidence to satisfy demand in the Chinese market .”