September 2018 MANAGEMENT 23
broadcasters go well beyond the traditional ‘ up-time ’ that data centres concentrate on for the bulk of their users .”
Despite these challenges , Pavitt highlights that the advantage of minimising errors is one compelling reason for the adoption of centralisation , in addition to increased efficiency and agility . She elaborates : “ From power savings , to wiring , redundancy , maintenance and security costs , it ’ s clear this trend will ultimately become the norm .
“ It ’ s vital that core systems such as automation can accommodate the control of multiple diverse services , displaying and giving control of a high density of channels from a single unified UI . It is also equally important that remote monitoring and administration be part of the design , so that operators can monitor and take remedial action from any location for multiple channels .”
Marina is Pebble Beach Systems ’ solution for centralising ingest , content management and multi-channel automation . Designed to manage complex changing workflows , the automation solution can be integrated into workflows incorporating digital asset management , traffic , news and scheduling .
Marina ’ s functionalities can be extended when paired with Lighthouse , the company ’ s remote monitoring and control toolset . When combined , the solutions deliver control , monitoring , content management , as well as channel design and launch tools via an array of Widgets on configurable Web-based dashboards .
Lighthouse can span multiple Marina systems , which may be running different software versions , and be operating at different frame rates . Users are able to configure the layouts accordingly to their roles , and switch between dashboards at the click of a mouse .
Pavitt continues : “ Today ’ s MCRs increasingly utilise software-based systems , and are designed to be much more flexible and adaptable to each broadcaster ’ s requirements . With the prevalence of over-the-air ( OTA ) and over-the-top ( OTT ) workflows ,
modern playout pipelines require sophisticated automation solutions that provide the flexibility broadcasters need when delivering content to widely varying destinations .”
As MCRs are increasingly going digital , the solutions installed in the facility have to also be equipped with solutions to accommodate the explosion of formats , metadata and control protocols , which are all driving a new set of interoperability standards . Hence , Pebble Beach Systems developed Orca , its software-defined virtualised IP channel solution .
Orca leverages the power of Marina automation ’ s flexible playlist , and is capable of managing dynamic changes to schedules while offering validation of media and playout elements . Running in a virtual machine in a private or public cloud with IP inputs and outputs , Orca delivers the functionality previously managed by hardware servers , graphics and captioning systems within a software environment .
Operators are also able to employ Orca to create new IP channels from a series of templates , and deploy them into a running system .
“ IP and virtualised ecosystems are poised to dramatically increase efficiencies , scalability and costsavings , but only if the correct infrastructure is in place , and skillsets are up to date . So while many organisations are still building SDI-based MCRs , IP solutions are evolving rapidly , and virtualised deployments in the cloud are a logical next step for many channels broadcasting non-live content ,” Pavitt concludes .
When transiting to an IP workflow , MCRs , and all other processes related to the acquisition , preparation and transmission of broadcast content will be impacted , declares Terence Teng , managing director , IHSE Asia-Pacific .
He explains : “ While the dayto-day roles of camera operators , sound recordists , producers , editors , engineers and other staff will remain similar , the way people work , and their physical locations , are likely to change . They will need the ability to access and manipulate remote content and tools from a central location over local and wide networks .”
Completing every MCR is the installation of keyboard , video , mouse ( KVM ) equipment that allows operators to access workstations within the facility remotely from a distance . Throughout the industry , in many broadcast centres , outside broadcast ( OB ) vans , editing and post-production studios , these KVM systems provide operators with “ instant and switchable ” access to their broadcast devices , thus allowing them to manage broadcast computer
the-top ( OTT ) workflows , infrastructure is in place , and skill to manage broadc
The Remote IP CPU unit from IHSE provides a bridge from the closed KVM switchbased system installed in a broadcast operations centre or OB vehicle to a wider world of devices through local and wide area IP connectivity .
systems from a single workstation . For instance , using hotkey selection , operators are able to switch between sources and add them to their preferred list for easy access . Additionally , operators can use the push-and-get function to select and display content on video walls and other displays .
Another trend that has emerged into the broadcast ecosystem is the combination of real and virtual systems , Teng adds . “ Users who are connected directly to local computer hardware also expect to be able to connect to virtual machines very simply . They do not want to concern themselves with the technicalities of device they are accessing .”
Hence , IHSE developed the Remote IP CPU , a solution designed to provide a bridge from the closed KVM switch-based system installed in a broadcast operations centre or OB vehicle to a wider world of devices through local and wide area IP connectivity . The unit enables operators to access IP-connected remote devices from their own workstation , in the same way they connect to physical devices that are permanently attached to the KVM switch .
Teng concludes : “ As the broadcast workflow evolves into the future , KVM technology will evolve too , as it is doing . It will continue to be used by broadcast organisations to deliver solutions , benefits and advantages that will enable them to maintain the efficiency and cross-platform capability they need to remain relevant and competitive in the modern world .”
Another KVM solutions provider , Guntermann & Drunck ( G & D ), has also developed KVMover-IP systems that empowers opportunities for staff collaboration and dynamic use of the installation . For instance , its CrossDisplay-Switching offers switching of channels within a click of a mouse , thereby allowing operators to efficiently access devices and systems from their workstations .
Jochen Bauer , marketing director , G & D , elaborates : “ A significant difference that occurred with the shift to digital operations is the increased use of IT systems . From our point of view , this is the main reason why the deployment of KVM systems is quite the standard in today ’ s broadcast environments , and especially in MCRs . KVM systems provide the flexibility to always have the right system available at the right time .”
Another solution available under G & D ’ s KVM-over-IP portfolio is DP-Vision-IP , an extender system that transmits DisplayPort and other computer signals over IP-based networks , CAT and Layer 3 . The device , consisting of a transmitter and receiver , provides one network interface for transmission , Web interface , monitoring , and simple network management protocol ( SNMP ).
Bauer concludes : “ IP will provide a huge amount of benefits as it simply offers further flexibility . As an example , think of OB and the opportunities for remote production : IP-based content transport can be managed way easier via ICT carriers . And that ’ s only a fraction of the upcoming advantages . A big benefit we see is that — now that broadcasters invest into high bandwidth networks — other technologies can benefit from that and move to IP as well .
“ Hence , for MCRs , there ’ s much more flexibility to come — especially in terms of user experience , as well as with regards of a more flexible utilisation in general .” www . canare . com
Booth : 10 . B40 32MCK-ST 12G-SDI Video patchbays with dual video jacks