Automating the TV production workflow

Our automated tapeless production system brings together several new developments that have been underway over recent years. Some of the key areas that we are exploiting are MXF and AAF file formats, low-cost tapeless production, open source software, DVD creation, web browsing and a CORBA-based scaleable control system linking all of this to the production logging system.

The workflow through this system starts with the Production logging and control, which is where the content is logged as it is being recorded in the studio. Next, our ‘Ingex’ tapeless recording system captures the studio feeds at full quality, encodes them in the required production format (for example, as Avid 2:1, DVCPro50 or similar) and stores the result as MXF files. These files pass to our ‘MediaHarmony’ server, which makes them available for browsing and offline and online editing. MediaHarmony performs more than just acting as a file server; by using the SAMBA virtual file system, it allows multiple editing systems, even from different manufacturers, to share the same stored content without conflict.

Prior to post-production editing, all the content, including details from the production logs, can be reviewed either via a webpage, on DVDs or by using portable players such as an iPod with video, Archos or similar.

The key to this work has been the combination of increasing processing power available at consumer IT prices, the rapidly falling price of disc storage, open source software packages providing professional quality video and audio processing and the integration of these into an automated production system.