People Get Ready

We've been saying that media production is best handled in software and, now, in the cloud, for 15 years. Finally (almost) everyone is listening, writes Daniella Weigner, Managing Director and Co-owner, Cinegy, GmbH.

And let's be clear, the "Cloud" doesn't exist. It's merely a convenient way of defining the undefinable. Cloud can mean anything to anyone, much the same way people used to (and still do) use the phrase "out there in the ether" to describe where their data goes without really knowing what it means.

But here's the rub. Whatever you want to call it, it works, and for media production, it works very well indeed. In fact, we built our entire company around it. Long before anyone else was looking for a way to describe how they could move and mange media over IT-based Ethernet video infrastructures, we were already doing it. From that you can rightly surmise that we know a thing or two about how it should be done, and why everyone should be doing it.

For a start, it's very easy and – wait for it – inexpensive, to enter the world of IP-based broadcasting and here's a perfect example of why:

We recently announced the fact that we've put a comprehensive number of Cinegy tools in one playout solution called Cinegy JET Pack. Cinegy Air, Capture, Convert, Multiviewer, Live, Player PRO and DANIEL codec all on one USB dongle, with a couple of financing models. Let's face it, the cloud coverage we see at the moment has more to do with costs of ownerships and balance sheets than actual technology. Fortunately, we can help achieve both better ROI and cutting-edge, innovative solutions that are future-proof.

JET Pack is an all-in-one playout solution that includes CG and branding; ingest and encoding; monitoring; live production and mixing; and transcoding. JET Pack is available as an annual subscription for only 1995 Euros), including updates, or can be purchased outright for 4995 Euros including the first year of updates. The JET Pack packages represent a major change in how to get a channel on air for far less than traditional options. So it's cheaper, and better.

Moreover, IP-based video infrastructures are now a necessity if you want to inexpensively transition to 4K. IP-based infrastructures provide far greater signal capacity and enhanced flexibility, which enables broadcast operations to expand quickly, and there's not a box or SDI in sight. (In fact, let's bury SDI altogether. It's dead, get over it.)

Because Cinegy develops and produces modular software technology for digital video processing, asset management, video compression, automation and playout, users are not weighed down by acres of rack room boxes. Our software applications evolve in parallel with broadcast and playout requirements. A good example is the recent roll out of our Version 10 software across our product range, which has the effect of pushing black boxes further into insignificance (as if they needed pushing). You don't want to buy expensive boxes, nor do you want to find the real estate to house it. So you don't have to.

Our Cinegy Multiviewer Version 10 enables broadcasters and production houses to monitor streams from satellites, camera feeds, playout devices and other sources locally and remotely. Cinegy Route Version 10 provides the building blocks for IP-based infrastructures by providing a centralised directory for discovering and securing high volumes of programming streams.

For automation, playout and CG, Cinegy Air PRO Version 10 software runs on a TCP/IP network- automation front-end and a real-time video server for SD, HD and/or Ultra HD (4K) playout in an integrated software suite. The CG capabilities of Cinegy Type Version 10 alone are powerful messaging and branding tools that you simply couldn't fit in a box.

Versions 10 of Cinegy Archive, Cinegy Desktop, Cinegy Workspace, Cinegy Convert and Cinegy Capture PRO take care of media asset management, archive and, of course, capture. Cinegy Archive Version 10 keeps incoming media organized and accessible; Version 10 of Cinegy Desktop enables multiple users to easily access assets; Cinegy Workspace 10 powers the collaborative effort to repurpose the media; and Cinegy Capture PRO Version 10 centralises the task of ingest and edit or web proxies generation in all popular formats and containers.

I could go on, but you get the picture.

So, people, get ready. Whether you're waiting in the JET Pack departure lounge or standing on platform Version 10, you can leave your baggage behind. Just join the JET Set. It's a beautiful IP-based media production day, and there's not a cloud in the sky, only media.

www.cinegy.com

This article is also available to read at BFV online.

(JP)