Friday, June 26, 2009

Removable Media For HD Workflows

Marquis Broadcast and Ikegami have demonstrated the world's first multi-vendor HD workflow at the Inter BEE Show in Japan. Granby Patrick, CEO, Marquis Broadcast, explains how the development was instigated by the Japanese market, and looks at the benefits of using digital removable media to achieve practical, streamlined capture to playout HD workflows.

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Medway Adds Support For Omneon MediaGrid Active Storage System

Marquis Broadcast's Medway universal media highway product now supports the Omneon MediaGrid next generation storage system.

MediaGrid is a storage system optimized for scalable, highbandwidth access to content required by media production and broadcast professionals. The system integrates with workflow and content management applications through open file protocols and APIs. Medway enables media files from multiple sources to be moved seamlessly between a variety of vendor platforms Under an existing OEM relationship between Omneon and Marquis Broadcast, Omneon currently offers Medway in its product portfolio branded as the Omneon ConformTool and promotes it longside Omneon products through its distribution channels. The completion of Medways support for MediaGrid means that Omneon is now able to extend its offering of ConformTool to existing and future MediaGrid customers.

MediaGrid is a storage system optimized for scalable, highbandwidth access to content required by media production and broadcast professionals. The system integrates with workflow and content management applications through open file protocols and APIs. Medway enables media files from multiple sources to be moved seamlessly between a variety of vendor platforms. Media is moved at full capacity network speeds and with complete reliability in any format including DV and 50-Mbps IMX.

The integration of Medway and MediaGrid further extends our range of broadcast solutions, said Jason Danielson, senior director of solution marketing for Omneon. By offering it with our Spectrum server and MediaGrid storage platforms, our customers can achieve improved efficiency in their workflows and at the same time, have the freedom to choose best of breed systems in the knowledge that they will not encounter file incompatibility problems.

As with the existing Omneon Spectrum integration, Medway allows browsing, reading and writing to MediaGrid folders while providing rewrapping of files in appropriate MXF or QuickTime preferences. This can be performed under manual control, via the API.

Marquis Announces Medway Support for the EVS XT[2] Server Range

Marquis has added EVS Broadcast Equipment's EVS XT2 server to the list of products supported by its Medway media highway system. By supporting the EVS XT2 proprietary file export format, Medway brings new functionality to broadcasters by enabling them to read and write DNxHD media between systems based on the EVS XT[2] architecture and Avid Technology's storage and Media Composer editing systems.

RTV Belgium Achieves Fast Media Transfers using Medway Media Highway for New Tapeless Workflow

Marquis has announced that regional Belgian television station, RTV Belgium, has installed its Medway Media Highway. RTV Belgium is using Medway to transfer media files between a range of broadcasting and editing systems in its head office in Westerlo. Although currently broadcasting in SD, RTV Belgium is migrating its workflows to HD broadcasting. Medway will fulfil an essential role in this process, as it already supports a range of HD formats.

"We chose Marquis Broadcast as they have a solid name in broadcasting technology," said Bart Snoeks, head of the technical department at RTV. "Medway is a very powerful system and is particularly fast when exporting Avid sequences to playout. All our operators, including those who are not trained in server technology, are able to use it. With Medway, we have created a highly streamlined, efficient workflow."

RTL-TVI Belgium Installs Marquis Medway Media Highway for Powerful Cross-Platform Postproduction and Broadcast Workflows

Marquis has announced that regional Belgian television station, RTL-TVI Belgium, part of RTL Group, has installed its Medway Media Highway. RTL-TVI Belgium is using Medway as the interoperability engine for its broadcasting and postproduction workflows based in its head office in Brussels. Medway has enabled the Company to achieve fast media transfers between its production areas where multiple teams of operators use a range of applications from different manufacturers.

"We chose Marquis as our supplier because having talked through our plans with them, they understood precisely what we were looking for and were able to demonstrate how Medway's capabilities could fulfil our requirements completely," said Thierry Piette, technical director, RTL-TVI. "Medway is very reliable. It has a simple interface which requires minimal training, and can be used by any of our operators including those who do not have specialist technical backgrounds. Also, we do not require transcoding which means the media flows between our various applications very fast. It's a very powerful method of moving data around."

Medway Integration Brings Workflow Benefits to SGL's FlashNet Archive and Storage Environment

Marquis Broadcast, specialist in broadcast workflow studies and software solutions, and Software Generation Ltd (SGL), a leading provider of content archive and storage management software for media and entertainment, have announced a technology integration agreement allowing SGL to integrate Marquis' Medway media highway with its FlashNet content archive and storage management systems, including the new FlashBrowse proxy creation system and FlashBox archive management and storage solution.

"The integration of our FlashNet products with Medway brings workflow improvements and more flexibility to critical digital processes," said Bernie Walsh, Sales Director, SGL. "Integration, strong business benefits, system expansion and low cost of ownership are key to the SGL philosophy and this partnership will allow our customers to improve workflows, thereby increasing productivity and ROI."

Broadcast Technology Ltd, Comtegra and Ibertelco Become Medway Resellers

Marquis Broadcast has signed up Broadcast Technology Ltd, Comtegra and Ibertelco as new business partners for its Medway Media Highway interoperability engine. They will resell Medway to broadcasting and postproduction companies and will also provide Marquis customers with local integration, sales support and technical services.

Broadcast Technology Ltd based in Hong Kong specialises in broadcasting equipment (Baseband) system integration and distribution.

Comtegra's focused approach guarantees the best quality of storage consultancy, products and services. Direct cooperation with many producers who offer competitive but also complementary devices allows Comtegra to provide the best available solutions.

Ibertelco is a well-known supplier of broadcast and professional video equipment. The company provides products and services to the Portuguese television channels and video post-production houses.

To see a full list of our resellers please click here

Medway chosen by Siemens for Major Digital Media Workflow Project

Marquis Broadcast has announced that Medway, the company's popular interoperability engine, has been selected by Siemens IT Solutions and Services as an essential technology component of the BBC's Digital Media Initiative, DMI. As a result of this decision, Marquis Broadcast will form a global partnership with Siemens to make the technologies and know-how involved in delivering DMI available to other broadcasters who are considering tackling a similar technical challenge.

Siemens IT Solutions and Services, as the BBC's technology partner, has been working with the Corporation to architect the solution for DMI and select the key technology vendors. Siemens will now act as the prime integrator on the project, leading the service-oriented integration of these components to deliver a solution that meets the needs of the Corporation.

Medway was chosen for the initiative because of its ability to move media seamlessly between systems without incurring file compatibility issues, and because of its inherent use of rich metadata. The software is able to extract, edit and manipulate metadata that is attached to media, providing easy to use tools for building the powerful search, browse and media transfer systems needed to manage content effectively.

ITV Chooses Medway for Seamless File Integration with BT Content Store

ITV has purchased a Medway file interchange system, for use at its postproduction operation at The London Studios (TLS) on South Bank, London. Medway will be integrated with the company's Avid ISIS editing and postproduction operation and BT Content Store media storage service, enabling broadcast quality digital content to move seamlessly between the two systems.