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Reader SurveyNAB 2008
Mar 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Perspective on this years show.
At NAB 2008, Anystream will showcase the latest workflow additions to its Media Lifecycle Platform—including its new media dashboard (pictured here), which graphically displays multiplatform video usage, rights, performance, and distribution.
Last year was a busy time for the batch-encoding category. Grass Valley released ProCoder 3.0 in February 2007. (click here to read my review). The CliffsNotes version is that I liked the program, but it doesn't currently address encoding H.264 for Flash or the Windows Media tweaking issues that I raised above.
Late this month, Sorenson released Squeeze version 5.0, which the company will demonstrate at NAB. Significant enhancements include multifile encoding, which should accelerate encoding speed especially on multiple-processor systems; a new, higher-quality H.264 codec from Main Concept; support for the VC-1 codec (in addition to WMV 9); and a new plug-in architecture for enhancements such as Bias SoundSoap, which ships with some versions of the new product. Squeeze does support the new F4V format, which may change when Adobe finalizes the spec, but it doesn't provide direct support for Windows Media tweaking.
In October 2007, Telestream shipped version 4.4 of Episode, which included a higher-quality H.264 codec from Dicas. Given that sub-par H.264 quality was my most significant concern about the product, that was a significant move. If you have Episode or Episode Pro, make sure you download the free update it's definitely an improvement. And no, Episode doesn't currently address either the H.264 Flash issue or Windows Media tweaking. The latter is a special concern because you can't access the tweaks on this Mac-only product via either command-line operation or the Power Toy tool.
While batch-encoding products typically work on a single workstation, enterprise products can incorporate multiple computers into server farms. They're typically operated and monitored remotely via HTML interfaces and watch folders.
Anystream will showcase the latest workflow additions to its Media Lifecycle Platform including its new media dashboard, which graphically displays multiplatform video usage, rights, performance, and distribution. Anystream will also feature multiplatform format creation including high-definition CableLabs-compliant content for VOD, H.264 encoding from Ateme, and VC-1 for Microsoft Silverlight.
Digital Rapids will show version 1.2 of its Transcode Manager FE (Facility Edition), which features new video-processing functions, enhanced clip-list options, and a new SOAP (simple object access protocol)-based API which lets customers integrate Transcode Manager functions into their own custom applications. New video-processing functions include automatic black-border detection and removal, enhanced aspect-ratio conversion, and the ability to concatenate multiple clips into a single clip.
Inlet Technologies will have a range of products on display, including Fathom which includes support for WMV tweaking and scene-by-scene encoding, a rare feature that lets you fix problem areas in your videos without re-encoding the entire file. Once you're at the booth, have a look at Semaphore, a quality-control product that I really enjoyed using. (See p. 50 for my look at Semaphore.) If you're seeking a live solution for H.264-based Flash streaming, check out the recently introduced Spinnaker 2.0, which handles both Flash and VC-1.
At NAB, Rhozet, a business unit of Harmonic, will show its Carbon Coder video-transcoding solution with new advanced format support for Panasonic AVC-Intra, Sony XDCAM EX, and Avid DNΧHD. Rhozet started talking about supporting Microsoft Windows Media tweaks at last year's NAB, so I'd be surprised if we didn't see support for tweaking although the company declined to announce or comment on my assumption.
At NAB, Telestream will show Pipeline Quad, a 4-channel capture appliance that sits on the network and provides SDI tape ingest for Telestream FlipFactory and Episode products, as well as Apple Final Cut Pro.
Telestream Episode Engine and Engine Pro are leading enterprise solutions. (See a future issue for a review of Engine Pro.) At NAB, Telestream will show Pipeline Quad, a 4-channel capture appliance that sits on the network and provides SDI tape ingest for Telestream FlipFactory and Episode products, as well as Final Cut Pro. Telestream will also demonstrate Episode Podcast, a plug-in for Apple Leopard Server Podcast Producer, which allows Podcast Producer to accept any leading input format and repurpose media to all the popular distribution formats including Windows Media, Flash 8, MP3, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), VC-1, and H.264.
As mentioned in the live-encoding market, check out Inlet Technologies Spinnaker 2.0 at NAB 2008. Digital Rapids will demonstrate version 1.2 of its Broadcast Manager live-encoder management software, with a new graphical scheduling interface and API. Digital Rapids will also demonstrate a new model of its StreamZ Live dedicated live-streaming encoders, which is targeted at the 3GPP/mobile market.
Those seeking a portable streaming system should check out NewTek, which will show TriCaster Pro FX. This system includes live virtual sets, integrated CG, and storage for up to 20 hours of video.
If you're creating a site for user-generated content or if you simply need automated, server-based encoding budget a few minutes to spend with On2. During 2007, On2 updated its flagship Flix Engine product to include H.264 support for the Apple iPhone and iPod, and to produce VPS-E and VP6-S streams. The company also offers the Flix Engine 3GPP for mobile delivery and several other software development kits.
Telestream FlipScan technology makes its first appearance at NAB 2008. Developed as an extension for any FlipFactory product, FlipScan automatically scans, analyzes, and processes non-standard, user-generated content that's being uploaded to a growing number of video websites.
