IBC 2016: SGL to showcase latest version of FlashNet content management solution

At IBC 2016, SGL (stand 7.J15) will showcase the latest version of its FlashNet content management solution, which is designed to integrate seamlessly with MAM or automation control systems to provide significant improvements to workflow efficiency without intruding on the users’ familiar desktop. SGL’s Open System Architecture provides broadcasters, post production facilities, and news/sport organisations with reliable, scalable solutions with cost and workflow benefits.

New FlashNet Features
SGL is introducing FlashNet Lite, its new entry-level software solution. FlashNet Lite provides the full FlashNet solution but is restricted to a single server node. As Lite customers grow, FlashNet can grow with them.

At IBC 2016, SGL will demonstrate its new User Interface for the first time in Europe. The UI, which is being incrementally rolled out over the next six months, provides customers with an elegant dashboard that further simplifies archive procedures with sophisticated tools for archive and restore functionality, system health, monitoring, analysis and more.

SGL now supports reading and restoring from SMPTE’s Archive eXchange Format (AXF). FlashNet, SGL’s flagship content management storage system, can now read and process AXF objects providing greater flexibility for customers, ensuring long term availability of content in the future regardless of technology evolution.

SGL now supports Ci, Sony’s cloud-based service that allows media professionals to collaborate on the creation and sharing of high quality, high resolution content. The SGL integration with Ci means that broadcasters and content owners can quickly and easily transfer material directly to the cloud from their MAM system using SGL FlashNet. As well as Ci, SGL also supports Amazon S3 via Aspera and ExpeDat Gateway.

The new version of FlashNet, unveiled earlier this year, allows customers to allocate a pre-defined number of drives within their library for a specific role, such as archiving Avid jobs only, or restoring/archiving material at a certain time of day. This allows larger broadcasters with multiple drives to further improve operational procedures.

Avid Interplay Web Services Plug-in with Partial File Restore
SGL will also highlight Partial file restore powered by Glookast – a unique feature of the Avid Interplay Web Services solution developed by SGL. SGL’s support for Avid Interplay Web Services means that customers can use the archive capabilities that they currently require, but can employ Avid Interplay | Archive at any time in the future without the need to re-archive any content. The partial file restore feature enables operators to easily select and restore elements of a clip directly from the archive in high resolution. Prior to this, partial file restore functionality could only be achieved using the full Avid Interplay | Archive system.

Enhanced API with Support for REST Integration
SGL is highlighting the latest version of its FlashNet API, which now supports REST. This further simplifies FlashNet integration for partners.

Support for DPX Format
FlashNet now supports DPX-format assets – a standard format for cinema-oriented media. DPX media has one file per frame. Support includes partial file restore.

Amalgamation Service
While many media files require large amounts of storage, projects also often require much smaller files to be stored such as JPEGs, XMLs, and so on. If each file is archived separately the process of writing to tape becomes much less efficient. The FlashNet Amalgamation Service resolves this problem by consolidating multiple small files into one set of files, which will be archived at the same time without additional tape positioning.