SSL to showcase MediaWAN Gravity content control system for broadcast at IBC 07

Solid
State Logic, the manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles
and provider of creative tools for film, audio, video and broadcast
professionals, is set to showcase the new MediaWAN Gravity content control
system for broadcast at IBC 2007, Sept 7-11 at the Amsterdam RAI (booth #N472
in Hall 8).

The
MediaWAN technology platform represents a major expansion of Solid State
Logic’s business. Encompassing all aspects of digital video acquisition and
storage technologies, MediaWAN Gravity is a complete, scalable broadcast news
production system that utilizes a suite of specially designed applications
running on standard high-performance PCs and servers.

Geared to
the fast-moving, multi-format nature of today’s media operations, the software
provides encoders to import video from a variety of sources including HD, a
preview and job allocation interface for production co-ordinators, editing
software for journalists and management tools for news producers. An asset
management database and user interface also provide for seamless information
lifecycle management in the video domain.

MediaWAN
‘Backhaul’ allows media networks to install encoders at remote locations and
automatically ingest video and audio content to central servers where it is
immediately available for use. The system operates over a private MPLS network
that provides a very high QoS and highly efficient use of the bandwidth,
enabling broadcast-resolution video to be delivered at a fraction of the cost
of traditional satellite transmission. The system operates at very low latency,
which significantly improves the performance of the circuit for remote
interviews.

MediaWAN is also format agnostic, allowing it to read and
combine or edit any file sent to it. This feature allows the combination of 4:3
and 16:9 content on the same timeline while allowing for compilation to either
format.

MediaWAN
‘Gravity’ displays real-time incoming content across a client’s entire IP
network. This feature allows multiple live feed monitoring, or LFM. LFM allows
users to select multiple incoming feeds and displays them on the desktop
simultaneously, thus eliminating costly cable and monitor infrastructure. Using
the multi-monitor function, operators can create up to four additional windows
that look at any of the 20-plus incoming feeds.

SSL’s
unique live timeline capability, ‘Live Edit,’ is another essential feature.
LiveEdit allows the user to work on a timeline within an editor that continues
to expand as more content is streamed into the file. The user is not required
to re-load the clip or refresh the screen in order to see additional video. The
SSL LiveEdit solution provides users with a continuous, ever-growing timeline.
In a fast-paced news environment, this kind of feature is critically important.

The ‘Gravity
Web Client’ featured in this MediaWAN Gravity solution allows producers to
remotely access, play back and manipulate content from their bureau or remotely
via personal computer at any location.

Solid
State
Logic has also created a custom module that allows all metadata to be
transmitted to the news production server of the client’s numerous
headquarters.

MediaWAN
Gravity was previewed at NAB in 2006 and has been under development for three
years. Its demonstrated at IBC07 follows the announcement of the first system
sale, to Network News Service (NNS). NNS is owned by ABC, CBS, and Fox News
Channel in the

USA.
It provides state of the art distribution services for news content to over 500
affiliate stations nationwide.

An important factor in the decision to install MediaWAN
was SSL’s ability to customize aspects of the Gravity solution to meet the
client’s requirements and existing infrastructure. Design modifications that
led to the adoption of MediaWAN include creation of custom links to databases
for News and Satellite operations and the development of tools that allow
third-party craft editors to operate with the Gravity system.

The
MediaWAN Gravity solution purchased by NNS is comprised of 20 encoders and can
store 32 terabytes of video on a fully mirrored Gravity server. Content is
prepared for distribution at approximately 30 workstations within the facility.
An additional 30 workstations nationwide connect to the client’s network via
SSL’s Backhaul video distribution solution.

These
headquarters feature MediaWAN Gravity editors that allow them to create
finished pieces for distribution to affiliates. The client’s partner networks
are then able to automatically schedule the transmission of these clips for
distribution to their affiliates, using the Gravity automated scheduling
software.

The result
is fast and efficient creation and distribution of content to existing in-house
infrastructures and broadcast. The MediaWAN Gravity solution also allows the
creation of licensing and embargoing structures for all of the client’s
subscribers.

“The
Gravity system supports the creation of multiple media formats simultaneously,”
comments Solid State Logic Group Commercial Director Piers Plaskitt. “For our
client, this means that Gravity will process audio and video content into three
different formats as required by each of its partners’ transmission and file
transfer systems. All metadata from the Gravity system is likewise transported
via an SSL adaptation of MOS. Gravity is a MOS-compliant production solution
which means that we can fully integrate with the client’s newsroom information
systems and satellite scheduling software.”

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