Lowering the cost of tapeless recording in a multi-camera studio
Project from 2009 - present
What we're doing
We set about developing a suite of software and hard disk recording system that would streamline the production process for both TV teams and archiving facilities.
Before any hardware or software was developed however, it was necessary to agree an industry standard. Over several years, we led industry efforts to develop the MXF and AAF file formats (Material Exchange Format and Advanced Authoring Format respectively).
We then observed production teams to identify how workflows could be improved, before developing Ingex, a single system that can capture, encode, store and share media digitally.
Why it matters
Automated tapeless production has long been an ambition of the TV industry, but there is no simple solution. While digitising tapes is a costly and time-consuming process for production teams, a proliferation of media file formats and no fixed standard means it can be risky to record digitally in the first instance.
Our goals
We wanted to find out if it were possible to make this aspect of production more efficient and cost-effective.
How it works
Controlled from the production gallery, the Ingex Studio System can capture and record all video and audio feeds and store them directly to disk. Production teams can log time codes against the script and make comments for each take.
The system can record multiple feeds simultaneously and in real time, wrapping files as MXF and saving them locally, while creating lower quality versions for browsing.
A variety of encoding formats are supported: uncompressed; high quality production formats such as VC3, MJPEG and IMX; and browse-quality formats such as MPEG2 and H264. Multiple formats can be encoded simultaneously. An AAF file can be generated to enable the material and associated metadata to be accessed directly from post production applications. The metadata can include a record of vision mix cuts made during the recording.
The system can have as much disc storage capacity as a production needs, and can even cope with the recording schedule of a busy production such as EastEnders indefinitely. Files are automatically stored on a network file server as well as locally, so they are archived and can be shared with the post production team. Rushes can go to edit almost immediately.
Not only that, but files are processed in the background so they can be viewed on the web or DVD and portable devices. Teams can collaborate remotely and make fast editing decisions.
Outcomes
By finally harnessing digital technology to simplify and speed up the production process, Ingex has made programme making vastly more efficient. For this reason it is currently in use by one of our most demanding productions, EastEnders.
Not only does it speed up the production process, but it's cost-effective too. Using industry standard file formats, open source software and off-the-shelf hardware means the Ingex system is a practical option for anyone in the industry.
Building a real application like Ingex has also allowed the team to develop new aspects of the standard, for example standardising time reference signals for tapeless working.
The software is open source and we have also developed a , primarily in MXF format.
