Open Source DPP Creation

Open Broadcast Systems has published an interesting DPP creation workflow based on open source tools.

Source: Video Breakthroughs

AS-11 Metadata Validator

The Digital Production Partnership (DPP) is an industry-funded non-profit partnership that advocates and promotes the many benefits associated with digital production for broadcast television.

The DPP have recently defined the AS-11 metadata specification. AS-11 specifies a vendor-neutral subset of the MXF file format to use for delivery of finished programming from program producers and program distributors to broadcast stations. AS-11 defines a minimal core metadata set required in all AS-11 files, a program segmentation metadata scheme, and permits inclusion of custom shim-specific metadata in the MXF file.

Blue Lucy Media makes available an AS-11 Validator, a simple and free tool which interrogates a given file, displays the AS-11 specific metadata and highlight a missing or invalid metadata.

MXF for Program Contribution - AS-11

Ian Wimsett, Senior Technologist at Red Bee Media, describes the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) specification MXF for Contribution, AS-11. AS-11 is a vendor-neutral subset of the MXF file format to use for delivery of finished programming from program producers and distributors to broadcast stations. AS-11 Files are intended to be complete and ready for playout. AS-11 supports SD video encoded as D-10, 50Mbit/s, and HD as AVC-Intra Class 100. Audio can be PCM, AC-3 or Dolby E.

What is AS11 and Why Do You Need It?

A nice video introduction to AS11 by Bruce Devlin.

Distributed Media Facilities

This article connects the dots among Serial Digital Interface (SDI), image compression, the invention of the Advanced Authoring Format / Material eXchange Format (AAF / MXF) data model, the MXF wrapper format, the subsequent development of AS-02, AS-03 and other MXF application specifications, developments in high-speed networking technology and network security, the SMPTE 2022 Standard for Professional Video over IP transmission, the recent activities of the Hollywood-based ETC’s Interoperable Mastering Format (IMF), which has recently moved into SMPTE, and the Advanced Media Workflow Association / European Broadcasting Union (AMWA / EBU) Task Force on the Framework for Interoperable Media Services (FIMS), concentrating on service-oriented media workflows.

DPP Unveils Technical & Metadata Standards for File-based Programme Delivery

The Digital Production Partnership (DPP) – a partnership between ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC – has unveiled its new Technical and Metadata Standards for File-based programme delivery in the UK.

Through the DPP, seven major broadcasters (BBC, ITV, C4, Sky, Channel Five, S4C and UKTV), have all agreed the UK’s first common file format, structure and wrapper to enable TV programme delivery by digital file. These new guidelines will complement the common standards already published by the DPP for tape delivery of HD and SD TV programmes.

Working closely with the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AWMA) in the US, the DPP has been the driving force behind the creation of the organisation’s ‘AS-11,’ a new international file format for HD Files. The new DPP guidelines will require files delivered to UK broadcasters to be compliant with a specified subset of this new, internationally recognised standard.

By implementing one set of pan-industry technical standards for the UK, the DPP aims to minimise confusion and expense for programme-makers, and avoid a situation where a number of different file types and specifications proliferate.

The new DPP standards aim to remove any ambiguity during the production and delivery process. A key aspect is the inclusion of editorial and technical metadata, which will ensure a consistent set of information for the processing, review, and scheduling of programmes, as well as their onward archiving, sale and distribution.

As part of the file-based guidelines, the DPP’s member broadcasters have agreed a minimum set of common metadata to be delivered with a file-based programme. And, in a bid to encourage international adoption of its metadata standards, the DPP has worked closely with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), mapping its minimum set of common metadata to existing ‘EBU-Core’ and ‘TV-Anytime’ metadata sets.

Alongside these new standards, the DPP is currently building a free-to-use, downloadable, metadata application to enable production companies to enter the required editorial and technical metadata easily. The new application is due to launch in spring 2012.

The agreement of these new file based technical standards does not signal an immediate move to file based delivery. Instead, the DPP seeks to provide clarity around digital delivery that will become the expected standard in the future.

During 2012 BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will begin to take delivery of programmes on file on a selective basis. Production companies wishing to deliver by file should discuss this at the point of commission, and seek formal agreement with their broadcaster at the outset of production. After a period of selective piloting, file based delivery will be the preferred delivery format for these Broadcasters by 2014.

Source: Digital Production Partnership

AS-11: MXF for Contribution

AS-11 is a vendor-neutral subset of the MXF file format to use for delivery of finished programming from program producers and distributors to broadcast stations. AS-11 files are intended to be complete and ready for playout.

AS-11 supports playout while the file transfer is in progress, a workflow is referred to as “late delivery”. It is preferable for AS-11 files to be used by playout servers directly without rewrapping of the MXF data structures.

The content may be delivered at the ultimate bit-rate, picture format and aspect ratio, or it may be transcoded at the broadcast station to the required bit-rates and formats. Similar transcoding may be applied to audio and captions; additionally, specific audio and caption tracks may be selected for different broadcast channels.

The content may be pre-packaged for broadcast without further splicing or it may be segmented for ease of insertion or replacement of interstitials.

AS-11 supports SD video encoded as D-10, 50Mbit/s, and HD as AVC-Intra Class 100. Audio can be PCM, AC-3 or Dolby E.

AS-11 defines a minimal core metadata set required in all AS-11 files, a program segmentation metadata scheme, and permits inclusion of custom shim-specific metadata in the MXF file.

Source: Advanced Media Workflow Association