Video Servers & Replay Systems​

Hi,

Has there been any talks about supporting ProRes 422 (HQ/SQ/LT) with the Blackstorm playout servers?

Our workflow in the studio is all based around ProRes 422 for capture and post and I was wondering if we could eliminate the need to re-encode to DVC ProHD to save a lot of time. Would this be something hard to implement in the future?

Hi Michael,

Native support that does not require transcoding is not an easy thing to get on a Windows platform. Apple restricts the ProRES 422 codec pretty tightly.

With version 1.3 DNxHD support was added to BlackStorm. Is it possible to leverage that format in your facility?

Les

Hi Les,

Thanks! I updated blackstorm it seems like DNx is working a bit better. DVCProHD for some reason looks extremely soft in comparison to ProRes or DNx.

Les,

Can we expect better cue times with BVS when using 1.3 and DNx with alpha over 1.1 and Animation with alpha? Currently my load and fire buttons are separated on replay moves because we simply don't have 15 frames to spare getting into a replay and then another 15 getting out.

Thanks!

-Jeff

instead of using of putting them on different buttons you could always just put a Hold after the Cue so that you can prep it and continue it with the same button.

Also another Item I have used in the past is that the Replay Out (and other transitions for elements) will Cue the Replay IN at the end of their Macro. The Replay In Cues the Replay Out at the End of it's macro.

Then you can always have a Cue Replay In just incase something kicks it out of the server but everything else uses holds and then Cues Up the Replay IN at the end of their run.

Les

The issue with holds is normally things are 1 press, but that makes it a 2 press. I'm essentially using the old workflow, just splitting it into two buttons so I don't have to make that first press during the play every time. In cues out, Out cues in doesn't really work as our replay changes per quarter. The 5 load buttons plus an in and out seems like the best work-around for the cue time.

If the BVS cue time was improved I would be very interested in an update. I worked with Ivan on the phone a bit over a year ago and he was able to get us from 18 frames to 15 after an update. On trucks 8 frames is what I typically need. At double the cue time it really changes how I need to build my show.

Jeff