We hope you were able to catch our webcast this month, "Automation for Engineers Part 1: Types and Applications," hosted by Sid Guel of Broadcast Automation Consulting and sponsored by OmniBus. It was a great success and a lot of you had some really good questions. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, Sid wasn't able to get to all of your questions during the webcast, but we sent off your submitted questions and he's answered them. Below, you can find his answers to those questions. Also, if you have any additional questions about this webcast, go ahead and post them here!

 If this topic interested you, make sure to check out Sid's next webcast June 10, "Automation for Engineers Part 2: What to Look for when Buying." You can register for webcasts as well as check out our archived webcasts here.
 

 Q: In a worldwide company, standards conversion becomes a major issue. What are automation providers doing to minimize concatenation problems?

A: On the world stage, standards such as PAL, NTSC, and one-offs are still an issue.  As for DTV and HDTV, the trend is automation systems with built-in transcoders.This lessen the need for external third-party transcoders.  Research shows, built-in transcoders are more popular with Combo and Hybrid systems.

 Q: Will the hybrid systems has inbuilt video servers and routers? will there be any video chain or only data chain from camera to playout?

A:  Yes, Hybrid and Combo systems both have a variety of built-in devices such as video servers and routers.  Off the top of my mind, I can only think of Internet Web Cams and Live Web Streaming as solid chains from camera to playout.  In the broadcasting industry, I believe general processes and chains will be similar to what we have today.  The advent of digital video, however, has simplified the entire process.

Q: What's your opinion regarding a tape-based archive vs disk-based system?

A: There are advantages and disadvantages to both.  Each broadcaster would need to research their needs and create a cost analysis comparison.  In my opinion, I believe the trend is toward more hard drive & DVD style systems.  I believe tape-based systems will lose more and more popularity as the years go by.

Q: How can automation truly cut down on the number of employees needed to staff an operation when most automation systems still need mark in and out points for each piece of video loaded into the system?

A: It depends on your operation and the extent of your automation systems.  The more you add automation to your facility, the more automated your tasks become.  Sateliite commercial delivery services are a good example.  They download "rich media" and "metadata" to your video servers and automation systems.  Other than QA, the rich media is ready to go to air.

Q: Do you see Video over IP gaining ground or is ATM/DTM still incumbent as they migrate to unmanned master control?

A:  Digital video.audio delivery and transport systems are separate from broadcast automation.  In my opinion, however, I see bandwidth cost and deterministic reliability as the deciding factors for standard broadcasters. 

 Q: Can you name few hybrid automation systems?

A:  OmniBus, Harris, Florical, Building4Media, Dayang, Just Edit, Reuters, Aveco, CIS, Digital Broadcast, MaestroVision, Tightrope Media

Q: I believe it's a fair question to ask companies how they handle cross platform Windows and Macs working together, considering the popularity of Apple Final Cut editing (note CNN standardization, wide areas of News Corp, many news departments etc.) Do you see cross-platform Mac and Windows operations as a helpful advanced capability?

A:  Yes.  Especially, if the broadcast facility already has Apple MAC systems.  Apple MAC IT Support is already existent, Users and Operators are already trained in APPLE MAC, and video/audio transcoders may not be necessary if the file formats are the same.

Q: Do you have statistics about the automation market share between the companies?

A:  Yes I do.  Broadcast Automation Consulting will be happy to talk to you about this research and our list of research products and consulting services.  Contact Sid Guel @ sidguel@yahoo.com or (210) 525-8433 for more information.

Q: Where do vendors currently stand on implementing the BXF standard between traffic and automation systems and when do you think it will be fully implemented?

A:  Most are positive about BXF.  During NAB2007 and IBC2007, most broadcast automation companies I spoke to noted they were committed to being  BXF compatible or compliant by 2008.

Q: What type of automation is recommended for mobile TV headends?

A:  I would recommend a Hybrid or Combo system simply because they are more IT centric and come with integrated devices and require less external devices.  Broadcast Automation Consulting would be happy to provide research consulting services to explore this question further.  Contact Sid Guel @ (210) 525-8433.

Q: Any thoughts about a server built entirely out of Mac computers? For example: A server with 2 inputs and 4 outputs would require 8 MAC computers. 6 for the video channels, 1 as a file server and 1 as a controller (what video files plays out what "channel")

A:  There's a broadcast automation company that has built a combo system using an Apple MAC named Building4Media.  I would ask you, "Where would this systems be used in a broadcast facility?" and "How would it be controlled?"  There are fundamental differences between broadcasting and Internet web streaming, for example.

Q: How do I handle EAS, weather, ect emergency alerts?

A:  Every automation system handles these tasks in various ways.  Some are more integrated than others.  The most sophisticated systems have API access that senses an incoming EAS test and auto adds events to a playlist for the playback and activation of an EAS test.

Q: Frame-accuracy seems to become an issue if a shop is drop or non-drop frame...when interaction is required with other applications (traffic, pgm management, etc)...your thoughts?

A:  This is true.  If these are mixed, there are usually time of day issues.  Each broadcast facility should be all one or the other, but not both.  Locking the automation system to the time of day clock at the top of every hour, helps keep the entire playlist on time.

 Q: How flexible are automation systems with respect to live network join and then rejoin the network in progress returns?

A:  Each automation system has their own way of handling this issue.  Some more sophisticated than others.  This is a common task for automation.