Anyone who has worked in the visual effects industry is familiar with the enormous volume of data involved in every production and the process of bringing shots on and offline to balance workloads. Jeff Kember, a cloud solutions architect at Google and a former computer graphics supervisor, introduced a new solution, Google’s Cloud Storage Nearline — a low-cost, fast-response storage service that enables quick data backup, retrieval and access — in his vNAB Cloud Conference presentation on Visual Effects Workflows in the Cloud. Continue reading Google Cloud Storage Nearline Presented at vNAB Conference

Three new videos covering Big Data and Analytics comprise the final release of ETC@USC’s vNAB Cloud Conference, recorded at the YouTube Space LA in March. A total to 37 unique videos, encompassing the essential topics of media management in the cloud, are now posted to the ETCenterVideos YouTube channel. Brian Campanotti, CTO of Oracle/Front Porch Digital discusses trends in “Premises and Cloud: Effective Big Data Solutions and Services for Content Owners.” Pedro Szekely, project leader at The Information Sciences Institute (ISI) at USC, presents “Big Data/DIG: Domain Specific Insight Graphs,” a technology that harvests and harmonizes millions of Web pages to extract key elements of knowledge. Pivotal, represented by Noelle Sio, Srivatsan Ramanujam, and Jarrod Vawdrey, explore a framework and next generation applications that used Machine Learning and statistical modeling to answer “why?” things happen and “what will happen next?” in their presentation, “Open Source Framework for Deploying Data Science and Cloud Based Applications.” The vNAB Cloud Conference is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference that ETC@USC leads next week at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 14-15.

New playlists on Open Source Tools and Storage join the 30+ videos now live on the ETCenterVideos YouTube channel from the vNAB Cloud Conference. The early March event was an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference that ETC is organizing at NAB on April 14-15. Joshua Kolden, CEO of Studio Pyxis and leader of the ETC Cloud Framework offers a comprehensive introduction to the Cinema Content Creation Cloud, otherwise known as the C4 Framework, endorsed by ETC and its member organizations to orchestrate connections between services, software and people for better digital production pipelines and to facilitate the future of production in the cloud. The revolutionary ability of OpenStack to transform video delivery is the subject of “OpenStack Meets TV Everywhere: Peanut Butter and Chocolate” presented by Yuval Fisher, CTO, MVPD of Imagine Communications. The Storage playlist features talks by Signiant CTO Ian Hamilton, “This is Not Your Parent’s Storage: Transitioning to Cloud Object Storage,” and John Tkaczewski, president and co-founder of FileCatalyst, “An Introduction to Data Gravity.”

The Second Screen and Over-the-Top (OTT) are the topics covered in today’s set of new videos released from ETC’s vNAB Cloud Conference. Can traditional, live, linear content distribution models effectively evolve from existing satellite communication networks to pure IP-based cloud-centric transit? Amazon Web Services (AWS) explores answers in its “Shoot the Bird” presentation. In “Managing the New Content Supply Chain,” Worldnow discusses the next evolution of powerful, cost-effective media management and workflows to efficiently reach and monetize audiences on all screens. Vubiquity’s presentation, “Cloud Atlas: A Movie or A Distribution Movement”shows how the cloud enables the transition from classic transactional VOD to Electronic Sell-Through for MVPDs and OTT players alike. The session concludes with HITS/MESA’s panel discussion, “Leveraging Cloud to Build Your OTT Channel,”featuring Akami, Optimity and ContentBridge. vNAB, recorded at YouTube Space LA on March 2, 3 & 4, is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference scheduled for NAB April 14-15.

Release of ETC’s vNAB Cloud Conference continues today with the launch of 6 new videos that focus on hybrid cloud technology, ecosystems and ROI/cost savings. PrimeFocus showed how Hybrid Cloud technology manages content across multiple locations, Encoding.com explored its software-based approach to an on-premise/cloud hybrid media processing platform, and Sony/MCS projected what platforms may look like in the next 5 years. Cloud Economics were the topic of presentations by 5th Kind on ROI and how studios increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve quality; Envivio’s presentation on the cost advantages of cloud video; and FilmTrack’s look at future proofing digital revenue streams with Metadata in the Cloud. vNAB, recorded at YouTube Space LA on March 2, 3 & 4, is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference scheduled for NAB April 14-15.

Miramax opened Day 2 of the ETC vNAB Cloud Conference with a keynote presentation on the 4-fold revenue increase and other lessons realized from their implementation of a robust SaaS media asset management system (MAMS). The video is now available on the ETCenterVideos Channel on YouTube along with today’s other releases: a presentation from Aframe on the use of cloud-based, self-service workflows for broadcast MAMS and a detailed case study by Digital Film Tree on “Luna,” a short film produced by Universal and ETC designed to examine current cloud workflows and prototype benefits of cloud centralization. vNAB, recorded at YouTube Space LA on March 2, 3 & 4, is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference scheduled for NAB April 14-15.

All of the Day 1 sessions and keynote presentations from ETC’s Virtual NAB Cloud Conference are now online and ready for viewing on the ETCenterVideos YouTube channel. The vNab Cloud Conference is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud Conference produced by ETC@USC at the upcoming NAB Show April 14-15 in Las Vegas. The Virtual Conference, recorded at YouTube Space LA in early March, featured 35 presenters and provided a forum for a deeper discussion of Media & Entertainment and the Cloud.

Videos from the third session of The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC “Virtual NAB Cloud Conference” are now live for viewing on the ETCenterVideo YouTube channel. The videos include a presentation on visual effects workflows in the cloud by Jeff Kember of Google and a description of a popup render farm for VFX by Thinkbox Software’s Chris Bond. Martin Wahl of Microsoft Azure Media Services presented a scalable workflow for live sports and Michelle Munson of IBM/Aspera showcased streaming sports to second screens through the cloud. Usman Shakeel of Amazon Web Services discussed the demands of and solutions for 4K workflows. Continue reading vNab: Workflow in the Cloud for Visual Effects, Sports and 4K

Videos from the second session of The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC “Virtual NAB Cloud Conference,” a 3-day extension of the Media Management in the Cloud track that ETC leads at the NAB Show, are now live for viewing on the ETCenterVideo YouTube channel. The 4 new videos focus on media transport and security with presentations by Equinix on Just in Time On Demand Production Infrastructure; Dolby on Global Media Exchange and the Work of the ETC; Sohonet on Rapid, Secure Workflows; and Independent Security Evaluators on Hackers, Attack Anatomy & Security Trends. Continue reading vNab: Conference Videos Focus on Transport and Security

The 2015 NAB Show is right around the corner, scheduled for April 11-16 in Las Vegas, and we’re looking forward to seeing many of you at the Media Management in the Cloud Conference. ETC@USC is pleased to provide a discount code for anyone interested in attending NAB and Media Management in the Cloud. Register before Friday, 3/27 and get Free Exhibits-only Pass or $100 off a SMART or Conference Flex Pass! Use code SD25 when you register online.

Videos from the opening session of The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC “Virtual NAB Cloud Conference,” a 3-day extension of the Media Management in the Cloud track that ETC leads at the NAB Show, are now live for viewing on the ETCenterVideo YouTube channel. The Virtual Conference, recorded at YouTube Space LA on March 2, 3 & 4, featured 35 presenters and provided a forum for a deeper discussion of M&E (Media & Entertainment) and the Cloud. The entire program will be posted in advance of NAB in April to provide a lasting repository of perspectives and experiences in this rapidly evolving sector. Continue reading First Videos from ETC’s vNAB Cloud Conference Now Online

The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC will host a 3-day Virtual NAB Cloud Conference, featuring more than 35 speakers, panelists and keynotes, on March 2, 3 & 4 at the YouTube Space LA. A very limited number of seats are still available. The conference is an extension of the Media Management in the Cloud track that ETC leads at the NAB Show and provides a forum for a deeper discussion of Media & Entertainment and the Cloud. The entire program will be recorded and videos will be posted on the ETC YouTube channel in advance of NAB to provide a lasting repository of perspectives and experiences in this rapidly evolving sector. Continue reading ETC@USC to Host 3-Day Virtual NAB Cloud Conference in LA

According to the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), wireless VidiPath technology will enable the secure delivery of subscription TV to all certified devices in the home. This could lead to eliminating the need to rent multiple set-top boxes. Wi-Fi-based VidiPath provides access to subscription TV across smartphones, tablets, Blu-ray players, game consoles and PCs. The first VidiPath-certified products are slated for availability in the first quarter. Comcast, Cox and Time Warner Cable are among those planning to offer VidiPath STBs. Continue reading DLNA: VidiPath Tech to Enable Subscription TV Across Devices

During yesterday’s HPA Tech Retreat, I moderated a panel on two emerging production standards: DPP and IMF. Although SMPTE standard IMF (Interoperable Master Format) is familiar to many in the industry as a single, interchangeable master file format that allows for flexible versioning, very few in our industry know about DPP (Digital Production Partnership), a new British standard for B2B file exchange. Our discussion tracked the evolution and potential overlap of the standards, and how they are currently being used in the industry. Continue reading HPA Tech Retreat: Emerging Standards Enable Interoperability