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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Nowadays TV’s technological environment does not wait: everything must be under strict control from the very first moment the planification starts until the broadcast of content and its consequent archive.

That is why it is more necessary than ever to automate to the maximum repetitive tasks and focus on internal processes from the point of view of optimization and productivity improvement, in order to give more time to users to create better content.

That way, programming automation is an unmissable resource for any TV channel or audiovisual company in the field of content broadcasting. This technological development is nowadays the best ally to guarantee a safe broadcast, adapted to the fixed planning.

For more than 25 years, VSN has provided its advanced solutions to the Broadcast and Media & Entertainment industries. Among this solutions, VSNMULTICOM is internationally highlighted, being the most powerful continuity automation solution

available in the market, perfectly adapted to the needs of modern broadcasters and that integrates the latest advances in R&D.

VSNMULTICOM guarantees a flexible 24/7 broadcast for both mono channel environments and big playout centers alike. The wide range of devices that it controls, as well as the capacity to integrate any software or hardware in the market, make VSNMULTICOM the most advanced, flexible and safe continuity automation system available.

INTRODUCTION

CONTENT

0. Introduction

1. VSNMULTICOM’s main features

2. VSNMULTICOM’s advantages

3. VSNMULTICOM’s modules

4. VSNCREA TV and VSNMULTICOM the perfect union for any TV station

5. One final thought

6. The expert’s opinion: VSN’s Project Engineering Manager

7. References

VSN INNOVATION & MEDIA SOLUTIONS 4

VSNMULTICOM is an advanced solution for the automatic broadcast of mono/multi channel TV. It allows for an exhaustive content and broadcast workflow control. Maximum reliability and security for a safe broadcasting.

One of its most competitive advantages is its independence from the equipment already installed in the broadcast infraestructure, since it is homologated by manufactures such as EVS®, GrassValley®, Sony®, Avid®, Brainstorm®, Chyron®, Seachange®, Omneon®, Vizrt® and Pesa®, among others.

VSNMULTICOM is the only automation system that offers a global digitalization solution integrated with all the production, writing and archiving system, such as ENPS®, Avid®, EVS®, Front Porch®,Tarsys®, etc.

VSNMULTICOM’s simplicity allows it to administer its own system in an integrated way, no matter how complex the devices/inputs structure may be. There is no limitation in the number of devices to control, while the lists to control can be up to eight.

The system allows to identify concepts, inputs and devices in an intuitive way. In a very simple manner, the user is able to drag & drop video contents to create the rundown, making the task much easier. Also, keyboard shortcuts are specially designed and implemented to reduce even more time.

The system has four main divisions or components:

� The playlist or Rundown (action list / tasks to carry out)

� The device control

� The activities, controlled by devices to carry out the programmed tasks.

� The timers

The user edits the rundown, interacts with activities through command operation and controls devices through the control pannels.

1 VSNMULTICOM’s Main Features

playlist timers

main videoserver’s clips list

device control

VSNMULTICOM‘s user interface

Product Information | VSNMULTICOM 5

1.1 WORKFLOWSVSNMULTICOM proposes a flexible group of modules that offer a consistent solution for all the different broadcast and ingest tasks, independently of the chosen channel configuration. The operation is similar, but the system architecture is scalable according to the desired redundancy levels.

The capacity to integrate any other hardware and software makes VSNMULTICOM an open and affordable system in any case or circumstance.

1.2 MASTER CONTROL ROOM (Redundancy Config.)

VSNMULTICOM is the tool that provides absolute security and robustness for 24x7 broadcast of any given broadcaster.

This architecture allows for configuring this channels (SAT, CATV, TDT, Analogic) in a very simple way, guaranteeing that its broadcasting chains (devices associated to every route) are managed safely and avoiding mistakes.

The “Virtual Matrices” technology, available since version 9, is an exclusive feature of the automation system that brings additional advantages on:

1) Costs savings in the number of hardware equipment associated to a TV station

2) “Hot changes” of every broadcast chain without any mistake.

In the final configuration of each channel, VSN’s engineers adapt and customize the solution to the desired workflow chosen by the Technical Direction.

MAIN STORAGE

Ingest

Local Storage

Main Continuity

Local Storage

Local Storage

Formats

Local Storage

Multi-Continuity TDT

Multi-channelScheduling

(mcomply)

(mcomply)

Example of a customized workflow in a continuity system

Storage Management in VSNMULTICOM


No matter the devices and manufacturers to control, VSNMULTICOM allows to replicate this architecture on demand in a simple and easy way. Almost 20 years after its launching, it owns one of the widest controlled devices range in the market, from VTRs, matrices, mixers, graphic and subtitling systems, GPI devices, Flexicart libraries, LMS, etc.

1.3 COMPACT CONTINUITY (mono /multi-channel)

VSN guarantees the scalability of the VSNMULTICOM system, offering affordable configurations that can grow as the number of channels grow. The client can decide to share content among different channels or keep them independent.

VSN offers different options to automate not only the broadcasting or its events, but also other areas of the workflow that are not normally automated, such as transferring and transcoding of material, ingest lists, compatibility of catalogues between different manufacturers.

The system creates the broadcast lists from the file sent by the Programming Department, or through the VSNMULTICOM Scheduler module, or even manually from the very same user interface of the broadcast application. One single programmer can provide the different rundowns for different channels in a very simple way.

Planned rundowns can be exported in different report formats, to ease the elaboration of Programming Guides for satelite, TDT, etc.

1.4 INGEST ROOM, FORMAT CHANGES AND PRINT-TO-TAPES

The control of the ingest processes is carried out by the VSNMULTICOM REC module. From the very same application, or from any other remote PC (through VSNMULTICOM REC TERMINAL), the lists can be programmed (“rec-list”) with total accuracy, both for VRTs and for external lines.

The ingested content can be directly transferred to the broadcast servers or to a centralized storage unit, making it immediately available for the post production operators.

If there is the need of transcoding video files to other formats, or if it is necessary to integrate with production systems from other manufacturers (Unity, EditShare, Tarsys, etc.), there is a unique element to manage all this transfers: VSNSPIDER.

Thanks to a simple interface, the Spider platform allows to automatically program all the necessary transfers and transcoding processes among the different systems, as well as to monitor its execution.

VSNSPIDER is the union between the functional areas and the subsystems, allowing for manual or automated/programmed ingests, taking care of the most boring and repetitive tasks and avoiding errors in the daily workflow.

1 VSNMULTICOM’s Main Features


2.1 CONTINUITY AUTOMATIONVSNMULTICOM is the core of VSN´s continuity solution. With over 20 years of existence, it’s integrated with the majority of baseband devices, such as video routers and mixers. It controls any VDCP video server and most of CGs in the market. It offers many different redundancy options adapting to every client´s needs however demanding they might be, since it offers complete servers and lists redundancy.

Thanks to its calculator feature, integrated with the platform, it is possible to calculate how many event there are and how much they last between two live programmes in a simple and fast way. VSNMULTICOM also includes a powerful counter management tool, while many other automation services do not.

2.2 CONTENT MANAGEMENTVSNMULTICOM and VSNCREA TV enable advanced content management workflows that greatly accelerate and simplify MCR operations. When loading a playlist, all content that is not present in the video server is automatically requested to the MAM system. The system also checks which of the video server content is not registered in the Media Asset Management system.

Regarding validated content, if a clip has been ingested but not validated, the system marks it in yellow with the status “not to broadcast”, giving the operator full information about it.

2 VSNMULTICOM’s Advantages

Continuity automation

Content Management

Videoservers

WEB TV integration

Device control

Advanced operations

Advanced graphic integrations

TV Channels Synchronization

Scheduling


2 VSNMULTICOM’s Advantages

In that sense, it is possible to personalize the colours of VSNMULTICOM’s rundowns, depending on the type of content: program, advertising or filling content, allowing to recognize with one look all the elements of the planned broadcast.

2.3 VIDEOSERVERSVSNMULTICOM integrates via VDCP or native API with the majority of videoserver manufacturers in the market. In order to achieve the best possible performance, it integrates through native API with: DVS®, Harmonic®, Seachange®, Imagine®, Avid®, Grass Valley®, Harris®, EVS® and Omneon®, among others.

2.4 WEB TV INTEGRATIONThe system fully automates workflows for sending and managing contents for webTV. It’s possible to select which content can or cannot be broadcasted online and the system then takes care of stopping the encoder and launching a playlist of alternative content. It also takes care of eliminating commercial blocks when publishing the content and provides an EPG optimized for web publishing.

2.5 ADVANCED OPERATIONSFor the same event, VSNMULTICOM enables the control of equipments and actions associated to three different levels: main sources such as broadcast video servers, auxiliary sources such as graphic generators, and secondary sources such as ingest video servers, GPI beacons, VOD, secondary router commuting, etc.

2.6 EQUIPMENT CONTROLNo limit in the number of controlled devices; constantly notifying the state of the connection with the devices, allowing for a quick intervention of the operator in case any problems arise.

2.7 ADVANCED GRAPHIC INTEGRATIONSComplete integration with several advanced graphic systems, allowing to take advantage of all their functionalities, selecting templates and sending the input data directly from VSNMULTICOM. Some examples are the integrations with ORAD 3DPlay with several levels of communication and with Vizrt’s Trio and MultiChannel through its REST API.

2.8 TV CHANNELS SYNCHRONIZATIONPossibility of having different slave channels synchronized with one or two main channels. For example, to have an international channel and other regional channels totally synchronized with a national channel, thanks to advanced playlist management and disconnection control for each channel.

2.9 SCHEDULINGVSNCREA TV, web-based scheduling module, is fully integrated with VSNMULTICOM. It covers all scheduling needs of the advertising, production and broadcasting departments. It allows the user to, among many other things, create weekly and daily program schedules, export the EPG, and track the number of times each content has been broadcasted.


3 VSNMULTICOM’s ModulesThe VSNMULTICOM family is specially designed to solve all the needs of modern broadcasters, covering all the steps in continuity automation and offering maximum security to users. Here we present the different modules that are part of this family:

3.1 CONTINUITY AUTOMATION MODULES

VSNMULTICOM is the system that integrates with more devices in the market

VSNMULTICOM PLAY (Playout)

It is the channel’s broadcast automation tool. Organizes and coordinates all the equipment taking part in the broadcast process. Through its user interface, operators can interact with playlists in real time, controlling all the equipment directly or through the Device Server.

VSNMULTICOM SERVER

It is a service module, typically installed when connecting or disconnecting , master-slave operations or parallel redundancies are necessary. In multi channel environments, it synchronizes different

VSNMULTICOM PLAY instances with the aim of offering broadcast redundancy and the management of the disconnecting Master.

VSNMULTICOM SCHEDULER

Optional application that reproduces broadcast playlists from a different workstation, before sending them to Master Control Room. It is specially useful in collaborative work environments to allow other users to simultaneously edit different playlists at the same time.

VSNMULTICOM REMOTE

It is the application that monitors and controls VSNMULTICOM’s channels in remote and real time, reflecting its status, possible error and alarms. Specially useful in work environments involving a great number of workers, who will have clear visibility of all process carried out by the automation system. It also allows for an only-monitoring mode, very useful for TV station chiefs that want to follow closely the real estate of the broadcast.


3 VSNMULTICOM’s Modules

3.2 INGEST AND PRINT-TO-TAPE MODULES

3.3 DEVICE CONTROL MODULES

VSNMULTICOM REC

It is the VSNMULTICOM family ingest application. It coordinates all the stations that take part in planning the ingests in broadcast lists and specific recording lists. Through its user interface, the user is able to interact in real time with the list and control all the equipment directly or using the Device Server. Thanks to VSNSPIDER, it is possible from the QC’s XML file to synchronize servers with the platform’s send-to-server.

DEVICE SERVER ENGINE

This module is the device server that contains all drivers with its protocols and native communication methods.

It allows VSNMULTICOM PLAY, VSNMULTICOM REC and other applications to control them in a safe and robust way via IP by using the MULTICOM-TSS protocol.

VSNMULTICOM PRINT-TO-TAPE

Expansion that coordinates all the equipment that participates in the print-to-tape processes.

Through its interface, users can interact in real time with the list, and control all the equipment, directly or via Device Server.


4 VSNCREA TV & VSNMULTICOM: the perfect union for any TV Station

VSNCREA TV and VSNMULTICOM complete the automation system of any channel and achieve perfect syncronization between planning, broadcast and management of any TV station.

VSNCREA TV is a software module for planning and managing TV programming. It allows to manage the workflows of advertising, production and broadcast departments regarding broadcast planning (from general simulations for all the season, to programming and schedulling for a particular week). Its integration with VSNMULTICOM is total, opening infinite possibilities when managing a TV.

With VSNCREA TV is possible to generate the weekly grid and the daily playlists. It exports all the necessary information regarding the number of times, an external content or advertisement pieces that have been shown and exports the data for external invoicing systems as well. It also generates programming guides for the press and the EPG TV guide. It integrates with invoicing, playout automation and archive systems.

4.1 CHANNEL SYNCHRONIZATION WITH REGIONAL LINES

From VSNCREA TV it is possible to plan regional synchronizations so VSNMULTICOM sends the commands (via cue tone, GPI or IP), something that is useful in multi-regional configurations with a centralized automated control. For example, the central automation in Madrid can order the automations in Barcelona and Valencia the broadcast of commercials from their local areas while the Madrid automation keeps broadcasting national advertising for the rest of Spain.


4 VSNCREA TV & VSNMULTICOM: the perfect union for any TV Station

4.2 MANAGEMENT OF LOGOS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT From VSNCREA TV it is possible to specify which logos are going to be broadcasted. For example, if a channel is planning the broadcast of an adult movie, it is possible to select the “+18” logo with VSNCREA TV and VSNMULTICOM will automate the CG devices to include that logo only for that particular film.

4.3 CONTROL OF SECONDARY EVENTS FROM THE PLANIFICATION DEPARTMENTFrom VSNCREA TV it is possible to command VSNMULTICOM the control of other devices. For example, if we daily broadcast a program that must be recorded, from VSNCREA TV we can command VSNMULTICOM to launch the capturing tool to ingest that program. If we go one step further and integrate the system with VSNSPIDER, we can even launch other events related to that ingest; for example, to send that clip to a different playout and to the archive at the same time in a different format.

4.4 AUTOMATIC RECOVERY OF CONTENTWith VSNCREA TV it is possible to define which clips are going to be used in the planning. VSNCREA TV is able to send orders to the VSNSPIDER platform, to copy this content from Archive to the video server, in order to broadcast and register that content in the VSNMULTICOM database.

TV Schedulling with VSNCREA TV

Playlist view on VSNCREA TV


5 One final thought

Modern broadcasters need to have technology on their side when on air, to guarantee total security for the broadcast operation and have more time and resources to spend in what they do best: to create quality content. When referring to continuity automation, it is crucial to carry out the broadcasting of content in a stable and robust way, avoiding mistakes or interruptions that can bring negative consequences for the channel and damage its reputation among the audience.

When choosing a solution it is necessary to have a close look at its reliability, features, integration with other areas and the devices it controls. VSNMULTICOM, with more than 20 years of experience in the market and hundreds of references around the world, guarantees a perfect 24/7 broadcast for mono-channel environments and big playout centers alike.

Its secret? Offering a flexible family of modules that form a solid-rock solution for all the ingesting and broadcasting tasks, no matter the configuration of channels chosen. The operation is similar, but the architecture of the system is scalable depending on the desired redundancy levels, giving maximum freedom and flexibility to users.

Continuity automation must not be trusted to cheap or inexperienced solutions that promise great results but, when it comes to the real game, fall down like a house of cards. For the most important part of a TV channel, it is mandatory to count on a robust, powerful and safe system such as VSNMULTICOM, that perfectly understands the needs of modern broadcasters and makes sure that technology is always on their side.

Get to know VSNMULTICOM. It will not disappoint you.


Continuity automation is a crucial tool for any TV channel. In a world more and more connected in which reaction and content creation times get tighter every year, to be able to control the broadcast and to automate processes bring users the chance to work in a simpler and easier manner. Therefore, they can focus on the quality of the broadcast and not in parallel processes, giving editors, directors and journalists more time to concentrate in developing quality content to engage audiences.

Broadcast continuity automation is the perfect resource to cancel repetitive and problematic tasks in any TV channel, improving the audiovisual assets’ efficiency, productivity and Return on Investment. Therefore, it is key for any automation system to be able to control in a flexible

and complete way all the devices currently available in the broadcast and Media & Entertainment industries.

This way, integration with the systems already installed in the channel and with the used hardware can be carried out in a clean and safe way, avoiding traumatic changes of equipment and problematic migrating processes that may affect the daily operations of the TV station. Any systems integrator recommends to choose a reliable and flexible continuity automation system with the maximum of device control range.

When going on air, an automation system must ensure a solid and smooth broadcasting, avoiding interruptions and technical issues and giving operators, journalists and TV directors total security

that technology will be on their side when reaching the audience. This is the most important part of the content lifecycle, since a single failure in front of the public can damage the reputation of the channel forever.

Summarizing, the requirements that any TV should look for in a continuity system are: an easy and smooth operation, easy integration with any third-party hardware used by the already installed system, automated workflows, and a robust and safe broadcast while on air.

With that elements, any TV station will be able to face the challenges that the Media & Entertainment sector poses every day and, more important, to succeed in engaging the audience.

The expert’s opinion: Joan Ramon Ruiz, VSN’s Project Engineering Manager

“A robust device control and a safe broadcast are unmissable elements in a reliable continuity system”

6

7 Our references

For more than 25 years, VSN has installed solutions for more than 1000 clients, creating value for different companies in the Broadcast and Media & Entertainment industries.

RPPPeru

Campus TVHonduras

TelevicentroHonduras

RTVAAndorra

VTelevisionSpain

Al-MayadeenLebanon

RaiItaly

Al-KoutKuwait

La XarxaSpain

TVBHong Kong

Amarin TVThailand

SingTelSingapore

P.U. JaverianaColombia

Syrian National TV Syria

CTC TVRussia

Bloomberg UTVIndia

TV3Spain

Atlas MediasetSpain

TV ZimboAngola

ChilevisiónChile

Rede MassaBrazil

Dorna SportsSpain

TeleSurVenezuela

TelsonSpain

HOLA TVUSA

Gol TSpain

Cançao NovaBrazil

Barça TVSpain

8tvSpain

TPAAngola

Real Madrid TVSpain

SkaïGreece

RCN TVColombia

TelmexColombia

Rio Grande do SulBrazil

Saudi Airlines Saudi Arabia

MORE THAN 1.000 CLIENTS IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES

In the following video you will discover how the systems we’ve talked about in this Product Information work seamlessly integrated. From the VSNEXPLORER Media Asset Management system to the VSNMULTICOM MCR solution, everything gets together with smooth synch and total control under VSNCREA TV.

Have a look at our How to fully optimize your channel’s MCR Automation webinar

Ask for a demo of our products here

www.vsn-tv.com

VSNWEBINAR How to fully optimize your channel’s MCR Automation

https://www.vsn-tv.com/en/media/videos/webinar-optimice-mcr-automation/

https://www.vsn-tv.com/en/contact/demo-request/

Copyright © VSN Video Stream Networks S.L. 2015 All Rights Reserved.All the registered and non-registered trademarks and company names contained in this manual are property of their respective owners. No part of this document can be reproduced or translated without previous consent from VSN Video Stream Networks S.L. The information contained in this document has been provided by VSN Video Stream Networks S.L. and has been examined before printing. All functionalities described might change without notice and due to third party systems.

VSN HEADQUARTERS EUROPE & AFRICA

Parc Audiovisual de CatalunyaCtra. BV-1274 Km.1, 08225, Terrassa, Barcelona (Spain)

Tel. (+34) 93 734 99 70

[email protected]

www.vsn-tv.com

product information - vsn-tv.com · product information ... vsnmulticom integrates via vdcp or...

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