Softel Partners With Pixel Power To Deliver 3D Subtitling Creation and Re-Purposing Solution. | 1st September 2010 |
Softel announced today the launch of an end-to-end Stereoscopic 3D subtitle creation and rendering product suite in partnership with graphics specialists Pixel Power. A demonstration of Softel-created 3D subtitle content, rendered by Pixel Power Clarity™ 3D, BrandMaster™ 3D and LogoVision™ 3D systems, can be viewed at IBC 2010, on the Pixel Power stand number 7.A31.
Existing Softel Swift users will be able to purchase a 3D upgrade, allowing optimum flexibility for a limited cost, while benefiting from a best-of-breed solution. The joint solution has capability to either re-purpose 2D subtitle or create them from scratch.
3D TV programming is fast becoming a reality in the UK, US and elsewhere around the world, and there is significant demand for a 3D subtitle solution to manage the creation, and re-purposing from 2D, of 3D subtitles.
As global market leader for subtitle authoring workstations, Softel has addressed the challenges of 3D subtitle content creation and encoding through innovative development to existing products, combined with a new and proven technology partnership.
Pixel Power has spent over two decades redefining what is possible in the broadcast graphics field and it has continued that innovation into the emerging stereoscopic 3D world. During the 3D post-production subtitle authoring process, it is vital that each subtitle is carefully placed in each 3D scene in such a way that it avoids other ‘close-up’ content whilst remaining clear to the viewer.
Softel has developed an upgrade to their Swift Create subtitle workstation to allow Z-axis placement metadata to be stored for each subtitle whilst ensuring that this is within a pre-specified 3D object space. Swift Create can also deploy ‘3D Smart’ Z-axis auto-placement logic if metadata is available for the 3D video content to describe the placement of 3D activity in each scene.
Pixel Power’s stereoscopic 3D-equipped graphics products can now import Softel subtitle files with the subtitle, timecode and Z-axis metadata. Subtitles are then rendered automatically in real-time stereoscopic 3D in sync with timecode, using simple graphics templates. The Z-axis metadata (which can also be used to animate the Z position of a displayed subtitle) is used to dynamically position the subtitles to match the underlying action and avoid distracting the viewer.
“Pixel Power is a well known and successful broadcast graphics company, with whom we have worked for many years. Softel partnering with Pixel Power has provided our customers a simple route to best of breed video rendering hardware,” says Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “By enabling our extensive existing subtitle user base to upgrade to a 3D solution we continue to stay ahead of market needs while offering a cost effective and accomplished solution.”
“By combining Pixe
l Power’s leading edge 3D graphics technology with Softel’s subtitle creation expertise, the two companies are providing levels of innovation that help drive broadcasters’ businesses,” says James Gilbert, Joint MD of Pixel Power. “This is a prime example of cooperation in action and has led to the quick development of a product that perfectly serves market needs.”
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Softel Launches MultiText for Streamlined Multilanguage Subtitle/Caption Processing | 31st August 2010 |
Softel today announced MultiText, a new option for the industry-leading Swift™ vTX and Swift TX subtitling encoding and transmission systems. MultiText greatly simplifies the playout of complex multilanguage broadcast subtitles, reducing operational costs and increasing productivity while enhancing quality through built-in automated quality control procedures.
Swift vTX with MultiText is a solution for binding multilingual rich-text formatted subtitle streams to video files and then transcoding them using Swift TX at transmission time from SDI into any of the common transmission formats (typically DVB bitmap or Open burnt-in). For every language stream, each subtitle is encoded frame by frame, with associated metadata, into the original video file.
MultiText enables early binding of multilingual subtitles to video assets, allowing broadcasters to be confident that automated or manual quality control processes can be completed well in advance of transmission. Early binding of subtitles to video content also makes it possible for broadcast-ready video files to be archived with single- or multilanguage subtitles attached to the file. At transmission time, the transcoding process does not require supervision, automation triggers or timecode inputs, simplifying infrastructure and saving operational costs.
“In an increasingly globalized world, broadcasters are extending the reach of their services to multilingual audiences both within national boundaries and beyond them,” says Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “At the same time, they are expanding to support delivery to multiple platforms. This creates a hugely complex workflow and dramatically increases workload, but with MultiText, broadcasters have an end-to-end solution that streamlines workflow and makes complex multiple-language subtitle processing very cost-effective.”
Softel Swift vTX delivers flexible multichannel, multiformat file-based subtitle processing that enhances workflow efficiency and reduces operational cost. Eliminating risk in subtitle transmission, Swift vTX supports easy multichannel delivery and regional distribution through file-based workflows and integrates readily into a broad range of video servers, DAM and automation/workflow systems with multiformat environments.
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Softel CEO Sam Pemberton to Participate in Industry Review Session at IBC 2010 | 24th August 2010 |
Softel CEO Sam Pemberton will join a panel of leading industry figures for an IBC2010 session entitled; “The State of the Industry.” Part of the IBC2010 Added Value Conference Stream, the session will take place on Friday, 10th September at 08:00.
Peter White, Director General of the IABM, will use the session as a platform to present new research commissioned specifically for the session, giving attendees a completely up-to-date picture of where a wide selection of both broadcasters and technology vendors believe their business is today, as well as prospects for the future. These findings will be followed by a panel that brings together business leaders who have successfully navigated their organizations through successful transitions during difficult trading conditions.
The panelists will discuss how the economic downturn affected their business environment, how they reacted to these changes, and what they see for the future. They will provide insight in to what it takes to succeed in the modern broadcast ecosystem.
Pemberton will outline Softel’s evolution during this critical time, and discuss the company’s renewed focus on understanding the challenges faced by broadcasters and network operators who are upgrading the services they offer, while reducing cost and increasing productivity.
Softel is a leading supplier of subtitling and interactive TV solutions to the broadcasting industry and has undergone a fundamental strategic shift since 2007 to better answer its customers’ changing requirements and business models. With legal obligations to provide access to video content to disabled and impaired viewers, and the necessity to reach and monetize new multi-lingual global audiences, subtitling and captioning are becoming a necessity for many broadcasters around the world.
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Softel offers Management and Archive Systems for use in Complex Subtitling Workflows | 17th August 2010 |
Softel today announced the expansion of its Swift product range for subtitling and captioning. Softel has launched Dashboard, a solution designed to manage the configuration and monitoring of an entire subtitle transcoding and transmission operation. Dashboard provides a central, unifying point from which to administer multi-channel, multi-language subtitling and captioning installations that broadcasters increasingly require.
Softel’s Dashboard was designed to help broadcasters meet the challenge of delivering the highest level of quality through an ever more complex workflow while containing costs. The platform allows operators to administer multiple Swift TX units (Softel’s subtitle and caption playout and management solution), and configure subtitle processors, monitor subtitle streams, and oversee a subtitle archive system that allows broadcasters to manage their subtitle assets throughout their lifecycle. Dashboard aggregates subtitle monitoring information from across the broadcast infrastructure and presents it clearly, diagnosing and highlighting any issues within the chain.
Dashboard’s intelligence is built on a central communications server connected to all Swift TX units in the broadcast chain. Each unit communicates with this intelligent hub using a Softel-designed configuration and monitoring protocol. Each unit’s status, subtitle flow, and current configuration can be seen remotely, and the operator can remotely assign configurations.
Additionally, Softel’s Swift Archive solution offers fast and efficient retrieval of subtitle files, with an advanced searchable archive store. A fault-tolerant architecture, using mirrored servers, protects against loss of data, safe-guarding investment in subtitle content creation and re-purposing.
“We understand the challenges that broadcasters are facing as the requirement for subtitles and captioning increases,” explained Softel CEO Sam Pemberton. “The proliferation of format and platforms is pushing the complexity of modern workflows, and could potentially decrease productivity and increase operational costs. With this in mind, Softel continues to deliver tools that not only simplify subtitle processing but also improve overall efficiency while reducing costs.”
Softel Swift TX integrates seamlessly with broadcast workflows, supporting an extensive range of input file formats, with transmission to DVB, Open, VBI, and closed captioning, as well as outputting other ancillary data such as XDS. Configured as a multi-channel unit, Swift TX enables rack consolidation, and saving on equipment, power and cooling costs, provides outstanding reliability and flexibility for master/standby and “N+1” configurations, with superior output quality delivered by a specially developed font rendering engine.
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ScheduleSmart Automated Subtitle Control Center Makes European Debut at IBC 2010 | 3rd August 2010 |
Advanced Softel Solution Enhances Subtitling Workflow Reliability and Reduces Operational Costs
Softel will present the ScheduleSmart™ automated subtitle control center at IBC2010. ScheduleSmart uses information from the broadcast event schedule to determine how and when subtitle data will be bound to content for playout. This coordinated and highly automated approach dramatically reduces user involvement, lowers costs and ensures that the correct subtitle reaches the viewer, regardless of the viewing platform.
ScheduleSmart provides a powerful, automated subtitle process management platform to any broadcast facility faced with the challenge of when and how to bind multi-language subtitles and other ancillary data to “broadcast-ready” video content. There are significant business benefits to be gained by binding subtitle content to video early in the broadcast operations workflow, but ScheduleSmart also accommodates late-edited and true live subtitles.
ScheduleSmart monitors upcoming channel playlists, identifying subtitled events, checking the mix of content flagged for hard-of-hearing and localized applications, and calculating, in each case, the optimum time to encode the subtitles to the video asset. To achieve this, ScheduleSmart interfaces with a wide range of broadcast system components including Softel Swift™ vTX (for early binding of subtitles to video files), Swift Create (for post-encode subtitle QC checks and repurposing), Swift TX (for time-of-air transmission of subtitle files) and third-party products such as channel automation and digital asset management.
Early binding of subtitles to video brings workflow benefits in key areas such as content archiving, QC processes and time-of-air system supervision. The ability to archive video along with single or multiple subtitle streams is a valuable asset management benefit; allowing time within the workflow to conduct quality checks and fix issues on subtitled video content improves overall service quality, and simplified time-of-air subtitle transmission saves on operational cost.
“With ScheduleSmart, broadcasters ensure their requirements for subtitling are met today and in the future as they expand their workflow to deliver a multitude of content types to a variety of audiences over multiple playout platforms,” says Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “ScheduleSmart allows broadcasters to enhance their quality of service, deliver increased viewer satisfaction and contribute to a reduction in operational costs while simplifying modern multi-format, multi-platform workflows.”
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Softel IBC 2010 Preview - New! Subtitling MultiText function | 22nd June 2010 |
At IBC2010, Softel will showcase new MultiText options for its leading subtitling encoding and transmission software, Swift™ TX and Swift vTX. MultiText functionality allows broadcasters to simplify complex multilanguage subtitle playout considerably while increasing quality through automated in-built QC.
MultiText Swift TX and Swift vTX solutions are available for SD and HD environments, giving broadcasters the opportunity to perform early, late or live binding of multilanguage subtitles to their video assets at any point in the playout chain. Early binding of data can eliminate complex automation interfaces and allow for efficient and robust QC ahead of air-time.
Once MultiText subtitles have been bound to content, they can be played out to viewers natively or transcoded into the required output format, such as open subtitles, closed DVB subtitles, closed Teletext subtitles, line 21 closed captions and others using automated transcoding, allowing unstaffed “lights out” operation.
Additional Softel Products Showing at IBC2010
Automated Subtitling Control Center: ScheduleSmart™
Softel’s ScheduleSmart™ is a sophisticated workflow technology that uses proprietary heuristics and algorithms to determine the optimum point in the workflow at which to bind subtitles and other ancillary data to content. ScheduleSmart introduces unparalleled flexibility in subtitling workflows by automatically assessing whether there is time to ingest data to media servers or on to the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). If the system determines that early or late binding is not possible, live systems are directed to perform the bind at time-of-air.
Caption and Subtitle Encoding Software: Swift™ vTX
The Softel Swift™ vTX enables broadcasters to repurpose content regardless of file format. It allows them to switch between SD and HD formats easily to facilitate multiplatform and worldwide distribution. Swift vTX supports a large array of files, wrappers and playout formats, facilitating the integration of captioned or subtitled content across a wide range of media servers and editing solutions.
Caption Playout and Management Platform: Swift™ TX
Softel’s Swift™ TX is a flexible and cost-effective caption and subtitle management and transmission platform which reduces workflow complexity and increases reliability and productivity. The versatile solution features real-time transcoding and a class-leading range of automation interfaces, along with the widest support of file formats available.
Audio Description Software: Swift™ ADePT
The Softel Swift™ ADePT is based on the market-leading Swift Create caption and subtitle preparation system, but it is dedicated to the creation and playout of audio description (AD), allowing broadcasters to increase audience reach by providing access to content for visually impaired audiences. The ADePT suite offers an end-to-end approach, comprising an efficient yet feature-rich solution for all formats of AD.
Interactive TV Solutions for Test and Playout: MediaSphere™
Softel’s MediaSphere™ is an interactive television playout platform enabling efficient testing and rapid deployment of innovative interactive applications, allowing broadcasters to increase revenue and loyalty quickly. MediaSphere supports HbbTV and provides efficient management of over-air delivery of DVB-SSU data. In fact, MediaSphere supports all DTT, DSAT and cable-interactive standards, including EBIF, MHEG, OpenTV and tru2way®. Its unique ability to support parallel multiformat playout from a single 1RU server provides a flexible and scalable solution, decreasing time to market and reliably playing out high volumes of interactive content.
Ancillary Data Processing Hardware: vFlex™ HD/SD
vFlex™ is the latest evolution in a long line of ancillary data processing hardware from Softel. vFlex offers a unique single-unit, multifunction solution that provides everything from ancillary data encoding, opt cue encode/decode and wide screen signalling to graphic insertion for all HD and SD environments.
Teletext Editing, Management and Playout Solution: Cyclone™
The latest generation of Microsoft® Windows®-based Cyclone™ Teletext systems distils Softel’s extensive expertise into a highly dynamic and scalable management and transmission solution. Cyclone leverages networking and Internet technologies to offer high availability, remote editing and automated updates from external data sources, cost-effectively supporting Teletext services. Data export in common formats also enables easy repurposing of content to the Internet and mobile devices.
Softel will exhibit at IBC 2010 on stand 1.A27
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Softel CSO Discusses Subtitling and Captioning Challenges at BroadcastAsia2010 | 2nd June 2010 |
Softel Chief Sales Officer Gordon Hunter will deliver an assessment of the challenges in subtitling and captioning workflows at this year’s BroadcastAsia2010 conference in Singapore as part of the “Optimizing File-Based Workflow and Asset Management” session on Thursday, June 17th.
Designed to provide answers to questions such as what can broadcasters learn from modernization in other industries, what is the best way to build a digital bridge from broadcast production to operations and what is the value of application servers for today’s media enterprise, the day-long session features talks from industry-leading practitioners, with case studies of prominent installations in the region.
Hunter’s presentation will look at the challenges faced by broadcasters facing an increasing regulatory and commercial requirement for subtitling and captioning, together with the solutions available to them for constructing highly efficient workflows for multiplatform output using server-based infrastructure. Looking at a range of issues including repurposing, integration with automation systems, flexibility in operation and early, late and live captioning, the presentation will inform broadcasters and media operators of the latest developments in the field, and enable them to plan the best way to service their clients and viewers across a multilingual region.
The session is scheduled for 16:30 on Thursday June 17th 2010. For more information on the BroadcastAsia conference, visit http://www.broadcast-asia.com/conference_highlights.htm.
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Origo TV Streamlines SD, HD Subtitling With Softel Swift™ and Cyclone™ Technology | 25th May 2010 |
Softel announced today that Hungarian broadcaster Origo TV has installed an automated subtitling and Teletext solution, based on Softel Swift™ and Cyclone™ technology, at its Budapest headquarters. The installation allows the broadcaster to meet requirements for subtitling and Teletext across its four channels, with the capability for live subtitling on each channel.
The Softel solution includes Swift Create subtitle preparation and repurposing workstations; Swift TX subtitle management and playout with live input, together with an interface to Origo TV’s newsroom system; and the Cyclone Teletext management and transmission platform with Flair Teletext editors.
“This is a completely new installation for Origo TV, and it allows us to enhance our offering significantly to viewers across all our channels,” says Péter Koltai, director, Origo TV. “The flexible Softel Swift subtitling solution provides us with a streamlined workflow, tight integration between our newsroom and automation systems and easy-to-use live subtitling capability. Cyclone enables us to offer a rich, dynamic Teletext service, with a high degree of automated page updating through integration of external data sources.”
Installed in collaboration with Softel’s Hungarian system integration partner Studiotech Hungary (www.studiotech.hu), the solution deployed at Origo TV also utilizes the Softel vFlex™ SD and HD SDI ancillary data inserter to insert the Teletext signal into the broadcast SDI video. The Softel Swift Create is used to prepare subtitle files for playout by Swift TX as well as live input for subtitling of live events, while Swift TX is integrated with the Pebble Beach automation system to control playout of subtitle files or switching of control for live subtitling.
Origo TV’s Teletext workflow integrates the Softel Cyclone Teletext content management and transmission system with Flair Teletext editors, using customized Batch TCL scripting to import external data into the Teletext system using “drop-box” functionality. The solution allows automatic page updates, along with remote web access for Teletext production staff.
The Swift family of subtitling products from Softel provides an integrated, end-to-end subtitling/captioning solution, from workflow management and subtitle preparation through to time-of-air delivery management and monitoring. Swift TX enables multichannel subtitle transmission in either a single or multibox configuration and multiformat subtitle transmission with transcoding in real time, along with retiming for turnaround services. SD and HD compatible, and with tight integration into a broad range of automation and workflow systems, Swift TX delivers high reliability with master/standby and “N+1” configurations.
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Softel Works to Streamline Closed Caption Workflow on Avid Video Editing Systems | 13th April 2010 |
“Avid is committed to delivering open, efficient editing workflows that help our customers to be more productive,” said Dave Colantuoni, senior manager, product marketing at Avid. “By collaborating with Softel, we will provide our customers with an easy to use plug-in to ensure accurate closed caption data throughout the editing process, eliminating time consuming back and forth.”
Softel Wins Broadcast Engineering Excellence Runner-Up Award for The Mill Subtitling Installation | 6th April 2010 |
Softel has been awarded Broadcast Engineering’s Excellence Award in the runner-up category for its implementation of a digital subtitling workflow based on Softel Swift vTX at London’s The Mill. The award, voted by Broadcast Engineering’s readership, is a benchmark of achievement for high-quality design and innovation.
The Mill’s dedicated subtitling and captioning operation, Adtext, offers broadcast-quality subtitling and distribution to advertising clients and is a premium brand in the commercial subtitling market, working on around 90 percent of the output from the major advertising agencies.
Adtext’s decision to move from a tape-based operation to a file-based workflow was taken with the dual aims of streamlining the subtitling procedure, making it easier for the team, while lowering operating costs with a reduced hardware overhead.
“The system we created, based on Softel’s Swift vTX, has given us around 50 percent better productivity in our subtitling operations,” said Miles Stormer, Head of MCR and External Facilities at The Mill. “We replaced a cumbersome workflow with a flexible and streamlined process that is very efficient for the large throughput of subtitling work we do.”
“It’s an honour to be part of the team distinguished by this award,” said Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “We congratulate Adtext and The Mill for recognizing that a onetime investment in the right system can generate a great increase in productivity over time. Subtitling and captioning is an increasingly important area for broadcasters and post houses, and the installation at Adtext exemplifies the state of the art today.”
The Softel Swift vTX delivers flexible multichannel, multiformat file-based subtitle processing that enhances workflow efficiency and reduces operational cost. Eliminating risk in subtitle transmission, Swift vTX supports easy multichannel delivery and regional distribution through file-based workflows and integrates readily into multiformat environments with a broad range of video servers and automation/workflow systems.
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Softel Announces ScheduleSmart™: An Automated Caption/Subtitle Control Center | 29th March 2010 |
Softel has announced today ScheduleSmart™, a sophisticated workflow technology, which uses proprietary heuristics and algorithms to determine the optimum point in the workflow at which to bind captions, subtitles and other ancillary data to content.
ScheduleSmart introduces unparalleled flexibility in captioning and subtitling workflows by automatically assessing if there is time to ingest data to media servers or on to the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). If the system determines that this early or late binding is not possible, live systems are directed to perform the bind at time-of-air.
Although captions and subtitles can be bound to assets early in the workflow, close to airtime using faster than real-time encoding, or during live broadcast, traditional tools restrict broadcasters, forcing them to choose one default binding method, but then deal with the many exceptions and special cases that arise in a typical mix of work. This leaves facilities exposed to losses of reliability and workflow efficiency and forces a reliance on costly manual intervention.
These challenges are amplified in modern broadcast facilities where delivery of ancillary data has to be coordinated and automated to ensure systems are able to handle a proliferation of platforms, including playout to the web and mobiles.
ScheduleSmart automates selection of the correct encoding method using either Softel Swift vTX to add captions and subtitles directly to file based media assets, or Softel Swift TX, to handle live binding. If there is sufficient time, ScheduleSmart will initiate the ingest of the caption and/or subtitle file via Swift vTX. If there is not enough time, for example, if the event is live, or if the captioning/subtitling will take place in real-time, then the Swift TX time-of-air system is directed to playout accordingly. All of this takes place with little or no user direction in a totally automated manner.
“Softel has a long tradition of delivering innovative end-to-end captioning and subtitling solutions that seamlessly integrate in broadcasters ecosystems to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs” says Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “In launching Swift TX in the 1990’s Softel revolutionized the workflow by automating playout. Then, as tapeless systems were adopted, Softel introduced Swift vTX, binding ancillary data to file-based assets for easier VOD, multi-channel and cross-regional distribution. Next generation workflows will encompass multi-format delivery over multiple platforms in numerous languages. So with ScheduleSmart, combined with Swift TX and Swift vTX, Softel delivers the first automated control center for ancillary data that ensures the reliability, efficiency and cost effectiveness needed in the highly complex workflows of the future.”
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Softel’s MediaSphere Platform Drives Launch of Showtime National ETV Services | 23rd March 2010 |
Softel today announced that Showtime Networks Inc. is using the industry-leading Softel MediaSphere interactive television (iTV) playout platform to become the first television network in the United States to offer an ETV (EBIF) experience in HD with the integration and commissioning of MediaSphere TX at its network operation center. On Friday February 26th, Showtime Networks first delivered an interactive EBIF application to Verizon FiOS subscribers on its flagship SHOWTIME HD channel. The application enhanced its live coverage of the Strikeforce Challengers Mixed Martial Arts fight card with rich, engaging content.
“We’re always looking to break new ground while delivering top quality, cutting-edge entertainment and services to our viewers,” says Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media, Showtime Networks Inc. “We chose Softel and their MediaSphere iTV platform to roll these services out nationally because of their extensive expertise in interactive television both in the US and Europe. Softel worked closely with us and our other technology partners, Ensequence, VDS and Verizon, to provide a seamlessly integrated solution.”
“Showtime Networks has yet again demonstrated the creative and technical leadership that has won them such wide acclaim, and has used EBIF to make interactive television a reality on a national scale,” said Ed Humphrey, President, Softel-USA. “This deployment serves as a starting point from which Showtime Networks will easily be able to expand to deliver interactive applications using EBIF or tru2way - 24x7x365 across all of their networks and to all of their viewers, from their single system.”
Encompassing the complete interactive application lifecycle, Softel’s MediaSphere iTV platform is an integrated suite of complementary solutions that enable the delivery of rich viewer experiences. The system enables parallel playout of multiple middleware applications from a single unit, providing compatibility with all major U.S. and international interactive standards.
Showtime Networks is using MediaSphere TX, on its satellite uplink to deliver EBIF interactive applications nationally for SHOWTIME subscribers in participating systems. Via its comprehensive SDK, MediaSphere is fully integrated with Showtime Networks’ scheduling system as well as with Ensequence’s iTV Manager.
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Softel CEO Discusses Captioning Challenges in the Modern Workflow at NAB Conference | 16th March 2010 |
Softel CEO Sam Pemberton will deliver a paper on state-of-the-art captioning workflows as part of the “Television Workflow and File Management” strand of the 2010 NAB Show Broadcast Engineering Conference.
The paper, titled “Captioning Challenges in the Modern Workflow”, lays out the essential concepts and challenges for broadcasters in implementing end-to-end captioning solutions and creating next-generation workflows that maximize content revenue opportunities.
Pemberton will discuss strategies for captioning (subtitling) in today’s multichannel, multiformat digital broadcasting environment, where regulatory requirements and multilingual audiences create the demand for efficient and flexible workflows. Divergent transmission requirements are making system designers seriously consider alternative techniques. For many broadcasters the “single format recipe” of the traditional captioning workflow has ceased to be a viable way of handling these growing requirements, especially as much content is now delivered for multiple platforms and across multiple regions.
Specific issues covered in the paper include: efficient captioning for content repurposing; options for caption insertion and encoding; caption extraction, editing and reinsertion; integration with NLEs, video servers and automation systems; and design criteria for multiformat captioning workflows.
The session is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday April 13th 2010, in room S228, at the LVCC. More information on the NAB conference schedule is available at
http://expo.nabshow.com/annual10/public/Calendar.aspx?SuperTrackId=6&View=Calendar_summary&sortMenu=105005&MainMenuID=272&ID=299.
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Softel Swift vTX subtitle processing bundled in RadiantGrid media workflow solutions | 15th February 2010 |
Softel, leaders in end-to-end caption & subtitle solutions, and RadiantGrid, developer of leading-edge transcoding, transformation, and new media automation service platforms, have announced a partnership that sees RadiantGrid supply Softel Swift vTX subtitling & captioning technology as an integrated component of the RadiantGrid™ Platform.
Swift vTX software provides highly efficient subtitling and caption encoding/transcoding in the file-based workflow of the RadiantGrid Platform, enabling subtitle and caption processing across a variety of output and file formats, including Open, Line 21, DVB, streaming VOD and web formats.
“Incorporating Softel technology enables us to provide the highest level of support of closed captioning and subtitles for international digital distribution. After extensive research of the best technology providers in this space, we concluded that Softel provided RadiantGrid customers the best solutions, which can be integrated into file-based workflows managed by the RadiantGrid Platform.” Said Kirk Marple, President, Chief Software Architect, RadiantGrid Technologies, LLC.
“RadiantGrid has built a powerful solution for the management of media in file-based workflows”, says Sam Pemberton, Softel CEO. “We’re very pleased to partner with them, providing our expertise in subtitling and captioning to round out their solutions, which in turn maximizes the audience for content providers across a broad range of consumption mediums and formats.”
Swift vTX is the leading software-based solution for encoding, transcoding, extracting and reinserting subtitles, captions and ancillary data on video assets, in tapeless workflows. SD and HD compatible, Swift vTX provides high performance, flexibility, seamless integration with workflow systems and ‘at a glance’ management, while significantly reducing operational costs.
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Meet Softel's experts at BVE, London | 8th February 2010 |
Softel will be attending Broadcast Video Expo (BVE) 2010 from February 16th - 18th. BVE is the UK technology event for production, post & delivery, bringing together leading audio and video manufacturers and suppliers.
At the event, Softel will be meeting with key customers and technology partners to discuss the latest in next generation digital workflows. Softel's seamlessly integrated subtitling, interactive and ancillary data processing solutions not only deliver additional services and enhanced value in these new workflows, but also greater efficiency for time and cost savings.
If you would like to arrange a meeting with one of the Softel team at the event, contact us on info@softelgroup.com.
More information on BVE 2010 at: http://www.broadcastvideoexpo.co.uk/
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Softel - NAB 2010 Show preview | 2nd February 2010 |
Softel showcases a new solution to manage the binding of subtitles and captions to content in the workflow.
Binding stages
Subtitles and captions can be ingested or bound at different times in the lifecycle of the content:
Early binding: The pre-prepared file is matched to the content well ahead of transmission.
Late binding: Occurs closer to air time and is only possible thanks to faster-than-real time encoding techniques.
Live binding: For either truly live content like sports and news, or for time-of-air binding of subtitle and caption data/files.
Reliably and efficiently binding subtitles and captions to the content at the correct time is an issue in complex modern workflows. The Softel Swift™ TX subtitle and caption playout and management platform combines with Softel Swift vTX™, caption and subtitle encoding software, to provide a master subtitle and caption control centre that seamlessly integrates in the workflow to automate binding. This combined solution includes ScheduleSmart™, a complex-algorithm based system, that efficiently and dynamically manages the binding of ancillary data whether early, late or live.
Softel will also highlight at the 2010 NAB Show:
Caption and subtitle encoding software: Softel Swift™ vTX
The Softel Swift vTX enables broadcasters to repurpose content regardless of file format. It allows them to switch between standard and high-definition formats easily to facilitate multiplatform and worldwide distribution. Swift vTX supports a large array of file, wrapper and playout formats, facilitating the integration of captioned or subtitled content across a wide range of media servers and editing solutions.
Caption playout and management platform: Softel Swift™ TX
The Softel Swift TX is a flexible and cost effective caption and subtitle management platform that reduces workflow complexity and increases reliability and productivity. The versatile solution features real-time transcoding and the broadest range of automation interfaces and file format support.
Audio description software: Softel ADePT
Softel ADePT audio description software allows broadcasters to increase audience reach. It provides access to content for visually impaired audiences. ADePT saves preparation time by streamlining audio description scripting, recording and playout.
Interactive TV solutions for test and playout: MediaSphere™
The Softel MediaSphere™ interactive television playout platform enables the rapid deployment of innovative interactive applications, allowing broadcasters to increase revenue and loyalty quickly. MediaSphere supports all DTT, DSAT and cable interactive standards, including EBIF, tru2way, MHEG and OpenTV. Its unique ability for parallel multiformat playout provides a flexible and scalable solution, decreasing time to market and reliably playing out high volumes of interactive content.
Ancillary data processing solution: vFlex™ HD/SD
Softel vFlex™ is the latest evolution in a long line of ancillary data processors from Softel. vFlex offers a unique single-unit, multifunction solution that provides everything from ancillary data encoding, opt cue encode/decode and wide screen signalling to graphic insertion across HD and SD SDI.
Teletext editing, management and playout solution: Cyclone™
The latest generation of Microsoft® Windows®-based Cyclone™ Teletext systems distils Softel’s extensive expertise into a highly dynamic and scalable management and transmission solution. Cyclone leverages networking and internet technologies to offer high availability, remote editing and automated updates from external data sources, cost-effectively supporting highly dynamic Teletext services. Data export in common formats enables easy repurposing of content to the Internet and mobile devices.
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