m foti 10 27 2009 conf presentation

Case Study: File Based Workflow Case Study: File Based Workflow From Acquisition to AirFrom Acquisition to Air..

Michael FotiMichael FotiDirector of Engineering Director of Engineering

WGBH BostonWGBH Boston

• WGBH is the flagship station in the PBS system producing more than one third of the content distributed nationally.

IntroductionIntroduction

BackgroundBackground

• Over the years technological advancements moved the facility infrastructure from analog to digital but the production workflow was essentially the same .

• Workflow was mainly tape based with file based islands.

• This was a linear process involving movement of physical media from one step to the next toward the final deliverable

Tape Based Sequential WorkflowTape Based Sequential Workflow

Why Fix It If It Isn’t Broken?Why Fix It If It Isn’t Broken?

• We live in a multi-channel multi-distribution platform world.

• We are doing more with less.

• Moving around physical media is inefficient

• CPU power, storage capacity and network bandwidth are increasing at an exponential rate. (Moore’s Law). Cost is coming down.

The GoalsThe Goals

• Ingest once output to all platforms

• Centralize ingest and trans-code services

• Desktop browsing and logging of SAN content

• Content remains as a file through process

• Archival for finished programs and raw footage

A File Based WorkflowA File Based Workflow

I

INGEST

POST

LOG

FIELD

STUDIO

AIR

• In Fall 2008 WGBH Production Services (PS) began planning

• PS and Boston Media Productions (BMP) collaborated on workflow definition.

• BMP was already moving toward a file based workflow

• BMP needed more storage and a streamlined production process

• PS needed to sign up the first client.

PlanningPlanning

The ProcessThe Process

• Define workflow and deliverables with key stakeholders

• Establish a list of users and their access permissions

• Map out the folder structure of the storage volume and allocate space

• Develop operational procedures

• Educational seminars and training of users and support staff

Studio Workflow (Record to SAN)Studio Workflow (Record to SAN)

Studio Workflow (Record to SAN)Studio Workflow (Record to SAN)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

EFP Workflow (Ingest)EFP Workflow (Ingest)

What’s NextWhat’s Next

• Central ingest and trans-coding services

• SAN to air (K2 play out)

• File based program submission to PBS

•Archive services

Thank YouMichael Foti, Director of Engineering

Michael_Foti@wgbh.org