Find Content Fast
The Content Navigator is at the core of FORK's extensive Media Asset Management (MAM) capabilities. With the use of "smart folders,” any metadata field is dynamically transformed into a property that can filter, sort, and manage content.
The metadata driven workflow provides a powerful automated management system that puts content at the user's fingertips wherever it is needed in the production process.
"Smart Bins" and scripts are configured with TV network/station staff to exploit the power of the information hidden in the metadata to automatically accomplish many typical workflow functions, leaving users able to concentrate on ways to most creatively tell their stories and deliver their content quickly.
Building 4 Media in conjunction with tools such as Atempo can seamlessly integrate multiple storage platforms in order to benefit from existing infrastructures. Our FORK Production Solution is based on a powerful Gateway that allows the B4M platform to send, browse, edit, publish and recover media and its related metadata across all storage platforms making this process easy to manage with blazing speed, with this advanced feature there will be no delay, waiting time or interruption of the creative process while transferring o sharing media.FORK is based on QuickTime technology. Using .MOV files and all other QT formats, the platform is also fully compatible with DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50, DVC100, XDCAM and P2 with ease of operation. This advanced point to point production workflow from ingest to playout includes archiving to multiple media formats, FORK allows one capture and a multiple format outputs.
The Primestream Team applies careful consideration to customize every installation to the workflow requirements of that specific system. We'll also teach facility engineers how to do their own "Smart Bins" which can help the facility grow in sophistication and efficiency for many years.
FORK's User Management features provide administrative control over which users can see media, edit metadata, and utilize system resources such as decks, ingest ports, and monitoring outputs.
Our extensive Technical Facility Management provides control of multiple devices via RS422-RS232-IP-API. With profiles built-in to the FORK database of many industry standard broadcast devices, such as VTRs and routing switchers, FORK can manage a facility's technical resources to put them to use most efficiently by implementing a database of operational rules configured specifically for that installation.
Resources can be pooled dynamically, making them available for tasks when and where they are needed most. Decisions for routine tasks such as path selection of incoming or outgoing video signals or assignment of VTRs physically closest to a user can all be managed effortlessly and are, for the most part, transparent to the end-user.
This sub-system of management of the technical resources of a facility is a great asset for a smooth running broadcast or production operation; the advantages of which can be most appreciated during the heaviest production loads – elections, natural disasters, sporting events and major late breaking news events.
Multi-channel Ingest system
Record, Cut and Air At the Speed of News
The FORK Production Solution does not use any proprietary codecs or wrappers on content; it relies on Quicktime and on MXF. QuickTime provides unique maturity and flexibility for media management and sharing of content. FORK takes maximum advantage of the industry standard "Quicktime Workflow,” utilizing small wrapper files that create referenced movies without copying material, which provides operational and technical efficiencies throughout the production process.
Multi- Channel Scheduled Recording
The MediaPlayer Pro is our industry leading video server application for creating and playing Quicktime movies. Our custom wrapper generation allows us to embed frame accurate proxy streams in ingested files, all while allowing editing and playback of footage that is still recording.
Creating proxy, a frame accurate low bandwidth version of the media, at the point of ingest means that while recording content, multiple system users can already begin logging, reviewing, sub-clipping, and trimming in the Content Navigator and even cut sequences in the FORK Proxy Editor.
News Editor
The FORK Production Client is cross-platform so Mac and Windows users can browse proxy and quickly turnaround sound bites, VOs, and highlights right at their desktops from within the FORK Proxy Editor. The Editor can be used to insert voice-overs, adjust audio levels, and includes the ability for live multiple user timelines - one editor can add a narration track to a piece while a second editor finalizes the video cut of a fast-breaking news story.
With FORK’s industry leading integration with Final Cut Pro, projects and sequences initiated in FORK are instantly available to FCP for finishing in Apple's powerful editing suite.
Content Navigator Image
Live Assist
B4M's award-winning Live Assist production automation software provides the fastest turn-around in news and sports production. Co-developed with a major broadcasting network, Live Assist integrates with iNews and ENPS as well as its Media Asset Management module to fully integrate for a quick video-search-edit-air.
ENPS Integration
Apple's Final Cut is complemented in an unprecedented way. With ground-breaking ease, operators can now loop content, sync-roll multi-camera angles, use multiple b-roll footage on set and in production switcher layers to cover stories better. It supports both auto-sync to NRCS news producers’ rundowns, and, has exceptional abilities to break-away into an unprecedented fast media operations tool to handle breaking news.
Manage, Air, Archive, Monetize
FORK's powerful metadata-driven Media Asset Management does not end with putting content to air. With FORK's robust macro triggering tools configured and integration with industry standard archive programs, such as Atempo's Time Navigator and Quantum Storage Manager, FORK delivers transcoded media files and customized XML exports to the Cloud, the Bunker, and to downstream Content Management Systems.
The FORK Render Farm Unit for archive conversions can run on any machines with underutilized CPU power, exploiting all the rendering potential of the network. The RFUs are put to work for a variety of purposes including rendering proxy for edited output, transcoding content that has been "dropped" into the system from other sources and preparing Asset for delivery to a multitude of new media platforms.
Content selected for archive can be automatically sent to a near line archival robot for example, and via XML the archive interface facilitates search of the low-resolution proxy left on FORK. Scripting also manages the task of returning selected content from the archive robot upon request from the user. With the use of this kind of middleware functionality, most of the industry's standard archive robotic systems can be integrated into a broadcast digital workflow.
