centric approach can provide
on-demand transcoding, acqui-
sition and playout scalability, as
well as hardware optimization.
The ability to turn on and off,
and spin up and down functions
brings critical elasticity and
capex savings. Configuration
and deployment is simplified,
creating productions that can
quickly switch or grow without
needing to layout more infra-
structure or buying hardware.
Once a virtualized infrastructure
and its associated of resources
is in place, the way these are
managed becomes an addi-
tional layer of benefit. Users
will be able to pre-define the
needs of a production, store,
recall and launch the configu-
rations of a production on an
on-demand basis. With a COTS-
based infrastructure, engineer-
ing need not be involved to
start and secure a production.
Virtualization allows application
launching and hardware activa-
tion as needed and facilitates
the move to public cloud infra-
structure for even greater IT
industry critical mass benefits.
ELASTIC PRODUCTION
CAPABILITIES
Software-defined production
switchers and server-based
functions – even entire pro-
duction systems are enabling
different applications that cre-
ate more flexible processes.
Workflows must not only be
easily configured and deployed
but also easily switched and
executed on infrastructure with-
out capex outlay. The result is
truly elastic production, grow-
ing or shrinking based only on
present needs to achieve agile,
flexible and cost-saving pro-
duction.
BRIDGING THE GAP
Of course, a fully IT-based, vir-
tualized production center pop-
ping up on its own isn’t how
we deploy production technol-
ogy today, except maybe in the
most greenfield opportunities.
For most, there will be a con-
version path, one that protects
current investment while mov-
ing to IP. The move to virtual-
ization has already started with
non-real-time functions.
Gateway solutions and tech-
nologies like convertors for
point-to-point serial connec-
tions – RS422 and USB over IP
links – and video IP gateways
will bridge the systems during
this transition, as will discus-
sions of how global synchro-
nization across IP and SDI can
be achieved – either through
generator locking or active syn-
chronization using PTP.
THE VIRTUALIZED PRO-
DUCTION CENTER OF
TOMORROW
But what will the fully opti-
mized, virtualized production
center look like? Well, it might
not be on site. It could be down
the street or in the cloud. In
years to come the most impor-
tant decision you make is where
you put your data center. In
fact, we’ll start to care less and
less about where it’s running,
whether off the shelf or on
a rack. We’ll care more about
what we can do than where we
do it and how to plan for it.
It’s about removing the hard-
ware shackles for a more
dynamic production environ-
ment that benefits everyone –
not the least of which: viewers.
Taken together, the tenants
and capabilities of virtualiza-
tion provide what we call elas-
tic production. This is made of
solutions that leverage COTS
hardware, maximize existing
investments and deploy open
standards supported by AIMS
and SMPTE. With IP and virtu-
alization at its core, elastic pro-
duction allows studios, broad-
casters and production houses
to do more with better flexibil-
ity and dynamic capabilities.
Broadcast Beat Magazine • www.broadcastbeat.com • 79