Interoperable Master Format (IMF): more constraints or efficient masters’ delivery?

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IMF: more constraints or efficient masters’ delivery?

Cherif BEN ZID

mesclado

Technology & Innovation Day

Berlin – Feb. 12th, 2015

2 © mesclado 2015 – All rights reserved

mesclado: who are we?

• Architects and consultants for sustainable

audiovisual systems

• IT expertise applied to the media

• Independence and objective interests in market

solutions for our customers’ needs

3 © mesclado 2015 – All rights reserved 3

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@Mesclado

#MediaEI


Proprietary “mezzanine” Formats

• History

– Exchanging Master elements in the form of tapes

– Evolution to file-based exchange but with various proprietary formats

– Multiplicity of Video/IT media distribution platforms


Proprietary “mezzanine” Formats

• Two main factors

– Containers (ex: QuickTime MOV which has never been standardized)

– Codecs (ex: Apple ProRes requiring Mac platforms)


IMF: General Presentation

• Standardization

– By SMPTE: 35PM-50 WG on IMF

– Involvement of most major actors of the media market (manufacturers, right-holders, etc.)

– Standardization status: approximately 90%


IMF Standardisation


Basic elements of a typical IMF Package


Applications

Video

Definition

Status

App #2 App #2

JPEG-2000

Broadcast Profile

HD max

10-bit max

Publication

(SMPTE ST 2067-20)

App #3 App #3

SStP (Simple Studio Profile) Level 5 & 6

4K max

12-bit max

Publication

(SMPTE ST 2067-30)

App #2 Extended

App #2 Extended

JPEG-2000

New Profile

4K max

16-bit max

ST Audit

App #4 App #4

JPEG-2000 Profile 2 Math. Lossless

8K (8192x6144) max

16-bit linear

Draft Publication

Main features of IMF applications © mesclado 2015 – All rights reserved


IMF meant for versioning


“Artistic” Versioning


“Technical” Versioning


Examples of IMF-supporting products/services

• Interest in IMF as a master that provides inter-

equipment interoperability

• CLIPSTER (DVS Rohde & Schwarz)

– Hardware and software system capable of generating and manipulating digital content masters (IMP, DCP, …)

– Supports various formats, codecs and definitions

– Advanced use-case implementations in the US


• OpenCubeHD/SD v2.8 (EVS OpenCube)

– 100% file-based server (generation and manipulation of MXF files)

– Multi-formats and multi-codecs



• MIST IMF Mastering (Marquise Technology)

– Software solution capable of generating and manipulating master files (IMP, DCP, …)

– Supports various formats, codecs and definitions




• Transkoder (Colorfront)

– Software-based solution for transcoding and wrapping contents and masters

– Capable of manipulating multiple pre-determined IMF configurations



• For further information on these solutions and

other ones: www.imfforum.com

• Two successfully conducted plugfests in 2014

• Total interoperability between 7 different

solutions on October 2014

• Next plugfest on March 2015 in Los Angeles

http://www.imfforum.com/

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Studies Events Consulting Training


Next events and training sessions

TRAINING | Interoperable Master Format « IMF » : The Standard’s principals and its

integration within media workflows”

Date: Q2 2015

Germany & UK

ON-DEMAND WEBCAST | Cloud Applied to Media - What are Top 10 items of Concern?

CONFERENCE | During SMPTE Forum Program Committee

SEMINAR | News & Sports Production Trends: the Keys for More Viewers, More Followers

SEMINAR | Archive / Cloud / Formats / Sustainability/ Outsourcing

Date: Q4 2015

Paris (France)

Date: Q2 2015

Brussells (Belgium)

Date : May 5, 2015

Online

Date : May 7 & 8,

2015 - Berlin

(Germany)

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Feedbacks? Questions? cherif,[email protected]

www.mesclado.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mesclado.com/