Drastic Technologies VVW Digital Video Disk Recorders

After pioneering digital video disk recorder technology with the successful VVCR line of products, Drastic Technologies has introduced its next generation digital media products, the VVW Series digital disk recorders, featuring QuickClip clip control and MediaReactor file conversion software. Once again, Drastic Technologies is poised to revolutionize the way digital video is acquired, managed and delivered in broadcast and post-production facilities.

NOTE: This area contains legacy material from previous Drastic Technologies websites. It is provided for reference only, and contains information, products and links that may no longer exist and which are no longer supported by Drastic. For current Drastic Technologies products, please see our main site here:

http://www.drastic.tv

The original VVCR completely redefined the storage and use of video by offering long format random access video storage in a package that could easily replace a tape based VTR. Unlike other file based video server technologies, the VVCR integrated directly into video environments using standard and extended VTR protocols, true time code based operation and online picture quality with true broadcast signal interfacing. This made the VVCR a popular solution for applications such as broadcast automation, news production and local content insertion. With the addition of Drastic's high quality slow motion interpolation processor, the VVCR also became a widely accepted solution for sports mobile and stadium replay systems.

In the years since the original VVCR shipped, many changes have occurred in the broadcast and post production industries. With the advent of DTV, television delivery is changing to a digital network-centric system. At the same time, video production technologies have increasingly shifted to digital computer-based solutions. With these approaches to production and delivery, users are now looking forward to taking advantage of high bandwidth open architecture networks to tie together their production. Drastic Technologies' newest product line, the VVW Series, is designed to marry the powerful control and video output system of the VVCR with modern high speed video networking technology.

The VVW Digital Video Disk Recorders can distribute the control, video acquisition and delivery across a high speed Fiber Channel video network to where it is required in a facility. This can best be described as "exploding the server". In a broadcast facility, for example, the news room, production and transmission can all have their own video resources and control. Storage can be centralized or distributed throughout the facility with common access available.

Furthermore, utilizing Drastic's new MediaReactor technology, each department can be using the video format and codec that is best suited to its application. MediaReactor ensures that all of the systems can seamlessly share footage and other data between formats. MediaReactor also provides proxies of footage that can be viewed and managed over low bandwidth networks such as the Internet.

MediaReactor software converts between video file types and codecs from many leading non-linear editing systems, graphics and paint box systems, media workstations and digital audio workstations. This allows a facility to take advantage of the high performance video backbone in the VVW while still maintaining the freedom to choose and use their preferred production tools. The VVW Series Digital Video Disk Recorders with MediaReactor frees a facility from proprietary closed architecture tools.

The VVW Digital Video Disk Recorder

The VVW Model Lines

The VVW Digital Video Disk Recorders were originally available in four main model lines: the VVW 2500 series, VVW 3000 series, the VVW 5000 series and the VVW 7000 series. Each model series offers a different primary codec technology, video input/output format and internal channel capability. All models can communicate with one another as well as share footage and data through MediaReactor. All models also share an easy to integrate and manage common NT File System storage format. The use of the industry standard NT file system allows storage to be easily scaled from minutes to hundreds of hours, using off-the-shelf disk technology.

The VVW 2500 series is designed for multiple channel applications requiring premium picture quality, play while record and DTV readiness. The VVW 2500 series provide digital video signal interfacing. Storage may be internal or external, via SCSI or high-speed Fibre Channel storage area network.

Example of one VVW 2504 in a multiple channel playback application

In this example, one VVW 2504 loads media from RAID storage into its internal clip bins. Playback of this digital media may then be controlled through use of an external controller. The VVW 2504 features four simultaneous output channels. Onboard QuickClip clip control software can be used to construct Playlists, with various triggers and commands allowing the user to schedule playback via house clock, triggers, wait/delay and loop commands. In a broadcast application, the VVW 2504 may be used to insert commercial spots at pre-scheduled times via the wait commands.

The VVW 3000 series is designed for multiple channel applications requiring premium picture quality, play while record and DTV readiness. The VVW 3000 series provide analog and optional digital video signal interfacing. Storage may be internal or external, via SCSI or high-speed Fibre Channel storage area network.

Example of VVW 3000 in time delay application

The VVW 3600 is a two channel input/4 channel output MJPEG DDR.

Example of VVW 3600 configured as a digitizing and print to tape port

In this example, a VVW 3600 is connected to multiple non-linear editing systems via a high speed Fiber Channel network. The VVW 3600 is used to digitize video footage to a centralized storage pool for the editing systems to use. The VVW 3600 also accesses completed material from the storage pool and outputs it to tape. All footage is available to all editing stations immediately upon digitizing and at full bandwidth. Storage can be centralized or distributed and access can be shared or controlled.

MediaReactor monitors footage from the VVW 3600 and the editing stations and executes any codec of file conversions needed for the various systems on the fly. Editing systems supported include Discreet edit*, Avid Media Composer and others. Operators can access media without any requirement to manage file conversion. MediaReactor can even convert footage between different makes of editing systems.

A variation on this theme has the VVW 3600 connected to a broadcast automation controller. As footage is ready for air it can be scheduled to play out directly from the VVW 3600 by the automation controller.

Example of VVW 3600 configured for graphics or animation insertion

In this example, a VVW 3600 is connected to a graphics workstation (NT, SGI or Mac) via Ethernet. Graphics or animation sequences are transferred along with a key or traveling matte channel. The VVW 3600 outputs both signals to a downstream keyer for compositing to air. The VVW 3600¹s open storage system can be scaled to accommodate as many sequences and of any length as required by a particular program or event.

Files can be transferred directly in native TGA, Pict, OpenDML or QuickTime format. The VVW 3600's built-in MediaReactor software converts the graphics to time code-based video clips on the fly. By utilizing a time code-based clip system, it is easy for an operator to manage control from a standard edit controller or clip play system.

Alternately, clips can be recorded from a video tape input. The VVW 3600 allows them to be indexed directly to the original time codes of the source tapes for easy administration.

VVW 5000 8/10 Bit Uncompressed Standard Definition Series

VVW 7000 8/10 Bit Uncompressed High Definition Series

The uncompressed VVW series is designed for broadcast and post production applications requiring uncompressed 8 or 10-bit video recording and playback. These models provide serial digital video signal interfacing. Storage may be internal or external, via SCSI or high-speed Fibre Channel storage area network.

Example of VVW 5000/700 configured to convert a linear online edit suite to non-linear online

In this example, three VVW 5000/7000s are configured as source VTR replacements in a traditional linear online suite. The VVWs are networked together to a shared storage pool as well as to a fourth VVW 5000/7000 residing in the VTR room. This configuration provides the benefits of a traditional uncompressed A/B/C roll edit suite combined with the non-linear access of the VVW 5000/7000s and the workflow of a networked facility. By placing the fourth unit in the VTR room, the edit bays do not need to be tied up digitizing and printing to tape. Reels can be loaded and laid off without interruption of the editing facility.

In another variation, MediaReactor is utilized and the network connection is extended to the graphics suites. This allows graphics, CG and composites to be introduced to the online edit via the VVW 5000/7000s without the need to lay them to tape first and introduce potential generational losses.

Example of VVW 5000/7000 used as a graphics and animation DDR / Server

In this example, a VVW 5000/7000 is configured like a traditional animation or graphics DDR. Graphics files are transferred to and from the VVW 5000/7000 via the network and MediaReactor takes care of converting them to and from video clips for output or digitizing. Unlike a traditional DDR, the VVW 5000/7000 is not limited in the amount of time it can record. Storage can be expanded to hundreds of hours. The VVW 5000/7000 also can communicate to the workstations via a high speed 1Gbit Fiber Channel interface, drastically accelerating the transfer of graphics and footage.

MediaReactor supports digital media file conversion from NT, SGI and Mac based workstations and devices.

Example of VVW 5000/7000 used as a telecine transfer system

In this example, a VVW 5000/7000 is used to digitize footage from a telecine film transfer. VVW Auto Proxy is used to simultaneously create a proxy file to be sent to a non-linear off line editing system or for internet distribution. The high quality uncompressed footage is also maintained on the storage and made available for graphics, compositing and effects work. Two more VVW 5000/7000s are used as A/B roll sources for the final uncompressed online edit.

By using MediaReactor to simultaneously generate a compressed stream for the off line edit, time is saved in redigitizing. Also, the off line edit can begin immediately also saving time, especially when dailies need to be assembled. Since all of the systems are connected via Fiber Channel, it is also possible to use a long distance glass fiber connection to send the proxy to an off line edit at another facility.

VVW Networking

VVW Digital Video Disk Recorders can be interfaced to each other as well as other systems through 100BaseT/Gigabit Ethernet or ideally, through a multi-platform high speed Fiber Channel network. Drastic Technologies fully exploits the SANergy Storage Area Networking Operating System. This offers the benefits of an open architecture NT-based file system as well as supporting major third party production solutions.

When using a Fiber Channel network with SANergy, the network allows sharing of files and media between all connected nodes at full uncompressed video bandwidth per node. The network is compatible with NT, SGI and Mac platforms, provided they can be connected via Fiber Channel.

Drastic Solutions for Fibre Channel

Drastic Technologies has certified Eurologic and Adjile SCSI storage systems, the Mercury Systems SANergy Operating system, Ancor Fibre Channel switches and Q-Logic Host Bus adapters for use with the VVW Series.

NOTE: This area contains legacy material from previous Drastic Technologies websites. It is provided for reference only, and contains information, products and links that may no longer exist and which are no longer supported by Drastic. For current Drastic Technologies products, please see our main site here:

http://www.drastic.tv