Content is everythingOwners of intellectual property need efficient workflows for tapeless editing, media distribution and archiving. Future proof and open standards are required to access media on different systems today, in years and decades.  MXF is an open and manufacturer independent SMPTE media standard with the objective to replace or complement proprietary file formats. Access to proprietary formats require the use of manufacturer dedicated solutions. In tape based workflows this was never an issue as EDL based digitizing worked with any NLE system. Access to file based media formats however often requires conversions. Dedicated conversions take time, eat bandwidth and require additional storage. Additional equipment and applications require administration and user action, seamless workflows are blocked, productivity shrinks. All too often tapeless workflows are cumbersome. Standards within the standardMXF is a file container format. Like with other wrappers such as MOV or AVI the video and audio essences can use various compression types. MXF does not force the use of certain video or audio compression types but also the internal index and partition structure can vary. Still MXF is the perfect choice for fully standardized and open workflows. Using strict standards for both the MXF file structure and the compression types is the right path through the jungle of digital formats. No matter if you run web based video services, a post production facility or a large television enterprise business, if your content is of great value then you should consider the importance of standardization. It guarantees access to content in years and decades beyond manufacturer's support time but also enables efficient file interchange workflows with customers and partners. The XDCAM HD confusionThe great success of MXF started with XDCAM based D-10/IMX and previous eVTR implementations. The well documented specification (SMPTE 386M) in combination with a suitable MXF file structure guaranteed suitable workflows. Most customers believed the XDCAM HD standard in MXF would be similar to its very popular forerunner XDCAM D-10/IMX. There was no real awareness about the complete different file structure caused by the Long-GOP MPEG-2 compression of XDCAM HD. Variable bit rates and the impact on workflows with a split index and split essence structure is tremendously but most customers never heard that MXF file structures can vary a lot. MXF is more than just another file extension, it is a complex technology. The open MXF technology allows customers to control the file structure and to force implementations that make sense. MXF analyzers like our MXF Info solution help to better control the MXF process at customers. Take advantage of such control mechanism to avoid unexpected results in your future media strategy. Content is everything. |