ContentAgent 3.1 provides the complete toolset for automating the transcoding, management and distribution of media files and associated metadata. The latest iteration of this popular software delivers substantial increases in performance and integration with a greater number of leading third-party applications. New bundled software offerings give purchasers the flexibility to tailor ContentAgent to specific workflow requirements.
ContentAgent 3.1 now comes with NVIDIA GPU acceleration as standard, resulting in substantially improved H.264 encoding for delivery via the web and mobile devices. Additional new formats supported include AVC Intra with 24bit audio support. Advanced metadata management with the ability to create XML files, facilitates broadcast deliverables. Those working in RED film workflows will also benefit from increased performance with faster than real-time debayering.
With its enhanced transcoding engine, ContentAgent delivers powerful CPU and GPU processing, dramatically accelerating encoding for a number of formats including H.264, MPEG2, IMX, XDCAM HD, DNxHD and AVC-Intra. Typically, transcode speeds of 500 frames per second for some flavours of MPEG and 800 frames per second for H.264 files are achievable, depending on source material and hardware. Version 3.1 also supports the new 8 core CPU processors for even greater performance.
ContentAgent’s enhanced performance is matched with an increased robustness. In 24/7 operation, for example, the system checks networks constantly for connectivity and will auto-re-boot if a failure is detected.
Designed to sit at the heart of file-based workflow, ContentAgent 3.1 provides new levels of integration. Incorporate best-of-breed technologies from third parties directly into your workflow and control them from ContentAgent’s elegant interface that echoes working practices and provides seamless continuity. Choose from three leading examples of automated file-based QC, add disc publishing and printing, incorporate automated ProRes encoding for Mac environments or use ContentAgent to ingest P2 and XDCAM media and check-in directly to Avid Interplay with associated production and factual metadata. Additionally, ContentAgent’s Command Line Launcher enables further bespoke applications to be integrated, if required.
ContentAgent now provides a completely automated pipeline for processing RED R3D clips for dailies, editorial and distribution.
Accelerated RED R3D RAW file decoding enables faster than real-time debayering (using the RED Rocket card), eliminating bottlenecks when transcoding to other formats such as Avid DNxHD MXF files for dailies. ContentAgent can also be used on set to back up the original camera files.
Users are able to build repeatable workflows using ContentAgent’s Workflow Designer tool, applying RED RMD color correction settings before the system encodes to other formats. Using RED’s REDCINE X R3D, files can be played back and adjusted using a number of color adjustment parameters. Once a look and feel has been established, the color parameters can be saved as an RMD file. For editorial, ContentAgent can preserve all RED R3D metadata fields to facilitate advanced media management.
ContentAgent v3.1 supports a completely automated Avid workflow including the ability to transcode clips into Avid compliant MXF files, (with technical and user defined metadata) and check these clips automatically directly into the Avid Interplay media management database. These files can then be opened by any Avid editing system connected to the database and ISIS or Unity MediaNetwork shared storage, providing the most efficient path to collaborative editing workflows.
Once editing is completed users can configure a Send To template to create a QuickTime reference file. This can then be saved to a Watchfolder which is being constantly scanned by ContentAgent for new clips. Once a new clip is placed in the Watchfolder, ContentAgent will automatically initiate an automated workflow to encode the reference file into any number of deliverables.
The latest third-party application to be integrated with ContentAgent v3.1 is VidChecker. This scalable and affordable application provides broadcasters, post houses and programme distributors with a convenient, easy to use and scalable solution for automated Quality Control and the cost savings associated with automated correction.
Using ContentAgent’s intuitive Workflow Designer tool, VidChecker can be dropped into an appropriate workflow where it sits as a node waiting to receive any material that needs QC. When designated files arrive they can be checked for a number of audio and video parameters in addition to specifications and characteristics, ensuring the materials meet defined broadcast quality and standards.
For those working in a ProRes environment, ContentAgent v3.1 integrates with Telestream’s Episode Engine v6.2 to enable automated ProRes encoding. Simply drop the Episode node into ContentAgent’s Workflow Designer, select the desired Episode encoding profile, then apply the workflow to any clips, either individually or from a Watchfolder – all from within the intuitive ContentAgent user interface. That’s automated ProRes encoding made simple on the Windows Platform.
BASE, Editorial, Broadcast and Film software bundles for increased flexibility
BASE
Start with ContentAgent BASE, then add software bundles
with workflow-specific codecs for editorial, broadcast and film.
ContentAgent BASE has all the features required to automate
end-to-end file-based workflow with its enhanced Platinum
transcode engine supporting accelerated H.264 encoding with
CUDA. Typically, transcode speeds of 500fps for some flavours of
MPEG and 800 fps for H.264 files are achievable, depending on
source material and hardware. All general purpose video and
audio formats are supported.
Film
Bundle
Broadcast
Bundle
Editorial
Bundle
For more information or to book a demo, please contact your local reseller or email info@root6technology.com