USE CASE

Ross Production Cloud

At a Glance

Broadcast-Quality Production in the Cloud

We’re taking the same technology that drives the most demanding live productions on the planet and putting it in the cloud. Using interface and control systems you are already familiar with, unlock more efficient and flexible production for corporate events, keynotes, conferences, and more, all powered by the cloud.

Flexible Production. From Anywhere. Without Sacrifice.

Ross Production Cloud is an end-to-end live production solution that allows you to produce content with the same newsroom and asset management you rely on in your existing productions. Collaborate seamlessly with a powerful virtual production switcher, graphics engine and audio mixer, all managed using the world’s leading automated production control system.

Solutions

Ross Cloud Workflows

RPC is deployed in two groups:

  • Persistent: “Always-On” services such as newsroom, asset management, content gateways, and licensing.
  • Dynamic: Larger, on-demand instances such as control room workflows, graphics, and ground-to-cloud live sources.
  • RPC services can be stopped and started with full recovery to last known state, supporting rapid change over.

    Ross Cloud Gateway enables secure connectivity of legacy devices from on-prem to the cloud via media object server (MOS). Content can be managed remotely and quickly shared into the cloud. OverDrive Automated Production Control manages real-time device control of on-premises devices like robotic cameras, routers, and tactile surfaces.

    RPC is optimized for Amazon Web Services (AWS). Some services offer detailed integration with S3, ELB, RDS, and OpenSearch. In addition, AWS security group and Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles are natively supported by select services.

    RPC can be deployed virtualized on-premises, hybrid on-prem and cloud, or even in purpose-built on-prem hyperconverged hardware.

    RPC is entirely deployed in your own cloud account or data center, enabling full control to align with corporate IT policies, security requirements, and better manage cloud expenses. You can also use services like VPN and AWS Direct Connect more effectively. Select services are also offered in fully managed configurations, such as Inception.cloud and Streamline. Cloud.

    Ground to Cloud

    softGear Streaming Gateway technology enables video transport from on-premise devices to the cloud and vice versa, supporting SDI and NDI video sources encapsulated in extremely low-latency SRT transport streams. Broadcast live video into AWS from cameras, remotes, and other live sources, and pull live video feeds from the cloud for multiviewer feeds and other applications.

    End-to-End Solution

    Product Line-up

    Graphite CPC

    Production Switcher, Audio Mixer, and Multiviewer

    • 18-Input, 4-output Carbonite Production Switcher
    • 3 x 6-Key ME
    • 1 x 16-Window Multiviewer with Full ViewControl Support
    • 1 x Channel XPression Prime Graphics
    • 1 x Channel XPression Clips (including preview channel, transitions, and alpha channel)
    • 18 x Stereo Channel Audio Mixer
    • 6 x Audio Aux Mixers
    • Audio Sources selectable from Network and Local Windows Audio Devices
    • Audio Embedders on outputs and independent Windows Audio Devices
    • DashBoard and TouchDrive control surfaces supported

    XPression

    Real-Time Graphics

    • Provides the shortest learning curve in the industry.
    • Allows content owners to easily deploy new graphic packages and therefore enhance content monetization.
    • Enables creative personnel to easily switch to a new and powerful tool while augmenting their creative throughput.
    • Allows for last-minute changes in your production without any hassle for operators and technical directors.
    • Augments production quality even in very dynamic production environments.
    • Ease of use: clean UI, logical menus and controls based on other common creation tools.
    • 2D / 3D text: font engine supports text input in any language, any orientation.
    • 3D models: build graphics from XPression 3D primitives or import your models from popular 3D design tools (Cinema 4D, Maya, 3DS Max).
    • Real-time, all the time: no lag between operator’s entry and system operation.
    • Flexible and scalable: any format (SD, HD, UHD, HDR), upgradeable channel capacity.
    • Animations: powerful and flexible control of animations with object keyframes and scene director timeline.
    • Clips: mix and match real-time and rendered animations with clips rendered using XPression video codec.
    • Visual Logic enables complex business logic to be built without the need for scripting.
    • Data integration: easy data binding with DatalinqTM, a powerful yet easy-to-use data management tool.
    • Full control: flexible control with the ability to replace elements while playing out to air.

    Media I/O

    Ingest & Playout

    • Delivers instant access to live ingesting content and allows for edit-while-ingest to accelerate the production process for logging, editing, and playout workflows.
    • Supports software-based transcoding, allowing customers to convert and distribute broadcast-quality outputs to multiple distribution endpoints in the cloud.
    • Capture baseband and network sources such as SDI, NDI, SRT, HLS, MPEG Dash, and RTSP streams into broadcast-quality file formats.
    • Industry-leading live capture and playout of a huge number of codecs and formats, including ProRes, AVC-Intra, XDCAM DVCPRO HD, IMX, XAVC, HEVC, and DNxHD/HR.

    softGear Streaming Gateway

    Ground-to-Cloud for Video

    • A secure and robust bridge from on-premises video and cloud, managing all your incoming and outgoing sources seamlessly.
    • Integrated frame synchronization eliminates the issues with remote asynchronous streams.
    • A wide range of supported video standards, codecs, and transports.
    • Supports NDI and SDI with an optional on-premises 1RU hardware platform and is future-proofed to support CDI.

    OverDrive

    Automated Production & Device Control

    • Offers unparalleled choice with integration to more than 220 different production devices. Both manual and automated control are provided to both Ross and third-party devices, including production switchers, routing systems, video servers, audio mixers, robotic cameras, and graphics systems.
    • Perform manual, semi-automated, or fully automated productions at any time from the same control room, using the same equipment. Manual device control is always at the operator’s fingertips, whether from OverDrive or a dedicated panel.
    • OverDrive offers an intuitive, user-configurable interface consolidating control of many devices into one control area. Use custom icons for quick identification and preview of the rundown.
    • Easily accommodate live breaking news and changes on-the-fly. With a toolset unmatched by any other system, OverDrive is the clear leader in managing late-breaking or unscripted events.
    • Delivers a consistent, repeatable, error-free production across a range of operator skill sets. OverDrive enables all operators to run clean, consistent productions every day, every time.

    Inception

    Newsroom Computer System

    • Live production doesn’t always happen in a single location, and editorial teams need a collaborative tool that can be accessed from anywhere. Inception sits at the heart of the workflow, bringing the team together to plan, collaborate, create, and execute.
    • When deployed in the cloud, Inception becomes accessible from anywhere while still supporting a robust integrated workflow with other key pieces of the production workflow, including teleprompter, graphics, asset management, video playout, and automated production control.
    • Inception is the hub for planning and executing content creation and delivery. The biggest benefit of putting Inception in the cloud is that it enables access from anywhere without the need to use a VPN. Users can access Inception on almost any device to stay connected to the rest of the team and contribute from anywhere.
    • Additionally, Inception offers the option to scale as needed to support seasonal or special event programming. Inception is licensed based on the number of concurrent users and connected MOS devices. These numbers can scale up or down as staffing and production needs change. Through flexible configuration, Inception can support a wide range of workflows, including news, entertainment and lifestyle programming, sports production, and corporate communication. With a simple deployment model and intuitive workflows, most teams can be up and running with Inception in a few days.

    Streamline

    Production & Graphics Asset Management

    • Make the most of your existing image and video assets by creating searchable metadata. End users can quickly find the right asset to tell any story.
    • Utilize the built-in work order management system and user messaging capabilities to increase communication between newsroom staff and your graphics team. Users can upload requests, track progress, and provide feedback without leaving the user interface.
    • Finding the right video clip is easier than ever. Use customizable metadata fields to search for existing clips and view a proxy preview of the clip from a web browser or plugin in the newsroom computer system (NRCS).
    • Content can be ingested, copied, or moved based on rules set up in Streamline Production. Index content from a variety of file storage systems, including on-premise and cloud options. Move content between servers and file storage locations with automated rules. Delete content using lifecycle rules for playout servers.

    Ross Platform Manager

    Enterprise Services

    Ross Platform Manager offers a consolidated approach to managing your Ross license keys, which translates into operational efficiencies and savings for customers. Ross Platform Manager aspires to provide unified approaches to software license key management, which allows you to:

    • Share licenses between instances.
    • Ramp up and ramp down your license consumption.
    • Rent special features and functionality from Ross for short periods of time.

     

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