SL NEO Media File Transfer

Transfer Manager has two versions: Lite and PRO.

• The Lite version only copies and moves files without processing: no file changes are made, proxy generation is included.
• TM Lite comes in a basic package with the SL NEO 1000−3000 and 5000−7000 Series Servers.
• TM Lite is also available as a «standalone» version.
• TM Lite used In Redundancy Schemes for continuous on-line content synchronization between the Main and Backup Playout Servers (files + metadata).
• The PRO version performs File Transcoding and Processing during transfer:
  — File decodig to Uncompressed AV Data level,
  — Up/Down/Cross Convertion (with FPS, Color Spaces Conversion),
  — Output Loudness Normalization (LUFS Scale, according to EBU R-128),
  — Audio Levels Normalization (dBFS Scale),
  — Audio Dynamic Range Conversion,
  — Audio Tracks Mapping,
  — Closed Caption Processing (readind text file, generating CC stream and inserting it into File and vice versa),
  — File Encoding with same or other types of AV Codecs and File Container.

File Transcoding (Video), Closed Captions Processing Dialog boxes

Use cases for Transfer Manager in the «server-client» version:

• In a Cloud environment, in cases where there is no dedicated network channel to access the servers, Internet connections are used for work. Unstable speeds and high latency do not allow the use of client applications. For such cases, Transfer Manager is controlled via a web browser.
• In Local Systems with multiple servers, engineers need to centrally control and manage processes from one or two workstations. In this case, the «server-client» implementation solves the management tasks.

Media Database uses «growing file» technology when writing to local server storage. Integration of Transfer Manager with Media Database allows to start the file copying process simultaneously with the start of recording. Copying in parallel with recording allows to significantly optimize workflow operations.

The diagram shows two ways of implementing the process of importing files into the operational storage of the SL NEO playback servers: automatic and manual. For each option is available work in the local network and via WAN.

The redundancy schemes use continuous online synchronization of content between the primary and backup servers, performed automatically using TM.

File operations are performed according to configurable rules. Rules based on the type of copying:

• Copy — copying files from source storage to destination storage. New files that appeared on the source storage are copied, as well as files that were deleted from the destination storage are copied again from the source storage.
• Copy and Rotate — permanent automatic unidirectional synchronization of the target storage from the source storage. This rule is used, for example, to synchronize arrays and DBs of broadcast servers — main and backup.
• Move — move files from source storage to destination storage, with replacement of files on the destination storage, regardless of the times of last modification of files.
• Move and Rotate — moving files from source storage to destination storage with replacing only new versions of files at destination storage.
• Copy Once — one-time copying from the source repository to the destination one.
• Copy Once and Rotate — copying from the original location to the target location with tracking the new versions and replacing the obsolete files on the target location.
• Copy for Playlist — priority copying from source repository to destination repository only for files whose names are specified in the executable playlists. Transfer Manager interacts with Program Player modules, the tracked identifiers in the playlists are Media and Title.

Transfer Manager Technical Specifications