Tag: #alwayslearning

AI, Bandwidth, Best Practices, Career, Collaboration, Digital Platforms, events, gaming, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Project & Production Management, SFP, Success, Technology

Quick Guide: Broadcast Technology – SFPs: Hot-Swappable Transceivers

An SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) is a hot-swappable transceiver that allows for flexible optical or copper connectivity in various applications such as A/V, theatre, and TV production. It is commonly used for transmitting high-speed data via fiber optic cables.

There are many companies that offer SFPs, including Cisco, Juniper Networks, HP, Dell, and many more (see below). The features and specs of an SFP will vary depending on the manufacturer and the specific model. However, some common features of SFPs include data rates of up to 10 Gbps, support for various protocols such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH, and compatibility with various types of fiber optic cables.

Additionally, SFPs may come in different form factors such as LC, SC or ST connectors, and can support either single-mode or multi-mode fibers. Some SFPs may also support extended temperature ranges for use in harsh environments. It’s important to note that the specific features and specs of an SFP will depend on the application and the specific requirements of the user.

Companies that offer SFPs and their features and specs:

1. Cisco – Cisco offers a range of SFP modules for their switches and routers. Cisco’s SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

2. Juniper Networks – Juniper Networks offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

3. HP Enterprise – HP Enterprise offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

4. Netgear – Netgear offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

5. Dell EMC – Dell EMC offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

6. Allied Telesis – Allied Telesis offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

7. Black Box – Black Box offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

8. Brocade – Brocade offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

9. Extreme Networks – Extreme Networks offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

10. Finisar – Finisar offers SFPs for a range of applications, including data center, telecommunications, and industrial. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

11. Mellanox – Mellanox offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand.

12. Molex – Molex offers SFPs for a range of applications, including data center, telecommunications, and industrial. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

13. TP-Link – TP-Link offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

14. Transition Networks – Transition Networks offers SFPs for a range of applications, including data center, telecommunications, and industrial. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

15. Ubiquiti Networks – Ubiquiti Networks offers SFPs for their switches and routers. The SFPs support a range of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET/SDH.

16. Riedel – Riedel’s MediorNet SFPs, for example, are designed specifically for use with their MediorNet media network system. These SFPs support various protocols such as Ethernet, SDI, and MADI, and are available in various formats such as single-mode, multi-mode, CWDM, and DWDM.

In addition, Riedel also offers SmartPanel SFPs, which allow for flexible connectivity between SmartPanels and other systems such as the MediorNet media network. These SFPs support data rates of up to 10 Gbps and are available in various formats such as LC or SC connectors.

It’s important to note that while Riedel’s SFPs are designed for their specific systems, they still adhere to industry-standard protocols and can be used with other systems as well.

Overall, SFPs from different companies offer a range of features and specs depending on the application and interface type. Some common features of SFPs include hot-swappability, automatic signal detection and configuration, and low power consumption. It is important to select the right SFP for your specific application and ensure compatibility with your switch or router.

Career, Employment, Financial, Giving Back, Life Choices, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Social Media, Success, Teamwork

Job Hunting Tips: Say What??

You Need a Major career move, promotion, complete overhaul, change to something new altogether. Now what? Here are some steps to follow:

1. Target companies you’d like to work for. Research them, not only the bottom line, but their products (use cases), company culture, and the people who work there, especially people on the hiring team and HR. LinkedIn is a great resource for this.

2. Follow the companies AND the people at the companies, start commenting on their posts. These comments should add value to what was already said, and also tag the person who posted the information, state or reword what they’ve stated and add to it. Keep going, it’ll take time to establish a connection with people. Don’t ask for any recommendations or help, add validation to what was posted.

3. Find a unique issue that you can solve for the company. Then, begin to formulate a pitch deck for your solution. Find out what you can improve. Make your pitch about helping them, not about yourself. Find the opportunity to present your solution.

Make sure you find out what the Company’s goals and current/future initiatives are. Be the Solution /Bridge.

With your pitch deck show the value you’re adding, without making it about yourself. Add in industry data to validate your information.

5. Outline your ideas, THEN your background.

6. Send your contacts (after establishing them- see #2 above) an email asking for a chat about your idea. Have your pitch deck ready. Make sure it’s in a logical order, and succinct. Also make sure you have prepared some small talk based on what you’ve gleaned from your contacts posts and information pages. What groups do they and you belong to? Have that ready to go!

After the chat, and your contact is onboard with you – THEN the ask can come. Ask for the referral, now you have an in-house cheerleader.

What if you’ve worked with someone and lost contact over the years?

Ok, you’ve lost touch with someone. You met / were friends with someone while working and now Need to contact them regarding a job opportunity. What do you start with? “Hello” ?

Don’t over complicate it.

I’m trying to reach certain people I started out my career with, and worked alongside with for years, but that was 33 years ago too.

I did start with “Hello, it’s been a long time.” We picked up conversation like we hadn’t missed a beat, which I find a lot of in broadcasting. I loved working with and for just about every employer in my career.

Luckily, within the first conversation I was able to bring up the job opportunity, and “my person” said they’d be happy to help. You’ll find most people will, as they have or will need a similar recommendation themselves in the future.

For more information please reach out! 👍 Comment / Follow Me – it’s free!

Best Practices, Career, events, gaming, Golf, Life Choices, Sports, Success, Teamwork, Technology

Quick Overview Sports Graphics

There are several broadcasting sports live-action tracking devices that are used to track the performance of athletes during live sporting events. Here are some of the most popular broadcasting sports live-action tracking devices and their graphics:

1. Hawk-Eye: Hawk-Eye is a widely used tracking device in sports such as baseball, tennis, cricket, and football. It uses a combination of cameras and algorithms to track the trajectory of the ball and player movement. The graphics in Hawk-Eye are highly advanced, providing viewers with various angles and replays of the action.

2. SportVU: SportVU is a tracking device that is widely used in basketball. It uses six cameras mounted on the rafters of the stadium to track the movement of players and the ball. The graphics in SportVU are highly detailed, providing viewers with information such as player speed, distance covered, and shot trajectories.

3. Prozone: Prozone is a tracking device that is widely used in football. It uses a combination of cameras and software to track the movement of players on the pitch. The graphics in Prozone are highly detailed, providing viewers with information such as player heat maps, passing networks, and goal-scoring opportunities.

4. Catapult: Catapult is a tracking device that is widely used in various sports such as football, rugby, and basketball. It uses wearable sensors that are attached to players to track their movement and performance. The graphics in Catapult are highly customizable, allowing coaches and analysts to track specific performance metrics.

5. Golf: Golf has been using tracking devices for several years now, and one of the most popular devices is ShotLink. ShotLink uses lasers and cameras to track the movement of the ball and players during a golf tournament. The graphics in ShotLink are highly detailed, providing viewers with information such as shot distance, ball speed, and spin rate.

• TrackMan technology is another popular tracking device used in football and golf. It uses radar technology to track the movement of the ball, providing detailed data on ball flight and accuracy. 

For Golf TrackMan can also provide information on clubhead speed, ball spin rate, launch angle, and more. Additionally, it can provide a 3D representation of the ball flight, allowing players and coaches to analyze and optimize their shots.

The graphics in TrackMan are highly detailed, providing golfers with information such as shot distance, ball speed, and spin rate. This information helps golfers to better understand their shots and make adjustments to their swing and club selection.

Overall, TrackMan technology has become an essential tool for golfers, providing them with detailed data and graphics to help improve their game.

6. Baseball: Baseball uses a tracking device called Statcast, which uses a combination of cameras and radar to track the movement of the ball and players during a game. The graphics in Statcast are highly detailed, providing viewers with information such as pitch speed, launch angle, and exit velocity. Additionally, Statcast can also track the defensive positioning of players on the field.

Football has multiple tracking devices that are used to provide detailed data and graphics during live events. Here are some popular football tracking devices:

1. STATSports: STATSports is a wearable tracking device that is used to track the movement and performance of football players. It uses GPS and accelerometers to track player movement, providing data on distance covered, speed, and heart rate. The graphics in STATSports are highly detailed, providing coaches and analysts with information on player performance and fatigue.

2. Zebra Technologies: Zebra Technologies is a tracking device that is used to track player movement and performance during a football game. It uses RFID tags that are placed inside player shoulder pads to track their movements on the field. The graphics in Zebra Technologies are highly detailed, providing coaches and analysts with information on player speed, distance covered, and more.

3. ChyronHego: ChyronHego is a tracking device that uses cameras and software to track player movement and performance during a football game. The graphics in ChyronHego are highly customizable, allowing coaches and analysts to track specific performance metrics such as passing accuracy, tackles, and interceptions.

Track and field also use tracking devices to provide viewers with detailed data and graphics during live events. One of the most popular tracking devices used in track and field is called Omega Timing.

1. Omega Timing uses a combination of cameras, sensors, and timing technology to track the movement of athletes during a race. The graphics in Omega Timing are highly detailed, providing viewers with information such as race times, split times, and finishing positions. Additionally, Omega Timing can also track the performance of athletes in field events such as the long jump and high jump.

Overall, Omega Timing has become an essential tool for track and field events, providing viewers with detailed data and graphics to enhance their viewing experience.

Broadcasters utilize various brands, models, and features for their sports broadcasting graphics and lower-third generators:

1. ChyronHego:
– LyricX: Provides real-time 3D graphics, video clips, and animations, as well as advanced data visualization tools.
– Prime: Offers a streamlined workflow for creating and delivering graphics, as well as a variety of templates and design tools.
– CAMIO: Allows for centralized management of graphics and content, as well as integration with third-party data sources.

2. Ross Video:
– XPression: Provides real-time 3D graphics and animation, as well as support for virtual sets and augmented reality.
– Inception: Offers a web-based platform for creating and delivering graphics, as well as social media integration and playlist management.
– DashBoard: Allows for remote control and monitoring of graphics and production equipment, as well as customizable user interfaces.

3. Vizrt:
– Viz Trio: Provides real-time 2D and 3D graphics, video clips, and animations, as well as support for virtual sets and augmented reality.
– Viz One: Offers a centralized media asset management system, as well as tools for creating and delivering graphics and video content.
– Vizrt Social TV: Allows for integration with social media platforms and real-time data visualization.

4. Avid:
– Maestro | Designer: Provides real-time 3D graphics and animation, as well as support for virtual sets and augmented reality.
– Maestro | Live: Offers a web-based platform for creating and delivering graphics, as well as support for social media integration and data visualization.
– Maestro | News: Allows for centralized management of graphics and content, as well as integration with third-party data sources.

Overall, these graphics and lower-third generators are chosen for their advanced capabilities, ease of use, and integration with other production equipment and software. Each of these solutions has its own unique features and advantages, allowing broadcasters to create high-quality graphics and lower-thirds that enhance the viewer experience during a live sports broadcast.

AI, Best Practices, Career, Collaboration, Digital Platforms, Employment, Hacking, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Technology

Mac Shortcuts – You May Never Need to use a Mouse or Trackpad Again…Just Sayin’

I know everyone can just goto a help page. But, here’s a list of Shortcuts for Mac Users

100 keyboard shortcuts for Mac Users

  1. Command + C: Copy
  2. Command + V: Paste
  3. Command + X: Cut
  4. Command + A: Select all
  5. Command + Z: Undo
  6. Command + Shift + Z: Redo
  7. Command + F: Find
  8. Command + G: Find next
  9. Command + Shift + G: Find previous
  10. Command + S: Save
  11. Command + Shift + S: Save as
  12. Command + O: Open
  13. Command + W: Close window
  14. Command + Q: Quit
  15. Command + N: New window
  16. Command + T: New tab
  17. Command + Shift + T: Reopen last closed tab
  18. Command + Tab: Switch between open applications
  19. Command + Shift + Tab: Switch between open applications in reverse order
  20. Command + Option + Esc: Force quit application
  21. Command + Space: Open Spotlight search
  22. Command + Shift + 3: Take a screenshot of the entire screen
  23. Command + Shift + 4: Take a screenshot of selected area
  24. Command + Shift + 4, then Space: Take a screenshot of a window
  25. Command + Delete: Move selected item to Trash
  26. Command + Shift + Delete: Empty Trash
  27. Command + Up Arrow: Scroll to the top of a document or web page
  28. Command + Down Arrow: Scroll to the bottom of a document or web page
  29. Command + Left Arrow: Move to the beginning of a line
  30. Command + Right Arrow: Move to the end of a line
  31. Command + Shift + Up Arrow: Highlight text from the current cursor position to the beginning of a document or web page
  32. Command + Shift + Down Arrow: Highlight text from the current cursor position to the end of a document or web page
  33. Command + Shift + Left Arrow: Highlight text from the current cursor position to the beginning of a line
  34. Command + Shift + Right Arrow: Highlight text from the current cursor position to the end of a line
  35. Command + Option + D: Show/hide Dock
  36. Command + Option + Control + Esc: Force restart Mac
  37. Command + Option + Control + Power button: Force shutdown Mac
  38. Command + Shift + N: Create a new folder
  39. Command + Shift + A: Open Applications folder
  40. Command + Shift + U: Open Utilities folder
  41. Command + Shift + H: Open Home folder
  42. Command + Shift + D: Open Desktop folder
  43. Command + Shift + G: Open Go to Folder dialog box
  44. Command + Option + M: Minimize all windows
  45. Command + Option + V: Move files to another folder without copying them
  46. Command + Option + P: Show/hide Preview pane in Finder
  47. Command + Option + L: Show/hide Sidebar in Finder
  48. Command + Option + C: Copy selected item to the Clipboard
  49. Command + Option + N: Create a new folder in the current location
  50. Command + Option + T: Add files to Finder sidebar
  51. Command + Shift + A: Open Applications folder
  52. Command + Shift + G: Open Go to Folder dialog box
  53. Command + Shift + H: Open Home folder
  54. Command + Shift + I: Open iCloud Drive
  55. Command + Shift + O: Open Documents folder
  56. Command + Shift + U: Open Utilities folder
  57. Command + Option + Esc: Force quit an application
  58. Command + Option + Shift + Esc: Force quit frontmost application
  59. Command + Option + Control + Esc: Quit all applications and restart computer
  60. Command + Shift + 1: View as icons
  61. Command + Shift + 2: View as list
  62. Command + Shift + 3: View as columns
  63. Command + Shift + 4: View as cover flow
  64. Command + Option + S: Show/hide Sidebar in Safari
  65. Command + Option + B: Show/hide Bookmarks bar in Safari
  66. Command + Option + P: Show/hide Favorites bar in Safari
  67. Command + Option + R: Reload web page in Safari
  68. Command + Option + F: Enter full-screen mode in Safari
  69. Command + Option + L: Show/hide Downloads window in Safari
  70. Command + Option + D: Add current webpage to Reading List in Safari
  71. Command + Option + C: Show/hide Web Inspector in Safari
  72. Command + Option + T: Open new tab in Safari
  73. Command + Shift + T: Reopen last closed tab in Safari
  74. Command + Number: Open corresponding bookmark in Safari
  75. Command + Shift + [ or ]: Switch between tabs in Safari
  76. Command + Click: Open link in new tab in Safari
  77. Command + Shift + Click: Open link in new window in Safari
  78. Command + Option + Click: Download linked file in Safari
  79. Option + Tab: Switch between open applications in reverse order
  80. Option + Shift + Tab: Switch between open applications
  81. Control + Tab: Switch between tabs in a tabbed application
  82. Control + Shift + Tab: Switch between tabs in a tabbed application in reverse order
  83. Control + Option + Command + Eject: Quit all applications and restart computer
  84. Control + Option + Command + Power button: Quit all applications and shut down computer
  85. Control + Command + F: Toggle full-screen mode in some applications
  86. Control + Command + D: Show definition of selected word
  87. Control + Option + Command + D: Show/hide Dock
  88. Control + Command + Space: Open Emoji & Symbols window
  89. Control + Option + Command + 8: Invert colors of screen
  90. Control + Option + Command + Comma: Decrease display contrast
  91. Control + Option + Command + Period: Increase display contrast
  92. Control + Command + Power button: Put computer to sleep
  93. Control + Shift + Power button: Put display to sleep
  94. Control + Option + Command + T: Add or remove time zone
  95. Control + Shift + Command + T: Add or remove time zone in reverse order
  96. Control + Command + F1: Toggle VoiceOver on/off
  97. Control + Option + Command + F2: Toggle Zoom on/off
  98. Control + Option + Command + F3: Toggle Invert Colors on/off
  99. Control + Option + Command + F4: Toggle Grayscale on/off
  100. Command + Click and drag over a column of links: Highlight the column of links and open each link in its own tab.

I hope that helps!

Agile, AI, Best Practices, Career, Collaboration, Content Delivery Networks, Digital Platforms, Employment, events, gaming, Golf, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Project & Production Management, publishing, Quality Control, Safety, Smartsheets, Sports, Success, Teamwork, Technology

Production Tips: Flawless Live Television Events

Every live televised event has its challenges. Whether you’re producing sports, news, gaming events, each has different, and similar demands. If you keep the following in mind during the pre through post process, it can be a flaw-free event and a fantastic experience for not only the audience, but your crew and stakeholders.

1. Plan ahead and create a comprehensive rundown of the event: This means taking the time to plan out every aspect of the event, from the content to the technical requirements. Creating a comprehensive rundown of the event helps ensure that everything is accounted for and that everyone is on the same page.

2. Hire experienced professionals for the technical crew and production team: Hiring experienced professionals ensures that the technical and production aspects of the event are handled by people who know what they’re doing. This helps reduce the likelihood of technical issues and ensures a high-quality production.

3. Select the right equipment and cameras for the event: The right equipment and cameras can make a big difference in the quality of the production. Make sure to select equipment that is appropriate for the size and scope of the event.

4. Conduct a site survey to ensure proper lighting and sound: A site survey helps identify any potential issues with lighting and sound, and allows you to make adjustments before the event.

5. Prepare contingency plans for possible technical issues or emergencies: No matter how well you plan, technical issues and emergencies can still arise. It’s important to have contingency plans in place to ensure that the event can continue even if something goes wrong.

6. Rehearse the event with the crew and talent: Rehearsing the event helps ensure that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities, and that the event runs smoothly.

7. Assign clear roles and responsibilities to the crew and talent: Clear roles and responsibilities help ensure that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing, which helps reduce confusion and mistakes.

8. Use a production script to ensure smooth transitions and timing: A production script helps ensure that the event runs smoothly and that everything is timed properly.

9. Have backup equipment on hand: Backup equipment helps ensure that the event can continue even if something goes wrong with the primary equipment.

10. Use a dedicated communication system for the crew: A dedicated communication system helps ensure that everyone can communicate with each other quickly and easily.

11. Use multiple camera angles to capture different perspectives: Multiple camera angles help provide a more dynamic viewing experience and allow the production team to capture different perspectives.

12. Use graphics and lower-thirds to provide context and information: Graphics and lower-thirds can help provide context and information to the audience, which can enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the event.

13. Use music and sound effects to enhance the viewing experience: Music and sound effects can help enhance the viewing experience and make the event more engaging and entertaining.

14. Use pre-produced video packages to break up the live content: Pre-produced video packages can help break up the live content and provide variety for the audience.

15. Use a teleprompter for on-air talent: A teleprompter can help on-air talent stay on script and deliver their lines smoothly.

16. Use a countdown clock to keep track of timing: A countdown clock helps ensure that the event stays on schedule and that everything is timed properly.

17. Use social media to engage with the audience and promote the event: Social media can help you engage with the audience, promote the event, and provide updates before, during, and after the event.

18. Use a delay system to allow for editing or censoring if necessary: A delay system can help you edit or censor content if necessary, which can be useful in live events where unexpected things can happen.

19. Use a live streaming service to reach a wider audience: Live streaming services can help you reach a wider audience, particularly those who are unable to attend the event in person.

20. Use closed captioning for accessibility: Closed captioning helps make the event accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

21. Use a green screen for virtual backgrounds or augmented reality: A green screen can be used to create virtual backgrounds or augmented reality, which can enhance the viewing experience and make the event more engaging.

22. Use a wireless microphone system for mobility: A wireless microphone system can help on-air talent move around freely, which can make the event more dynamic and engaging.

23. Use a control room to monitor and manage the production: A control room allows the production team to monitor and manage the event in real-time, which can help ensure that everything runs smoothly.

24. Use audience feedback to improve future events: Audience feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and make future events even better.

25. Have fun and enjoy the process!: Producing a live televised event can be stressful, but it’s important to remember to have fun and enjoy the process!

AI, Best Practices, Career, Employment, Financial, Life Choices, Mentor, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Success, Teamwork, Technology

51 Tips to Set Yourself up for Success at Work

Where do you start? The action actually begins prior to starting your job. But, even if you’ve been working at a company for years and want to keep moving forward following are some suggested steps. These tips can apply to anyone at any stage of their career.

1. Research the company before your first day.
2. Familiarize yourself with the company culture.
3. Review the job description and requirements.
4. Understand your role and responsibilities.
5. Set clear goals and objectives.
6. Create a plan for achieving your goals.
7. Develop a positive attitude.
8. Build relationships with your colleagues.
9. Be open to feedback and constructive criticism.
10. Learn from your mistakes.
11. Build a strong work ethic.
12. Develop good time management skills.
13. Prioritize your tasks.
14. Set realistic expectations for yourself.
15. Stay organized.
16. Keep a positive outlook.
17. Take initiative.
18. Be proactive.
19. Anticipate problems and find solutions.
20. Communicate clearly and effectively.
21. Listen actively.
22. Build rapport with your boss.
23. Be flexible.
24. Adapt to changes in the workplace.
25. Be reliable and dependable.
26. Take responsibility for your actions.
27. Show respect to your colleagues.
28. Be a team player.
29. Offer assistance to others.
30. Stay focused on your priorities.
31. Keep your work area clean and organized.
32. Dress professionally.
33. Be punctual.
34. Attend meetings and training sessions.
35. Take notes to remember important details.
36. Use company resources effectively.
37. Maintain a positive work-life balance.
38. Seek out opportunities for growth and development.
39. Ask questions when you need clarification.
40. Develop strong problem-solving skills.
41. Build a network of contacts within the company.
42. Attend company events and social gatherings.
43. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and news.
44. Learn new skills and technologies.
45. Be adaptable to different work styles.
46. Be open to constructive criticism.
47. Take breaks when needed.
48. Stay positive in the face of challenges.
49. Celebrate your successes.
50. Continuously strive to improve and grow.
51. Get a mentor who has the qualities you want to adopt. You’ll learn from each other.

Agile, AI, Bandwidth, Best Practices, Career, Content Delivery Networks, Digital Platforms, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Project & Production Management, publishing, Success, Teamwork, Technology

How much bandwidth do you need ?

It’s essential to have sufficient bandwidth to have an optimal streaming experience. So, let’s dig into the bandwidth requirements for different resolutions and streaming services.

Understanding Video Bitrate

Video bitrate is an important metric independent of other factors like resolution, frame rate, and audio quality that impact a viewer’s streaming experience. It represents the amount of data per second your video source supplies and is a critical factor in delivering an enjoyable experience.

Streaming Services and Bitrate

It’s interesting to note that compared to a Blu-ray disc, streaming services like Netflix need to use compressed streams with considerably lower bitrates. Despite their best efforts to maintain the quality through various compression techniques, a higher bitrate equals more data and a superior image quality.

Minimum Bandwidth Required

To sustain a smooth, buffer-free stream at varying resolutions, one should consider these average minimum bandwidth requirements. Whether you’re using older equipment or new streaming devices with the latest TV models, Broadcasters generally provide viewers with the best possible streaming experience.

Following is the general resolution for videos and Minimum download speeds required:

480p (SD):  Needs about 3-4 Mbps

720p (HD):  Needs about 5-8 Mbps

1080p (HD):  Needs about 8-10 Mbps

2160p (4K):  Needs about 32 Mbps

4320p (8K): Needs about 120 Mbps

Required Bandwidth

H264 H265

1280×720(HD) 3Mbps 1.5Mbps

1920X1080(FHD) 6Mbps 3Mbps

3840×2160(UHD) 25Mbps 12Mbps

3820x2160p(4K) 32Mbps 15Mbps

7640×4320(8K) See notes below

1080p Streaming required Bandwidth & Internet Speed

1080p streaming videos are at a display resolution of 1920X1080, and it offers full HD video content on the Internet. These videos have more clarity and resolution than an HD video at 720p. Also, 1080p video consumes more amounts of data compared to SD and HD streaming. As stated in the above table and with the H264 codec, the recommended bandwidth is 6 Mbps, and with the H265 codec, it usually requires up to 3 Mbps.

4K and 8K Streaming Bandwidth requirement / Internet Speed

To stream 4K HDR content, one needs a 4K UHD TV with HEVC decoder and HDR support. 

4K videos with a display resolution of 4096p x 2160p offer the most life-like video content on the Internet. These high definition videos have more visual information than ever about the texture, color, shapes than an HD video. Unfortunately, 4k consumes enormous amounts of data compared to SD, HD & FHD streaming. With the H264 codec, the recommended bandwidth is 32 Mbps, and with the H265 codec, it could be up to 15 Mbps. To stream 4K HDR content, one needs a 4K UHD TV with HEVC decoder and HDR support.

Even with an 8K streaming service, most people wouldn’t be able to use it. Platforms like Netflix specifies a 25 Mbps stream for 4K content. This requirement seems to quadruple as there is no H.265 standard alongside 8K to reduce the file size. Netflix consumes 3.1GB/hour at 1080p for 60fps video and even 7GB/hour at 4K. If we assume that the transition from 4K to 8K consumes an equivalent amount of bandwidth to 1080p – 4K transition, the per hour bandwidth requirement to stream 8K content would be nearly 6.44GB – 19.2GB/hour for 23.976fps content. This is still a high bandwidth rate to burn out.

The bitrate for 8K video services that use HEVC is between 85 Mbps for satellite and 65 Mbps for OTT. 

When you implement Content Aware Encoding (CAE) used in combination with HEVC, you can lower the bit rate for 8K distribution by another 50%. CAE leverages the mechanics of the human eye to assess video quality and optimize encoding parameters in real-time.

If you have any questions please reach out. 👍 Follow, and Comment- it’s free!

Agile, AI, Best Practices, Career, Digital Platforms, Employment, Mentoring, Moving Forward, Project & Production Management, publishing, Quality Control, Success, Teamwork, Technology

Video Production Tips: Pain Points & Solutions – What are your Suggestions?

Video production involves several stages, each with its unique set of challenges. Some common pain points in video production are:

1. Pre-production planning: To avoid delays, budget overruns, and scope creep, video production teams should establish clear goals and objectives, outline the desired outcome, and develop a detailed production plan that aligns with the production budget and scope. Project management software can help manage tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress, while regular meetings and status reports can keep everyone on the same page.

2. Equipment-related issues: To prevent equipment failures or inadequacies, video production teams should invest in quality equipment, perform regular maintenance and testing, and have backup equipment on hand. Additionally, having a skilled technician on the team or on call can quickly resolve equipment-related issues and reduce downtime.

3. Creative and technical collaboration: Video production teams can improve creative and technical collaboration by establishing clear communication channels and processes, involving everyone in the brainstorming phase, and setting realistic expectations about the project’s technical feasibility. One solution is to use a review and approval platform that collects feedback and changes from all team members and keeps everyone informed about progress.

4. Time constraints: To manage tight video production timelines, video production teams should prioritize tasks, establish clear timelines with deadlines, and allow for some flexibility. Outsourcing some tasks or using pre-made templates and resources can also save time and reduce workload.

5. Post-production challenges: To avoid post-production delays, video production teams should establish a clear post-production plan, including deadlines, resources needed, and project milestones. Collaborating with a post-production specialist or outsourcing some post-production tasks can also help manage the workload and free up resources and time.

6. Delivery and distribution: To ensure a smooth delivery and distribution process, video production teams should carefully consider the delivery platform and format and create multiple versions for different devices and platforms. Using cloud storage platforms can make sharing and delivering large files easier.

7. Budget and finances: To stay within the allocated budget, video production teams should create a detailed budget plan, track expenses, and prioritize expenses according to project needs. Being transparent about the budget and communicating any potential expenses can reduce surprises and avoid overruns.

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Why We Care: PTP Clocks Hierarchy

PTP (Precision Time Protocol) is a protocol used for synchronizing clocks in a network. It is a time synchronization protocol that is designed to provide high-precision time and frequency synchronization for networked devices.

PTP (Precision Time Protocol) is an IEEE 1588 standard protocol that synchronizes real-time clocks of connected nodes in a distributed system using a network. This protocol establishes a leader-follower hierarchy among the nodes (referred to as clocks) where followers synchronize with their leaders, and the leader-follower relationship is determined by a Best Master Clock (BMC) algorithm. Through dynamic relationship determination, the PTP network can simplify the interconnect graph, resolving cycles down to a tree of leaders and followers. The grandmaster, located at the root of the tree, synchronizes with GPS and serves as the ultimate leader for all clocks. Interior nodes in this network are called boundary clocks (BC) and have follower ports and one or more leader ports. PTP can achieve high accuracy, even within sub-microsecond limits on local networks.

PTP works by sending time signals between devices, a best grandmaster, leader, and a follower clocks. The best grandmaster clock sends synchronization messages to leader clocks, and the leader clocks adjust their clock frequency and time to match the best grandmaster clock. The leader clocks send synchronization messages over their network(s), and the follower clocks adjusts their clock frequency and time to match the leader clock. Again, aka boundary clocks. PTP uses precise hardware timestamps to measure the time between devices.

PTP is often used in real-time systems, where accurate timing is essential, such as in audio and video production or industrial automation. It can also be used in some communication networks, such as 5G and industrial Ethernet.

Each of the following company’s products support and /or generate PTP:

1. Leader Electronics Corporation offers the LT8900 and the LT8910A PTP Time Server/Grandmaster Clocks, both of which are designed to provide accurate PTP synchronization for broadcast and post-production applications. The devices generate IEEE 1588-2008 PTP packets with sub-microsecond timing accuracy and support PTP profiles such as the Audio-Video Profile (PTP AV) and the IEEE Power Profile. They also feature two independent 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, allowing for redundant operation and the ability to simultaneously serve as a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server. The LT8910A additionally offers dual electrical inputs, enabling it to function as a redundant PTP Grandmaster clock.

2. Cisco Systems, Inc. offers a range of PTP solutions, including routers, switches, and network interface cards that support IEEE 1588v2. Some of the models that support PTP generation and/or synchronization include the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches, the Cisco 9200 Series Switches, the Cisco NCS 1002, the Cisco NCS 540 Series Routers, and the Cisco NCS 560 Series Routers. These devices provide high-precision timing capabilities for a range of applications, including 5G mobile networks, industrial automation, and financial trading. They can serve as a PTP Grandmaster clock, Leader clock and/or follower, depending on the application requirements, and have features such as hardware timestamping, clock quality monitoring, and PTP profiles for specific industries.

3. Riedel Communications offers the MediorNet MN-C-OPT-HDMI PTP Media Interface Card, which is designed to provide PTP support and synchronization for its MediorNet media network. The card supports SMPTE ST 2059 PTP profiles and is capable of acting as both a PTP Grandmaster clock and a PTP client. It features multiple input and output ports, including an HDMI port for timecode distribution, and has a high-precision oscillator for sub-microsecond timing synchronization. The card also supports redundancy, multi-casting of PTP messages, and monitoring and configuration via a web-based interface. Additionally, Riedel’s Artist and Bolero communications systems offer PTP synchronization for intercom communication applications.

4. Meinberg Funkuhren offers a variety of PTP Time Servers/Grandmasters that are designed to provide accurate PTP synchronization for a range of applications, including telecom, financial trading, and industrial automation. Some of the models include the LANTIME M900/M600/M4000 PTP Time Servers and the IMS – M400 Industrial PTP Time Server. These Time Servers support IEEE 1588-2008 PTP profiles and various ITU-T G.827x telecom profiles such as G.8275.1 and G.8275.2. They can serve as a PTP Grandmaster clock, Leader, and/or follower clock, depending on the application requirements, and offer features such as hardware timestamping, fault-tolerant design, and redundant power supplies. Meinberg also offers PTP software and network interface cards that support PTP generation and synchronization.

5. Tektronix offers a range of PTP hardware and software products that support PTP generation, including time servers, grandmasters, and clients that generate and measure PTP signals with high accuracy and precision. These devices are specifically designed for PTP and are capable of supporting PTPv1, PTPv2, and PTP-RA.

6. Juniper Networks provides networking equipment that supports PTP generation, including network switches and routers that are capable of handling PTP traffic, as well as software tools for the configuration and management of PTP networks. Juniper’s devices are designed to support PTPv2 and can be used in a variety of PTP network architectures.

7. Ross Video offers PTP generation solutions for the broadcast industry, including PTP time code generators and servers that are designed to synchronize video and audio signals across multiple cameras and equipment. These devices support PTPv2 and PTP-RA and are specifically designed for the broadcast environment.

8. Mellanox Technologies provides network adapters and switches that support PTP generation, allowing for the transmission and synchronization of time-critical data across high-speed networks. Mellanox’s devices support PTPv2 and can be used in a variety of PTP network architectures, including data center and telecommunications applications. Nvidia does not offer a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) implementation as a standalone product. However, Nvidia’s Mellanox networking solutions product line includes NICs (network interface cards) and switches that support PTP as well as other timing protocols such as Network Time Protocol (NTP), Precision Time Protocol (PTP), and IEEE 802.1AS.

These products help enable synchronization throughout data centers and other networked deployments that require tight synchronization between multiple devices, such as high-performance computing, financial trading, media and entertainment industries, and industrial control systems. In addition to PTP support, Nvidia Mellanox’s networking solutions offer low-latency and high-bandwidth capabilities, making them well-suited for demanding applications.

9. Spectracom specializes in precise timing solutions, including PTP servers and PTP-enabled network devices for PTP generation. Spectracom’s devices support PTPv1, PTPv2, and PTP-RA and are designed to provide high levels of accuracy and precision for a variety of industries, including telecommunications, defense, and finance. They also offer software tools for PTP network analysis and management.

10. Selenio Media Communications offers support for various versions of Precision Time Protocol (PTP), including PTPv1, PTPv2, and PTP Profile for Professional Broadcast Applications (PTP-RA). This enables customers to synchronize media processing and transport devices in IP-based broadcasting systems with sub-microsecond accuracy. It offers a single timing source and does not have built-in redundancy.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list of PTP generators or supporters thereof.

In summary, the main differences between PTP offerings are the level of accuracy, redundancy, and interoperability features they offer, allowing customers to select the product that best suits their requirements for timing accuracy, scalability, and reliability.

I’ve been asked if I’m being paid for this post. No, I am not being paid to share this information, nor do I work for any named company within the article.

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Selenio: Video Processing, Delivery &, PTP Solutions, Plus the Competition…

Selenio is a product line of video processing and delivery solutions offered by Imagine Communications, a company that provides end-to-end software-based solutions for media and entertainment industry. The Selenio product line includes both hardware and software components designed to address the complex and evolving needs of broadcasters and content providers in delivering high-quality video across a variety of platforms and devices.

The Selenio product line includes solutions for video encoding, transcoding, compression, decoding, and delivery, as well as tools for managing and monitoring video distribution workflows. Selenio offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid environments. The solutions also support a wide range of industry-standard video formats and protocols, including H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, HEVC, and ATSC 3.0.

In addition to video processing and delivery, the Selenio product line also includes solutions for signal processing, audio processing, and contribution and distribution. These solutions are designed to help broadcasters and content providers manage the entire content delivery chain, from acquisition to distribution, while ensuring the highest levels of quality and flexibility.

The Selenio product line offers different video processing models that provide various capabilities. Some of the specific video processing models offered by Selenio include:

1. Selenio Media Convergence Platform (MCP): This software-based solution provides end-to-end video processing and delivery capabilities for live, linear and on-demand content across different devices and platforms, including IP, RF and satellite networks. Selenio MCP includes modules for encoding, decoding, transcoding, packaging, and delivery, enabling the repurposing of content for multiple formats and screens.

2. Selenio MCP3: This is the latest version of the Selenio MCP and is designed to be fully software-defined, offering a cloud-native architecture that scales quickly and easily. MCP3 provides intelligent orchestration across on-premise and cloud-based resources while providing support for advanced video processing features such as high-bitrate 8K codecs.

3. SelenioFlex File: This solution is designed for file-based workflows and provides functionality for transcoding, packaging, and delivery. Content can be repurposed and transcoded to multiple resolutions and formats, including high-quality 4K and 8K, depending on the needs of the service.

3a. Selenio Flex: This solution offers advanced video processing features such as HDR and WCG processing, audio loudness control, and content replacement, in a single hardware-based appliance. It also provides advanced video compression technology, including HEVC, to optimize bandwidth utilization and enable distribution of high-quality content to an increasing number of devices.

4. Selenio One: This is a compact, 1RU encoding/transcoding platform that provides high-quality, low-latency video streaming for IPTV and other IP-based video delivery applications. Selenio One has a wide range of codecs and resolutions and is ideal for applications where space is limited, such as outside broadcast (OB) trucks or small-scale IPTV operations.

5. Selenio Network Processor (SNP): This is a high-density video and audio processing platform that is designed for the most demanding broadcast and media applications. Selenio SNP provides a flexible and modular architecture that can be configured to support a wide range of codecs, resolutions, and protocols, including IP, ASI, and SDI.

6. Selenio UDP Gateway: This solution is designed to enable the smooth delivery of live video content to viewers over the internet. Selenio UDP Gateway can receive an uncompressed multicast transport stream from an encoder and distribute it to a large number of viewers with low latency and high reliability. It also supports adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming, which enables the delivery of multiple quality versions of the same video to different devices based on each device’s bandwidth and resolution requirements.

7. Selenio CMM: The Content Management System (CMM) is designed to provide intelligent workflow automation capabilities to the entire content supply chain. CMM provides comprehensive metadata management, asset tracking, and data governance, enabling content providers to efficiently manage and organize their libraries and produce more effective content delivery strategies.

Overall, the delivery solutions offered by Selenio utilize advanced video processing, metadata management, and delivery capabilities to enable content providers to deliver high-quality video content seamlessly across multiple platforms and devices.

How does Selenio support
Precision Time Protocol (PTP), including PTPv1, PTPv2, and PTP Profile for Professional Broadcast Applications (PTP-RA).

Selenio Media Convergence Platform from Imagine Communications supports PTP (Precision Time Protocol) in different ways, including PTPv1, PTPv2, and PTP Profile for Professional Broadcast Applications (PTP-RA).

Selenio can act as a PTP grand leader clock or follower clock, depending on the customer’s requirements. It can synchronize the internal timing of each device in the platform, including video and audio processing units, switchers and routers, and other IP-connected devices, with sub-microsecond accuracy.

The PTP implementation in Selenio is compliant with the relevant IEEE standards and guidelines, ensuring interoperability and compatibility with other PTP devices. It uses hardware-assisted timestamping to achieve the required level of precision, and supports various transport protocols, such as IEEE 802.3av, IEEE 1588-2008, and AES67.

Selenio also supports PTP Profile for Professional Broadcast Applications (PTP-RA), which specifies additional requirements for PTP accuracy, reliability, and scalability in broadcast environments. Selenio’s PTP implementation is designed to meet these requirements and provide synchronization for demanding broadcast workflows.

Lastly, Selenio PTP Gateway can convert between different PTP profiles, including those used in broadcast and IT networks, to enable interoperability between different PTP installations. This allows broadcasters to take advantage of the benefits of the latest PTP technology while maintaining compatibility with existing PTP deployments.

In summary, Selenio supports PTP in different ways, including as a PTP grandmaster or slave clock, with compliance to IEEE standards and PTP-RA, using hardware timestamping, and protocol flexibility for interoperability through its PTP Gateway.

I’ve been asked if I’m being paid for this post. No, no I am not being paid to share this information, nor do I work for Selenio.

Here are some of Selenio’s biggest competitors:

As Selenio has a wide range of products and services, it’s difficult to give a comprehensive comparison for each competitor listed. However, I can provide you with a general idea of what each competitor offers:

– Cisco Systems: a technology company that provides networking, cybersecurity, and collaboration products and services.
– Evertz Microsystems: a technology company that provides video and audio infrastructure software and hardware solutions for broadcasters and media companies.
– Harmonic Inc.: a technology company that provides video delivery infrastructure solutions for cable, satellite, and OTT video providers.
– Zixi: a technology company that provides software-defined video platform solutions for broadcasters and OTT video providers.
– Net Insight: a technology company that provides media transport solutions for broadcasters and media companies.
– Nevion: a technology company that provides video transport solutions for broadcasters and media companies.
– Grass Valley: a technology company that provides broadcast and media equipment and solutions for live production and content delivery.
– Elemental Technologies (an Amazon Web Services company): a technology company that provides software-defined video solutions for broadcasters and OTT video providers.
– Ericsson Inc.: a technology company that provides broadcast and media services and solutions for content owners, broadcasters, and service providers.
– NewTek Inc.: a technology company that provides video production and live streaming solutions for broadcasters and content creators.
– Ross Video: a technology company that provides broadcast and media equipment and solutions for live production and content delivery.
– Appear TV: a technology company that provides broadcast and streaming solutions for operators, broadcasters, and content providers.
– Blackmagic Design: a technology company that provides video production solutions for broadcasters, filmmakers, and content creators.
– ATEME SA: a technology company that provides video encoding and transcoding solutions for broadcasters and content owners.
– Haivision Systems: a technology company that provides video streaming solutions and services for broadcasters and enterprises.
– Telestream LLC: a technology company that provides video transcoding, workflow automation, and quality monitoring solutions for broadcasters and media companies.
– MediaKind: a technology company that provides broadcast and media solutions for content owners, broadcasters, and service providers.
– ChyronHego: a technology company that provides graphics solutions for sports, news, and live events.
– Lawo AG: a technology company that provides audio and video production solutions for broadcasters and media companies.

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and there may be other competitors within the industry. The competitiveness of each of these companies varies depending on the specific product and service category.

Overall, each of these companies has its own unique strengths and areas of expertise in the media and broadcast industry. It will depend on the specific needs of the customer to determine which solution is the best fit.