VOD Publishing

Generating On-Demand HD VOD Content

Anystream Agility® 2G provides media companies with the unique ability to generate HD VOD content for Cable and IPTV applications on demand. Agility 2G features robust caption support for file and baseband video as well as flexibility for multiple resolutions and formats. It outputs MPEG-2 and H.264 content and supports closed captioning as well as multiple languages and 5.1 surround sound.

Agility 2G generates VOD files from assets located on multiple video tapes.

Agility 2G offers an easy way to combine multiple tape and file-based assets without using a video editor. Using the Agility 2G RS422 deck control you can capture each video tape to an MXF mezzanine file. Agility 2G supports bitrates of up to 320Mbits/sec. VBI information on each tape will be stored in the MXF file, and you can capture as many as 8 audio tracks at once in multiple languages and 5.1 surround sound.

Agility 2G enables you to trim MXF and other production media files, combine multiple video clips into a single CableLabs-compliant MPEG-2 VOD media file. Because source files and tapes do not always contain closed caption information, you can use Agility 2G to attach a caption file (e.g., *.scc, *.cab) that will be used to generate closed captions in the VOD output.

In addition to MPEG-2-based VOD assets, Agility 2G also supports the generation of an H.264 transport stream. For European and Asian IPTV platforms, DVB subtitles can be enabled.

Support for multiple language tracks is available as well.

Technical Specifications

Features

Playlist Editor:

Combine MXF Files
Mark in/out Points
Specify SCC Closed Caption Files
Specify V-chip Watermarks

Audio:

Multiple Audio Tracks (Multi-Language)
Layer 2 Stereo
AC3 Stereo and 5.1

V-chip Support:

V-chip Parental Control Encoding Insertion
Automated V-chip Graphic Insertion

Graphics and Branding:

Two independent and simultaneous graphics controls for branding and V-chip.
Graphical animations and controls for location, size, fade up/down and duration.

Closed Caption:

608 Captions (SD)
708 Captions (SD)
608 Compatibility Mode Captions (HD)
Propagation from VBI/VANC Source to SD and HD Output

HD to SD Down-Conversion:

Video Down-Conversion
Flexible Aspect Ratio Controls
708 to 608 Closed Caption Conversion

Recommended Capture Formats

Video Formats:

MXF/MPEG-2, up to 320Mbit/sec
I-Frame Only or Long GOP
SD 525i60, SD 625i50
HD 1080i50, HD 1080i60

Audio Formats:

PCM
8 Channels or Less, 24-bit
Dolby E with Additional
DP600 Integration

VANC and VBI:

708 Closed Caption
V-chip, XDS

Supported Source Formats

All Agility supported input formats can be used. In particular, the following formats are commonly used:
- Grass Valley: SD/HD, Audio, Video, VANC, and Timecode
- Avid DNxHD: QT-Reference File, Video, 8 Channels of Audio, and VANC

Supported Output Formats

MGPEG-2 (up to 25Mbit/sec, High Quality Encoder for SD Output)
MPEG-2 Transport Stream (CableLabs-Compliant)
H.264 (up to 25Mbit/sec)

Closed Caption Sources

Closed caption sources can be:

Separate files: .SCC, .CAP, .flc
In the video essence
In the wrapper

Video Essence Sources

SD active video line 21 (if present)
Apple ProRes (VANC packets)
GrassValley GXF MPEG2 user data (SD)
Omneon MPEG2 user data (SD, HD)
Pinnacle MPEG2 user data (SD-VBI, HD-708)
Avid DNxHD VANC (HD)
MPEG2 PS/TS user data (SD and HD 608/708)
MXF MPEG2 user data (SD and HD 608/708)
SD SDI live capture line 21
HD SDI live capture VANC packets

Wrapper Sources

QuickTime (MOV) closed caption track (608, 708 or CDP)
MXF SMPTE 436M
GrassValley GXF ANC track (HD)
Harris/Leitch-LXF ANC track (HD)

608 means Agility extracts 608 (caption, VChip, CGMS-a, etc.) data from the source. 708 means Agility extracts 708 (608 compatibility, 708 captions, etc.) data from the source. VANC means Agility extracts all VANC information, which usually includes 608 or 708, as well as other data.