Tightrope Media Systems

STEP ONE: Do I want a Server with Automation or just Automation?

Cablecast automation comes pre-loaded with all Cablecast SX video servers. But Tightrope also offers Cablecast Pro which is an automation only product that comes with an eight device controller and the Carousel framework for adding the Carousel Bulletin Board.

The reasons you might consider Cablecast Pro are that you are not ready to step up to a server and are looking for a great, easy to use automation system for less than $5,500, or you already have a video server that accepts VDCP commands and you want all of the great features described in the "how does it work" section.

STEP TWO: Do I want a Video Bulletin Board?

Most access facilities have a bulletin board providing program and community information between programs and during other blocks of time when full motion video programming is not scheduled.

The Cablecast CG 250 Bulletin Board is Tightrope's full featured bulletin board for access channels. It is the same Carousel dynamic digital signage system in use by hundreds of institutions and several Fortune 500 corporations. The Cablecast CG 250 will work with both Carousel Pro, and all of the Cablecast SX servers. You need a separate CG 250 for each channel.

Carousel can also be used with other manufacturers' automation and server systems. Most other server manufacturers offer only limited bulletin board functionality and many of their customers turn to Carousel. Be sure and read more about Carousel in the Digital Signage section.

STEP THREE: Which Server do I buy?

All Cablecast SX video servers come complete with Cablecast automation software, so if you buy a Cablecast SX video server you do not need to purchase Cablecast separately unless you are looking for a redundant system (described below).

All Cablecast SX video servers are capable of playing out broadcast quality channels from multiple video file formats such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DVCAM,DVCPRO, Windows Media, QuickTime, and even the advanced H.264 codec. All cablecast SX servers feature balanced audio, offer genlock, are able to utilize shared storage from external devices and come with Tightrope's DVD import utility for transferring DVD content onto the server up to six times faster than real time.

The differences between the SXLE, SX2, and SX4 boil down to the number of playout channels, the number of encoding channels, the amount of storage capacity, the ability to encode advanced codecs, and whether or not the server has a serial digital interface (SDI).

• Cablecast SXLE

  

  The Cablecast SX LE provides state of the art broadcast technology in a very low cost package. It has two channels of output, and one encoder. The playout and encoding of MPEG-2 files are from 3 to 15 Mbps, which is the high end of the MPEG-2 4:2:0 profile.

  As with all Cablecast SX video servers, the Cablecast SX LE plays out multiple file formats. The Cablecast SX LE provides composite analog output through a BNC connection, and balanced audio through XLR connectors. It comes with 500 GB of storage, and like all Cablecast SX video servers, can play out directly from attached storage.

• Cablecast SX2

  

  The Cablecast SX 2 has everything available in the Cablecast SX LE with a number of added features. It comes with two terabytes (2TB) of storage, it comes with a serial digital interface (SDI) for both of the decode channels as well as the encoder, and it is able to encode DVCAM as well as MPEG-2.

• Cablecast SX4

  

  The Cablecast SX 4 is very similar to the Cablecast SX 2, except it has a total of four decode channels and two encoders. It also comes with four terabytes (4TB) of storage. The two encode channels are both completely integrated into the Cablecast automation system, so they can both be scheduled to encode from different sources at the same time through the user interface.

STEP FOUR: Do I want VOD? Do I want Live Streaming?

The Cablecast SX VOD server makes your content available for viewing on demand over the internet, to anyone, anywhere at anytime. When a digital file arrives in Cablecast, the Cablecast SX VOD server will automatically pull a copy of the file from the Cablecast SX server, transcode the file for viewing and podcasting, and then make the file available on-demand through the Cablecast web schedule.

For streaming your channel "Live" over the internet, the Cablecast SX Live server will take the output of your channel in real time and make it available to anyone with an internet connection. One Cablecast SX Live server is needed for each channel.

Note: For both live streaming and for video on demand over the internet, sufficient upstream bandwidth is needed.

STEP FIVE: Other Options including Down Stream Keying

Cablecast can overlay text and logos on the output of your channel through a downstream key (DSK) device. This approach enables the key to be superimposed over the output of the channel regardless of whether the content is being delivered by the server, a videotape, or the bulletin board.

Control of the downstream device is fully integrated into Cablecast's web-based interface, and it is perfect for delivering emergency alerts over the entire channel.

Other options include native deck and device, and AV routing switcher control through RS 422, RS 232 and Infrared, as well as options for redundant power, and drives.

STEP SIX: Do I want a fully redundant system?

Cablecast offers the ultimate in protection from a failure anywhere in the system by offering complete system redundancy.

Tightrope includes the Cablecast automation software with Cablecast Pro and all of the Cablecast SX servers and has engineered redundancy into the architecture of the system. By purchasing Cablecast Pro as well as a Cablecast SX server, and controlling the Cablecast SX server with Cablecast Pro, if there is ever a failure with one of the servers, the other can take over all scheduling and automation.

Likewise, Tightrope has engineered system mirroring into all Cablecast SX servers, enabling one server to completely mirror the contents and scheduling of the other server. When bundled with a loss-detection device, such as the Spyglass from Media Control Systems, your station will be well-protected against equipment failure.