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FAQ

What is the Media Frame Engine?

The Media Frame Engine is a software technology that has been developed by Media Frame, LLC of Mesa, Arizona. The “Engine” is the foundation of all Media Frame based applications using Media Frame technology in the form of its scripting language, the upper or lower level Media Frame SDKs and the applications that are sold by Media Frame, LLC.

Is Media Frame, LLC a new company?

Media Frame, LLC is not a brand new company but it is not that old a company either. The software team that developed the Media Frame Engine has been working together for ten years. Previous development efforts produced specialized video applications such as Oxygen, a video play out and effects application used by networks such as ABC for its broadcasts of programming such as Nightline, the ABC Evening News and This Week with George Stephanapolous.

What is the major use for the Media Frame Engine and its applications?

Media Frame, LLC developed its Media Frame Engine technology for real-time video playback. It will be used primarily in real-time video playout servers. Media Frame’s first application is called RTVS.

What is so special about that? Doesn’t everything playout in “real-time?”

Well, yes and no. With practically every other playout system, an individual clip will playout in real-time. Sometimes clips with different codecs can be placed on a timeline and will play out in real time in a sequence. However, the media usually needs be of the same video standard and or frame rate to play out in real-time, otherwise everything needs to be “rendered.” And generally, most other systems must render clips if one clip of a different format is overlaid on top of another clip.

That is not the definition of real-time playout for Media Frame and it is not how RTVS works.

Media Frame’s RTVS will play out any media in any format at any resolution at any frame rate and any video standard to any media in any format and any resolution at any frame rate and video standard. And any media in means any media on disk or any incoming live media to any live media out.

For example, using Media Frame technology and RTVS, video clips in one video standard (let’s say, anamorphic DV at 720 x 480, at a particular resolution (at 720 x 480) and video spec (29.97) and rendered with upper field dominance can be up-resed in real-time to 1080i (1920 x 1080) at 59.97 with lower field dominance AND a different video clip, let’s say a 720P clip at 24 fps with an alpha channel can be overlaid on top of the first clip as it is playing back – all in real time, all without any rendering. Just select the clips and play them out.

Do you mean to say that other solutions do not work this way?

Exactly – normally, other applications transcode or convert the clips. Their major strengths are that they can move clips and can convert clips very fast – but what is the point of moving clips and converting clips when there is no need to do so. It is far easier to select a clip and play it to air, to disk or to both in real time rather than to convert first and then play out.

What about audio? Does Media Frame and RTVS deal with audio?

Media Frame supports all 4 groups of embedded audio for a total of 16 channels.  Media Frame does all sample rate conversions is real-time as well.  Media Frame will convert from any input sample rate, bit depth, and endian to an output format of 44K - 192K.  (48K for professional embedded.) RTVS’s audio handling capabilities are equivalent to many of the high end audio editors on the market.

Why is it beneficial to NOT have to convert clips from one format to another?

By not having to worry about formats any longer, workflow questions are resolved completely. No one ever has to worry about strict compliance to any specific standard, although it won’t hurt either if workflow standards are complied with. With Media Frame, all media is already compliant with all other media. Playback is instant and instantly compatible. In-house jobs and independent production work is already “in the same format” and ready for immediate output to air or to any other format in real-time without any processing.

What is the benefit to having to need to convert clips?

That is an interesting question. If ease of use, workflow and expense are unimportant then perhaps using other applications makes sense. If you want the absolute best product available on the market today, RTVS is the only solution.

Frankly, Media Frame and RTVS sound almost too good to be true.

It sounds too good to be true because other vendors have a vested interest in promoting inferior solutions that require transcoding or conversion. And they hawk those solutions ad nauseam. Rather than coming to grips with their inability to play out anything instantly, they spend time and effort discussing the advantages of converting from one format to any other format.

Media Frame just doesn’t care what format it is to start with – and it immediately plays it out. Media Frame makes no justification for any particular format nor does it force you to use its “own” format. Every format works provided the codec is installed on the system. It leaves the choice of format to the creator of whatever the clip is that will be played out.

How can I learn more about Media Frame applications?

Media Frame’s RTVS is sold by professional video product integrators. RTVS is not sold as a software package to be installed by the end user. Integrators build solutions that combine both hardware and Media Frame software.

How can I find out more about RTVS, Media Frame and Media Frame integrators? Whom should I call?

Call Mike Skibra at 702.275.6353 or email mike at mike.skibra@media-frame.com.