MORE NEW FEATURES WITH GV STRATUS 4.0.3

As we announced recently, we have released maintenance release 3, or version 4.0.3 of GV STRATUS. Last week we told you about a great new feature to automatically create and export thumbnails off a video stream, simply using our powerful workflow rules. 

A number of additional features were released with this version of GV STRATUS and we would like to tell you about them here: 

• New Dashboard role: the GV STRATUS dashboard which you already know and love J can now be selectively given to specific users. This helps system administrators choose who can have access to such sensitive and important information, as well as reducing network traffic. 

• EDIUS lock enhancement: when an EDIUS project is being edited, the project and its included sequences and clips are locked in the GV STRATUS application. This protects against accidental deletion.  

• Confirm pop-up when trimming: when a user trims a clip’s in/out points, they are asked to confirm before accidentally trimming.

• Various other enhancements that improve performance, usability and efficiency. 

We take our users' feedback on board and constantly strive to make GV STRATUS a better production tool. Work is well underway for our next major release, with a totally refreshed user interface as well as significant new features. Contact your Grass Valley representative if you would like to discuss an upgrade or for new installs!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

New features on GV STRATUS 4.0.3

Hi readers! After a brief hiatus, we are happy to be back in action with news and announcements about GV STRATUS, which keeps getting better and being more feature-rich....

With the recent release of version 4.0.3 we have added some great functionality to facilitate and accelerate the production process. One particular new function that we are very happy with, is the ability to select and automatically export thumbnails. This is extremely useful when users want to select specific frames to be used in external systems such as a webpage or for on-air graphics.

After the relevant export rule has been created, a user simply uses the GV STRATUS application to view content and add a marker (labelled as "TN") for the frames which they want to have thumbnails exported.

GV STRATUS will automatically create thumbnails and place them on the predetermined folder: This will also work with growing files, allowing users to export thumbnails to their external folder even whilst content is still being ingested! No need to wait for the recording to be completed anymore: accelerate your workflow!

Some of our users have given us excellent feedback on this small but powerful feature, as it has saved them time and effort for their web and social media publishing process.

We have introduced a number of other improvements on GV STRATUS v4.0.3. Keep an eye out for our next blog entry soon!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

New Application Note: transcoding with GV STRATUS

GV STRATUS tightly integrated with industry-leading transcoding tools so that transcoding import or export workflows can be easily automated. As a user, all you need to do is select a metadata field, or drop assets to a specific folder for a transcode job to take place in the background. Transcode profiles are configurable and selectable depending on each's user's needs.

Read all the details on our new application note here.

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

Do you work in post-production? See how GV STRATUS can help collaboration!

As you know, GV STRATUS is an ideal workflow and production management tool for news, but it is also a very useful toolset for post-production environments....

We have just published a comprehensive application note describing these workflows with GV STRATUS. You can find it on our website.

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

REMOTE SENDS PART 2: Sending video from GV STRATUS to a remote file share

GV STRATUS offers a wide range of possibilities when it comes to sending content from the production environment to remote facilities.

In a 3-part series we are covering various case studies, and we already showed you on a previous post (Multisite and remote workflows with GV STRATUS) how to share content between multiple GV STRATUS sites, what we call MULTISITE sharing.

In this post, part 2, we show you how you can take advantage of GV STRATUS rules to share content with a remote location that simply needs the video as a discreet file on a remote shared drive. This applies well when you have multiple geographically remote facilities but only the central production system features GV STRATUS and K2 storage. 

In part 3 we will cover the ability to send from GV STRATUS to a standalone K2 server located in a remote destination, which is not under GV STRATUS control. Watch this space!

For any question concerning this subject contactregis.andre@grassvalley.com orbeatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

IMPORTING FILES TO GV STRATUS FROM HARMONIC SERVERS

We have just released a new application note describing our functionality to import media from a Harmonic video server. Check this out!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS remote editing workflows with EDIUS

GV STRATUS, together with the power and flexibility of GV's very own non-linear editor, EDIUS, can provide for a range of remote editing workflows that will increase your editing speed and capabilities when you're working in the field.

Take a look at this video that explains and demonstrates 3 of the many possible remote editing workflows that you can achieve when working in the field with EDIUS and GV STRATUS.

For any question concerning this subject contactregis.andre@grassvalley.com orbeatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

Latest GV STRATUS and Avid editing integration

We have a lot of users interested in how GV STRATUS integrates with Avid editors. To complement the information available in our recently updated application note, we have prepared this video demonstration that shows the various workflows we can offer with Avid NLEs.

We show you two-way transfers between GV STRATUS and the Avid editing application (whether on standalone storage or ISIS-mounted), as well as the process to edit-in-place (via AMA).

Our latest GV STRATUS v4.0.1 release has added lots of new features for our integration with Avid editors, such as transferring markers and keywords, and support for importing/exporting files (including transcode) with Avid ISIS storage. Take a look!

We continue to add more functionality to our integration with the Avid environment, so keep an eye out on our blog for new features in forthcoming releases!

For any question concerning this subject contactregis.andre@grassvalley.com orbeatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

WEBINAR: GV STRATUS integration with SGL FlashNet for archive and content management

You already know that we have a pretty tight integration between our GV STRATUS production asset management tools, and SGL's FlashNet solution for archive and content management...

There is an application note available for a functionality description, as well as the full details for configuration and usage on our GV STRATUS Topic Library.

We recently ran a very successful (and popular!) webinar with our colleagues at SGL. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here.

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS V4.0.1 NEW FEATURES VIDEO!!

As you know we recently released Maintenance Release 1 for GV STRATUS v4. Here's a video summarizing all its new features... Enjoy!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS integration with Avid Non-Linear Editors - UPDATED Application note

To show our latest GV STRATUS improvements in integrating with the Avid editors (MediaComposer, NewsCutter, Symphony...) we have UPDATED our application note.

This document explains in detail the step-by-step workflows and process to edit-in-place (via AMA) and two-way transfers between GV STRATUS and the Avid editing application.

We have included lots of new features for our integration with Avid editors, such as transferring GV STRATUS markers and keywords, and support for importing/exporting files (including transcode) with Avid ISIS storage.

Check it out!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

Happy 2015!!! - GV STRATUS v4.0.1 released

Hello to all our blog followers and supporters! First of all, let us wish you a great year 2015 ahead, and may all your projects be successful in the coming months!

We also want to let you know that we have just made available our first Maintenance Release for GV STRATUS v4, and you can find all of the information and installation software on the grassvalley.com website.

The web-based topic library, inclusion release notes, will provide you with all the information you need regarding new features, operation and configuration:

• GV STRATUS Topic Library

As a quick preview, we have introduced:

• Workflow enhancements for our Avid integration such as transferring of GV STRATUS markers and keywords to the Avid editor, and material exchange with Avid ISIS storage. 
• Import and export rules enhancements
• Various improvements to the GV STRATUS user interface 
• Improved integration with K2 Dyno multi-angle clips

Watch out for a video tutorial soon where we will go through these new features in detail!

If you would like to discuss upgrading your existing GV STRATUS system to v4.0.1, please contact your Grass Valley support or sales representative. 

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS and Aspera webinar

We recently run a webinar with our partners at Aspera describing in detail our integration between GV STRATUS and the fasp protocol.

You can watch the webinar recording here....

For more details about our Aspera integration with GV STRATUS, you can check previous posts in this blog:

GV STRATUS integration with Aspera FASP protocol

IBC 2014 DAY 2: fast remote transfers with GV STRATUS 4.0

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

Holiday spirit!

Happy holidays from the GV STRATUS team 

Here's to a prosperous 2015 full of exciting challenges!

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS V4.0 has been released!

Hot off the press! Contact your Grass Valley representative to discuss your upgrade.

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

TV Cultura Upgrades Production Workflow System with Grass Valley's GV STRATUS Application Framework

One more customer is joining the GV STRATUS user community. Read more here.


For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS integration with Aspera FASP protocol

We have just released a new application note describing in detail the functionality and configuration for our tight API integration with the Aspera FASP protocol for exchanging media between GV STRATUS and remote locations.

Learn how you can significantly speed up transfers out/in to your GV STRATUS systems, between field editors, remote clients and multi-site facilities, using workflow rules and the Aspera fast transfer technology...

View and download the full Application Note here

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

One single EDIUS application for Standalone and GV STRATUS mode...

With the impending release of GV STRATUS v4.0, we have made improvements to our EDIUS integration. In previous releases, the user had to choose a different application launch icon whether they wanted to run EDIUS within the GV STRATUS mode or standalone, and logging on to GV STRATUS limited some of the features within EDIUS in order to reduce complexity. However, some editors were missing some of the advanced capabilities from EDIUS such as changing project settings, or modifying some of their user preferences.



From GV STRATUS version 4.0, there is a single launch icon for EDIUS, and the user can decide whether they want to work in standalone mode (not connected to the asset management system) or whetehr to log on to GV STRATUS.


When working in a collaborative environment, if needing access to other user's work, such as highlights or rough cuts, or to easily search for content in the K2 storage, the user can choose to log on to GV STRATUS.


If the editor is working away from the production facility without connectivity to the rest of the system, they can continue to work in standalone mode, simply editing from local storage. When ready to send material back to central storage, they can simply log on to GV STRATUS and send the edited content. The final edit can be conformed either locally first by EDIUS, or remotely by the GV STRATUS render engine in the remote facility, which will need access to the local files via WAN connection.



Equally, it is possible to mix local content from the field together with media from the GV STRATUS/K2 system. EDIUS will automatically use the proxy media from the remote content, which will be live streamed via http protocol and cached locally for speedy access.The final edit, containing a mixture of local and remote media, will be conformed by the GV STRATUS render engine via WAN access.

In another example, the editor can start work with local content whilst in the field, and then return to the production facility, connect their workstation to the network, and log on to GV STRATUS to send the final edit to GV STRATUS/K2.


All of the features available in EDIUS Elite are now fully enabled when logged on to GV STRATUS, whether working remotely or within the facility, meaning there are no more limitations when editing with EDIUS as part of a GV STRATUS environment. The user can create their own project and user presets, or use those predetermined by the GV STRATUS site settings. The choice is theirs!

Of course, when logged on to GV STRATUS, EDIUS users get the full power of the asset management capabilities: easily finding content, powerful searches and, now, permissions whereby supervisors can choose to expose certain media to specific users, or provide read-only access to protected content.

This is great news for EDIUS Elite users who were missing EDIUS' advanced capabilities when they logged on to GV STRATUS. No limits now. Try it and see!


For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

GV STRATUS DIGITAL MEDIA PUBLISHING CAPABILITIES, part 3 - live inserts for web and mobile channels

In our third and final blog post in our GV STRATUS Digital Media Publishing series, we will focus on redeploying content from a live show to web and mobile channels, including live inserts.

As we said in previous 2 posts in this series, harnessing the power and capabilities of GV STRATUS, Grass Valley can address a number of Digital Media Workflows:

1. Newsroom Video-On-Demand publishing via preset-driven GV STRATUS watch folders (read the post)
2. Automated segmentation Video-On-Demand publishing through Ignite Konnect with GV STRATUS (read the post)
3. Live streaming with rights management content replacement and hyper-client-based targeted ad insertion via Ignite processing, being managed by GV STRATUS 
4. 24/7 web & mobile TV as-live channels with live inserts for syndication on portals, broadcaster website, and/or mobile app and mobile TV - the focus of today's post

Case 4 above provides the ability to extend the management of a channel from strictly on-air to add web and mobile devices with unique programming that addresses the online community. 

Non-traditional broadcast media outlets, such as newspapers and major online portals, have been actively focusing on implementing video on the web in local markets. Consumer demand is starting to drive media outlets to produce and deliver hyper-local channels targeting specific content categories.

Combining the production power and flexibility of GV STRATUS and Ingite, multiple online and/or mobile channels can be configured to run 24/7 with targeted content pertinent to the syndicated publication point. The playlist can be setup manually to auto-populate based on rules established within GV STRATUS. Specified story categories such as “traffic,” “weather,” and “breaking news” can be set up within the channel playlist. They can also be set up to change dynamically throughout the day, and Ignite can break into the schedule with live programming. Join-in-progress resumes after the live cut-in. For each category, the content can be automatically replaced with an advert, bumper or promo that is relevant to the specific platform that is being delivered to (website, mobile....), and according to the geographical location of the audience. 

This level of workflow automation truly allows content providers to maximize content and resources whilst increasing revenue sources.

You can learn more about how Ignite automates the process of segmenting the live stream and replacing content, from our previous GV STRATUS Digital Media Publishing blog entries: "GV STRATUS DIGITAL MEDIA PUBLISHING CAPABILITIES, part 2 - Automated Segmentation and Video-on-Demand publishing" and "GV STRATUS DIGITAL MEDIA PUBLISHING CAPABILITIES, part 1 - NEWS".

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com

More improvements for reduced-scale GV STRATUS systems

Following the great success of GV STRATUS at IBC 2014, we would like to, first, thank all our customers and partners for the interest and support shown during the 5 days of the show. Our 3 GV STRATUS pods were extremely busy and visitors were impressed with all the new features and workflows we introduced: user permissions, Aspera integration and many more.

Specifically for this show we wanted to show how a relatively small, and very affordable system, could provide a huge variety of workflows and support hundreds of user requirements. For the first time in a trade show, we chose not to have a K2 SAN with GV STRATUS, but a number of K2 Standalone Summits all with a GV STRATUS Express core server (the smallest of the core servers we offer). 

Among the new features in GV STRATUS v4.0 that help keep system cost and size under control are: 

1. Our pre-existing conform and render engine now also performs porxy scavenge and encoding. This allows you to have a pool of identical engines where you can prioritise tasks as needed, without the need to purchase additional dedicated hardware.
2. This conform/render and scavenge engine can now run on the GV STRATUS Express core server. For systems that have very reduced production requirements (1-2 video servers, 1-2 user clients), this reduces even further the amount of hardware that you need to purchase for a fully-fledged GV STRATUS production and workflow management system.  
3. Such a small system can support up to 20 users with GV STRATUS clients with its full set of tools, or EDIUS XS low-res editors offering a wide range of post-production and editing tools. Users can work collaboratively sharing, editing, enhancing content simultaneously!

A fantastic solution for Sports Trucks: the power of 20 editing stations without having to carry around an SAN that is not meant to be carried around.

Contact us for further details on how GV STRATUS can serve you with affordable, portable, easy-to-use non-linear production systems.

For any question concerning this subject contact regis.andre@grassvalley.com or beatriz.alonso-martinez@grassvalley.com