Quality Control (QC) has been identified as a hot topic for many broadcasters. The move to file-based integrated facilities pushes for more automated QC tools to be used in broadcast production. But where should those tools be used? How can they be integrated? And which are available to start with? It is those type of questions the EBU would like to answer with a new iniative, that is currently being prepared.
| File-based challenge
According to Reinhard Knör (IRT), chairman of the EBU Expert Community on Integration production (ECI) , the topic of Quality Control is mentioned very frequently when broadcasters are asked what technical issue should be addressed in our industry. He said: "You can hear it every day. And rightfully so. File-based integration, the way new production facilties are being built, offers an enormous benefit in terms of flexibilty and potential cost savings. But it also introduces issues. With videotape formats, the specs were so tight and relatively simple, that not much could go wrong. In the file-based world one wrong bit can, literally, take a programme off-air. Humans are not very good at reading single bits, so that is where automated QC should come to the rescue." |  |
EBU QC iniatitive
Mr Knör explains: "What we would like to do is start sharing best practices on Quality Control as soon as possible. This is part of a larger project to define new priorities in the Integrated Production area for 2011 and beyond, which we will propose to the EBU Technical Committee . We are currently defining concrete tasks. What we we will be able to do exactly will depend on the support we will get from the EBU Members. We will survey them early January and base our priorities on that. But if the current interest is a good thermometer, the Quality Control topic will certainly be on the list of to do's for next year.".
Broadcasters or equipment manufacturers which are interested in the topic of Quality Control are encouraged to join the ECI, which will also provide them with the draft document on what QC issues the EBU should address. Register here or contact: Frans de Jong (EBU) for more information.