ADC™

Playout Automation

The changing media environment offers growth possibilities that were never dreamed of in an exclusively analog world. A large part of this changing environment is the introduction of digital techniques that simplify broadcast operations and management, yet drive exponential growth in transactions that involve the handling of content delivery. You seek the ability to take advantage of this new reality — and control your costs and operations in the process.

The Harris® ADC™ playout automation solution will take you where you want to go. This next-generation automation system features technology to streamline operations and maximize the productivity of your people and equipment. Further, it creates efficiencies in the acquisition, management and playout of rich media content with real-time access throughout your facility.

ADC brings together everything needed to automate labor-intensive tasks, eliminate duplication, process live streams sourced outside of master control and efficiently manage the multitude of complex operations that are part of the master control environment. Its media ingest capabilities include automated and manual processes that satisfy your requirements — whether your content acquisition and preparation processes are file-based or include more traditional methods of ingest.

ADC playout automation is a cost-effective, easy-to-install solution. It is built for a range of station sizes — from smaller operations, up to multichannel systems with segmented channel groups. As the world’s most deployed playout automation product, ADC is a proven provider of reliable, highly configurable functionality — even in the most demanding broadcast environments.

Features

Integration with ADC Automatic Ingest
Works with the ADC Automatic Ingest™ application to automate and fortify the intake of digital content — including media and associated metadata — from multiple sources.
Enhanced Network Control
Provides system expansion and availability through the use of true IPv6 support and IP control of the Harris® NEXIO™ server, as well as other devices that incorporate the TCP / IP connectivity standard.
Support for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Operating System
Incorporates the Windows Vista™ operating system into its client platforms, translating into an ability to use the most current PC operating system platform for automation purposes.
Embedded BXF
Uses the Broadcast eXchange Format (BXF) to seamlessly merge automation with sales, traffic, scheduling, asset management and other applications. This interoperable link enables rapid, effective implementation of cross application integration.
Device Interoperability
Integrates with the most extensive list of device drivers in the industry, creating further operation flexibility.
Reliability
Offers inherent redundancy through its client-server architecture. Redundancy and automatic failover options for the ADC Device Controller and Database File Server provide for enhanced system protection.
Performance
Includes features and functions that ensure a satisfying viewing and / or listening experience for audiences.
Cost Effective and Easy to Use
Provides an automation solution that is quickly installed, easily configured and easy to use. The system can act as a turnkey solution for an individual station, or a robust addition to a multichannel environment.
Operational and Configuration Flexibility
Delivers support for standard network protocols such as TCP / IP, providing the ability to manage playlists, scheduling and other operations while maintaining visibility of your playout operation from remote locations. It also ensures network interoperability as you expand operations across alternative delivery platforms.

Product Details

ADC playout automation is a proven solution for the following broadcast markets:

PBS Member
ADC playout automation successfully supports workflows at PBS member stations, including satellite control, traffic playlist, dynamic traffic database interfacing and useful reporting.

Commercial Call-Letter Station
ADC playout automation integrates successfully into a commercial environment. Supporting complex station branding, while maintaining multiple HD and SD channels. Unique redundancy products protect against critical failures that may jeopardize system operations. Stations can employ multiple redundancy strategies to meet their operational requirements.

Broadcast / Cable Networks
ADC playout automation supports the unique workflows associated with network content. Regional content can be linked from one channel to many, so a single edit can be replicated across multiple regions. Also, East Coast feeds can be automatically recorded, timed and play to air on the West Coast without any operator intervention.

Centralcasting
ADC playout automation supports centralized ingest, where media and metadata can be dispersed to remote locations via wide area networks (WAN). Plus, remote transmissions from one or more locations can be centrally controlled.

ADC Playout Automation Is Built on the Following Components:

Device Controller
The hardware centerpiece of ADC, the Device Controller hosts the device server application. It is designed to accommodate and manage multiple playlists, on multiple networked and serial devices. Individual device controllers can manage several transmission channels while ingesting multiple channels. The Device Controller complies with all Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Restriction on Hazardous Substances mandates (WEEE / RoHS).

Air Client™
The primary user workstation and dedicated interface for managing the on-air playlist. Air Client™ can monitor and control multiple playout and ingest channels, across multiple device controllers, on a single screen.

Media Client
An ingest or preparation station that allows new material to be acquired by automation. Media Client also manages the automation’s database and the media that is stored on various devices, such as video disks and archives.

File Server
A standard Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) database that stores the metadata of the automation database. The flexible database structure allows customers to create their own database tables in addition to those provided with the application.

Configuration Tool
A password-protected Windows® application that allows a user to easily make changes to the automation settings from any workstation attached to the automation’s network.

Administration Tool
A security setting for the automation’s client application that allows the administrator to control access rights to menus, settings and list editing.

Extending Your Productivity

A wide range of applications extend the capability of ADC. Choose from the following to extend system performance:

Automatic Ingest™
An application used to ingest media, including HD content and its metadata, from media delivery systems such as Avid® Media Composer and Apple® Final Cut Pro® to a media archive or media storage device. Automatic Ingest™ enables a single facility, or an entire broadcast enterprise, to automate front-end media ingest and transfer processes, including HD content.

Remote Air Client
A workstation connected across an IP network, Remote Air Client provides the normal functionality of a standard Air Client application, allowing an operator to monitor, load, edit and run the automation’s on-air schedules from a remote location.

Global Storage Manager (GSM)
A productivity tool that provides consolidated storage management across multiple devices and enables the implementation of global policy settings on all network-attached video servers. Built-in, multi-server login technology enables Global Storage Manager to simultaneously log into multiple Device Controllers to view and manage content inventory as a single, virtual library — improving facility-wide workflow efficiency.

Global Media Transfer (GMT)
A software module that resides on the Device Controller and detects the absence of media required for an on-air device. GMT automatically performs a search for the missing media using a configured search path. Upon locating the required media, it is copied from where it resides to the on-air device. The automation will notify the operator when the search begins, when the media is ready for playback or if the search fails.

Diagnostic Manager™
A graphical user interface that enables enhanced monitoring, logging and error messaging for your ADC system. The module allows a single user to view error conditions across the entire ADC network. The Diagnostic Manager™ makes it easier for system operators to monitor all automation applications by providing intuitive lists, error messages and status reports.

Live-Update™
A module that streamlines and automates broadcast operations by integrating traffic and playout automation, both historically independent broadcast applications. ADC Live-Update™ connects your traffic and automation systems so that day-of-air changes made in your traffic system can be electronically sent to your automation system.

PSIP Manager™
An application that enables the automatic tracking and forwarding of PSIP information, eliminating manual tracking operation or intervention. The PSIP Manager™ provides PSIP information simultaneously for multiple playout channels using the industry-standard Programming Metadata Communication Protocol (PMCP).