Marquise MIST to Support DPP's and SMPTE's IMF (ProRes) Mastering
Following SMPTE's recent publication of the technical specification TSP 2121:2018 IMF Application DPP (ProRes), Marquise Technologies has updated its mastering system MIST to support this new delivery format.
IMF Application DPP (ProRes) makes it possible to automate the content supply chain because it removes the need to create multiple versions and reduces QC and archive storage requirements, while maintaining the quality of the original asset. The expected result is cost and time savings, and more efficient workflows.
The specification defines a file format that constrains requirements to the use of Apple's ProRes 422HQ video codec in HD and 4K progressive formats – the existing IMF standard defines the use of JPEG 2000 and H.2641 video codecs. It aims to serve specific broadcast and OTT needs for the exchange of IMF packages and the preparation of AS-11 X series and AS-11 UK DPP V1.1 Air Masters, which now cover most regions to simplify the process of creating and moving program material between post facilities and playout companies.
The MIST mastering system already includes the other functionality required in the new specification. This includes the sidecar files containing the specific metadata for the upcoming AS-11 X1 UHD Air Master delivery specification, as well as the OPL (Output Profile List) defining the process for obtaining an AS-11 file from the IMF package.
“We have always been pioneers in the support of IMF by integrating the OPL and sidecar files and similar capabilities very early on. Support for IMF is now becoming an urgent need for broadcast and online distribution and we are happy to be among the first to make these functionalities and our knowledge of IMF workflows available,” said Laurence Stoll, CEO of Marquise Technologies.
“A very high level of industry collaboration has been involved in the creation of this specification. DPP Members such as Marquise Technologies, have played a pivotal role in that work,” said Rowan de Pomerai, DPP Head of Delivery & Growth. “In the coming weeks the DPP Test Lab will launch certification for IMF Application DPP (ProRes) compliance, to support implementation across the industry. MIST will be one of the first products to be tested.”
Marquise Technologies’ ICE Reference QC Player and TORNADO Transcoding engine will also support IMF Application DPP (ProRes). ICE, which is to be released in Version 3.0 at IBC2018, allows playback and validation of industry formats from dailies to masters, including editorial and grading, for digital cinema, broadcast and online workflows.
ICE 3.0 Reference QC Player
Important aspects of ICE 3.0 are the support of an unlimited number of independent subtitles tracks and audio channels as sidecar files, a dual viewport for version comparison and the display of the safe area. It includes various audio and video scopes, including a CIE chromaticity diagram, a waveform with HLG and PQ modes, plus overlays and blankings on SDI output. Chromaticity is an objective specification used to guage the quality of a colour, separate from its luminance.
Colour management in ICE includes subtitles’ colour space and brightness control in HDR. ICE allows HDR up/down and across standards conversions, which permits, for example, the preview of PQ HDR content converted in SDR or HLG. HDR metadata are carried on HDMI streams with supporting video IO cards. ICE supports Dolby Vision, software and hardware CMU (content mapping unit), HDR10, HDR10+, HLG as well as ACES 1.1.
ICE has the unusual ability to remote control the Mastering Display device and automatically sets the monitor according to the colour space, EOTF and luminance levels information enclosed in the media, or set by the user (ST-2086 Mastering Display Color Volume Metadata), in order to give the operator confidence in the image displayed.
ICE now integrates with several different automated QC tools, and can load the QC reports to simplify visual validation of the detected errors. ICE also exports HDR and peak signal to noise ratio analysis as PDF and XML.
ICE has a wide range of IMF standard support, including App #2, 2e (Studio Profile), App #4 (Cinema Mezzanine), App #5 (ACES) and Academy Digital Source Master, IMF ProRes RDD45 and TSP 2121 Application DPP (ProRes). The Photon implementation from Netflix is also integrated, with numerous validation tools for IMF and DCP packages.
Other supported formats include Interop and SMPTE DCP, Eclair Color and Dolby Cinema DCPs, ProRes 444, XAVC, Avid DNxHD 444, XDCAM, AVC Intra, AS-11 DPP, AS-10, native support of RAW data at the camera resolution (ARRIRAW, DNG, RED R3D, SONY F65, F55 RAW, Phantom flex 4K, Canon C500 and so on) and uncompressed formats like DPX, TIFF and OpenEXR. www.marquise-tech.com
