1290642425dalet_cbc_a4_2010_web

8/12/2019 1290642425Dalet_CBC_A4_2010_web

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CASE STUDY

Dalet Radio Suite HDat CBC Canada

An enterprise-wide systemacross 48 sites

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The ChallengeCBC installed a networked, server-based Dalet digital audio

production and playout system more than a decade ago. RudiLingohr, CBC’s Director of Broadcast Engineering for EnglishServices, explains that as the well-used Dalet system approachedits life expectancy, CBC needed to upgrade equipment and

to add new software functionalities. “We wanted to promotecountry-wide file sharing between sites and we also envisionedbetter integration between Radio and Television facilities,”

says Mr. Lingohr. The project was awarded by tender to DaletDigital Media Systems in conjunction with its Canadiandistributor Sonotechnique. The upgrade was a major effort in

terms of scale, scope and functional enhancements. “It was abig undertaking that required a very high level of cooperationamong the professional services teams,” Mr. Lingohr explained.

“We requested some software modifications to ensure thatthe new functionalities would be consistent with our preferredworkflows. And of course, we wanted to stress test the system

architecture and hardware to validate the reliability, especiallyfor our larger locations where at peak times more than 200users are working simultaneously and intensively.”

The SolutionDalet Radio Suite HD is a highly scalable audio solution designedfor large radio broadcasters who deploy multi-site, multi-platformproduction and broadcast workflows. The core DaletPlus media

asset management (MAM) layer expertly manages metadata anduser workflows, integrating the breadth of audio production andplayout tools across the entire production chain. Metadata is

contextual and consistently tracked at every step of the workflow.Dalet Radio Suite HD is modular in design and provides CBC witha complete set of customizable, easy-to-use tools for ingest,

production and workflow management for news and musicproduction. For on-air broadcast, DaletPlus On-Air is highly flexiblewith a user interface and layout that can be configured to the

needs of an individual broadcast studio or studio operator. Daletalso provides a sophisticated conversion and file transfer enginethat improves productivity while facilitating the transfer of content

for web and mobile distribution.

Dalet Radio Suite operates on Microsoft Advanced Server platformand Microsoft SQL. Microsoft Active Directory is used to centralizesystem access rights and permissions. The CBC system hardware

includes HP DL360/DL380 servers and HP MSA storage units withsize dependent on individual site needs. It allows for a distributedarchitecture that provides redundancy and load balancing of the

back office services. Professional audio boards from Digigram andLynx are used.

CBC, Sonotechnique and Dalet performed extensive stress tests withsimulations of ~300 simultaneous users to prove the scalabilityand reliability of the system architecture prior to a national rollout.

CBC also conducted ongoing, user-based functionality testing.Procedures for migrating data from the old to new systems wereestablished both to protect data and to provide flawless transitions.

With the first few sites successfully upgraded, implementation wasfast-tracked with the CBC and Sonotechnique teams performing upto 4 to 6 installations each month over a two-year period.

In addition to end-to-end production, Dalet also handles live

broadcast playout with its Dalet On-Air application in all sites.Also, in a few large sites Dalet manages pre-scheduled automated

broadcasts by integrating seamlessly with the Harris M2000automation system. Dalet also provides several gateways to Avidproduction and storage units, as well as CBC’s Radiola / Arc-Proarchive system.

Dalet Radio Suite is also used by in international bureaus with thetotal number of Dalet licenses approaching 2300.

CBC Radio is Canada’s premier radio broadcaster

with network hubs in Toronto and Montreal,

several regional hubs and many standalone

locations stretching from the largest cities to

small, remote locations. The public broadcaster

delivers Canadian-produced news, cultural and

public affairs and entertainment programming.Always forward thinking, CBC leverages

technology advances to improve productivity

while delivering high-quality content.

The control room

at the CBC Torontonetwork hub. Dalet

Radio Suite HD is

installed at 48 sites.

Sanjeev Kharbanda, Manager of

Broadcasting at CBC in Toronto,

credits the Dalet transfer

tools for maximizing content

use across locations. A Dalet

gateway with Avid accelerates

audio extractions.

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“It’s fair to say that we had improvements in functionality across

all software modules from the older Dalet version,” says SanjeevKharbanda, Manager of Broadcasting in Toronto, and Project Mangerfor the upgrade. He particularly appreciated the robust capabilities

of the new, federated search engine with full text capabilitiesand enhancements to the editing tools. A significant workflowimprovement was achieved with Dalet’s new transfer tools. “All

day long we push large numbers of files from our hubs to otherlocations,” Mr. Kharbanda explains. “In Dalet, we have folders setup to facilitate the transfers. For example, we created a folder for

Toronto to Montreal. We just copy files to the folder and usingDalet Plus transfer tools the files get shipped to Montreal andautomatically placed into their Dalet system. They can use them

right away. We use this process quite extensively.” It is also possibleto “pull” content from different sites using Dalet Interweb, a web-based tool that requires no installation on the PC, just a web browser.

“Someone in Edmonton wants a specific story from Vancouver,” saysMr. Kharbanda. “With Interweb the Edmonton user can search andcan browse the Vancouver database

based on his rights, which is verycritical as you want to managebrowse and search access for remote

users as specified by business units.The user comes in, browses to findwhat he wants. Using the same Dalet

tools, he copies the files into folders going out to his site and the file

shows up on his local Dalet system. It works very, very well.” Transfertimes depend on the available pipe size.

Tighter integration between radio and television operations has beenanother CBC goal, and the Dalet upgrade significantly advancesmedia sharing. “Mostly it’s used to facilitate transfers from TV to

radio. Previously, radio would have to get a tape or real-time dub ofa TV piece which was very time consuming,” Mr. Lingohr explains.“We asked Dalet to create a gateway with the Avid system which we

use for television production. When we demonstrated how quick andeasy it was to browse and select content from the Avid workstationand just put it in a ‘send-to-Dalet’ folder, the production users were

very impressed. They were like kids with a new toy.” The gatewayautomatically transfers files from Avid storage to the Dalet system.Audio files can also be sent directly from the Dalet system to Avid.

Of course, the CBC also delivers radio-produced content to the CBC.ca

website and to mobile services. Dalet facilitates this multi-platformdistribution with the new, fullyintegrated Dalet conversion engine.

The entire process is streamlined asfiles are automatically converted tothe required formats and transferred

to the Digital Media unit.

The Workflow

All day long we push large numbers offiles from our hubs to other locations.

We use this process quite extensively.

The highly scalable Dalet Radio

Suite HD is used for end-to-

end production as well as live

broadcast playout. Duringpeak periods, larger sites have

more than 200 users working

intensively and simultaneously.

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Dalet is a registered trademark of Dalet S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice or obligation. Photo Daniel Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Dalet. All rights reserved.

Across the country, 24/7 CBC relieson the robust Dalet Radio Suite HDarchitecture, workflow engine and toolset

to produce and deliver content. “Theimprovements in the Dalet tools certainlywere very well received. People werevery happy with the new capabilitiesand look and feel of the system,” Mr.Kharbanda notes. Familiarity with earlierDalet versions meant that the organizedtraining by CBC’s team of super userswas focused primarily on enhancements.The Dalet transfer tools offer a dramaticimprovement in efficiency. Automatedmedia pushes and search/browse/ transfers means that CBC can maximizecontent use throughout the network.

The Dalet gateway with Avid for audioextractions is a big time-saver andrepresents another step toward CBC’s goal

of tighter integration between radio andTV operations. The new conversion Daletengine allows CBC to leverage its contentacross new media platforms.

“These projects are huge investmentsfor large scale broadcasters and it’svery important to stretch the life ofthe hardware and software as much aspossible. We need that flexibility,” says Mr.Lingohr. With the advanced architectureand technology of Dalet Radio SuiteHD, CBC has ensured a future-proofproduction system.

Dalet Radio Suite HD

48 CBC individual sites

2300 licenses includes foreignbureaus and correspondent laptops

Larger sites include:

Toronto - 425 workstations

Montreal – 475 workstations

Vancouver – 150 workstations

Ottawa – 150 workstations

The Benefits Specifications

www.dalet.com

The Dalet transfer tools offer a dramatic improvement

in efficiency. Automated media pushes and search/ browse/transfers means that CBC can maximizecontent use throughout the network.

CBC has more than

2300 Dalet Radio Suite

HD licenses at all itslocations, including

foreign bureaus and

correspondents’ laptops.

1290642425dalet_cbc_a4_2010_web

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