Import almost all media file formats
If you still use tapes to go from one digital island to another or perform conversion operations, you can throw them out along with your ageing videotape recorder(s).
AmberFin iCR can ingest and playback in high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) and can import almost all file formats as well as read XDCAM and P2 SD/HD disks and memory cartridges. If required, it can also transcode files to the formats suitable for your production and editing needs, with integrated HD and SD up-, down- and cross- format conversion to allow immediate content access.
The best HD/SD up, down and cross conversion on the market
It is difficult to deal with the myriad of camera formats that can come your way: true 1920 HD, 720P HD, 1440 HD, 960x540 HD, XDCAM, MPEG-2 I-Frame, Long-GOP, DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO HD and even material with VBI in video or analog blanking.
AmberFin iCR can easily convert between any of these formats and it features the best scaling and de-interlacing technology on the market, giving you the best HD/SD up, cross and down standards conversion you will ever see in a software product.
Encode in wrappers suited to your non-linear editing (NLE) equipment
Keep your expensive NLE equipment free for value-added tasks and carry out your day-to-day media encoding.
If your facility handles acquisition formats such as XDCAM and P2 then iCR can make your life dramatically simpler. With direct to XDCAM and P2 ingest functionality all of your media assets can be quickly and easily brought into your NLE workflow.
Reliably ingest HD/SD directly to NAS and SAN
Stop wasting time and money ingesting files onto local storage before you can transfer them to your centralized storage archive simply because your encoder doesn’t work well over storage area networks (SANs).
AmberFin iCR offers solid reliability on almost any network-attached storage (NAS) or SAN system, with no dropped frames. So, you can save time in copying files and forget about having to pay twice for storage space.
Interoperability with proprietary encoders and servers
It is not acceptable that you continuously have to pay for expensive proprietary encoders and servers that run the risk of losing support anytime soon - ensure interoperability between your systems, now and into the future.
AmberFin iCR’s strong scripting capabilities can easily take care of backups or automatically load clips onto an FTP or website, improving your workflow. iCR is regularly updated and upgraded to the latest industry formats.
Automated proxy generation and integration with asset management systems
AmberFin iCR can produce multi-format proxies in real-time during ingest, for easy integration with workgroup operations and asset management systems. Frame-accurate proxies can be marked with burnt-in time code and contain time code tracks to help lower production costs in large work group environments.
In addition, iCR offers integrated metadata logging capabilities. iCR can be used to automatically create or import and update existing information from asset management systems with technical and descriptive metadata and help maintain an up-to-date account of your assets.
Save satellite feeds direct to disk storage
If you are currently recording satellite feeds to tape and then having to re-encode them to disk storage later, then you will be glad to know there is a much more efficient way of dealing with this content.
With AmberFin iCR you not only get SD and HD serial digital interface (SDI) ingest but also pre-compressed asynchronous serial interface (ASI) MPEG-2 ingest, allowing you to store satellite feeds direct to disk.
VTR emulation mode
AmberFin iCR offers a self-contained VTR-like recording, storage and playback system combining HD and SD capabilities in a single device.
iCR provides multi-format frame-accurate control of recording and playback with looping, non-linear jogging, seeking and programmable shuttle speeds in addition to advanced features such as live time code overlays during preview and programmable audio-edit offsets. iCR also supports the Harris Video Disk Control Protocol (VDCP) and RS422 control via edit controllers and other VTRs.
Encode multiple versions of a master in one go
AmberFin iCR can automatically convert and transcode your masters as they are being ingested.
Do you need a standard definition version of a high definition tape? Do you need two different flavors to feed different non-linear editing systems? Do you need to create dailies or multiple proxy formats?
No problem. Just set iCR up once and it will all be taken care of automatically for you creating high quality masters enabling low bit-rate downstream deliverables.
Publish to virtually any file format
AmberFin iCR enables you to easily convert and publish new files in a wide range of formats and wrappers including MXF, QuickTime, MPEG-PS and TS. iCR provides some of the best conversion and transcoding tools on the market, including:
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HD and SD up-, down- and cross-conversion including audio rate changes.
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Support for a wide array of codecs and wrappers you need to create deliverables for broadcast playout and other media platforms such video on the web, VOD, IPTV, personal media players and mobile phone devices.
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Advanced server interoperability.
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Fully motion-compensated SD standards conversion for international distribution.
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Transcoding during ingest.
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Integrated job management and reporting for improved efficiency.
Automated quality control during ingest
AmberFin iCR’s Quality Control (QC) and Review option provides a quick, cost-effective and efficient way of maintaining quality in your transcoded files. Automated QC means you can process many hours of content quickly and easily, so your margins are not eroded by personnel costs.
iCR’s simple to use graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy to follow and annotate automated QC error reports against actual content on a frame-by-frame basis. Alternatively, you can easily review eXtensible Markup Language (XML) QC reports from a Web browser anywhere or, export them to enhance the value of your media asset management system.
Reports are easy to read, giving you the exact nature of the error along with the time code and even a thumbnail of the frame where it occurred. This lets your employees do a much better job of resolving the issue. Instead of checking output at set intervals, your operators can now home in on sections where the QC report indicates there may be a problem and review it on broadcast-quality monitors, saving time and improving the chances of quickly tracking down issues.
