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Video Server: Difference between revisions
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YSTV had requested a video server for 2-3 years before it was finally passed in the summer of 2003. Begun by [[Kevin Bowman]], and completed in autumn 2003 by [[Dave Baker]], this remains at the heart of YSTV's broadcast programming. Controlled first by the [[BBC Schedula]] | {{Equipment}} | ||
YSTV had requested a video server for 2-3 years before it was finally passed in the summer of 2003. Begun by [[Kevin Bowman]], and completed in autumn 2003 by [[Dave Baker]], this remains at the heart of YSTV's broadcast programming. Controlled first by the [[BBC Schedula]], then [[Spider and SchedSeven]] and now [[tarantula]], vidserv plays out and records YSTV's live and recorded output. | |||
It's fair to say it has revolutionised YSTV and the perception of it amongst students. It has changed the station from primarily one that rebroadcasts other networks' programming with occasional live student TV inserts to one that shows wall-to-wall original productions. | It's fair to say it has revolutionised YSTV and the perception of it amongst students. It has changed the station from primarily one that rebroadcasts other networks' programming with occasional live student TV inserts to one that shows wall-to-wall original productions. | ||
== The Machine == | == The Machine == | ||
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The final component of the software set-up is a battery of scripts for automating video encoding and conversion tasks, so that files are encoded to uniform file formats with uniform bit rates and so on. This not only allows us to [[YSTV Archive|archive material]] to XviD for playback and long-term storage, but create content for [[Watch On Demand]] streaming from the YSTV website and decode compressed files for easier editing. | The final component of the software set-up is a battery of scripts for automating video encoding and conversion tasks, so that files are encoded to uniform file formats with uniform bit rates and so on. This not only allows us to [[YSTV Archive|archive material]] to XviD for playback and long-term storage, but create content for [[Watch On Demand]] streaming from the YSTV website and decode compressed files for easier editing. | ||
== Upgrade == | |||
At some point between 2007 and 2010 the machine was upgraded/replaced with a Pentium E2200 (2.2GHz) and 700 odd MB of memory and a markedly better graphics card, still running as the main playout and live recording server, however the duty of video encoding and conversion was handed to [[Encode]]. Eventually, with the advent of XineNet Desktop, it also became the main live playout machine for a time until the [[VT Server]] took over this role. | |||
== Drive Failure and playout system changes == | |||
Sometime in the Spring of 2011 it was noted that the machine was no longer writing to its log files (at this point the last recorded entry was 6 days ago) and had become unstable. Barely a day later the main OS drive had conclusively failed, and was rebuilt with a fresh Gentoo installation. After completing the rebuild and attempting to run the xine-net playout software, it turned out that newer versions of the X11 server were woefully incompatible with the software. Due to various degrees getting in the way, this problem was then shelved until the summer, when the decision was taken to migrate to Windows and [http://casparcg.com CasparCG] to enable live flash-based overlays, a project which was completed shortly before the [[HD Upgrade]]. | |||
[[ Category: Equipment]] | [[ Category: Equipment]] | ||