| Graphics | master control switching | playout servers

Xmedia Suite applicatiOn
Template-based newsroom graphics
Xmedia Suite is ideal for newsroom environments, and can
be used for fully automated data-driven graphics, as well as
for graphics prepared by journalists to support their stories,
using simple to use templates and image databases.
automated graphics creation by journalists
Using a newsroom graphics automation system like Xmedia Suite results in
a very different graphics workflow from a traditional newsroom, with more
control presented to journalists; it also allows graphics artists to focus on
their creativity.
Instead of creating completed news graphics on-demand, a centralized
graphics team can focus on creating archives of graphics templates and
supporting libraries of images in anticipation of the news requirements.
Xstudio templates do not compromise creativity, and allow a station to offer
high impact, sophisticated graphics.
Xstudio templates are stored on an Xserver archive, and are made accessible
to all the networked workstations used by graphics artists and journalists.
These templates and image libraries can then be used by journalists to
create the news graphics they need to support a story, in just a fraction of
the time it would take to create original graphics.
The transition to this new style of working for journalists is simplified by the
Xnews MOS-compliant plug-in for newsroom control systems, including
AP ENPS and Avid iNews, as well as broadcast automation systems from
vendors such as Omnibus. Using these familiar NRCS interfaces, with easy
to use graphics tools, simplifies the learning curve for journalists, and also
streamlines the workflow, as there is no need to move between applications
while working on a story.
This high level of graphics integration allows journalists to swiftly recall
pre-made templates and simply insert relevant text, keeping them at a
distance from the graphics technology. This allows them to concentrate
on story writing and image selection, without having to learn multiple
new applications. The completed graphics can be easily added to stories
and rundowns by dragging-and-dropping templates into the newsroom
system.
For news directors, the Xmedia Suite’s advanced MOS interface offers
seamless integration with existing newsroom systems, and this allows easier
last minute changes to the rundown. This template-based approach also
means that graphics can be created at high speed at the last minute for
breaking news.
Template selection using Xmedia Suite´s Xnews
NRCS graphics plug-in
Image selection from graphics archive
Adding text to complete the graphic page
data-driven, news graphics
In addition to presenting locally generated news content, Xmedia Suite is
ideal for elegantly managing data-driven graphics, using data-interfacing
to standard news feeds, such as AP, Reuters and SportsTicker, as well as
weather alerts, web data, and other sources of real-time information.
The application’s powerful tools automate both the acquisition of the
news data, and the linking of the data to graphics templates. Multiple
data sources can be handled simultaneously to provide full flexibility with
on-air presentation. Since the data acquisition process is fully automated,
graphics can be generated from live data, and sent to air, with no additional
intervention by newsroom personnel.
The process starts with drag-and-drop template creation, using Xstudio
for layout and formatting, graphics and clip insertion, timeline creation,
and for incorporating broadcast logic. Multiple animation groups can be
created, with animation of a wide set of properties per object, and updatable
keyframes for dynamic control.
The graphics can be created with ‘broadcast logic’ to simplify the process
of adapting the graphics to the data, for instance reflecting financial data
dynamics with arrow directions and colors. Broadcast logic can be based
on actions, lookup tables, and scripts for the most complex data-driven
graphics.
Graphics can be previewed, edited and sequenced using the Xplay media
event sequencer to prevent presentation errors on-air.
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Data feed
vertigo XG
graphics processor
Data feed
Xmedia server
centralized archive
Data feeds can be distributed from a central server or sent directly to Vertigo
XG graphics processors.
Data-driven graphic template creation with Xstudio
Adding broadcast logic using a lookup table
Playout of data-driven graphics using Xplay media
event sequencer