ABSTRACT
Conventional analog production facilities were based on a system of interconnections carrying standard composite PAL or NTSC signals. With the advent of digital, the concept did not dramatically change. Practically all analog PAL or NTSC signals were replaced by a serial digital interface signal—SDI. In both cases, the production processes were sequential—that is, all operations were carried out one after the other. Every single process in the sequence had to wait to receive material produced in the previous step. The standardized file formats and the corresponding change of workflow led to the development of a new concept—the networked production facility. The conventional interconnection structure that conveys analog or digital signals in real time was replaced by a replica of a computer network. With such a system it was possible to abandon the strictly sequential production approach and to apply to a large extent a simultaneous approach where a number of production teams could use the same original material simultaneously for their respective applications. The networking approach also permitted a parallel accomplishment of different phases of the same production flow. For example, it offered the opportunity to edit a piece of material on an NLE station while the same material was being used simultaneously on other workstations for the creation of a special effect, for sound editing, or as input material for another NLE unit.
