Front Porch Digital today released DIVAdirector 4.0, a focused “mini-MAM” (media asset management) package that enables content owners easily to repurpose, access, and browse proxies of digital media files using a familiar Web-based interface.
DIVAdirector 4.0 tracks assets in a storage system, allowing users to browse content in the form of automatically generated low-bit-rate proxies, to create frame-accurate shot lists, and to use customizable metadata to find and identify specific media using robust query tools.
Among the new features of DIVAdirector 4.0 is the ability to import legacy databases of virtual assets, such as those still stored on videotape, with associated metadata field mapping. Once file-based content and proxies have been ingested, DIVAdirector can automatically link them to their appropriate virtual assets. Thus, DIVAdirector 4.0 consolidates comprehensive data on all the content owner’s media assets in one configurable and secure interface.
Besides virtual assets support, DIVAdirector 4.0 adds keyframe and thumbnail support for visual content access, federated database functionality, full Unicode support, an improved metadata model that can be extended almost infinitely, enhanced proxy file processing, improved search capabilities including query thumbnail support, and support for shotlist collaboration among all users.
“Like previous versions of DIVAdirector, the 4.0 version is a practical and cost-effective way to provide MAM functions within an operation relying on DIVArchive,” said Mike Knaisch, president of Front Porch Digital. “But DIVAdirector 4.0’s new features and improved functionality enable it to do much more — to serve as a centralized interface for viewing and accessing all of a facility’s media assets, including those stored externally. As a result, DIVAdirector has the potential to be a central consolidation point for information about and access to all the media stored within an enterprise.”
DIVAdirector is an integrated hardware and software solution packaged in a compact, 2-RU chassis with dual GBE network connections and redundant hot-swappable power supplies and hard drives to ensure robust, reliable performance. Installed in more than 40 global broadcast facilities, the system features mirrored system disks and RAID 5 storage for Windows Media® 9 proxies, and additional NAS storage for proxies can be added as needed.