Psst; inflo transcribes with Whisper

Techtel, the creators of inflo, today announced that a new speech to text transcription engine from openai called Whisper, is available to inflo customers who are looking to unlock more potential from their content library.

Whisper has shown that it excels in accuracy and flexibility with results that are exceptional across multiple dialects.  The Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system has used machine learning to train and refine it's accuracy from a growing sample of over 680,000 hours of web content.  The process of refining the ASR has made the solution more accurate and robust so that it understands accents, background noise and also technical language.

inflo intelligently indexes content that has been transcribed and aligns time code references enabling keyword searching to navigate the user straight to the relevant clip and exact position in the video where their keyword was spoken.  Additionally, inflo empowers users to browse content with muted audio whilst displaying a script of all dialogue allowing the user to silently read along with their video stream.

For inflo customers who require transcription exports, inflo can generate a Web Video Text Tracks (WebVTT) file separately to export to any 3rd party API connected system.  This tool means that inflo is the answer to update other less agile content management platforms with the transcription files their users are crying out for.

"Transcription is a huge step forward on inflo's artifical intelligence journey" said Peter Stevens, Software Product Manager for inflo.  "we have lots of customers expressing interest in a solution that can provide them with unmetered transcription and we think our approach will be very popular".

Corporate stories; made and told in Australia

Amazon studio floor Sydney

(Sydney, Australia, 18th March 2024) An events team in need of live broadcast production, their expanding virtually connected workforce and a need to be nimble with go-live readiness were just some of the reasons behind an international corporations decision to build their first ever broadcast studio located in Sydney.

In creating the broadcast production space one user, Amazon Australia, have sought to answer some key questions such as; how do they give their people a voice at every level within the organisation and how can they support the community groups that they are part of such as those who identify as LGBTQI+, indigenous or people with disability.  Capturing these stories is nothing new but relating it to the business and making everyone feel welcome and supported is something that digital media is really good at.

The multifunctional space changes personality thanks to a digital background

“In a large organisation like Amazon, ensuring that we communicate in an engaging way that supports not only our people but the community we are part of is absolutely critical.  Of course the facility that Techtel have helped us to create is something we are very proud of but what really makes our day is when the content we produce can have a global impact.” said Marcel Varnel, Manager Amazon Events Broadcast and Content Production.

Studio production control room

The purpose-built facility in Sydney, designed by Studio Technical Lead, Andy Burford and installed by local media technology specialist Techtel, contains a television studio with separate control and monitoring rooms that can produce Ultra-High Definition (UHD) content.  The space needed to be designed with it’s future users in mind so making it sleek and welcoming was key to ensure that people who were not familiar with broadcast would feel at ease.

Corporations are starting to understand that video content, beit live or on demand, is the best way to get a message across but it needs to be thoughtful and well planned.  Marcel added, “What we are doing here with this studio is story telling, and just like anyone in this business we know if our story isn’t worth watching then the production won’t be effective.  We work really hard to make sure that all the people who come through this brilliant new facility understand that a great story will give our audience the lasting impact we are looking for.....  It’s a joy to be here telling great stories everyday and Amazon is so diverse we have a lot to cover”

CEO at Techtel Mal Chandler said, “this studio demonstrates to anyone in the corporate world that if you want to get a great return on your investment in media, start first with a story telling plan, with people who are professionals and then working together with someone like Techtel you’ll get a fantastic outcome.”

Directors position

Grass comes first at Venues NSW new Allianz stadium

(Sydney, Australia, 9th November 2023)

Following a competitive tender process, Techtel is pleased to announce that Venues NSW have given themselves a great home ground advantage by selecting the Grass Valley Kahuna Vision Switcher to power their most modern venue ever built; the Allianz Stadium at Moore Park, Sydney.

The decision to go with Grass Valley’s Kahuna Vision Switcher was based on overall value for money as assessed by Venues NSW. The success of Grass Valley’s bid was in part due to the Kahuna’s extensive I/O capability and the wide availability of opperational crew, something only an industry standard platform can offer. Venues NSW already use the Kahuna at their recently upgraded Accor Stadium (Sydney Olympic Park), so a decision to standardise their Vision Switchers based on the best valued solution and on the one industry leading platform was a massive consolidated benefit that meant installing and comissioning a Kahuna for Allianz Stadium was the most advatengous choice.

The rebuilt Allianz stadium, together with the Kahuna, has already hosted FIFA Womens World Cup matches, National Rugby League, A-League and Super Rugby matches.  Allianz Stadium’s Internal Broadcasting and Production Suite Operator, Superscreens CEO Ben Hamm said “The Kahuna has been a really reliable platform which in live events is so important. We loved the simplicity of the panel yet it has some really powerful features that our team now use on a regular basis.”

“Techtel is thrilled to have some involvement in nearly every major stadium in Australia” added Mal Chandler, CEO Techtel.  “It’s great to have played a part in the new Allianz stadium and the major upgrades at Accor Stadium which are both exciting venues everyone wants to visit for major sporting and entertainment events in Sydney.”

Techtel Transform Flagship Conference Room at 180 George Street Sydney with Cutting-Edge Broadcast Technology

[Sydney, September 20th, 2023] — Techtel is excited to unveil our transformative role in enhancing the flagship conference room at 180 George Street, Sydney. In collaboration with our esteemed partners, we've played a pivotal role in elevating client engagement through the integration of state-of-the-art Grass Valley and Telemetrics broadcast technology.

Our expertise extends to optimizing a significant portion of the broadcasting console, complemented by cutting-edge technology solutions and the deployment of top-of-the-line pan, tilt and zoom lens cameras. This collaboration has transformed the conference room into a technologically advanced space, setting new standards for modern business interactions, and enabling impactful client meetings, dynamic presentations, and immersive sessions that define a new era of corporate excellence.

Products featured in the conference room design include a carefully curated suite of advanced equipment, encompassing:

• Fujinon Broadcast Zoom(7.8 - 187mm, 2x Ext, Servo Zoom and Servo Focus) Lens

• Grass Valley LDX C98 Compact Camera

• Telemetrics (PTHPS5) Pan and Tilt Head

• Telemetrics RoboEye with Pan Tilt Head

• and many more.

At the heart of the solution lies the integrated Telemetrics PTHPS5 Pan and Tilt Head, Grass Valley LDX C98 Compact Camera, and Fujinon Broadcast Zoom Lens, working in tandem to capture every dynamic moment. This dynamic combination provides unprecedented precision and control, elevating the conference room experience to new heights of professionalism and engagement.

Central to the Telemetrics PTHPS5 Pan and Tilt Head is its cutting-edge reframe technology, which is self-hosted within the control panel. This central control hub not only commands the Grass Valley LDX C98 Compact Camera and the Fujinon Broadcast Zoom Lens, but also seamlessly directs the movements of the strategically positioned RoboEye cameras. The control panel's functionality empowers the director or operator to decisively dictate camera actions, granting them the freedom to focus on creative and content-driven decisions rather than being consumed by equipment operation.

This streamlined approach not only enhances efficiency but also produces a polished end result. The solution affords the operator the invaluable capacity to make real-time creative decisions, enabling a more immersive and engaging experience for the audience. As a result, the final product is refined, fluid, and embodies a level of professional finesse that sets a new standard for conference room interactions.

This transformation for Techtel represents a long standing commitment to delivering unparalleled client experiences and pushing the boundaries of innovation in the corporate landscape. We are excited to witness the remarkable content that will be created in this cutting-edge flagship conference room.

Shining a Spotlight on Success: Tom Nunn Joins as Business Development Luminary

(Sydney, July 17, 2023) – Prepare to be impressed by the expertise and accomplishments of Tom Nunn as we introduce him as our newest addition to the world of business development. With a background in television broadcast operations and a proven ability to build strong client relationships, Tom brings a unique blend of technical expertise and charisma to our team.

Tom Nunn's extraordinary tenure as a Technical Director, along with his extensive first hand experience as a field tech/CCU specialist on shows like "Big Brother", "The Voice", "X Factor," and "So You Think You Can Dance" solidify his reputation as a luminary in the industry. His ability to skillfully capture captivating drama and translate it seamlessly to the screen leaves a lasting impact. 

As an operational expert with extensive first-hand experience and a deep understanding of broadcasting intricacies, Tom serves as a trusted resource to offer tailored solutions, strategic insights, and invaluable advice on how to elevate customer production quality to the next level. 

Tom Nunn expressed, "I am thrilled to embrace the transformative journey of business development, where I can leverage my expertise and passion in television broadcast operations and client relations to drive growth and cultivate new opportunities.

"We warmly welcome Tom Nunn to our business development team," said Mal Chandler. "His exceptional track record as a Technical Director and Field Tech, coupled with his unwavering passion for excellence, position him perfectly for success as a Business Development Manager.

Going with the flo; Ashish Lahane dives into the inflo™ software development team at Techtel

Ashish Lahane Profile Headshot, Credits to Marketing Coordinator Eddy Wong 2023 July

(Sydney, July 12, 2023) Techtel proudly announces Ashish Lahane, a distinguished technologist from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, as the new Software Technology Lead for our inflo™ team in Sydney. With his extensive expertise, Ashish will guide inflo™ to make waves in the industry, offering expanded features and riding the tides of success. Under his leadership, Techtel will navigate the currents of technology, ensuring a smooth sailing for the inflo™ software development team.

Immersing himself in the inflo™ software development team at Techtel, Ashish brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Surfing the pace of innovation for 7 years as a lead developer, Ashish has honed his expertise in high-volume, low-latency data processing. With his remarkable ability to adapt to shifting tides he emerges as the undisputed captain of the inflo™ team. His unique understanding of full stack technologies allows him to seamlessly tackle challenges and steer the team towards success in building a cutting-edge, cloud-friendly media solution here at Techtel. 

“I’ve always had a strong interest in media technology so when I spotted this opportunity at Techtel, I didn’t hesitate.  The team here is dynamic and the technology stack they are working with is some of the coolest stuff I’ve come across. I’m so excited to see what we can achieve together“ said Ashish Lahane.

Mal Chandler expressed, 'We are excited about Ashish joining the team, as inflo™ is reaching a significant milestone, surpassing expectations in terms of the value delivered since the project has been conceived. Ashish has a strong academic background and his expertise will be a valuable asset to the inflo™ team, both now and in the future."

New Government customer takes on inflo™

An Australian mainland State Parliament has initiated a 5-year agreement with Techtel to provide inflo™ software to record all broadcast video and audio of parliamentary proceedings throughout both debating chambers and 6 committee meeting rooms.  Using the browser based inflo™ software, the parliament will be able to provide access to both historical and future content recordings to Parliamentary Staff, Sitting Members and external users such as Journalists who can search, browse and download content as required.

The agreement which sees the platform being launched in mid-2023 integrating features that are highly desirable throughout the Parliamentary Broadcast Community.  Features such as browser-based editing, multi-user credential access and Hansard Metadata integration are but a few of the intuitive features forming part of the delivered solution.

Techtel’s product manager for inflo™, Matthew Hall commented, “Techtel has had a strong focus on Parliamentary production systems so we felt we had an unprecedented level of understanding about their needs which lead to the unique solution we proposed.  As part of this project we are really excited to implement some really innovative new features for inflo™ and the end result is going to be a great system for the Parliament, designed, built and supported in Australia, by and Australian Company.”

The Seven Network sets sail with its Spectra BlackPearl Solution

(Melbourne, Australia, 23rd June 2022) After a rigorous review of object-based storage solutions, Network Seven chose to implement the Spectra BlackPearl® Converged Storage System for their network-wide program, news, sport and historic archive. The solution supplied and integrated by Techtel is the first Australian deployment of BlackPearl integrated with VizRT for news production. BlackPearl is a modern object storage solution that seamlessly moves content into multiple storage targets based on pre-set policies.

Seven turned to Techtel for a solution as it became clear that the sun had set on their legacy storage systems and a change was necessary to protect their data whilst making vast improvements to the availability of their content. The BlackPearl solution from Spectra Logic addressed all of Seven’s requirements so Techtel architected a solution that could deliver seven years’ worth of storage at Seven’s main news production centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Additionally, in Melbourne, further flexibility was required to allow Seven to migrate data out of an old Sony PetaSite library that contained program material.

“Seven had been considering the Spectra BlackPearl as a solution to replace our news archive for a while, and for us the real trigger to move on this was seeing the Spectra-VizOne integration being adopted worldwide,” said Andrew Anderson, Director of Broadcast Operations for Seven West Media. “With BlackPearl we know we have a guaranteed level of performance and unlimited data access for the foreseeable future. Techtel’s proven ability to support Spectra products in Australia is well known so we look forward to working with them.”

The solution will serve content to Seven’s network-wide deployment of VizOne and VizStory, allowing news and production editors to retrieve, edit and publish content at breaking news pace. The RESTful integration between VizOne MAM and BlackPearl has been in deployment now for years, which provided absolute confidence to Seven that the solution would be robust and ready to go off the shelf.

BlackPearl has created an opportunity for broadcasters who currently have a costly and complex stack of aging software to migrate to one simple affordable solution.  The BlackPearl object storage solution also allows multi-tenant architecture so several client platforms like VizOne MAM can access data from a common infrastructure removing the need for each system to have its own silo of storage.

“When Seven approached Techtel for an archive solution, choosing a product that was MAM vendor independent made BlackPearl the logical choice. Spectra Logic’s BlackPearl integrates with any modern media and entertainment MAM provider, and when combined with BlackPearl RioBroker®, a software front-end data mover for BlackPearl, it can also integrate with third-party HSM’s for streamlined migration. We worked closely with Seven to ensure that we could deliver the performance they needed and I’m really pleased with the final result,” added Matt Hall, Business Development Manager for Techtel.

Oranda adds resources to extend even more value to emerging sports in Asia

Singapore based Oranda Private Limited, the most agile and innovative broadcast production services business in Asia has chosen to add to their already extensive pool of Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) services through the addition of Haivision’s Makito X H.264 encoders, supplied and supported by local integrator Techtel Pte Ltd.

Oranda Team in the field during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

As a business with over 20 years of experience in Asia, Oranda have the runs on the board to prove that they know what it takes to get the job done in areas where broadcasting video can be a challenge. Oranda’s coverage include major events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, FIFA Club World Cup, esport competitions, concerts, news summits to events in high risk territories.

The Makito X encoders fit this strategy like a glove, providing ultra low latency end-to-end transport of secure, high-quality HD video, even over unpredictable networks.  During the recent Olympics coverage in Tokyo, the Oranda team faced restrictions in the number of production staff onsite. This was overcome with the clever use of Haivision Play Pro, a free SRT Mobile player, to monitor live production feeds feeds from the field and using the SRT protocol and public internet to provide a cost-effective, low-latency way of getting feeds to the team members producing the content remotely.

Haivision are the original developer of SRT; a technology designed for connecting video between venues & TV Stations that is fast becoming an industry revolution since Haivision’s decision to open source the technology in 2017.

The Makito X encoders are famous for low latency encoding but to add to this Haivision have continued to develop leading technologies like Network Adaptive Encoding.  Network Adaptive Encoding is so clever that it detects the bandwidth of your internet connection and automatically adjusts the encoder settings to provide the best possible picture quality over the connection that is available.  All this in a small blade style package that can either be installed in a highly redundant dense rack frame (MB-21X) with a flexible configuration of encoder and decoder blades, or individually in field-hardened compact cases that are ready to go to some of the most remote locations on earth. Haivision EMS (Element Management System) goes a long way in providing operational efficiency with the provision of a web based interface to manage Haivison encoders and decoders across multiple sites.

CEO of Oranda, Floris Molijn said ”Our vision is to provide turnkey broadcast solutions to the worlds leading broadcasters from some of the most challenging locations around the world, especially in Asia which we call home.  We will continue to expand our capabilities with solutions like the Haivision Makito X to ensure that we can respond faster than any of our competitors to changing world events”.

Susan Lim, Techtel Territory Manager added, “We are inspired when we work with businesses that are similar to ours; privately founded and built up over time through hard but inspired work.  We will be going the extra mile for Oranda every chance we get to ensure that this partnership can make a real difference to both our businesses”. 

Read more about the Haivision Makito encoder here

Foxtel finds Norwegian Superhero hiding inside Bridge Technologies Appliance

After searching the market for a content monitoring platform that has both a heart and a soul, Foxtel recently selected Bridge Technologies from local partner Techtel to become their cop on the beat and catch network issues before they become problems.       

The idea that technology could have a heart and a soul was considered to be a unicorn until it was shown that Bridge Technologies of Norway are part of Scandinavia, the very same region where Santa Clause is based and we all know that he’s our guy when you need a miracle.

Every product Bridge make comes with a little bit of sweat that began life as a Viking; a Viking with one singular passion and that is to find errors in MPEG transport streams and tell operators to do something about it.

Bridge Technologies ambassador Henrik Fjord, a man on a mission to rid the planet of video artefacts

Although the decision was long thought to be a result of Bridge Technologies mesmerizing YouTube presence, Darren Windus Foxtel Head of Distribution Systems recently corrected the record and said “Yeah, Yeah, Nah, Yeah, this stuff is alright ya know”.

Foxtel had an extensive amount of monitoring equipment that was ASI; though now with the addition of the Bridge Technologies VB330 appliance it allows much higher bandwidth capabilities than ASI because it is an IP probe compatible with dual 10/25/50/100 Gbps interfaces that can monitor thousands of channels simultaneously.  It’s so capable that Foxtel plan to use just one VB330 to monitor their entire output of 46 mux groups and at last count 440 services at each of their primary sites.  The VB330 has some cool OTT tricks as well and Foxtel plan to run one unit in the lab just for checking on Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE).

The story could end right here but it doesn’t, because Foxtel also wanted something with a slick UI further upstream to watch their uncompressed IP video from Fox Sports.  This platform needed to be master control operator friendly so that they would be able to validate their multisite routing.  Monitoring uncompressed might sound like watching a cushion before you sit on it but the fact of the matter is much more complex than it might seem and again Bridge has a solution. 

The Bridge VB440 is an uncompressed monitoring beast supplied with dual 100Gbps interfaces that can monitor dozens of sources at once.  Fox Sports can monitor multi-resolution for 4K, HD and SD but they’ve found the event capture feature particularly helpful with resolving PTP and also investigating packet interval timing in detail.

With all these secret agents out in the field it’s nice to know that Bridge has their own equivalent to Miss Moneypenny.  The VBC controller server will give a central view of all Foxtel’s Bridge Technologies probes so that when one of your agents is in trouble you can send for re-enforcements.

See videos of Henrik Fjord and his tours of Oslo at this link

2021 – a year in review

If the past year was a movie, would we call it a thriller, drama or perhaps action? There was certainly never a dull moment and the same was true for our business. Our company had a big 2021 with remarkable success, despite quite a lot of global uncertainty throughout both our direct market and the related markets that we rely on.

Perhaps our greatest achievement this year was the shedding of our skin after we relocated from a HQ of more than 20 years to a new address just around the corner in Artarmon. We learned that engineering people like to collect things and the path to the recycling centre was well worn by the time we were done. Being in a new home has given the entire team that weightless feeling you get when you declutter and we’re all now feeling focused on the future like never before.

Moving on from moving, the march to adapt production workflows to IP video and the flexibility it affords was everywhere. From the smaller production companies embracing NDI to the full-service players that are fully uncompressed with an ST2110 fabric, everyone knew that IP was the way to go. In the enterprise space where uncompressed is first preference, Techtel’s Bridge Technologies and their super flexible VB440 monitoring system became a must-have for anyone to build around this new and emerging standard. Broadcasters like the ABC, NEP, Nine Network, NPC & Foxtel have been busy converting their infrastructure to IP to take advantage of all the flexibility IP unlocks. The VB440 has become their eyes and ears, making a flexibility theory their new reality.

We saw big shifts in 2021 from companies that need to modernise their storage solutions like the Seven Network and NPC. Our partner Spectra has shown tremendous innovation in this area and it was their solutions that we found were time and again in front of the competition. In late October, Spectra released Vail, a game changer for their company and a product that will be truly disruptive in the cloud storage space for many years ahead.

Major venues including Sydney’s Olympic stadium , the Sydney Football Stadium, Marvel Stadium and the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust all took the opportunity to modernise and our partner Grass Valley was especially successful in this respect. Their Kahuna series of vision mixers was chosen to be at the core of the live audience experience and we look forward to seeing our sporting heroes shown on big screens like never before. 

It was a year of continued deployment of LED displays throughout television studio sets and both the ABC and Network Ten made a further push in this area. The stunning backdrops that our customers create are transforming their productions and engaging the audience like never before. 

Techtel’s software developers were busier than ever throughout the year, culminating in the release of V2.2 of Inflo™. Inflo now includes diverse video capture card support, artificial intelligence and asset management, all in a web-based platform. It will be another big year for Inflo in 2022, as we continue to respond to great customer feedback.

So, although it was a rollercoaster ride of a year, the people that work for Techtel are passionate, professional and they rose to the challenge. We didn’t just survive, we made great strides forward and I could not be prouder of everyone under our roof; staff, suppliers and of course our inspiring customers. Everyone keep doing what you do!