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.