The solutions we provide at base
At base, we are a cloud native media services provider, working with a range of industries, including gaming, sports, creative agencies, and more. These companies deliver content to a range of platforms, such as social media, television commercials, and long-form documentaries, all created with a cloud-based end–to–end workflow. Our clients manage their data by using a media asset management (MAM) solution and tiered cloud storage. They use hot storage for editing, transcoding, and delivery, warm storage for instant access to assets, and deep archives for finished projects and data they want to retain for compliance and monetization. We provide ingest and transcode stations in the cloud, which are all fully automated and can handle all camera formats. We can also offer virtual workstations in the cloud, which are fast and powerful for remote work.
Another significant service we provide to our clients is integrated AI and automation systems, allowing them to carry out automated transcription, captioning, facial, and object recognition. Our customers use this for contextual tagging so that assets can be quickly found in the library. A custom integration we have is with Frame.io and a MAM system. Frame.io is one of the most heavily used view and review tools in the market, and we have integrated it into our solution so our clients can leverage it, saving money on archiving projects when they are finished. Once the show or film has been produced, it can then be delivered to any platform.
Automated Quality Control
At base, we also build automated quality control (AQC) into our clients’ delivery processes. We partnered with Dolby three years ago to carry out full AQC in the cloud so our clients can easily send an asset to AQC with a click of a button without having to be on-premises. The assets are tagged with metadata, and a pdf is created to approve the content. In the pandemic, one of our valued customers, Narrative Entertainment, launched its business in the cloud after taking over Sony Movies and Sony Entertainment, also known as GREAT! We delivered its entire end-to-end studio in the cloud in only three months. They create all their content and marketing materials in Adobe, which can then be encoded, mastered, and QC’d in the cloud and delivered to their streaming channels.
An editor’s experience of base
Editors utilize various infrastructure architectures, with the three most common being hybrid cloud, cloud NAS, and fully cloud-based systems.
We have a number of clients who operate on a hybrid cloud infrastructure. They prefer to retain on-premises hardware and machines but want to have the stability of the cloud for scalability, disaster recovery, and backup. We then connect and sync their data into our cloud service, enabling them to work locally while ensuring their data is securely backed up. This setup allows those clients to share content across the world for review and approval while also leveraging AQC.
Cloud NAS services are frequently used by editors and clients, allowing them to bring storage directly to their desktops. With access to an internet connection, users can mount cloud storage directly on their Mac or Windows machine at home. We can also stream blocks directly to timelines to create a seamless editing and design experience. This reduces the need for multiple hard drives and outdated devices that typically fail.
A fully cloud-based system is the most common amongst our customers and editors. Users can operate GPU-enabled machines in the cloud, with a PC over IP that streams the visual output from the workstation back to their devices. An example where we have done this is our transition of the BBC news team to a complete Adobe Premiere Cloud system over a weekend during the pandemic. Different teams utilized various setups. For example, designers worked on cloud NAS, offline editors operated fully in the cloud, and colorists used on-premises systems to benefit from high-quality screens.
In terms of collaboration for editors, they can review and approve projects remotely with features for remote commenting, allowing them to work together from anywhere in the world. Many clients in high-end television and movies prefer physical meeting spaces but have no hardware in buildings. Their machines are entirely cloud-based, yet they have hubs for in-person gatherings. This model enables users to work remotely and flexibly, allowing the creation of temporary premises, relocation, and access to international talent. This approach represents the future of post-production.
The entry points of moving into the cloud
It’s essential to learn Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, as they are excellent tools for video editing, color grading, and finishing work. Also, cloud hosting and virtualization are available at a relatively low cost, making these resources more accessible. This means that the entry point has significantly dropped as it is easier to access learning materials. Currently, at base, we have thousands of users utilizing Adobe software and around 70 businesses that use base around the world. Of those 70 businesses, 95% of them use Adobe. The companies that adopt these tools are experiencing growth and are scaling effectively.
The future for colorists
The future for colorists is becoming increasingly interesting as aspects of their workflow become automated. For example, the application of mathematical color science to images can now be learned, trained, and automated using machine learning. It’s only a matter of time before generic, high-volume finishing and content distribution will also become automated. Learning these tools early is key to ensuring that colorists stay relevant in their jobs and play a role in driving this change. As a result of automation, the volume of content produced for viewers will rise while costs decrease.
The future of AI in post-production
AI has greatly advanced over the years and gained traction with our clients. Many long and tedious processes, such as versioning, localization, and content distribution, are now being automated. Since humans can make mistakes and fail quality control checks, relying on AI can save time and allow you to focus on more creative tasks.
Adobe is developing many AI tools that can automate the extension of video clips, use generative AI to create smooth transitions, and perform photo-realistic lip-synching. Adobe also offers a tool to create AI-generated voices for language versioning and captioning in shows. These technologies will eventually be adopted in mainstream post-production environments, where the automation of time-consuming tasks can streamline and simplify processes.
As we progress, the cost-effectiveness and performance of leveraging cloud storage for non-linear editing suites will become the standard practice. This shift will lead to increased productivity and a higher efficiency rate for each asset.
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