Broadcast Media File Validation Solution
The broadcast workflow typically requires content validation before it is transmitted to viewers. The purpose of validation is to make sure it’s the expected content and there are no technical errors in the content. With the file batch processing feature, the Mividi transport stream analyzer TSM100 provides an excellent solution for broadcast content validation for transport stream files.
TSM100 Media File Validation Work Flow
The Mividi TSM100 is a software application that runs on Windows. To setup the automated file batch processing functions, users need to create three separate file folders: the source file folder that contains the original files to be analyzed; the destination folder that contains files analyzed; and the report folder that contains the report files. The configuration needs only to be done once. The software remembers configuration and will restart automatically after the computer is rebooted.
The original media content should be in the transport stream format. The media file can be a recorded file of a single program TS or multiple program TS. As soon as files are dropped into the source file folder, the software will automatically open the files one by one and start stream analysis. Once the analysis is complete, the file is moved to the destination folder. At the same time, a report file is generated and it contains technical parameters of the media content, along with one or more thumbnail files extracted from each video programs in the media file. In case there are multiple media files in the original file folder, the software will analyze one by one until all files are analyzed.
The report files are in xml data file format. A user can create an XML schema based on required broadcast format and use an XML file validator to check if the media content is as expected.
Key Parameters Analyzed
The TSM100 will analyze key technical parameters and detect transport stream errors on the media files. The main features include:
- Find programs and PIDs, and identify audio, video and subtitle/closed captioning data streams.
- Measure the time length of the media file.
- Measure the overall transport stream bitrate and PID stream bit rates.
- Find video and audio codec.
- Decode audio data and find audio parameters including audio channel count and positions, bit rate and sample rate and the dialnorm value if it exists.
- Decode video key frames and find video parameters including video frame size, aspect ratio, frame rate, profile and color space.
- Calculate audio loudness level and provide min, max and average loudness values.
- Monitor transport stream errors of the media file according to DVB TS Test Guideline TR 101 290 and calculate a TS quality score.
- Decode subtitle and closed captioning.
Report Generation
After the completion of media file analysis, the TSM100 will generate a report in xml file format. The report consists of a general element which includes the general information about the media file, such as file, media format, media time length, etc. Following the general element, the report contains one or more program elements. The number of program elements depends on the number of video or audio programs contained in the media file. In each program element, there will be video, audio and subtitle elements. Each element is related to one video, audio or subtitle elementary stream. The subtitle/CC element may refer to the data encoded with the video elementary streams. Below is a simple example of the report.