Another similar related automation system (shares some parts and libraries) is SuperConductor [2].
Cool that it also supports OBS Studio by the way =3
Due to the substantial complexity of these automation systems, they tend to have a lot of inertia. But if anything could drive a station group to make a change, the "free" part can be effective.
I did take a look at the supported hardware (1). I think that's the pain point for many shops. Free open source production software is great, but being forced to choose form hardware products you don't prefer is a pretty tough tradeoff.
Historically, I suppose that's been one of FOSS' big challenges.
(1) https://nrkno.github.io/sofie-core/docs/user-guide/supported...
Looks like this is MIT licensed https://github.com/nrkno/Sofie-TV-automation
However, unless you support the community in your own way, than people are just along for the ride.
Remember to try and be kind... even if you don't agree with your peers =3
However, from a maintainability standpoint it is important that a project solves their own needs first. The "eat your own dog food" advice is important, or groups end up fragmenting a project into every pet use-case.
Best regards =3
I could see BMD embracing this. There are lots of studios that are not commercial broadcast that could really use a system like this.
Isn't one of the problems with hardware support is that hardware vendors have agreements with the competitors you listed?
Computers are fast enough now that once you can get the signals into a machine, many of the special functions that previously required dedicated hardware can now be run in software? With proper timing signal distribution of course.
Seems like 12G SDI to SFP+ would enable server class machines to subsume most of the special function hardware.
> It looks like great support (Blackmagicdesign) for building a small broadcast studio from scratch tho.
Agreed!
> I could see BMD embracing this. There are lots of studios that are not commercial broadcast that could really use a system like this.
Also agreed. Black Magic definitely makes a lot of reasonably-priced and very capable gear. They're not a major player in the TV automation space, but perhaps with the help of Sofie, they could make inroads.
> Isn't one of the problems with hardware support is that hardware vendors have agreements with the competitors you listed?
That's not a topic I'm knowledgeable about. It is my understanding that most shops who have a particular vendor's automation platform will also have that vendor's hardware running at its core. In all the shops I've seen, the switcher that's controlled by the automation system is made by the same company. Or if its another vendor's product, it's sold and provisioned along with the automation system when its purchased. Other stuff like audio mixers, robo-cam products, clip players, and CG/graphics platforms can be from other vendors.
> Computers are fast enough now that once you can get the signals into a machine, many of the special functions that previously required dedicated hardware can now be run in software? With proper timing signal distribution of course.
> Seems like 12G SDI to SFP+ would enable server class machines to subsume most of the special function hardware.
For audio, I think that would be a relatively easy lift with technologies like Dante. However, in most TV stations, you're going to need to literally plug upwards of 100 HDSDI video cables into a piece of hardware so that those sources can be switched to on TV, mixed and keyed on multiple mixed-effects banks, and viewed on multiviewer screens in the control room. I don't know that a regular-ol' PC has what it takes to take in and simultaneously process that amount of video. But just because don't know about it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. ;-) Just haven't seen it yet.
It's one thing for something simple to not be a drop in replacement. But simplicity and minimalism can also be a virtue. Can this complete the task in an environment designed around using it?
someone on hn surely could use their talents for good elsewhere haha
Looks at Wikipedia article
Well, 12 or 13 years ago probably actually.
It's a tool that lets you drag and drop news stories in to a rundown and it will automatically play them. The news stories may have parts that are read from a teleprompter, parts that are pre-recorded video, live parts from outside broadcasts, interviews, graphics that need to be shown etc. Those are mostly provided by services or hardware that Sofie controls, not that are part of the show. Sofie is an automation tool.
eddyg•5h ago
https://nrkno.github.io/sofie-core/docs/user-guide/features/...