NAB Update: Marquis to Unveil Bi-directional Avid to FCP Sequence Transfers

Marquis Broadcast, specialist in broadcast consultancy and workflow solutions, will be unveiling a significant new feature for its Medway software at NAB 2009 (Las Vegas Convention Center, April 20-23).  Scheduled for availability from Marquis’ network of business partners in May, the new feature will allow the seamless, bi-directional transfer of sequences between Avid Media Composer and Apple Final Cut Pro systems, bringing flexibility and collaboration to customers working with hybrid file-based workflows.
 
The new feature for Medway will allow edited sequences to be moved quickly and efficiently between Avid Media Composers and Apple Final Cut Pro editing systems. This is the first time editors will be able to move an entire sequence timeline from one editing system to another in a single drag and drop operation. Medway translates the EDL structure, but more critically, also moves all the required media from one system to the other, carrying out file conversions during the move so that the edit can be continued once the media arrives at its new destination. This powerful new feature will enable facilities to adopt a more flexible approach to the way in which they utilize their resources, by giving them the freedom to move edit jobs easily between editing systems as they wish.
 
Medway will be demonstrated at NAB 2009 integrated with many of the industry’s leading digital broadcasting applications, including those from SGL (booth # SU8508), SeaChange (booth # SU12009), Bycast (booth # SU6925), IPV (booth # SU8510), Omneon, Inc. (booth # SU7217) and Blue Order (booth # SU7506).
 
“Having Medway on such a large number of partners’ booths proves that its impact on workflow efficiency is recognized by many of the industry’s leading system developers,” commented Granby Patrick, Partner Director Technology, Marquis Broadcast Ltd. “Together, we will be demonstrating the new Avid/FCP sequence transfer feature which will give our joint customers a further option for creating powerful and cost-effective workflows.”
 
Medway provides interoperability functions for media companies that require fast, efficient digital workflows, without incurring delays that frequently occur when media moves between systems from different manufacturers. By rewrapping files, Medway allows media to be transferred quickly and easily between processes. The system also extracts and manages the metadata attached to media, therefore enabling easy repurposing of content.
 
Medway’s ergonomic user interface and simple drag and drop control make it easy to use by all operators. Designed specifically to meet the demands of the most challenging broadcasting and television production environments, Medway is also suitable for newsrooms, ingest, encoding, transcoding, asset management, editing, broadcast automation and finishing systems and playout servers.
 
Under the terms of Marquis’ customer support philosophy, existing Medway users will receive the new software upgrades at no additional cost as part of the company’s beneficial support contract. Medway with bi-directional Avid to FCP sequence transfers will be available in May 2009 from Marquis’ network of business partners.