Bruce’s Shorts | 4.6 - What is SMPTE MCA and why do I need it?
In the fourth season of ‘Bruce’s Shorts’, Bruce Devlin takes a look at the Interoperable Master Format (IMF). Ever wondered why we don’t label the audio channels in files? This episode will help you find out.
Traditionally, audio channel designation was a house standard defined in a broadcaster's delivery specification. This has generally led to the need the remap the audio tracks at the ingest of files to a facility. Why isn't there a common way of labelling the audio? What track goes where and what language is being used?
That's where the Multi-Channel Audio (MCA) labelling specification comes in. MCA works at three levels:
- channel labels
- group of channel labels
- group of group labels
The MCA labelling specification is SMPTE ST-377-4, a labeling framework for multichannel audio essence in MXF file structures. It specifies the basic object model, structures and metadata items for the MCA Labeling Framework.
This standard enables text-based representation of Multichannel Audio Labels and defines one such representation.
IMF is standardised by the SMPTE as ST 2067.
You might also like...
Improving Compression Efficiency With AI
A group of international technology vendors and broadcasters is working on developing and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) standards to improve video coding. Calling itself MPAI (Moving Picture, Audio and Data Coding by Artificial Intelligence) they believe that machine learning can…
Computer Security: Part 5 - Dual Bus Architecture
In the UK we have Oxford v Cambridge. In the USA it’s Princeton v Harvard. The only difference is that one is a boat race and the other is computer architecture race.
Is Remote Operation Underrated?
A recent Lawo remote activities case study notes, “It should be obvious by now that remote operation has been seriously underrated. For some, it allows to save substantial amounts of money, while others will appreciate the time gained from not…
Computer Security: Part 4 - Making Hardware Secure
The history of computing has been dominated by the von Neumann computer architecture, also known as the Princeton architecture, after the university of that name, in which one common memory stores the operating system, user programs and variables the programs…
Transitioning to Broadcast IP Infrastructures; Part 3 - Delivering Operational Reliability
Our first Essential Insights is a set of three video episodes in which we discuss transitioning to IP with industry experts. We explore the fundamental challenges during the planning stage. The decisions that need to be made, and the long-term…