Overview: New IMF Delivery & Inspections Workflow
On April 24th, Backlot will be releasing several updates that will simplify the IMF delivery process.
Before
Currently, each IMF track is uploaded, inspected and processed individually. Consequently, it is possible for a video track to be processed when its audio track failed inspection.
After
In the future, each IMF track will be uploaded, inspected and processed together. As a result, if any essence fails to upload or fails inspection, the entire IMP delivery will be rejected.
Delivery
Before
Users are required to select all IMF source requests when they want to deliver a replacement IMP to a package. In addition, users must select which CPL they want to deliver to each IMF source request individually.
After
Users will only have to select any IMF source request when they want to deliver a replacement IMP to a package. In addition, users will only have to select which CPL they want to deliver once per package.
Validations
Once a CPL is selected by a user, Backlot will perform a series of validations against it to ensure it can be delivered to the package. These validations provide a fail-fast approach that can detect and prevent IMF delivery issues before they happen.
Track Status
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New: track has never had a previously processed version
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Modified: track is different than the previously processed version
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Unmodified: track is identical to the previously processed version
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Error: track failed validation with 1+ errors
Validations
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Prevents a user from delivering a CPL to a subset of IMF source requests
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Prevents a user from delivering a CPL with an unmodified track if its source request is expecting delivery
- Prevents a user from delivering a CPL with a modified track if its source request is not expecting delivery
- Prevents a user from delivering a CPL that is missing a previously processed track
- Prevents a user from delivering a CPL that references an non-uploaded essence without including it in its PKL
Post-Delivery Inspections
Before
Each track was inspected independently. Consequently, it is possible for a video track to pass inspection and be processed even when its audio track failed inspection with a non-overridable error.
After
Every track referenced in the CPL will be inspected at the same time. If any essence or track fails inspection the entire IMP delivery will be rejected.
Error Overriding
Before
Each track with an overridable error was overridden independently. Consequently, it is possible for a video track to be overridden even when its audio track failed with a non-overridable error.
After
If an IMF delivery contains any track that failed inspection with a non-overridable error, the entire IMP cannot be processed until a new IMP is delivered with the appropriate fixes. In addition, if multiple tracks fail with overridable errors, all tracks must be overridden together or not at all.
Adding Tracks to CPL
Before
Once the initial IMP was delivered, it was impossible to include additional tracks to future IMP deliveries (e.g. IABSequence).
After
Users are now able to include additional tracks to the CPL after the initial delivery
