Context
We require a title to deliver in both an Original Language Version IMF Package and a Textless Version IMF Package for service, archival, and downstream purposes. This document outlines best delivery practices. For definitions on specific terminology used in this article, please reference our Netflix IMF Glossary.
QC’ing The Textless IMF Package
Technical Inspection:
The Textless Version Supplemental IMF package will generate derivatives from the Original Language Version IMF. In order to ingest correctly, the contents need to adhere to the original parameters of the Original Language Version IMF package (Frame Size, Aspect Ratio, Frame Rate, etc.) The current policy is to allow our inspection service to act as technical QC and validate the successful delivery of a Textless Version Supplemental IMF package, ensuring the received asset can be encoded into the Netflix ecosystem.
Additional Review:
If it is deemed necessary to manually qualify the textless delivery upon receipt to Netflix, QC will be performed through the AssetQC Platform. Please note that the Textless PackageID will differ from the package that is used for live on service.
Within Asset QC these materials are identified with the corresponding Package ID.
QC Notification Example:
Textless IMF Workflow
The Textless Version IMF Package must be created and delivered after the Original Language Version IMF is approved by Netflix. The Textless Version IMF Package can be created as a supplemental package based on the approved Original Language Version IMF Package, by replacing Texted elements with their Textless counterparts throughout the timeline. If creating a Textless Supplemental IMF Package that only contains the inserts does not make sense operationally (e.g. because of a large number of Textless inserts), a full-length textless video track Supplemental IMF Package can be delivered instead. The new Supplemental IMF Package should only contain an updated video track. The existing audio tracks should stay unchanged. If in doubt, reach out to your Netflix representative for guidance.
The recommended procedure for generating a Textless Version IMF Package is listed below:
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Create a full program, Original Language Version IMF complete package that includes Texted Elements in the video track. We recommend reviewing our IMF File Naming Structure - Best Practices article prior to exporting.
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If a fix is needed - open the Original Language Version IMF package (that has been successfully delivered / processed in Backlot) into your mastering tool, apply the fix on the timeline and export an Original Language Version Supplemental IMF package for delivery. Multiple iterations may be required before the Original Language Version IMF package is approved.
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To create the Textless Version Supplemental IMF package, open the last successfully delivered/ processed and approved Original Language Version IMF package in your mastering tool, replace the Texted Elements with their Textless counterpart, and then generate the Textless Version Supplemental IMF package (either one that only contains the inserts or a full-length textless video track). Note: While the Source Request for the Textless IMF Package is an AV(Muxed) request by default, it will accept a Supplemental IMF Package as well. In the case of a Textless Supplemental IMF Package, the new CPL will only contain updates to the picture track.
*For tool-specific instructions on how to create Supplemental IMF Packages, please refer to the video tutorials on our Netflix Post Technology Alliance page.
Updates
If an update that affects the Original Language Version is needed AFTER the Textless Version IMF package is delivered and processed in Backlot, both the Original Language Version and the Textless Version Video source requests will be flipped for redelivery by your Netflix Representative.
It is important that all updates are implemented on both the Original Language Version and the Textless Version, resulting in two Supplemental IMF packages for a single update. The update workflow should run as follows:
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Open your Original Language Version IMF package in your authoring tool, apply the update on the timeline then export as a supplemental. To ensure no errors arise, please double check you are using the last successfully delivered and approved Original Language Version IMF package to create the Original Language Version Supplemental IMF package.
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Open the Textless Version IMF package in your authoring tool, insert the same update on the timeline, then export as a Supplemental IMF package. To ensure no errors arise, please double check you are using the last successfully delivered and approved Textless IMF package to create the Textless Supplemental IMF package.
Delivering the Textless IMF package into Backlot
The Textless Version IMF package will need to be uploaded to its own Backlot package ID. To identify which source request to deliver into, there will be a tag called “Textless Version.”
To see the tag, you will need to customize your column view and select ‘Tags’ from the Backlot: Manage Requests dashboard as seen in the following screenshot:
For example, if you look at the images below, you’ll notice that one of the requests is tagged as “Textless Version” and has a different Package ID. The “Textless Version” tag is used to indicate that the request will be receiving the Textless Version IMF package.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Creating an IMF Package in DaVinci Resolve [PARTNER PROVIDED]
- Picture IMF Supplementals in DaVinci Resolve [PARTNER PROVIDED]
- Audio IMF Supplementals in DaVinci Resolve [PARTNER PROVIDED]
- Alternative Picture IMF Supplementals in DaVinci Resolve [PARTNER PROVIDED]
Translations
CHANGE LOG
2021-11-30
Added "Additional Resources" section.