AAF To Sponsor MXF Mastering Format Project

At NAB 2007, the AAF Association is sponsoring the first public demonstration of the MXF Mastering Format Project.
This is a long-term initiative that is being led by Turner Broadcasting System. The aim of this is to bring a fresh approach to MXF and to provide proposed, real-world solutions for key workflows, focusing on creating a single MXF master file from which multiple versions of a program may be created.
This rationalization project currently includes two key strands: MXF Mastering Format and the MXF Processor API. The work – which started two years ago – will be demonstrated at the show and will be open to comment and scrutiny. The AAF Association and Turner welcome comment on this technical proposal.
This sponsorship is the first fruit of The AAF Association’s (AAFA) decision to reorganize and expand its remit. Renowned for its development of the Advanced Authoring Format – for the interchange of video, audio and metadata in the post production field – the AAFA has now broadened is reach to focus on file-based workflows in both the post production and broadcast environments. MXF is, of course, AAF’s broadcast cousin and the two formats share a long history. The AAFA will be focusing on user-driven application requirements in mastering, HD, commercial and program delivery, program distribution and archiving.
The manufacturers taking a leading role in this MXF rationalization work are: Marquis Broadcast; Metaglue; Omneon; Open Cube Technologies; Pro-Bel; Quantum; Snell & Wilcox; Softel; TMD.
(DS)