Ingesting Videos into dotstudioPRO

Methods

 

One of the most challenging and confusing aspects of content management is the ingest pipeline. Whether dealing with a few videos or a few thousand, decisions need to be made about what, where, and how content moves from a place of origin to its destinations.

There are many ways to bring content into dotstudioPRO. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks, depending on the amount of content, location of that content, and available infrastructure. This article will outline the various ingest methods available to dotstudioPRO customers.

 

Traditional Upload

Videos can be uploaded directly into dotstudioPRO from any computer with an internet connection from within the dotstudioPRO dashboard. Up to fifty videos can be uploaded at a time. This workflow is a standard, familiar process that is similar to uploading videos and images to any social media platform.

 

1_TraditionalUpload.gif

 

Who is it best for?

This workflow is ideal for clients who have limited volume requirements, or will be delivering content in small, regular batches. Generally this method is recommended for dotstudioPRO Aggregation clients.

 

Advantages Disadvantages

Simplicity:
A user only needs a login, internet connection, and valid video file to get started. No additional infrastructure or resources are required.

 

Control:
Since each video must have all metadata and sidecar assets manually associated, users have greater oversight over each title moving through the system.

Time:
Video metadata, artwork, timed-text, and taxonomy must all be managed manually once the videos have been uploaded.

 

Speed:
The upload speed is determined by the user’s internet connection. Slow internet means slow upload times.

 

Volume:
A limited number of videos can be uploaded at a time.

 

Access:
To upload, the user must have a valid login to the dotstudioPRO dashboard. This is not ideal if deliveries are managed by

 

How to get Started

Users can simply log into their dotstudioPRO dashboard and click the “ADD VIDEO” button to start uploading right away.

 

Direct Import

dotstudioPRO is capable of pulling individual videos directly from some other platforms, including live feeds, Dropbox (mov/mp4 only), Amazon S3, Rackspace, and FTP. These options can be found by logging into a dotstudioPRO dashboard and clicking “ADD VIDEO”.

 

2_DirectImport.gif

 

Who is it best for?

Direct imports are ideal for users who have a portion of their content library stored on any of the above cloud services. For large cloud based libraries, users may wish to consider another option.

 

Advantages Disadvantages

Simplicity:
A user only needs a login, internet connection, and the login credentials/location of the video files. No additional infrastructure or resources are required.

 

Efficiency (Dropbox):
Multiple videos can be ingested directly from an individual Dropbox account, meaning users do not need to download, then reupload their videos.

Efficiency (S3/Rackspace/FTP):
Each video must have its credentials added separately. The storage space cannot be browsed in the dotstudioPRO CMS for Amazon S3, Rackspace, or FTP ingest.

 

Time:
Video metadata, artwork, timed-text, and taxonomy may all need to be managed manually once the videos have been ingested.

 

How to get Started

If the assets are already uploaded to the origin platform, users can start ingesting by logging into their dotstudioPRO dashboard and clicking the “ADD VIDEO” button.

 

MRSS Ingest

MRSS is a standardized method for moving media files, alongside supporting metadata and sidecar files via a text manifest. MRSS is a feed structure, and dotstudioPRO is able to accommodate several widely adopted formats.

 

3_SampleMRSS-1024x649.png

 

Who is it best for?

MRSS deliveries are ideal for customers who already manage their media in the cloud, and who have access to developer resources to build and automate the feed. Users who wish to move or migrate content into dotstudioPRO from another content management system, may be able to reduce redundant data entry by creating an MRSS feed.

 

Advantages Disadvantages

Volume:
Since MRSS is a text based manifest, many files can be delivered simultaneously. 

Automation:
Once the feed is connected to a dashboard, ingest can be regularly scheduled to pull all newly added content.

Time:
Metadata, images, timed-text, and taxonomy can all be included in the feed, so videos arrive in the dotstudioPRO dashboard as complete packages.

Infrastructure:
clients must be able to generate and manage the feed. This means either having access to another CMS, or developers who can build and maintain the feed. MRSS feeds pull from a specified location, so all assets must be located in a publicly accessible cloud location.

 

Setup:
The feed will either need to conform to and include all mandatory fields noted in DSP’s MRSS Specifications, or the client will be required to supply a mapping document so all fields are correctly associated on ingest.

 

Maintenance:
Sometimes things can break, and feeds may need to be revised from time to time. Troubleshooting to find and correct hidden syntax issues or broken links can use resources.

 

How to get Started

If MRSS seems like the best solution, please review dotstudioPRO Ingest MRSS feed specifications and reach out to a DSP sales representative to discuss next steps.

 

Amazon S3 Watchfolder (MRSS)

If users store their video files within a single subfolder on Amazon S3, dotstudioPRO can help to convert the folder into a simple MRSS feed which conforms to DSP specifications. The feed automates ingestion of video files directly from S3 into a dotstudioPRO dashboard. Metadata, and additional media files are not transferred in this process.

 

Who is it best for?

Clients who have a large library stored in a public folder in Amazon S3, and simply need the videos to be moved into their dotstudioPRO dashboard will benefit most from the S3 Watchfolder.

 

Advantages Disadvantages

Volume:
The Watchfolder can transfer many files simultaneously.

Automation:
Once the feed is connected to a dashboard, ingest can be regularly scheduled to pull all newly added content.

Infrastructure:
The Watchfolder does not require special teams or developers, and the setup uses only some basic technical knowledge. Only a public S3 subfolder is required.

Time:
Since metadata and associate files are not recorded or transferred by the Watchfolder, users will need to manage metadata, timed-text, image files, and taxonomy in the dotstudioPRO dashboard.

Setup:
Users will need to set up our MRSS ingest server on an EC2 instance within their AWS account. This can be done by a dotstudioPRO developer whenever clients do not possess the technical knowledge to do so themselves.

 

How to get Started

If the S3 Watchfolder seems like an ideal solution, please reach out to a DSP sales representative.

 

CSV Ingest

It is possible to ingest content into a dashboard using a comma separated values spreadsheet. The spreadsheet must follow dotstudioPRO’s specifications and follow strict formatting rules, but once followed, the system is able to ingest multiple delivery components and automatically associate title taxonomy on a regular basis.

 

4_SampleCSV-1024x463.png

 

Who is it best for?

CSV ingest is best for clients who will be receiving content from multiple sources/content owners and are not capable of generating their own MRSS feeds. Clients who are developing their own content platform may wish to use CSV ingest. The infrastructure requirements for CSV ingest are somewhat steep, as content validation must be managed by the client.

 

Advantages Disadvantages

Volume:
CSV ingest allows multiple files to be delivered simultaneously.

Automation:
Once connected, ingest can be regularly scheduled to pull all newly added content.

Management:
CSV ingest works very well with Amazon Transfer Family. Users can have their partner studios deliver to individual subfolders in an S3 bucket, but ingest into the same dashboard.

Time:
Metadata, images, timed-text, and taxonomy can all be ingested, so videos arrive in the dotstudioPRO dashboard as complete packages.

Infrastructure:
Clients are responsible for setting up their S3 infrastructure and managing how content partners deliver to their S3 network. 

Setup:
Some development may be necessary from the client’s end to generate CSV documents to dotstudioPRO’s spec. 

Maintenance:
Content and document validation, S3 network and permissions, and S3 workflows (archiving old documents and files) are all managed by the client.

 

How to get Started

To learn more about CSV ingest, please review dotstudioPRO’s CSV Ingest specifications documentation, and reach out to a DSP sales representative.

 

Custom Solutions

dotstudioPRO is always looking for ways to improve our systems and get ahead of the competition. Custom ingest solutions are a possibility depending on scale, budget, and time. For information about a custom ingest solution, please reach out to your dotstudioPRO Sales Representative.

Updated