Choosing initial MAM Deployment Services
We wrote the following for internal sales use but decided that it was a really good thing to share to the larger MAM community. MAM systems can be challenging to spec and purchase. We figure the more people understand about how we came to develop our simplified packages for CatDV the better. Here’s a doc we send to our partners. Note that many of the infrastructure topics may be addressed by a reseller or other integrator so be sure to check who is doing what as well. For example, one common case is where your reseller will be handling firewall and advanced server configuration for opening a MAM to the internet. This will be excluded from the NSA scope but still addressed by other service packages.
A note on size of project. This article is aimed at people purchasing/planning smaller initial projects. This is in no way meant to suggest that your own phase one should be small or large or any size. We have successfully delivered phase one deployments from tiny to astoundingly large.
We find it’s more about the clarity of your vision and/or your experience with MAM in general, and clear expectations on both sides. Additionally we understand that often budgets are “use it or lose it”. In those cases know that you can still approach a project in a phased manner. Whether that next phase is simply planned or if it’s built into the initial purchase. We simply recommend that expectations are clear on both sides before beginning to avoid problems later.
All of our least successful projects share the traits of being unclear and rushed during planning. As well as the spec being out of alignment with expectations.
Another word of caution in the other direction. Ae find that some MAM integrators will suggest a “simple phase one” based on their lack of experience or expertise. Beware of this. Asking questions is a great way to vet your integrator. If they can’t give you a solid explanation or reason why they are dissuading you. and maybe discussion of the specifics of a similar project that was either out of budget or overly complex, this could be a red flag. NSA always will be open and transparent about these sorts of things and can identify your idea as “not possible”, or “something we’ve never done” or sometimes just “that might not fit your budget.” If you’re not hearing clarity, dig deeper.
For our part, NSA tend to try to make sure we are delivering a solid outcome in phase one over “let’s just do the easy stuff.” Our experience shows if you do not have at least one major win beyond “search and browse for our stuff” in phase one, the results are less satisfactory overall. Look for that outcome. NSA services can be purchased from all US CatDV resellers. So feel free to reach out for a consultation.
In balancing what we call a “survivable phase one” with some sort of automation or major time/effort savings to deliver a positive change in your business operations, this is often software or a custom workflow, of which, NSA has hundreds. Look for these easy, achievable, but valuable wins.
That all said, don’t let all this prevent you from choosing a simple phase one project if that is what fits your budget at this time. Implementing a MAM is a great first step to better processes and automation. As long as expectations are clear on all sides a small MAM implementation can be a game-changing first step for your media organization.
Here goes. Hope this is helpful.
CatDV Phase One U&R Project Scoping Guide
(High Level Only: Please engage with an experienced sales engineer for any system/phase planning.)
Specifying a CatDV or any MAM system can be difficult, especially in the early stages of a deal before much information is given/collected. To assist with this, North Shore developed a package of base services called “Up & Running” (U&R.) However, this package should be considered a base to build upon. It typically wouldn’t serve as a complete deployment package for any but the most simple of customers performing the simplest of first phases. U&R covers the following topics/functions in base form:
Simple deployment of CatDV Server and up to 1 Worker Node
Base Training on use of CatDV
Deployment of 2 simple Workflows
Single Drop Folder Workflow
Automated Proxy Creation
Workflow training on:
Ingest of assets into the DAM
Creation of low-resolution proxy
Tagging assets with metadata
Search based on metadata
Functions and variations that are specifically not covered include:
Advanced system deployment
Additional Worker Nodes
Advanced networking design or config
Including secure deployment outside firewall (internet access)
IT design consulting beyond simple config specs (under 1 hour)
Infosec consulting of any kind
Complex storage configurations
Ex. Systems with 3+ storage devices, external drives, storage that contains more than 3+ volumes such as certain avid/editorial-centric brands
Cloud consulting
No cloud system design is accounted for in U&R
Remote “workflow” of any kind
Access being different than “workflow”
Management of complex media types (Metaclips)
U&R is for OP-1a videos files only (with minor exceptions)
No camera card workflows
The codec is not the issue in many cases
The issue is that the cards contain multiple clips which must be kept together and managed as metaclips in CatDV
This greatly increases the complexity of every workflow involved
No specific still image workflows
Ingest of stills is easy, however very commonly there is metadata to extract and manage which requires configuration in CatDV
Also additional workflow is very commonly required with photos
No specific audio media workflows
Ingest of audio is typically easy but some formats have challenges making proxy
IT-heavy projects where more than a single call with IT department are required
Requires additional design services
Requires additional Project Management services
Training for more than 5 users
From 5 to 15 users (total) you can often just add training services
Over 10-15 users a different training plan should be implemented as this may involve far more project management than a small operation
Note higher counts of browse only web users may be accommodate in some cases
Worker Node Workflow Training
U&R training contains a 30 min admin/troubleshooting training on the Worker Node
NSA offers an introductory Advanced Worker Training package but only performs this training after completion of a phase one CatDV deployment
We recommend this is not sold in phase one deployments as it creates an unrealistic expectation for customers that they will become workflow designers in a few weeks
There are other things to consider but when doing a pre-sale check, if any of these topics are mentioned it is recommended you either address these with a budget addition or call out that the item is not included.
Examples of easy to catch scope risks:
“We have camera x”
Note, again, that the codec may not be the issue, rather that the files are “straight out of the camera”
“We want to connect this to the internet”
“We want to work remote”
“We want to use the cloud”
“We have lots of photos”
“Our IT is very cautious”
“We have 3+ volumes on our storage”
“We want to scan all our files into the MAM”
“We want to learn to make our own workflows”
“We have 10 editors and 25 producers”
We hope this article will assist you with spec’ing CatDV services. In the end, the more cautious everyone is in planning, the happier everyone will be and the better the outcome.