Blackbird (software)
Blackbird is an integrated internet video platform, video editing software, covering non-linear editing and publishing for broadcast, web and mobile.
Designed by Blackbird plc to allow collaborative editing of video at resolutions of up to 540p and up to 60 frames per second on bandwidths as low as 2MBit/s, it is capable of video logging, reviewing, publishing and hosting through HD and 4K to UHD quality from original sources. The system is implemented as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, a Java applet and a pure JavaScript web application as part of its user interface. The latter runs on platforms without application installation, codec installation, or machine configuration and has Web 2.0 features.
Blackbird won the Royal Television Society's award for Technology in the post-production process in December 2005, and is now used globally. The underlying compression technology and the user interface are covered by separate patents.
Usage
The Blackbird platform's functionality makes it suitable for multiple uses in the video editing workflow.For editors and producers wanting to produce broadcast-quality output, Blackbird provides an environment for the early stages of post-production to happen remotely and cheaply and more recently fine cut editing. Blackbird then outputs instructions in standard formats which can be applied to the high-quality master-footage for detailed and high-quality editing prior to broadcast.
Other users want to prepare footage for publishing to lower-quality media - the small screens of mobile phones and video iPods, and to the web where bandwidth restricts the quality of video it is currently practical to output. For these users, all editing can be carried out in Blackbird, before publishing to social media and online video channels, OTT or commercial cloud storage. Video can also be saved in MPEG, Ogg, HTML5, podcasting formats as well as Blackbird's proprietary player.
The platform was reported in July 2012 as being used by NBC in connection with the 2012 Summer Olympics involving integration of the service with YouTube and continues to be used to deliver coverage for top tier sports such as Formula One, PGA European Tour and the Premier League.
Services
The video platform is referred to broadly as Blackbird and marketed as three distinct B2B products:- Edge
- Ascent
- Forte
Blackbird Ascent and Blackbird Forte
Ascent and Forte enable functionality including: video logging, frame accurate non-linear editing, reviewing, publishing, storyboarding and clipping. Ascent is designed for workflows that require a subset of Forte's features.Blackbird Edge server
The Blackbird Edge server is a gateway between content and the Blackbird platform. Clients may elect to use a single physical Edge server per fixed or remote location to scale up operations and improve overall performance. Features may vary based on workflow / infrastructure requirement but include:- Live and non-live Content ingest
- Local caching of video downloads
- Immediate access of video over a Local Area Network during upload
- Seamless transfer of video as required between a Blackbird Edge Server and the Blackbird Infrastructure
Blackbird Player
The Blackbird Player supports; renderless publishing, multiple layers, own branding, clipping and URL sharing, ability to revoke access and a patented navigation bar. The Blackbird decoder is packaged in libraries for native mobile apps, applets and a pure JavaScript player.Components
The Blackbird platform is made up of various components, discussed here.Platform servers
The server infrastructure on the Blackbird backbone network dedicated to Blackbird's customers are distributed over numerous locations and handle around 10,000 hours of new video content each week. These act as one system, increasing both effective capacity and redundancy. As the front end does most of the work during editing, and the upload software does the compression work, the server is lightly loaded and can support many users at the same time. Sites may also attach a server to their own network for improved performance/scalability.Codecs
Blackbird has its own codecs for both video and audio. These use a form of adaptive coding to allow local variations in the type of data to be encoded efficiently.Osprey
Osprey supports loss-free video compression. Blackbird users can see broadcast quality video during editing and broadcasters can use the video output from Blackbird directly for transmission.Blackbird
The current Blackbird video codec is called Blackbird 9. It is designed for both editing and video streaming over variable speed broadband Internet connections. By varying the frame rate, it can provide consistent picture quality even on slow connections.Like its predecessor Firebird, the Blackbird codec allows real time compression and playback of video. This is important for handling the quantity of video in modern productions, as well as the reviewing, logging, editing and publishing features of Blackbird.
The Blackbird codec is a proprietary video codec developed by Forbidden Technologies and used by their flagship product, Blackbird.
Blackbird is designed for both editing and video streaming over variable speed internet connections. Blackbird can provide consistent picture quality on slow connections by varying the frame rate through the use of tokens. The tokens represent each source image which are scaled versions of each source image.
The Blackbird video codec facilitates a content-aware dynamic framerate. The codec can create a lightweight proxy, which can be used to deliver a live stream from an event.
Stephen Streater is the principle progenitor of the Blackbird video codec, which was released in 2004.
On 22 January 2017, Forbidden Technologies released the Blackbird 9 codec.
On 6 March 2018, MSG Networks received a New York chapter Emmy nomination for "Technical Achievement" as follows "MSG Networks Digital Video Editing & Digital Distribution via Blackbird Technology".
Impala
The Blackbird audio codec is called Impala. Datarate and quality can be varied depending on the use: 10 kbit/s for modem web video and mobile playback, 30 kbit/s for audio only modem playback or broadband playback with video, and 80 kbit/s per channel for editing.User interfaces
Functionality to support production workflows, account management and media asset management is accessible from native mobile apps for Android and iOS, web and Java platforms. In 2017 a strategic migration to JavaScript was begun to deliver video playback and video editing capability to web browsers without additional programs or plugins.Account management and MAM
Accounts and users are separate. Many individuals may use the same Blackbird account and each user is assigned a role. Admin/operational and MAM features include; transfer, search and playback of material, ingest configuration, workflow, account and user settings and usage reports.Security
Each standard user account has its own password-protected single sign-on web page. Once logged on, the users have access to their own videos, library material, and any functionality their account supports. Video is not stored on the local computer's hard disc, so when the user closes their web browser, their video is not accessible to subsequent users of the same computer.Internet standards
The Blackbird interfaces operate through Internet standards such as HTTP, JavaScript and Java, so can be used even in companies with severe firewalls. If web browsing works, then Blackbird almost always will too.Publishing
The Blackbird editing platform supports publishing from original sources up to 4K, to destinations including: social media and online video channels, OTT and commercial cloud storage. Video can be saved to a range of formats, still images and the proprietary Blackbird Player.Timecode export
Each frame of professionally shot video is tagged with a timecode which identifies it. Combining the timecode information of video handled within Blackbird at browse quality with the original broadcast quality video allows information in Blackbird to be transferred to a broadcast quality version. Videos logged or edited in Blackbird can be exported in the form of a simple EDL or more complex XML for autoconform and offline or online on an Avid or Final Cut Pro system.Broadcast
Videos which have been edited within Blackbird can be conformed/rendered to multiple outputs automatically at anything up to 3840p - full Ultra High Definition. At present 1080p HD accounts for the majority of production workflows. After editing Blackbird uploads the full quality frames used in the finished programme into the Cloud, or alternative eco-systems via Blackbird Edge. The special effects, captions, layers, graphics, cropping and stretching, colour correction and titles are combined at full resolution on a Blackbird Cloud for download, or Edge Server, ready for transmission. Material can be reviewed and edited from anywhere on the web, not just one local source.Systems integration
Final programmes can be made, even in High-definition, and sent in broadcast quality efficiently to the broadcaster for transmission without using any third party editing systems. However Blackbird supports integration with third party systems, both in broadcast and elsewhere.EDL/XML
Blackbird supports Edit decision list/XML export to industry editing systems such as or Avid / Final Cut Pro. For example, creation of rough cuts in Blackbird can then be reliably conformed on Avid, even when they include clips which the Avid would not normally be able to ingest because of time code breaks and gaps.SDI
improves Blackbird's integration into the high end broadcast environment. SDI support allows Blackbird to ingest source material in both Standard Definition and High Definition resolutions from any professional video source in real time. The SDI video input meets both Phase Alternating Line and National Television System Committee standards.Licensing
The software is provided as a service which is charged by usage.History
Blackbird is a development from an editing system made by Eidos Interactive in the 1990s. This history starts from the first public showing of this product, at the International Broadcasting Convention in Europe in 1990.| Date | Version | Platform | Significant features |
| 1990-1999 | Edit 1, Edit 2, Optima |
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| Date | Version | Platform | Significant features |
| Jan 2006 | New video codec designed for editing |
| Blackbird 1 codec |
| Jan/Feb 2006 | First prime time TV series uses Forscene | BBC1 | Super Vets |
| Apr 2006 | Podcasting released | Video iPod, iTunes | |
| Apr/May 2006 | British Army uses Forscene mobile player | Symbian mobile phones | Ascent of Everest published on mobiles |
| May 2006 | Video Podcast | Forscene | Videos edited in Forscene can be published directly as video podcasts. These can then be downloaded and viewed in a podcast viewer such as iTunes or on a video iPod. |
| June 2006 | Forscene review | BBC Breakfast, This Morning, Sky NewsChannel 4 News, Channel 5 News | Broadcasters select Save the Children footage |
| August 2006 | Forscene Ogg support added | Java | Ogg format is supported by Wikipedia for upload of suitable video content |
| September 2006 | Forscene online chat feature added | Java |
|
| November 2006 | Citizen Journalism | Java / Symbian mobile phones | Third project completed at the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. Citizen journalism began at the IBC in 2006. |
| January 2007 | Account Management | Web | Interface provides for management of accounts by customers. |
| February 2007 | Forscene Flash support added | Java | Export of video to the Flash format for use with the Adobe Flash Player. |
| March 2007 | Forscene Speed Control | Java | Video and/or audio clips can be edited for slow motion/fast motion style effects. |
| April 2007 | Forscene Fades | Java | Fade up and fade to black with a single drag on the video track. |
| May 2007 | File names/playback | Java | Multi-line file names and three-speed playback control. |
| June 2007 | Security | Java | Log on now supports the secure HTTPS protocol. |
| August 2007 | Images / playback | Java | Images can be integrated directly into the video track and playback can now be viewed at 150%. |
| September 2007 | DV | Java | Broadcast quality DV can be output directly from the web interface and effective transfer of DV from the field over standard internet links. |
| October 2007 | Webstart/codec | Java | Webstart can be used to run FORscene, providing access to more memory available, and better performance. The Blackbird codecs deliver better picture quality and lower memory requirements. |
| December 2007 | Audio/graphics/codec/ account management | Java | Simpler stereo audio editing by linking the two audio tracks. Add anti-aliased graphic overlays with transparency levels and fades. Accounts distinguish between departmental and inter-departmental levels of access. |
| January 2008 | Codec | Java | Blackbird codec upgraded to version 5. |
| February 2008 | Saturation/recompress/ 1GB/audio | Java | Right dragging in the video window adjust saturation levels. Recompress videos to benefit from the latest codec. Modern machines may set a new memory limit to 1GB. Improved audio quality. |
| March 2008 | Proxy box/AAF | Java | Boost internet performance for videos captured locally or viewed recently. Support for Avid's AAF files is available, complementing existing support for EDL and FCP. |
| June 2008 | Thumbnails/storyboard | Java | Web published videos have click-through thumbnails. Storyboard offers a simpler editing process with fewer clicks required to use it. |
| July 2008 | AAF/white balance/JPEG export | Java | Additional data added to AAF output to carry more information through to Avid from FORscene. Adjust for colour differences between artificial / daylight conditions. Export a video frame to a JPEG image. |
| August 2008 | Colourful fades | Java | Colour wheel controls fades to/from colours other than the default can pick from colours on the video window. |
| October 2008 | Titles | Java | In addition to imported graphics Forscene's subtitle functions are enhanced with background and font colour, transparency, and size controls. |
| September 2009 | Forscene Server | Server | Sites can multiply the number of users on their existing internet connections whilst preserving all the advantages of internet access from anywhere. |
| September 2009 | Forscene HD | HD | Forscene can now output HD directly providing remote access to video for editing from anywhere in the world, only uploading the fraction of HD that is actually used in the final programme, and ability to use existing computers and internet links. |
| September 2009 | Osprey | Codec | With Osprey codec Forscene enables video editing at broadcast quality locally through a web browser interface and wide-area over the public Internet. |
| April 2010 | Multicam | Java | Multicam can support up to eight concurrent synchronised video streams for logging and editing. |
| Date | Version | Platform | Significant features |
| March 2016 | Captevate | JavaScript | Video editor designed for the consumer market launched. |
| August 2017 | VidLib | JavaScript | Conversion of core video library from Java. Downloads and renders edits in real-time. Will initially support two applications; Blackbird Player and Blackbird Clipper. |
| March 2018 | Blackbird 9 | Codec | Release of Blackbird 9 codec. |
| April 2018 | Cloud Provider | Azure | Forscene made available on Microsoft's Azure Marketplace cloud computing infrastructure. |
| May 2018 | Ascent/Forte | Integration | AI OS integration annotates content with meta-data and drives workflow. |
| September 2018 | Ascent/Forte | JavaScript | Products Ascent and Forte JavaScript implementations launched. Frame accurate editing can be undertaken in browsers without additional configuration or installation of plugins or applications. |
| January 2019 | Blackbird | Fitness Technology | Peloton select Blackbird to edit on-demand virtual classes. |
| March 2019 | Blackbird | Sports | IMG adopt Blackbird to clip, edit and publish live sports video content. |
| May 2019 | Blackbird | Sports | Deltatre extend use of Blackbird for turnaround of long and short-form game highlights and clips for a range of sports, including rugby, cycling and athletics. |
| May 2019 | Blackbird | Sports | NRL use Blackbird to support packaging short highlights during live NRL matches to be distributed to the league’s global fanbase. |
| June 2019 | Blackbird | Social Media | A+E Networks adopt Blackbird to give executives, producers, editors, marketers and others within the ability to view, edit and enrich video library content. |
| August 2019 | Blackbird | News | TownNews extend use of Blackbird to 39 TV stations. |
| October 2019 | Aperture Solutions Group | Cloud Editing Turnkey System | The US Department of State and its production teams will use Blackbird to rapidly clip, edit and publish news broadcast live to its social channels including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and to own website and other digital news outlets across the United States. |
| November 2019 | Blackbird | AWS | Blackbird's cloud production and distribution system chosen by Bloomberg Media. |
| December 2019 | Blackbird | Sports | Eleven Sports adopt Blackbird for rapid editing and publishing of sports content to fans online |