Four Considerations to Maximise Accuracy and Efficiency in QC Workflows

July 5, 2022

Quality control (QC) is a crucial final stage of the media workflow. Before signing content off, there are certain specifications and technical requirements which must be met. Not to mention the differing standards and localisation needs of individual regions. Any defects or inconsistencies in the final content can impact reputation, therefore, the top priority is to identify problems as soon as possible, correcting issues before the content is finalised.

QC is typically associated with being a time-consuming process. Many of the errors or irregularities that QC professionals are searching for, can be a mere split second out of the total run time of a film or series. Often, it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. With a newer generation of consumers having a heightened awareness of content quality, as well as the social platforms to make any dissatisfaction known, it is more important than ever to catch errors.

With today’s media supply chains needing more flexibility and efficiency, teams are seeking new ways to simplify complex tasks. Technology within the media industry is constantly evolving offering more methods to manage assets effectively.

Let’s explore 4 key steps to maximising QC workflows:

Integrate

Media supply chains have been years in the making, particularly for established tier one companies. Therefore, providing QC teams with solutions that integrate with existing tools and infrastructure, is a key consideration for any automation of workflows.

Additionally, when working with a large volume of assets, organisations need to have autonomy over how these new tools connect to media management solutions. By keeping the chain seamlessly linked, teams can avoid issues such as multiple versioning or disjointed actions which move content around unnecessarily. A solution which integrates and improves on workflows rather than replacing them completely, results in a simpler transition and much faster adoption.

Automate

Carrying out manual validation can be time-consuming, repetitive and doesn’t guarantee that every error will be identified. Metadata driven tools are now available to help streamline workflows and perfect content. The days of repetitive manual QC searches are numbered, and while the need for final checks will remain, the development of automation is providing opportunities to let the metadata do the work for you.

Going back to our needle in a haystack analogy, imagine you had a powerful magnet that could help you locate what you were looking for in no time at all. Metadata is this magnet, creating markers which allow operators to visualise time coded information within the content.

Understand

Growing competition within the world of media and entertainment, has resulted in a rise in pressure on creative professionals to create and deliver content to boost viewers and subscribers. Teams need a validation tool which allows them to understand issues as quickly as possible, so they can keep up with content demand.

QC operators should be able to work within an interactive timeline, displaying all available asset components (video, discrete audio, subtitles) and time-based metadata. A simple overview of the problems gives the operator the ability to spot-check efficiently before responding, by highlighting errors, and allowing them to quickly inspect warnings.

Respond

Validation tools should give operators confidence that they are not missing anything. Presenting warnings and errors in a clear interface with notifications that are instantly recognisable, enables the user to address the issues directly. This avoids operators spending additional time scrubbing through content to locate a specific frame. The operator can then rapidly determine the next steps for the media asset, whether that is sending it back for re-editing or passing it on for further processing through the media supply chain.

Accurate.Video Validate is a cloud native, automated QC and review solution. It offers an elegant, intuitive interface specifically designed for integrated professional media workflows, leveraging time-based metadata.

To find out more visit: https://www.codemill.se/accuratevideo

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