Storage, Archive and Distribution: From Online to Cloud

Managing storage tiers efficiently is critical when catalogs grow and usage patterns vary. VSNExplorer MAM is not limited to a single storage type; it tracks and controls assets across NAS, SAN, ODA, HSM‑managed LTO robots, CDNs and cloud storage such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage or Microsoft Azure.​

The platform supports:

• Smart storage management across Online, Offline, Nearline and Cloud, including catalog information for each unit (allowed codecs, wrappers, credentials), which makes file transfers between nodes more efficient.​

• Archiving and partial restore: Archiving to LTO, Blu‑Ray, SONY ODS, hard disks and cloud storage, while keeping a permanent low‑resolution copy available for preview and editing, and allowing partial recovery of selected segments instead of restoring full clips.​

• Multi‑platform distribution: Direct publishing from the MAM to linear TV servers, web TV, VOD, OTT and social platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, with automatic conversion to MP4 and completion of required metadata fields.​

This approach turns the MAM into the central point where teams can decide where content is stored and how it is delivered, without additional manual steps or separate tools.​

Ingest, Cataloguing, AI and Search: Making Content Usable

Ingest and cataloguing are where many media workflows lose time; VSNExplorer MAM focuses on automating repetitive steps and making searches more precise.​

Documented capabilities include:

• Ingest and proxy generation: Through VSN Desktop Agent, users can register and transfer content from local or remote locations, using VSN’s accelerated UMP protocol when latency is an issue; after ingest, the system automatically transcodes, creates low‑res copies, thumbnails, keyframes and detects shot changes.​

• Manual cataloguing and Logger: The Logger tool allows operators to add markers and segments with predefined or free‑text metadata while viewing the proxy, including frame‑accurate or GOP‑accurate segments depending on format; these segments can be blocked or controlled for distribution and editing when required.​

• AI‑based automatic cataloguing: VSNExplorer MAM integrates with AI engines from Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Watson, AWS and VSN AI to analyze both file information and content, extracting metadata such as faces, objects, logos, OCR text, speech‑to‑text, translation, emotions and sentiment, with results displayed directly in the cataloguing view.​

• Advanced metadata model and search: A parameterizable metadata model, rules editor and support for standard sets (EBU, SMPTE) let organizations adapt fields to each content type; a predictive search engine with semantic search and faceted filters allows users to find complete assets or specific segments quickly.​

By combining manual tools, AI services and a flexible metadata model, the system makes large archives more searchable and reduces the time between ingest and actual reuse of content.​

Security, Permissions and Operational Control

Security, governance and day‑to‑day control are part of the core design of VSNExplorer MAM. The system treats media as one of the most critical assets of a broadcast or media company and provides mechanisms to protect it accordingly.​

Key aspects are:

• Secure access and transfers: All access to the system uses HTTPS, while file transfers are encrypted (AES‑256 bits) and can be accelerated using VSN’s IP transfer technologies.​

• Multitenant and permissions: A multitenant architecture and a detailed permission program allow administrators to define which users, departments or roles can access specific functionalities and content, with integration into corporate domains (AD, LDAP) for centralized user management.​

• Real‑time tracking and monitoring: The MAM tracks assets and transfer processes in real time, providing visibility of where content is stored and which operations are in progress across NAS, ODA, SAN, HSM, CDN and cloud.​

This combination helps engineering and operations teams to keep control of complex environments without resorting to manual tracking outside the system.​

2026 MAM Readiness Checklist (Based on VSNExplorer MAM)

1. Architecture and Access

• Web‑based HTML5 interface accessible from any browser and OS, with HTTPS encryption.​

• Open, service‑oriented architecture with APIs ready for integration with traffic, news, QC, playout, HSM and archive systems.​

• Deployment options that include on‑prem, Cloud and hybrid, with SaaS models available on Azure, Amazon or private cloud.​

2. Ingest and Media Preparation

• Multi‑source ingest from local and remote sites using VSN Desktop Agent and web drag‑and‑drop.​

• Automatic transcoding, proxy creation, thumbnails, keyframes and shot‑change detection after ingest.​

• Integration with SDI ingest solutions (VSNOne TV and third‑party systems) with automatic inclusion of content and metadata in the MAM.​

3. Cataloguing, AI and Search

• Manual cataloguing tools with Logger, segment markers and customizable metadata fields and rules.​

• AI‑based automatic metadata extraction integrated into the MAM interface, using leading third‑party AI engines and VSN AI.​

• Predictive, semantic and faceted search capabilities that return both full assets and relevant segments.​

4. Storage, Archive and Publication

• Smart storage management across Online, Offline, Nearline and Cloud, with catalog data for each storage node.​

• Integration with leading HSM systems for LTO and ODA, deep archive management and partial file recovery.​

• Direct publishing to TV servers, OTT, web platforms and social networks (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter), including automatic conversion and metadata mapping.​

5. Security and Operations

• Encrypted access and file transfers, integration with AD/LDAP and centralized permissions.​

• Multitenant support and permission management per user, department or rank.​

• Real‑time tracking and monitoring of file transfers and asset locations across all storage devices.​