Aston

Data-driven graphics 

For applications like Elections, Sports or Entertainment, data driven graphics are essential to display large amount of data in a visually attractive manner. Displaying complex data is extremely easy with Aston. Data can be easily linked to template forms and can be input manually or automatically from external sources such as databases, spreadsheets, RSS feeds, etc., and allowing for unlimited input sources per production and data cross-references.

SmartTemplates: Modular Graphic Creation 

Aston’s graphics are based on SmartTemplates that vastly outperform the traditional page-based creation. Graphics, of course, can be animated, allowing their internal elements to interact, being built on screen or use a particular behaviour to display the data as required.  

SmartTemplates can feature unlimited animations, and as complex as required, which can be triggered at any time. SmartTemplates also allow their elements to change dynamically as data changes, as they can automatically look up data and redraw graphics accordingly. Data can be edited manually or linked to databases, spreadsheets or real-time feeds for automatic retrieval, and scripting can be included, if required.

On top of that, objects can interact with other objects within the template of screen. And as a graphic can be made out of other graphics, the final structure is contained in a project, which holds all the graphics, templates, data pages and the StormLogic which defines the templates’ interaction.

StormLogic: scalable animation logic 

To add flexibility to graphics creation and playout, Brainstorm developed StormLogic, an approach to intuitive template interaction with an advanced object-based animation. It is a tree structure of templates, and groups of templates, that defines the logic between them. The object structure of the StormLogic defines the animation logic and hierarchy, and all the templates contained within it will follow those rules.  

StormLogic allows building complex animations and interactions between elements with no need of scripting or complex animation matrixes.

StormLogic resides on the render system, a complex graphics project can be created in a collaborative manner, using different workstations and designers, and finally compiling all the templates on the render system, placing them inside the StormLogic structure. StormLogic allows designers to cut or alter projects dynamically, or interpolate between different actions on the fly, even while on-air.

Collaborative workflow 

Aston can seamlessly integrate into collaborative workflow environments, allowing for multiple inputs from designers and other team members involved. In this way, Aston allows for sharing objects, libraries, presets, compositions or complete projects so they are available to any user on the network.  

The intelligent way StormLogic manages the different templates allows for modifying or updating any object within the project while it maintains its animation logic unchanged, regardless its complexity and number of elements. As a result, Aston projects provide unmatched flexibility and can be created and managed in a modular approach.

By using the PSD, AE and AI exporter plugins, Aston can include graphics created with such tools as compositions, with total control of objects and layers. In addition, Aston can be integrated in MOS-compatible environments.

New on Aston 5

Aston 5 is a major update that includes a number of unique features designed to enhance content creation and output. Apart from improvements in rendering such as PBR materials or HDR support, Aston 5 provides advanced features like simultaneous renders, multiple outputs and a multi-channel option. 

Layers 

Layers allow for creating simultaneous multiple renders using a single workstation. Using Layers, InfinitySet can now deliver several video outputs from a single instance or combine several crosspoints in a single video output (stack).

Aston Multichannel 

Thanks to the new LAYERS feature, Aston can playout multiple channels from a single workstation or from different workstations, which can also be combined with the multiple simultaneous projects, providing extended workflow possibilities, and including InfinitySet into the equation, this extends the capabilities of both solutions.  

Using multiple channels everything can be done within a single workstation. With these new capabilities there are now infinite combinations of projects, streams, channels and outputs.

PBR and HDR 

Aston fully supports PBR shaders as materials and can also be imported from external shader editing software. In addition, Aston can render HDR in floating 16 bit per channel/component, supporting for P2020 gamma correction output.

Beyond broadcast 

Aston is resolution independent and works with any HDTV flavour, 4K or even higher resolutions for larger screens or videowalls. Aston is the perfect tool for creating large, animated graphics content to fill in screens of any size, format and aspect ratio, in real-time.

Augmented Reality 

Augmented Reality requires the interaction between sets, talents and virtual objects, often created out of external data sources. These in-context data driven objects allow for visually engaging and better explained representations of the data.  

Aston graphics and projects, including its animation logic and structure, seamlessly integrate with InfinitySet, enhancing the creation, management and use of graphics content for Augmented and Mixed Reality, which can also be enhanced by using such in-context data driven graphics.

Interactivity 

Aston can connect with external systems and devices using several industry-standard connections or via network, allowing for enhanced interconnectivity to trigger actions as required.

Because of this, Aston can expand its reach beyond pure graphics, becoming a perfectly suited system for entertainment applications, capable of controlling external actions in live or live-to-tape operation.  Such ability to control actions is also not only applicable to Aston features, but can also lead to control external devices by using industry-standard protocols and connections such as GPI or DMX.

Turnkey system

Aston is not just a product but a whole family of 2D and 3D modules (Designer, Player, CG and Snap Render) covering from creation to playout. These modules can be combined in different bundles and with different feature sets to match the specific requirements of the clients. 

Aston is delivered as a complete, turnkey system ready to use, fully and immediately integrable in any broadcaster’s workflow, as a standalone system, or in complex environments. Using standard broadcast plus complete IT connectivity, it is prepared to work at its best since day one.