Announcements

Slicer release 241120.04.01

Changes since 240916.03.01-master slicer release:

Fixes:

  • Fix a message graph deadlock regression introduced in 240916.03.01-master slicer release.

  • Fix an issue with lang/desc override provided with -ttml_to_cc.

  • Fix handling of signal loss for both dynamic and static overlays.

  • Fix several dasher feature parity issues: /queues, CC filtering, etc...

  • Fix several -dasher crashes due to upload failures, storage switching, etc...

  • Fix a -dasher stalled live channel issue, and a possible crash on shutdown.

Enables:

  • Implement automatic bitrate estimation for TR 101 290 analysis.

  • Implement IPv6 support for dynamic overlays.

  • Implement scheduling of static overlays.

  • Implement accounting for graphic overlays.

  • Enable -dasher option for client-side encoding and packaging of all Profile ray variants.

Other changes:

  • Improve logging.

  • Add broker list pinging.

  • Add support for X-Auth-Uplynk-JWT.

  • Add /static_overlay_start and /static_overlay_end.

  • Upgrade several open source 3rd party libraries to newer version.

  • Improve dynamic_overlay: configuration syntax.

  • Update libcurl root CA bundle.

Known issues:

  • Apple M1 slicer build (mac_arm64) does not support Dolby AC3/EC3 encoding, or Nielsen options.

Prerequisites:

  • Due to CentOS 7 reaching EOL on July 1st 2024 this slicer release was built on Ubuntu 18.04.

  • Nvidia driver 418 or later is required for HEVC 4K HDR/SDR.

  • Mac intel build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_64-241120.04.01-master.

  • Mac arm64 build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_arm64-241120.04.01-master.

As of 23020901-rc1 VOD slicer no longer requires a CPU with AVX instruction set support, and is compatible with rosetta on Apple M1.

assetinfo API Update

We just completed an update to the player-facing assetinfo API endpoint.

The logic used to determine the value of is_ad in that endpoint's response was updated. There were cases where the previous logic would resolve is_ad inaccurately; this has been corrected.

Slicer release 240916.03.01 (Recalled, due to ad state error)

Changes since 240815.02.01-master slicer release:

Fixes:

  • Avoid constant audio decoder reinit in TSUDPSlicer.

  • Fix incorrect output framerate when slicing interlaced SDI (blackmagic) video with deinterlace: doubler.

  • Avoid overcorrecting non-monotonically increasing DTS and causing more problems.

  • Fix dynamic overlay CMS meta issue and other dynamic overlay issues.

  • Fix a deadlock on liveslicer -dasher shutdown.

  • Fix liveslicer 8 hour beam rollover while in an Ad break.

  • Fix a small memory leak in URL encode/decode codepath.

Enables:

  • Initial support for persistent scheduling of dynamic overlays.

  • Watch for MPEG-TS PMT version changes and either switch to the new stream PID or shutdown if a non-optional PID disappears.

  • Enable /dynamic_overlay_start and /dynamic_overlay_end slicer API endpoints.

Other changes:

  • Delay 8 hour beam rollover by up to 10 minutes while slicer is in a boundary break.

  • Drop python 2 support from slicebot.

  • Improve logging of luma, frame delay, video processor, etc...

  • Combine debugoverlay luma and luma_diff.

  • Add discard_corrupt_packets: config option, off by default.

  • Add ebur128 analysis to slicer status and debugoverlay.

  • Log whether input is interlaced/progressive.

  • Change default scte_type to none.

  • Set use_all_audio_tracks: default to yes if progID: is specified.

  • Add ad_last_seen_utc_ms to slicer status.

Known issues:

  • Apple M1 slicer build (mac_arm64) does not support Dolby AC3/EC3 encoding, or Nielsen options.

Prerequisites:

  • Due to CentOS 7 reaching EOL on July 1st 2024 this slicer release was built on Ubuntu 18.04.

  • Nvidia driver 418 or later is required for HEVC 4K HDR/SDR.

  • Mac intel build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_64-240916.03.01-master.

  • Mac arm64 build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_arm64-240916.03.01-master.

As of 23020901-rc1 VOD slicer no longer requires a CPU with AVX instruction set support, and is compatible with rosetta on Apple M1.

Slicer release 240815.02.01

Changes since 240718.02.01-master slicer release:

Fixes:

  • Fix incorrect -trim PTS adjustment when slicing a VOD m3u8 source with multiple audio tracks.

  • Fix possible mis-parsing of Dolby audio.

  • Fix incorrect log level log spam introduced in 240718.02.01-master slicer release.

Enables:

  • Initial support for the new dynamic_overlay: feature.

  • Support analyzeduration:, probesize:, and no_signal_startup: with input: rtmp and input: srt.

  • Add support for pids_optional: to enable UDP liveslicer to start even if some streams are missing.

Other changes:

  • Add support for backup_* liveslicer configuration options.

  • Improve use_brokers=4 logging for timed metadata.

  • Switch to a new algorithm for static video detection.

  • Remove redundant video loss detection.

  • Pass through closed captions in input: file mode.

  • Pass through audio track name and language from VOD m3u8 source.

  • Add -libpythonpath and -libpythonversion liveslicer options.

Known issues:

  • Apple M1 slicer build (mac_arm64) does not support Dolby AC3/EC3 encoding, or Nielsen options.

Prerequisites:

  • Due to CentOS 7 reaching EOL on July 1st 2024 this slicer release was built on Ubuntu 18.04.

  • Nvidia driver 418 or later is required for HEVC 4K HDR/SDR.

  • Mac intel build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_64-240815.02.01-master.

  • Mac arm64 build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_arm64-240815.02.01-master.

As of 23020901-rc1 VOD slicer no longer requires a CPU with AVX instruction set support, and is compatible with rosetta on Apple M1.

Slicer release 240718.02.01

Changes since 240603.02.01-master slicer release:

Fixes:

  • Fix handling of audio desc/lang. supplied on the liveslicer command line.

  • Fix loss of timed metadata after /content_start.

  • Fix a liveslicer file mode issues when video starts 2s before audio.

  • Fix a use_brokers=3 and use_brokers=4 deadlock due to un-acknowledged break durations caused by a /pod_start, followed by a /blackout, followed by a /content_start.

Enables:

  • POST liveslicer state/status/image periodically to predefined webhook URLs.

  • Report slicer health impairment count and user-defined severity levels.

  • Partial support for SCTE-35 Multiple UPID types structure.

Other changes:

  • Improve SCTE-35 parser logging.

  • Update CA bundle.

Known issues:

  • Apple M1 slicer build (mac_arm64) does not support Dolby AC3/EC3 encoding, or Nielsen options.

Prerequisites:

  • Due to CentOS 7 reaching EOL on July 1st 2024 this slicer release was built on Ubuntu 18.04.

  • Nvidia driver 418 or later is required for HEVC 4K HDR/SDR.

  • Mac intel build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_64-240718.02.01-master.

  • Mac arm64 build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_arm64-240718.02.01-master.

As of 23020901-rc1 VOD slicer no longer requires a CPU with AVX instruction set support, and is compatible with rosetta on Apple M1.

Updated Navigation Bar

We've recently updated the navigation bar, and what was formerly known as "Slicers" is now called "Ingest." Additionally, we've restructured that page to simplify and enhance navigation.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Support.

Slicer release 240603.02.01

Changes since 240304.05.01-master slicer release:

Fixes:

  • Fix excessive discontinuities when configuration option discont_when_fps_changes: yes is used.

  • Fix usability issues with -atrack, -ac3_pass_through_all, and -use_all_audio_tracks.

  • Fix premature exit of UploaderThread in VOD slicer, leaving VOD assets in slicing state in the CMS.

  • Implement additional exception handling.

  • Fix suspected race condition with use_brokers=4.

  • Fix liveslicer crash on startup with OP47 teletext signal when render_teletext is disabled.

Enables:

  • Add support for teletext ingest over SDI (OP-47) with render_teletext: page:lang(,page:lang)* slicer config option.

Other changes:

  • Adjust debugoverlay font size to fit any frame size.

  • Add attribution to timed breaks, to help with investigation of unexpected slicer state changes.

  • Add /set_log_level?verbosity=3 slicer API endpoint.

  • Include broker ID and beam ID in the log message.

  • Detect and log when liveslicer has too many active beams.

  • Implement additional logging.

Known issues:

  • Live slicer command line options -lang, -audiodesc, -mix do not work as expected.

Prerequisites:

  • Due to CentOS 6 reaching EOL in November 2020 this slicer release requires CentOS 7 or newer.

  • Due to the slicer being built on CentOS 7 it picks up some new library dependencies which are not included in the base install of Ubuntu 18.04. Ubuntu users may need to pre-install them: sudo apt install libnl-3-200 libatomic1.

  • Nvidia driver 418 or later is required for HEVC 4K HDR/SDR.

  • Mac intel build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_64-240603.02.01-master.

  • Mac arm64 build: sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine uplynk_slicer_mac_arm64-240603.02.01-master.

As of 23020901-rc1 VOD slicer no longer requires a CPU with AVX instruction set support, and is compatible with rosetta on Apple M1.

Clipping Profiles API and YouTube Authentication

Managing multiple YouTube accounts is now easier than ever. Our latest update to the Clipping API introduces enhanced functionality, allowing you to create, read, update, and delete Clipping Profiles, as well as authenticate with your YouTube account directly through the API.

For more information, please check out our documentation here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Support.

Ad Data for VOD/Live, and Encoding Breakdown

We're happy to announce new enhancements to our Analytics dashboards:

  • Ad Summary: Now supports both live and VOD data with new filters, giving you better insights into ad performance.

  • Encoding Breakdown: Added to Asset Summary, Channel Summary, and Event Summary, providing deeper insights into how your content is sliced.

For more information, please check out our documentation here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Support.

Slicer Failover - Custom Priority Mode and UI Improvements

Slicer Failover has been enhanced to have Custom Priority Mode. This allows multiple Slicers to have the same priority to allow for better control of both failover and failback.

There is also a new failover threshold to do failover when there is an Involuntary Blackout. This allows for improved failover when there are issues with Slicer/Broker communications.

With Slicer Release 23062600 and later, there is no longer a need to have failover_id in the Slicer configuration file or to reboot the Slicer when thresholds are changed.

The UI has been improved in several ways to make Slicer Failover easier to use.

Documentation will be updated soon and will be available below:

Contact Support or your Technical Account Manager with any questions.