ClearView Flex from the Cloud
Sohonet’s VP of product development, Brandon Bussinger, discusses the hardware-free ClearView Flex and how it streamlines remote collaboration, boosts workflow efficiency, and opens new possibilities for creative teams.
Q> How would you explain the concept of ClearView Flex being virtual to someone unfamiliar with the platform?
ClearView Flex helps creative teams review their content in real-time directly from their creative workstations with high quality, low latency, and reliability that you just can’t get from other solutions. Until recently we have relied on dedicated hardware to capture and share the video from creative workstations running tools like Avid Media Composer and Blackmagic Davinci Resolve. Now we are able to offer the same experience when that creative workstation is running in a virtual environment like AWS or VMWare. Same great product that ‘just works’, just now it works for cloud workflows.
Q> What does the workflow look like for someone choosing to use Virtual Flex?
The workflow remains similar to our hardware-based setup. Instead of receiving physical equipment, you download a virtual image or access an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) through your AWS account. You then install it on a virtual machine and connect via NDI from your workstation. It’s a seamless transition to a cloud-based solution.
Q> What new avenues of innovation and efficiency does it unlock for our clients and the industry?
Virtualising and using cloud technology allows for better space management and supports remote work. Traditional remote desktop solutions weren't designed for high-quality video monitoring and collaboration. ClearView Flex using our vFlex encoder allows teams to consolidate technical infrastructure on prem or migrate to the cloud without giving up frame-accurate, colour-accurate for remote reviews.
Q> Why would a creative team opt for a virtual infrastructure over hardware-based solutions, and what benefits does it offer?
Virtual infrastructure offers several advantages over traditional hardware. It’s more flexible and efficient, allowing you to use only the hardware you need at any given time. This reduces power consumption, saves space, and makes remote access more secure. With public cloud options like AWS, you can scale your resources as needed, providing additional flexibility and reducing the need for physical space in your facility and streamlining workflows for remote artists.
