It seems like the transition to "tapeless" or file based working has been a long time coming, but most companies and individuals we talk to seem to agree that 2010 is the year that it's really becoming real for them. With two major tapeless production initiatives on the road for delivery this year (BSkyB and the BBC), time apparently running out for tape-based cameras, and increasing numbers of companies opting for file-based production, now is the time where the prototypes and the promises end, and the real day to day delivery has to start. See - I knew I could complete that paragraph without using "where the rubber hits the road" if I tried hard enough!

Mediasmiths is actively supporting a number of our clients through their transition to file-based working, and what we've noticed is that even the most forward-thinking and best prepared of organisations still encounter practical challenges and issues. Those issues can be anything - from realising that the level of training and change management to really bed in new workflows needs to a bit more than budgeted for, or simply that two pieces of equipment that have been guaranteed to work together and seamlessly exchange MXF files... just don't, quite. 

 Along the journey we've also noticed that although the traditional vendors are doing their bit to help move the industry into tapeless working (and help mop up minor additional requirements like HD and 3D along the way), there is a quiet revolution happening, with a number of innovative and cost effective solutions emerging from non-traditional vendors to help address problems like how to track how assets are used across the business, or put in place post-production storage solutions that support Avid, Apple and Adobe editors, all at the same time. As Mediasmiths we're pretty well known for being technology agnostic and vendor independent - but we're also known for our love of smart technology and innovative products, and we like our clients to know about them as well.

Taking all of this into account, and following chats with clients and our friends at Object Matrix, Vidispine, GridIron and ERA, we've decided to host a gathering for anyone that wants to come along and spend some time talking about challenges with digital workflows, meet up with other folks who may well be encountering some of the same issues, and chat through some practical solutions. We'll have some of those innovative vendors there as well, but the idea is that it's a conversation and an opportunity for some networking, not somewhere you'll be getting the hard sell or a bunch of vendor waffle. We're going to call it the Workflow Innovation Group - and if it's useful, helpful, and anyone bothers to turn up, we'll look to run similar sessions on an irregular basis throughout the year. We might also rename it if anyone can come up with a snappier title.

We've (royal we've - thanks to Nick at Object Matrix!) prepared a flyer for the meeting - feel free to click here to download for reference and give it to anyone you think might be interested. Key details though - When? 29th of June, lunchtime onwards.Obligatory raffle with prizes? Oh yes. Where? Cardiff, at the Millennium Centre, right on Cardiff Bay. For those who are Doctor Who or Torchwood fans, that's the big building behind the plaza where the Tardis lands from time to time to refuel, and the lift comes up from the Hub. Shameless stereotypical geek? Me? Never....

RSVP to wig@mediasmiths.com and we do hope you can join us there.

Mediasmiths are sponsoring The Media Festival in Manchester this week.  The Media Festival is new, this is only its second year, and that freshness is one of the key reasons why we have chosen to support it.  The Media Festival captures two trends that we see emerging in media: the first is the greater emphasis on creative communities working outside of London, and the second is the need for a better understanding of creative production and changing technology.

There has always been a vibrant media scene outside of London, but too often it has been seen as secondary to London or acting as  feeder channel to London based media organisations.  Despite the BBC's past efforts, and maybe because of ITV's, there remains a concentration of money, talent and decision making in London.  It is questionable whether this is a good thing . Some economists may argue that such a concentration of people produces a strong "network" effect , where the proximity encourages more collaboration and the generation of better ideas.  Given the isolation in which many media professionals exist, and social networking technology enabling more virtual communication, this does not sound compelling. More likely is that the people who hold the purse strings like their flats in London, and homes in Oxford a bit too much.