Broadcast ingest system ·
captured straight into MAM.
Smart Ingest is Point Media Tech's broadcast ingest system: triggered by schedule, NRCS or manual cue, one server captures 4 SDI / HDMI / IP channels in parallel, transcodes to broadcast formats during capture, extracts timecode and loudness metadata, and pushes finished assets to MAM and Playout.
24/7Continuous capture
LowerOperator intervention
4Channels in parallel
4KUHD resolution support
Four sources recording —
and nobody pressed record.
In Smart Ingest the schedule arms the channels, and recording, proxy transcode, metadata and MAM ingest all overlap. The master is still growing on disk while the editor is already working on the proxy.
From manual capture and hand-keyed metadata, to scheduled capture + auto-MAM push,
ingest loses four manual steps.
A broadcast ingest system joins four manual steps — cue rec, transcoding, copying and metadata entry — into one automated flow. Traditional ingest means an operator cueing record, transcoding files, copying them to the MAM share and typing metadata into a spreadsheet, and each step is an entry point for human error. Smart Ingest moves the chain onto a server: schedules trigger capture, channels run in parallel, transcoding happens inline and metadata pushes into MAM, so office-hours monitoring is enough.
Manual cueing, transcoding, and hand-keyed metadata
Operators cue rec / stop manually; assets are transcoded after capture; files copied into MAM shares by hand; metadata typed into spreadsheets; multi-channel capture means multiple machines; 24-hour shifts miss things.
Scheduled, parallel, auto-MAM
Schedules or schedule API trigger capture automatically; single server runs 4 parallel channels; BXF / MXF / MP4 inline transcoding; metadata extracted and pushed to MAM automatically; office-hours monitoring replaces 24-hour shifts; human error drops sharply.
Today · Manual recording and filing by hand
- An operator cues each recording
- Transcoding happens after the recording ends
- The file is copied to the asset store
- Metadata is typed in
After · Scheduled capture, straight into MAM
- Triggered by schedule or by the newsroom system
- Several sources captured at once
- Transcoding runs automatically on completion
- Metadata is pushed to MAM without anyone typing it
Three capability layers, threaded into one
fully automated ingest chain.
Smart Ingest has three layers — multi-source capture, real-time transcoding and MAM integration — and each can be evaluated independently, licensed by channel count, and scaled later.
Multi-source capture
The capture layer accepts SDI / HDMI / IP (SMPTE ST 2110) / NDI / SRT; single server runs 4 parallel channels; full 4K UHD resolution; schedule API triggers, instant cue rec, loop recording.
- SDI / HDMI / IP / NDI / SRT
- 4 parallel channels
- 4K UHD / FHD / HD
- Scheduled + manual cue rec
Real-time transcoding & file management
The transcode layer converts to broadcast formats during capture (MXF, MP4, MOV, ProRes, XAVC); automatic file naming and segmentation; GPU-accelerated; watch folders for external assets; anomaly fallback.
- MXF / MP4 / MOV / ProRes
- GPU-accelerated transcoding
- Watch folder automation
- Segmentation / naming rules
MAM integration & metadata
Capture pushes automatically into MAM; metadata extraction (timecode, carrier, loudness, GPS); standard REST API; bidirectional NRCS sync (ENPS / iNEWS); third-party MAM platforms connect over the REST API.
- Auto-push to MAM
- Metadata auto-extraction
- NRCS bidirectional sync
- REST API standard
Channel 1 · scheduled
Channel 2 · NRCS triggered
Channel 3 · loop recording
Channel 4 · manual cue rec
From signal source to media archive ·
fully automated ingest flow.
Smart Ingest is the start of the workflow: from the moment a signal arrives, it becomes an asset with metadata that can be searched and scheduled. It shares one asset structure with MAM and Kaster Playout, with no third-party integration layer between products.
- SourcesSDI / HDMI / IP / NDI / SRT multi-source
- CaptureSchedule / cue trigger · 4 channels
- TranscodeInline transcoding · MXF / MP4 / ProRes
- MetadataTimecode / loudness / GPS extraction
- MAMPush to media archive · metadata included
Engineering specifications.
The full Smart Ingest spec sheet and technical assessment are available in a live session with our technical consultants.
| Input signals | SDI (HD/3G/12G) · HDMI · IP (SMPTE ST 2110-20/-30/-40) · NDI · SRT |
|---|---|
| Capture channels | 4 parallel channels per server; cluster expansion; per-channel scheduling |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (2160p) · FHD (1080p/1080i) · HD (720p); mixed-resolution capture per server |
| Output formats | MXF · MP4 · MOV · ProRes · XAVC · DNxHD · H.264 / H.265 |
| Triggers | Schedule API · NRCS triggers (ENPS / iNEWS) · manual cue rec · loop recording |
| Metadata | Timecode · loudness · GPS · carrier · custom fields; auto-push to MAM |
| Licensing | Per capture channels and feature modules; modular expansion; perpetual + annual maintenance |
Three steps, from evaluation to go-live.
Request a trial
Submit the contact form. Sales responds within one business day and schedules a technical consultation.
Integration assessment
Our consultants review your existing broadcast architecture and confirm MAM / NRCS / Playout integration requirements.
Deploy and go live
After configuration we run acceptance testing (scheduled triggers, parallel channels, MAM push) and transition into production.
Frequently asked questions.
What is a broadcast ingest system, and how does it differ from manual recording?
A broadcast ingest system records SDI and IP feeds on a schedule, transcodes them, writes metadata and delivers them to the media library automatically. Point Media Tech's Smart Ingest runs scheduled capture 24/7 with several channels recording in parallel on one server. Compared with manual cue rec, transcoding and hand-keyed metadata, it substantially reduces operator intervention while keeping metadata consistent.
Which signal inputs and file formats does Smart Ingest support?
Smart Ingest accepts SDI (HD/3G/12G), HDMI, SMPTE ST 2110, NDI and SRT, and outputs MXF, MP4, MOV, ProRes, XAVC, DNxHD and H.264 / H.265. Transcoding and extraction of timecode, loudness and other metadata happen during capture, and one server can capture mixed resolutions.
Can capture be triggered by a schedule or a newsroom system (NRCS)?
Yes. Smart Ingest supports four trigger types: schedule API, NRCS triggers (ENPS / iNEWS), manual cue rec and loop recording. Each of the four channels on a server has its own schedule, and trigger types can be mixed without a separate box per trigger.
Can Smart Ingest integrate with an existing MAM system?
Yes. Smart Ingest connects to MAM over a standard REST API and pushes assets and metadata into the library automatically once capture completes. Paired with Point Media Tech MAM, both share one asset structure with no third-party integration layer.
How are Smart Ingest licensing and system requirements determined?
Smart Ingest is licensed by capture channels and feature modules, with modular expansion and perpetual licence plus annual maintenance. It runs on broadcast-grade servers under Linux or Windows, and sizing depends on channel count and resolution. Contact sales for a quote; our technical consultants will size the deployment.
How do I start an evaluation or trial of Smart Ingest?
Submit the contact form and Point Media Tech's sales team will respond within one business day to arrange a broadcast environment assessment and trial plan. The assessment covers your current sources and MAM, NRCS and playout integration.
Ready to let assets
archive themselves?
Book a demo to see Smart Ingest replace manual ingest with scheduled capture, inline transcoding and MAM push.