Remote media production in Canada is, to put it bluntly, fast-paced. Collaboration on high-quality video and world-class content often happens across cities, countries, and even continents.
To meet this challenge, having the right technology to facilitate seamless, real-time communication and feedback is mission-critical. Sohonet’s ClearView Flex is one such Canadian media collaboration tool. It provides an indispensable tool for creatives, decision makers, and industry leaders who need to create, review, and approve video content with far-flung remote teams.
Here’s precisely how Sohonet ClearView Flex can help Canada’s media and entertainment leaders boost collaboration potential—and some invaluable pro tips you can leverage to meet your needs efficiently, effectively, and without too much stress for you or your team.
The Critical Need for High-Quality Canadian Media Collaboration Tools
The media and entertainment industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past few years, from the disruptions caused by the pandemic to the chaos of the Hollywood strikes. The pandemic expedited cloud-based media collaboration use cases in ways no one could have anticipated, with an explosion of needs across creative workflows in media and entertainment. With the advent of new transformative technologies, the production process has become increasingly streamlined and global, requiring collaboration between teams across different time zones.
However, this globalized workflow introduces challenges, particularly in ensuring that all stakeholders—directors, producers, editors, and visual effects teams—can view the same content simultaneously without latency or quality degradation.
Enter ClearView Flex, a tool that has revolutionized remote production collaboration.
What Makes Sohonet ClearView Flex Essential for Canadian Media Collaboration?
Sohonet’s ClearView Flex is an Emmy-winning real-time, remote, cloud-based media collaboration platform designed specifically for the media and entertainment industry. It allows creatives to securely stream live review sessions to multiple viewers, get instant feedback, annotate, and keep remote teams and clients aligned on a common vision—no matter where they are in the world.
The key features that make ClearView Flex an essential tool include:
- Real-time streaming: ClearView Flex delivers sub-second latency, ensuring all viewers see the content simultaneously. This is critical in fast-paced production environments where every second counts.
- High-quality video: The platform supports up to 2K DCI resolution, ensuring that the video quality remains uncompromised during streaming, even over long distances. It supports 8-bit 4:4:4 and 10-bit 4:2:2 colour chroma and SDR and Critical Review Quality HDR (via Glow).
- Multi-viewer capability: ClearView Flex allows you to invite multiple viewers to a session, making it easy for large teams to collaborate and provide feedback in real time. It supports up to 40 attendees per session.
- Security: Given the sensitive nature of prerelease content, ClearView Flex employs robust security protocols, including end-to-end stream encryption and default air-gapped security, to ensure your content remains protected.
- Multi-device and OS support: Whether you are using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, ClearView Flex is compatible across devices, providing flexibility and convenience to all team members. It is supported on PC, MacOS, iOS, and AppleTV.
- Platform choice: Choose between Sohonet-supplied physical desktop or rack mount enclosures, your own on-prem VMware, or in the Cloud, AWS, and Azure (beta).
Why ClearView Flex Is Changing Remote Media Production in Canada
For companies that require remote video editing in Canada, the challenges of collaborating with teams across various locations are particularly pronounced.
Why?
Canada’s media industry is spread across major hubs such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Teams in Canadian media companies also frequently collaborate with partners in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ClearView Flex addresses these challenges by providing a tool that:
Enhances Collaboration
By providing a platform where all stakeholders can view content simultaneously and in real time, ClearView Flex eliminates the delays associated with traditional review processes. This leads to faster approvals and a more streamlined production workflow.
Provides Cost Efficiencies
Traditional methods of remote video editing in Canada or beyond often involve sending physical copies of content or relying on slower, less secure online platforms. ClearView Flex eliminates these costs, offering a more cost-effective solution that still meets high industry standards.
Provides Time Efficiencies
In the media production world, time is money. ClearView Flex saves valuable time by enabling instant feedback and collaboration, allowing teams to make decisions quickly and keep projects on schedule.
Fuels Global and Local Collaboration
For Canadian media production companies working with international partners, ClearView Flex offers a solution that transcends geographical boundaries, making it easier than ever to collaborate on a global scale. (We’re not just saying this—we can show it, too. Check out this case study about editors who took the cutting room online with ClearView Flex.)
Remote Video Editing in Canada? Annex Pro and Sohonet Are Here to Help
Although the benefits of ClearView Flex are clear, the choice of supplier is equally important in ensuring you get the most out of this powerful tool.
Annex Pro is a trusted partner in the media and entertainment industry. When Canadian media companies select us as their supplier, they instantly benefit from the many perks we bring to the table, including:
1. Deep Industry Expertise
Annex Pro has more than 40 years of experience serving Canada’s media and entertainment industry. This deep industry knowledge allows us to understand the unique challenges that Canadian production companies face and provide tailored solutions that address these needs. Our team is well-versed in the technical intricacies of ClearView Flex and can provide expert guidance on how to integrate it into your existing workflows.
2. Comprehensive Support
When you purchase ClearView Flex through Annex Pro, you are not just buying a product—you are gaining access to a full suite of support services. Annex Pro offers pre-sale consultations to help you determine how ClearView Flex can best meet your needs and post-sale support to ensure smooth implementation and ongoing use. Our dedicated technical support team is always available to answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and provide training to help your team get the most out of ClearView Flex.
3. Local Presence
As a Canadian company, Annex Pro understands the local market better than any international supplier. We are attuned to the specific requirements and regulations of the Canadian media industry, ensuring that the solutions we provide are fully compliant and optimized for local use. Additionally, our local presence means faster response times and more personalized service.
4. Strong Relationships with Industry Leaders
Annex Pro has built strong relationships with leading technology providers like Sohonet. This not only gives us early access to the latest innovations but also allows us to offer competitive pricing and exclusive deals on products like ClearView Flex. Our close partnership with Sohonet ensures that we are always up to date on the latest developments and can provide insights that other suppliers may not be able to offer, which can help our customers maintain a competitive advantage.
5. Proven Track Record
Annex Pro has a proven track record of successfully implementing technology solutions for some of Canada’s biggest media production companies. Our portfolio of satisfied clients is a testament to our ability to deliver results. Let us know if you would like a list of references—and, if you’re ready to get the support you need to stay ahead in the fast-paced, ever-evolving media and entertainment industry, drop us a line to book a demo, get a quote, or just ask questions and we’ll get back to you quickly.
In the meantime, read this case study from Front Street Pictures in Vancouver who found a solution for true plug-and-play streaming by using ClearView Flex.
Or spend five minutes with Brandon Schaafsma, co-founder and head of production at Herne Hill Media in Toronto, Canada, about how they optimized remote VFX operations with ClearView Flex.
