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Quasar®Cloud native file based QC

Audio/Video QC made easy for cloud workflows

Cloud Native File Based QC

Free Whitepaper for you

Free Whitepaper for you

Overview

Quasar® is the first file QC software built natively for the cloud architecture. Encompassing all the latest features of Pulsar; industry’s most efficient audio and video quality control software, Quasar video quality checker promises the fastest rate of QC in the cloud.

 

Quasar not only ensures your content security through IAM cross-account roles, whitelisting and pre-authenticated URL, it is the most advanced cloud video QC software with support for high in-demand features such as HDR, IMF/DCP analysis, Adaptive bitrate QC, Harding PSE etc. Quasar, with its sophisticated QC checks can be used to verify the content before submitting to key VOD services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and HBO.

    Request a free trial

    Overview

    Quasar is the first file QC service built natively for the cloud architecture. Encompassing all the latest features of Pulsar; industry’s most efficient audio and video quality control software, Quasar video quality checker promises the fastest rate of QC in the cloud.

     

    Quasar not only ensures your content security through IAM cross-account roles, whitelisting and pre-authenticated URL, it is the most advanced cloud video QC software with support for advanced features such as HDR, IMF/DCP analysis, Adaptive bitrate QC, Harding PSE etc. Quasar File QC can be used to verify the content before submitting to key VOD services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and HBO.

    Features & Benefits

    Dynamic scaling

    Performing QC on a large content volume can be time consuming. Quasar auto scales to support varying content volumes and can process thousands of files simultaneously and quickly.

    Security & Latency
    Security & Latency

    With IAM cross-roles, pre-authenticated URL, whitelisting for REST API and other security features, you need not worry about your content security. Further, auto provisioning of virtual machine in content region ensures faster content QC.

    Reliability

    Advanced monitoring for early detection of potential problems, detailed system logging to trace back any rare issues, and failover mechanisms allowing workflow continuity even with infrastructure failures make Quasar a reliable service.

    SaaS
    SaaS service

    Quasar is available as a fully managed SaaS service. This eliminates the need of any staff for system management, thus, reducing your time and cost. You can also deploy it in your own Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

    Reference-based analysis
    Reference-based analysis

    Quasar allows for a side-by-side comparison of a media file with its master/reference file using SSIM, PSNR and Ref-Q™, providing an efficient and cost-effective means of getting a frame-by-frame report of all such differences. This reduces manual inspection costs and increases the accuracy of the results.

    VOD QC
    VOD QC

    Quasar supports QC checks for formats like MPEG-DASH, Apple HLS, Microsoft Smooth Streaming, and fragmented MP4 in addition to support for broadcast formats. You can auto-assign different QC templates to different encoding files to perform your video QC.

    Harding PSE
    Harding PSE

    Harding FPA engine is integrated into Quasar QC checks allowing users to perform Photosensitive Epilepsy Validation using the industry defacto standard Harding PSE and receive a valid Harding certificate for HDR and SDR content.

    QCtudio

    QCtudio provides the ability to enhance your QC processes and elevate QC efficiency. Now you can review Quasar's results in an innovative interactive interface on a video timeline, adding comments for further collaboration, and modifying alert categories for precision. You can export updated reports in XML/PDF as well as in formats compatible with NLE solutions.

    Dynamic scaling

    Performing QC on a large content volume can be time consuming. Quasar auto scales to support varying content volumes and can process thousands of files simultaneously and quickly.

    Security & Latency
    Security & Latency

    With IAM cross-roles, pre-authenticated URL, whitelisting for REST API and other security features, you need not worry about your content security. Further, auto provisioning of virtual machine in content region ensures faster content QC.

    Reliability

    Advanced monitoring for early detection of potential problems, detailed system logging to trace back any rare issues, and failover mechanisms allowing workflow continuity even with infrastructure failures make Quasar a reliable service.

    SaaS
    SaaS service

    Quasar is available as a fully managed SaaS service. This eliminates the need of any staff for system management, thus, reducing your time and cost. You can also deploy it in your own Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

    Reference-based analysis
    Reference-based analysis

    Quasar allows for a side-by-side comparison of a media file with its master/reference file using SSIM, PSNR and Ref-Q™, providing an efficient and cost-effective means of getting a frame-by-frame report of all such differences. This reduces manual inspection costs and increases the accuracy of the results.

    VOD QC
    VOD QC

    Quasar supports formats like MPEG-DASH, Apple HLS, Microsoft Smooth Streaming, and fragmented MP4 in addition to support for broadcast formats. You can auto-assign different QC templates to different encoding files.

    Harding PSE
    Harding PSE

    Harding FPA engine is integrated into Quasar allowing users to perform Photosensitive Epilepsy Validation using the industry defacto standard Harding PSE and receive a valid Harding certificate for HDR and SDR content.

    Our customers

    Venera serves some of the finest companies of the world in helping improve their content QC operations. Here’s a snapshot of the brands who trust us.

    Venera Client Emilel
    Venera Client Sony
    Venera Client HBO
    Venera client Extreme reach
    Venera NBC Universal
    Venera Client Hearst
    Venera Client Disney
    Venera Client tokia
    Venera client cinidigm
    Venera client AMC network
    Venera Client Ibfbs
    Venera Client NEC
    Venera Client Toei
    Venera Client TSP media
    Venera Client Third Eye

    Wide range of checks

    Quasar – file based QC on Cloud supports a wide range of QC checks. A subset of these QC checks is displayed here. Click here for the detailed list.

    Color Gamut

    Colour Gamut

    Active Region

    Active Region

    Cadence

    Cadence

    Flshaframes

    Flash Frames

    Photosensitive Epilepsy

    Photosensitive Epilepsy

    Language ID

    Audio Loudness

    Audio Loudness

    Audio Peaks

    Audio Clipping

    EAS

    EAS

    Audio Test Tone

    Audio Test Tone

    Audio Drops

    Audio Drops

    Technical specifications

    Quasar Native Cloud File QC service supports a wide range of broadcast, archiving and VOD formats. It also allows a wide range of audio, video checks on media content.

    Formats

    Container: MXF, GXF, LXF, MOV, MP4, 3GPP, MPEG-2 TS, MPEG-2 PS, FLV, WMV, AVI, WAV, BWF, AIFF, Smooth Streaming, HLS, MPEG-DASH, IMF, DCP, Elementary

     

    Video: H.265, H.264 (incl. AVC-Intra 50/100 and SONY XAVC), MPEG-2 (incl. D10, XDCAM, HDCAM, IMX-30/50), VC-1, DV (incl. DVCPro25, DVCPro50, DVCPro100/HD), Avid DNxHD (VC-3), Apple ProRes, JPEG-2000, Canopus HQ/HQX

     

    Audio: LPCM, AES3, SMPTE 302M, MPEG-1/2, AAC, HE-AAC, WMA (Standard & Professional)

     

    HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR-10, HDR-10+

    Verification Checks

    General: Compliance, Factory templates – Netflix, DPP, ARD-ZDF, Loudness (R128, CALM, OP-59, ARIB), iTunes & CableLabs

     

    IMF/DCP: CPL based analysis, Package validation, CPL cross-checks, CPL checks, PKL cross-checks, OPL checks, Assetmap check, IMSC checks, Sidecar checks DNxHD (VC-3), Apple ProRes, JPEG-2000, Canopus HQ/HQX

     

    ABR: Playlist cross checks. Segment cross checks, Profile cross checks, Encrypted Packages

     

    Video Parameters: Codec, Video Format, Color space, Chroma Format, Color Matrix, Scan Mode, Duration, Frame Rate, Resolution, Display/Pixel Aspect Ratio, GOP Length, GOP Type, Field Order, Frame Sizes, Buffer Size, Bitrate (CBR/VBR), Profile/Level, Entropy Coding, Reference Pictures, MBAFF, Timecode Discontinuity, Timecode frame drop, 2020 Color Space

     

    Video Quality: Black Frames, Blockiness, Brightness, Cadence, Chroma Hits, Chroma Line, Clipping, Colored Frames, Color Bars, Color Gamut, Combing, Credit Roll, Camera Dead Pixels, Dead Pixels, Digital Hits, Field Dominance, Flash Frames, Freeze Frames, Luma/Chroma levels, Half/Full lines, Bar Artefacts, Letter/Pillar Box, Active Region, Photosensitive epilepsy (Harding) (SDR and HDR), Media offline, Slate, Postal Stamp

     

    HDR Parameters:HDR Formats, Reporting of HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision metadata

     

    Static Metadata: Verify (display Color primaries, mastering display luminance, content light level)

     

    Dynamic Metadata: Compliance, Validate HDR10+ metadata (MaxSCL, Average Max RGB, Distribution values, Tone-mapping information, Targeted system display maximum luminance), Validate Dolby Vision metadata (Metadata version, shot must not contain <0,0,0> in level 1 metadata, Detect duplicate dynamic metadata, Crosscheck canvas aspect ratio, Crosscheck Video track information, Crosscheck (Calculated/metadata) Image aspect ratio

     

    Audio: Codec, Sampling Frequency, Quantization Bits, Channels, Bitrate (CBR/VBR), Drops, Silence, Mute, Test Tones, Loudness (R128, CALM, AGCOM, ARIB, Speech Gated), Loudness Range, Dialnorm, Sample Peak (DBFS, PPM), True Peak, Dual Mono, Clipping, EAS tone, Phase Mismatch, Language ID

     

    Container: Conformance, Format, File Size, File Name Validation, No of streams, Incorrect extension MXF: Version, Operational pattern, Timecode presence/track count/mode/start value/source, Index table presence/location/completeness/correctness, Origin parameters, KLV alignment grid/fill elements, Partitions validity/Status/Completeness/Instance count/Index table presence/Essence presence/Max length, Essence wrapping/external check/referencing/partition strategy, Audio track numbers/element size/channel count/configurations, Descriptive metadata presence/scheme, Run-in sequence, Random index pack, Segmentation track, File package count, Index edit rate, Index duration, Audio/Video sample rate, Audio/Video stream type, Audio/Video edit rate, Video line map, System item presence, Block Align, Channel status mode, Fixed channel status data, Stored F2 offset, Display F2 offset, Sampled X/Y offset, Display X/Y offset, Identical GOP indicator, Edit unit byte count, Slice count, Dark metadata, Timecode frame drop, Audio locked/unlocked status, Audio ref level, Index start position, Single index location, Single essence location, Forward index direction, Image start/end offset, Colour siting, Padding bits, Black ref level, White ref level, Colour range, Constant B picture flag, Single sequence, Low delay, AS-02 Support Transport Streams: SCTE35, Program count, PCR Jitter, Packet Length, PID Usage, PIDs, PID Bitrate, Packet Intervals, PAT checks, PMT checks, Stream checks, PES checks, Language Metadata Verification

     

    QuickTime: Checks and correction for PASP, FIEL, GAMA, CLAP, COLR. Channel Configuration, Track properties, Movie properties, Language Metadata Verification, Check disabled tracks, Check multiple codec entries, Check Timecode properties

     

    Cross Checks: Video-Container: Width, Height, Frame rate, Aspect ratio, Bitrate, Profile/Level, Scan mode, Field order, Chroma format, GOP type, GOP length, B-pictures, Low delay, Duration, Component depth Audio-Container: Sampling frequency, Bit depth, Channels, Bitrate, Duration Audio-Video: Duration in meta-data, Actual duration

     

    Meta-data: Closed Captions (608/708) presence/conformance/format/location, AFD, Bar, V-Chip, Teletext

     

    Reference-Based Analysis: Ref-Q, SSIM, PSNR

    Cloud Platforms
    Storage Formats

    Quasar Native Cloud File QC service supports QC of content stored on AWS S3, Azure Blob storage, BackBlaze storage and Google Cloud storage.

     

    • AWS S3
    • Azure Blob
    • Google Cloud Storage
    • Backblaze Storage

    Quasar editions

    Quasar is available two deployment models – SaaS & Private. SaaS is the most popular edition wherein the entire infrastructure is managed by Venera. Private edition is available for users who strictly need to run their workflow within their own VPC. Variety of plans are available for different content volume and budgets in both the editions. Contact us to discuss the most suitable plan for your workflow.

    SaaS

    Subscription

    Monthly & Annual plans

    Adhoc Plan

    Available

    Infrastructure cost

    Venera responsibility

    Infrastructure management

    Venera responsibility

    Content Storage location

    User owned

    Private

    Subscription

    Monthly & Annual plans

    Adhoc Plan

    Not Available

    Infrastructure cost

    User responsibility

    Infrastructure management

    User responsibility

    Content Storage location

    User owned

    SaaS

    Subscription

    Monthly & Annual plans

    Adhoc Plan

    Available

    Infrastructure cost

    Venera responsibility

    Infrastructure management

    Venera responsibility

    Content Storage location

    User owned

    Private

    Subscription

    Monthly & Annual plans

    Adhoc Plan

    Not Available

    Infrastructure cost

    User responsibility

    Infrastructure management

    User responsibility

    Content Storage location

    User owned

    Quasar Plans

    Beginner - $395

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Beginner - $395

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Medium - $695

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Beginner - $395

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Starter - $195

    Vminutes

    750

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Beginner - $395

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    Medium - $695

    Vminutes

    1800

    Simultaneous jobs

    1

    Sign up

    More content?

    We have a range of higher content volume, cost-effective plans. Contact us to discuss more

    Sign up

    Workflow integrations

    We actively integrate with the prominent solutions in digital media industry to provide an integrated offering for your workflows that are easy & efficient to use.

    Venera Client Knox Mediahub
    Venera Client aws Elemental
    Venera Client SDVI

    Factory templates

    We provide ready-to-use templates of technical specifications required by these prominent content platforms, which can be used by you for the specific channel you want to display your content.

    Venera Client Prime Video
    Venera Client Netflix
    itunes
    ard-logo-1.png

    FAQ’s

    What is Quasar® and how it is different from Pulsar?

    Quasar® is a cloud-native file-based audio/video quality control (QC) solution. It includes all the QC features of Pulsar, our on-premise QC solution. If your workflow is in the cloud, your content resides on cloud storage, and you want to QC your content directly without downloading it, then Quasar is the right solution for you.

    What are the different ways to use Quasar® cloud audio/video QC solution?

    Quasar® service is available as a fully managed SaaS service as well as a private edition offering that you can deploy in your virtual private cloud (VPC).

    What are the advantages of Quasar® SaaS service over the private edition?
    • You don’t need to worry and engage your team for managing the cloud infrastructure and can focus only on performing QC checks.
    • You can immediately start using Quasar®. Either manually or via REST API.
    • You will get committed SLAs for service upkeep.
    How is my content security ensured if I choose Quasar® SaaS service?
    • No one has access to the user’s content and the processing VMs.
    • Quasar® audio/video quality control solution does not store any user credentials in the Quasar® system.
    • We use AES-128 encryption for the temporarily downloaded content on processing VMs. Content is deleted from the processing VMs after the QC process is completed.
    • You may post the file to Quasar® for QC without giving any security credentials using IAM cross-roles or a Pre-authenticated URL.
    • Quasar® is AWS FTR certified and adheres to the strict security & reliability requirements that AWS require as part of its FTR program.
    • Venera is a SOC2 certified company and has strict security controls.
    What will happen if there is a sudden burst of media content which needs a QC check immediately? How Quasar® will handle this?
    • Quasar® is an elastic system that can be dynamically auto-scaled to any size without needing users’ intervention, allowing hundreds of files to be processed simultaneously.
    • Quasar® has been tested with the ability to run up to 1000 concurrent jobs. That is the most scalable cloud-native QC system.
    Can I integrate Quasar® QC software into my workflow?

    Yes, you can integrate Quasar® QC software with your workflow using REST API.

    Which cloud platforms are supported by Quasar®?

    AWS and Azure for computing. Quasar® can read content from AWS S3, Azure Blob storage, Google Cloud storage and BackBlaze storage.

    Can I perform the Harding PSE test using Quasar® QC software?

    Yes, we have integrated the Harding FPA engine within Quasar®. This allows users to perform Photosensitive Epilepsy validation using the industry de-facto standard Harding PSE. Quasar® is the only solution that has integrated Harding PSE for both HDR and SDR content.

    Will I incur data transfer charges due to the content analyzed by Quasar® audio/video quality control software?

    No. We automatically create the AWS VMs for QC in the same region as the content. This allows the content QC without any data transfer charges to you.

    Blog articles

    Our experts and thought leaders share their knowledge of technologies pertaining to QC solutions for digital media industry in these scholarly articles.

    Automated validation of QR codes
    2023

    Automated validation of QR codes

    QR code or Quick Response code is a two-dimensional barcode invented in 1994 by a Japanese company Denso Wave for...
    Read More
    Security Measures in Quasar Native Cloud Video QC Service
    2023

    Security Measures in Quasar Native Cloud Video QC Service

    Ensuring the security and quality of your cloud-based video content is essential for maintaining audience trust and complying with media...
    Read More
    How to detect & manage Audio Profanity in your content efficiently?
    2023

    How to detect & manage Audio Profanity in your content efficiently?

    Audio profanity is the presence of foul, curse, or offensive words or phrases in the content delivered to the viewers....
    Read More
    What is Cadence and why its validation is important?
    2023

    What is Cadence and why its validation is important?

    Understanding video cadence (or pull-down) in the broadcast industry can be challenging. Even those who are familiar with film production...
    Read More
    Frame Shifting or Blanking Shift Issue Unveiled
    2023

    Frame Shifting or Blanking Shift Issue Unveiled

    What is frame shifting, it's impact on video quality, and how to overcome the challenge effectively with automated QC tools?
    Read More
    Load More

    What is Cadence and why its validation is important?

    Feb 14, 2024

    Understanding video cadence (or pull-down) in the broadcast industry can be challenging. In this blog article, we will explain what Cadence (or Pull-down) is along with its practical application, and different pull-down patterns.

    Frame Shifting or Blanking Shift Issue Unveiled

    Dec 13, 2023

    What is frame shifting, it's impact on video quality, and how to overcome the challenge effectively with automated QC tools?

    qc-dolby-atmos

    Understanding Dolby Atmos and its QC challenges

    Aug 10, 2023

    Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary leap in surround sound technology that takes the audio experience to a whole new level. Learn more about it.

    Caption-Audio Synchronization issues due to editing: Automated QC and alignment 

    Nov 1, 2023

    By leveraging automated QC tools, content creators can ensure precise caption-audio synchronization, and save  time and resources while delivering high-quality, synchronized captions for their videos.

    Importance of QC in Audio Phase issues

    Aug 29, 2023

    Audio phase plays a pivotal role in sound reproduction. Understand the causes of audio phase issues and their QC solution.

    What is Cadence and why its validation is important?

    Feb 14, 2024

    Understanding video cadence (or pull-down) in the broadcast industry can be challenging. In this blog article, we will explain what Cadence (or Pull-down) is along with its practical application, and different pull-down patterns.

    Frame shifting or Blanking shift issue unveiled

    Dec 13, 2023

    What is frame shifting, it's impact on video quality, and how to overcome the challenge effectively with automated QC tools?

    Caption-Audio Synchronization issues due to editing: Automated QC & alignment

      Nov 1, 2023

    Learn why caption-audio synchronization is important and how to deliver high-quality synchronized captions in your video using automated QC tools

    Importance of QC of Audio Phase Issues

    Aug 29, 2023

    Audio phase is a complex and intricate phenomenon that plays a pivotal role in sound reproduction. Understand the causes of audio phase issues and its solution

    Understanding Dolby Atmos and its QC challenges

    Aug 10, 2023

    Learn about the revolutionary technology of Dolby Atmos that takes your sound experience to a new level.

    Subtitle QC

    CapMate 101 – Caption/Subtitle Files Verification and Correction Solution

    Aug 4, 2022

    Many of our customers had been telling us that the process of validating and correcting closed caption files is tedious, time consuming and costly! And that they needed an innovative QC solution...

    Group of Pictures

    Understanding GOP – What is “Group Of Pictures” and Why is it Important

    May 4, 2022

    GOP or “Group of Pictures” is a term that refers to the video structure representing how digital video is grouped. But before we get into understanding GOP, let’s start with the basics...

    Dialog Gated Loudness

    Dialog-gated Audio loudness and why it is important

    Apr 13, 2022

    Learn what is dialog gated loudness, it’s importance in video content, and how our QC products can help you detect it in an automated manner...

    Our solutions

    QCtudio

    QC report review and collaboration
    Cloud-based QC report review and collaboration, designed as a companion to Quasar.

    CapMate

    Captions QC & Correction

    Cloud Native platform that automatically identifies issues in Captions/Subtitles and allows users to perform auto-correction and…

    Pulsar

    Automated File based QC

    On-premise File based QC system for Automated QC system of audio-visual assets. It allows QC of media content to detect a wide range…

    Pulsar PPU

    Usage based File QC

    Usage-based on-premise QC system. This allows users to make use of rich Pulsar QC capabilities while paying on usage basis. Pulsar PPU is ideal for small organizations…

    QCaaS

    QC as a service

    Designed for organizations who want us to perform QC on their content using Pulsar/Quasar/CapMate file QC systems. This allows organizations…

    Other Solutions

    CapMate

    Captions QC & Correction

    Cloud Native platform that automatically identifies issues in Captions/Subtitles and allows users to perform auto-correction and…

    Pulsar

    Automated File based QC

    On-premise File based QC system for Automated QC system of audio-visual assets. It allows QC of media content to detect a wide range…

    Pulsar PPU

    Usage based File QC

    Usage-based on-premise QC system. This allows users to make use of rich Pulsar QC capabilities while paying on usage basis. Pulsar PPU is ideal for small organizations…

    QCaaS

    QC as a Service

    Designed for organizations who want us to perform QC on their content using Pulsar/Quasar/CapMate file QC systems. This allows organizations…

    What our clients say

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