Media Workflow Automation in Adobe
A workflow is a sequence of tasks or steps that take a video project from inception to completion. There are workflows for every stage of the project from ingest to distribution and for every type of activity including editorial work and review and approvals. Every project has workflows, whether they are documented or not. Workflow automation is an effective strategy to enhance productivity, improve quality, and ensure consistency.
Adobe’s video applications are designed for workflow automation. Adobe Premier Pro has workflow orchestration built in, but it is also designed to integrate with other apps and workflow orchestration tools. Helmut by MoovIt Software Products (MSP is an incredibly powerful orchestration tool). MSP is a German-based product developer and an Adobe Video Solution Partner.
We’ve been impressed with the power of Helmut right from the beginning. Helmut’s Streamdesigner is a powerful and flexible low-code workflow builder that allows creatives to design workflows that are tailored to their exact needs. In October 2021, we invited David Merzenich of MSP, one of the creators of Helmut, to CHESA’s workflow show. Our conversation with David is worth checking out if you would like to explore more about the power of Helmut.
Striving for Consistency and Flexibility in Post-Production
Sometimes editorial teams are racing towards completion without stepping back first and taking a hard look at workflows. With so many players having a role in video production and post-production, ensuring consistency can be a challenge. Well-defined workflows provide a framework for editorial work that ensures consistency.
When automating workflows, you should explore automating repeatable tasks, especially if they are labor-intensive. This will have a measurable impact on streamlining your project. For example: ingest and tagging are labor-intensive processes that lend well to automation.
Another area to look at is multistep processes with a great deal of variability. By streamlining and standardizing multistep processes, you can ensure that all members of the team are using the most efficient process. When the full team is using the same process, coordination and collaboration can be enhanced and handoffs are more predictable to schedule.
Automated workflows can expedite the review and approval process, ensuring that feedback and approvals are provided in a timely manner at each critical point and that work does not proceed until review and approval has been completed. This can prevent costly reworks that are caused when unapproved assets are used in a project.
Sometimes there’s a worry that consistency will be adverse to creativity. In fact, the opposite can be true. When workflows tackle the pieces that need to be consistent in an efficient manner, they carve out time for the creative aspects of the project.
There are many places where consistency is important in a video project. Brand consistency is one example. Workflows, branding, and templates can ensure that all the branding guidelines are in place.
When designing workflows, the importance of flexibility should not be overlooked. When workflows are too rigid, you begin to force creators into a one-size-fits-all approach. This can backfire. Systems Integrators and workflow engineers should take into consideration the needs of the creatives, their skills, styles, expertise, and preferred ways of working. When editors are empowered to adjust workflows to match their creative style and needs, they can gain the efficiency and consistency they are looking for while still having workflow solutions that enhance creativity.
Consistency and automation are keys to production efficiency, yet flexibility is often essential for creativity. Striking a balance requires a deep understanding of the creative process, the tools, and the systems. Integration and workflow development within Adobe Premiere Pro keeps editors focused on editing. Helmut by MSP further enhances the ability to create powerful, automated workflows that balance consistency and flexibility within the Adobe ecosystem.
Contact Us Today
CHESA has a passion for the nuances of media workflow integration. We have strong partnerships with the best-of-breed technology providers in the creative IT industry. We take a holistic approach in recommending solutions that bring real value and benefits to your organization, rather than selling technology for technology’s sake. Our team comes to the table with deep knowledge of the tools and vendors and is ready to address the demands and requirements of your environment and advance your business goals. Contact us today to find out more about how automating workflows in the Adobe ecosystem can bring greater efficiency and free up your creatives for their very best work.
