3. Release Notes

Future Releases

Features scheduled for the next release:

[new products]

  • CodecWorks Muxer is a product for multiplexing video streams of cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial television as well as IPTV. The software supports statistical multiplexing using a connected CodecWorks transcoder to manage bitrates.

  • CodecWorks GateWay is a product for switching direct streaming protocols. It adapts the video stream to various network types.

Active Version

Release 5.0

  • Modernization of the logging subsystem: As part of the platform architecture optimization, logging system has been fully redesigned, aimed to reduce operating system overhead, expand the analytical toolkit for administrators, and simplify integration with external monitoring platforms.

    • Data consolidation: Log files are now part of a single file. This significantly reduces the OS file system load by eliminating redundant I/O operations when handling a large array of scattered files.

    • Advanced filtering: Implemented the functionality for rapid filtering of entries by time intervals, severity levels (Error, Warning, Info, Debug), and other contextual parameters.

    • Targeted export: Added the feature to extract and download pre-filtered logs. This lets the operator obtain only the necessary data, speeding up diagnostics.

    • Two-way integration (OpenSearch/Elasticsearch): Implemented the end-to-end collection, transmission, and display mechanism directly within the platform’s web client.

    • Outward export: Added the functionality for sending logs to other third-party centralized storage systems.

    • Dynamic logging management for media pipeline components: Added tools to the administrator’s web interface for interactively enabling extended logging for individual graph components.

  • Modernization of the licensing system:

    • Centralized distribution: Implemented a unified license issuance system for encoding/muxing servers, simplifying project scaling and limit modification without impacting the production environment.

    • Dedicated architecture: The licensing server has been moved to a separate node that communicates autonomously with in-network target servers and authorizes their operation.

    • Dynamic task creation: task processing mechanisms in CodecWorks are now launched adaptively as needed and within license limits. Changing the number of tasks on the server no longer requires a license reissue.

    • Licensing unification: A single licensing system now covers all three products in the CodecWorks lineup.

    • Infrastructure isolation: Added the functionality for flexible segregation of licenses between different server clusters.

  • Thumbnail generation: Implemented video stream thumbnail capture both during task initialization, and throughout its execution at specified time intervals.

  • Network administration: Added a tool to the settings in the CodecWorks web interface for configuring Ubuntu OS network interfaces.

  • Hardware encoding: Introduced support for video stream encoding into the AV1 format leveraging Nvidia GPUs.

  • Audio alerts: Implemented sound notification functionality for stream-related events.

  • Custom cluster options: Enable the user to specify unified named parameters that can be utilized by tasks within a cluster regardless of the device the task was launched on. At the same time, these options can be mapped to a specific device. For instance, these options can define stream IDs from capture cards, interface addresses, and other device-dependent settings, while maintaining a consistent parameter name for tasks across the entire cluster.

  • Implemented automatic ducking module (Audio Ducker): A new component optimizes audio mixing for multicast press conferences. The system automatically reduces the volume level of the background audio stream upon detecting voice activity on the interpreter’s track, ensuring priority for the target audio channel.

Changelog

Release 4.11

  • Added support for Ubuntu 24.04.

  • Redesigned the events system; implemented a web page for configuring actions in response to events in streams.

  • Implemented the ability for users to create transform sections, added a web page for configuring custom encoding profiles.

  • Reworked the system for recording input streams.

  • Improved the speed of handling multiple tasks: Users can now manage more than a hundred tasks instantly.

  • Improved web interface usability:

    • The system notifies users about task-related errors and puts faulty tasks on a separate list.

    • The UI highlights parameters with color if they are filled incorrectly.

    • Added the ability to set sound notifications for stream issues.

    • Added the ability to download and upload task schemas via the web interface.

    • Added the ability to download logs/DOT files/schemas/dumps via the web interface.

  • Added support for the CMAF packetizer.

  • Added support for packetizing based on the Low-Latency HLS and MPEG-DASH standards.

  • Implemented a video encoder able to switch codecs without restarting the task in case the input stream changes.

  • Implemented the DekTec SDK-powered plugin for capturing the SDI signal from DekTec cards on Ubuntu.

Release 4.9

  • Added support for Ubuntu 20.04;

  • Added support for receiving a stream over the MPEG-DASH protocol.

  • Added support for insertion of EBP (Encoder Boundary Point) for third-party packetizers.

  • Implemented the possibility to encrypt transport streams (TS) using SimulCrypt due to GSLabs integrating with DRM CAS.

  • Implemented the possibility to encrypt OTT streams using CENC due to GSLabs integrating with DRM CAS.

  • Added support for multiplexing HBBTV system information.

  • Enhanced web interface:

    • schemas with a redundant source now can be created.

    • added the possibility to specify redundant servers.

    • added segregation of user rights and authorization.

  • Improved failover protection when organizing server redundancy thanks to adding server queries over several interfaces simultaneously.

  • The Linux version of CodecWorks now fully complies with the Windows version.

  • Added an algorithm that will automatically configure a redundant server in case of 1+1 server redundancy.

Release 4.8

  • Added support for SRT stream encryption.

  • Added support for receiving a stream over the RTMP protocol.

  • Added support for receiving and broadcasting a stream over the RIST protocol.

  • Accelerated mechanisms of internal interaction for the software components.

  • Redesigned the logging system, added log rotation by size or creation time. Rotation events will be registered in the log.

  • Added support for hardware transcoding via an Nvidia graphics card.

  • Added the possibility of the CPU-based real-time transcoding into HEVC.

  • Extended the list of SNMP events that CodecWorks an notify about.

  • Added the possibility for manual generation of NIT, SDT, and TDT service information tables.

  • Implemented the search for schemas by URL.

  • New Input URL column added to the manager. The column value can be copied for further use.

  • Added the possibility of restoring backup schemas.

  • Implemented the alpha version of the new web interface featuring the following functionality:

    • Management of encoding server schemas.

    • Creation of encoding schemas.

    • Viewing of schema statistics.

    • Alteration of schema parameters.

  • Minor software operation bugs removed.

Release 4.7

  • Added support for SRT stream broadcasting and receiving in caller/listener modes.

  • Redesigned the server redundancy system. Now redundancy is configured on a single redundant server and then the configuration is automatically sent to a group of servers.

  • Added functionality for automatic updating of encoding channel configuration on redundant servers at a certain moment in time.

  • Optimized the internal software algorithms that provide a more stable operation.

  • Enhanced the SPTS/MPTS multiplexing system: the output bitrate has become more consistent.

  • Added the possibility to choose a folder for recording journal files.

  • Support for forwarding EIT/SDT/NIT/TDT tables; tables can also be forwarded from other sources.

  • Added teletext data parsing in VANC area of SDI according to the SMPTE-TT and OP42/47 standards.

Earlier versions

Releases 4.6–4.0 (click to expand)

v.4.6

New features

  • Added color bar generation (CBG) mechanism. It is enabled when there are problems with input streams. You also can enable it manually.

  • SNMP notification system is improved. Now CodecWorks uses SNMPv2.

  • Now, Availability Start Time (AST) is saved automatically in template duration mode of MPEG-DASH and passed between sources and servers to continue segment numeration.

  • Scheme search by name among all servers via GUI is added.

  • Distributed transcoding using QuickSync technology is added. You can encode a live 4К stream with multiple bit rates on several servers with stream synchronization.

  • Log rotation based on size and storage time is improved. Rotation of scheme backups and dump files is added.

Linux-specific features

  • Linux CentOS 7.5 support;

  • Support for Intel Quick Sync Video transcoding formats (MPEG-2, AVC, HEVC);

  • Implementation of RPM installer with auto-installation of dependencies;

  • Nginx web server installs automatically with CodecWorks and adds all necessary configuration files for OTT streaming and the web interface;

  • Support for SoftLab Forward capture devices.

Optimized GUI

  • Now schemes in the GUI are highlighted in different colors depending on the enabled operating mode. For example, if the CBG mode is switched on manually, it is highlighted in orange.

  • Functionality of various parameters in the GUI, such as SNMP configuration, is improved.

Redundancy improvements

  • Redundancy configuring simplified. New version lets the user add a server to the list of redundant servers to automatically download the active schemas.

  • Server redundancy system is improved. If enabled, a redundant server becomes the main one in order to reduce load on the service.

  • When reserving a source, you can make the sources equal, so the source is switched only if you have problems with the one you are working with. Alternatively, you can select one source as the main one. Meaning that if there are problems with the main source, it switches to the redundant one. When the signal on the main source is restored, the encoding schema starts using it again.

  • The server polling is changed. Now no separate session is created for each polling, the pollings take place within one TCP session.

v.4.5

Added to the list of supported protocols are:

  • SRT: ensures enhanced performance and provides low-latency streaming even over most unpredictable and noisy networks such as the public Internet.

  • NDI: enables the distribution of live video over IP infrastructure while eliminating hardware constraints, saving costs and reducing deployment time.

New HLS broadcast standards added, new possibilities for ОТТ segmentation implemented

  • Integration with the Verimatrix DRM system for ОТТ (HLS).

  • WebDAV ОТТ support (HLS).

  • Support of multi-audio streaming for HLS.

GUI Optimized

  • Implemented the possibility to configure settings related to alert notifications and response (for example, schema restart or rebuild) using GUI;

  • Added the possibility to configure an SDI streaming schema from forward capture card using GUI;

  • GUI is powered by new added columns: broadcast output address and license condition;

  • The user may choose one of the available interfaces from a drop-down list while configuring a scheme;

  • Automatic removal of old logs.

New functionality added

  • Transcoding into HEVC interlace video.

v.4.4.170727

  • Elecard HEVC Video Encoder support.

  • Support of new filters for Blackmagic WDM video capture cards.

  • Log of inactive consoles can be opened in the manager.

  • SNMP: Elecard Enterprise OID number changed (from 5166 to 50126).

  • Support for GUID parameters in Intel® QuickSync components: MPEG-2, AVC, and HEVC decoders and encoders.

  • Source redundancy can now be used in schemas with broadcasting via IP, HLS, and MPEG-DASH protocols.

  • Web UI is ON by default.

  • Fixed HASP detection when connecting via RDP.

  • Fixed connection of QuickSync decoder when building a source redundancy schema, and added the functionality for checking schema performance and restart.

v.4.3.170202

  • First version of the new web client.

  • WebSocket support.

  • Support for building schemas with parallel remuxing.

  • Support for new AJA capture card drivers.

  • Updated user interface. To go back to the previous iteration, It can be switched off by setting the UI=0 parameter in the config_w.xml file.

  • Fixed bug when incomplete product version for some components is displayed.

  • Fixed bug when language descriptors can’t be overridden.

  • Altered the encoder licensing limitation logic.

v.4.3.161117

  • UI altered to ensure source redundancy schemas can be created.

  • Now redundancy sources can be put in a particular order.

  • Program names specified in the SDT table are now shown on the Input page (part of the configuration panel).

  • Current stream indication in the Statistics column for schemas with redundant sources: Main, Redundant 1 or Redundant 2.

  • Added the functionality for selecting PIDs when configuring a redundant source schema.

  • Simplified building of redundant source schemas.

  • Support for multi-bitrate redundant source schemas.

  • Support for audio event-based triggers in redundant source schemas.

  • Added templates with AVC/HEVC settings for broadcasting via MPEG-DASH; in said templates, the Name parameter will be specified automatically.

  • Added the functionality for full graph stop upon console’s shutdown via the config_w.xml file.

  • Fixed bug with potentially wrong order of redundant sources in redundant source schemas.

v.4.3.160930

  • Added a clearer error message if CPU does not support Intel Quick Sync-based encoding.

  • Fixed infinite Waiting for input streams message.

  • Fixed possible missing pins issue when configuring a schema with multiple sources.

v.4.3.160826

  • Support for broadcast via the RTMP protocol.

  • CodecWorks now requires administrator rights to run—needed for working with Intel Quick Sync.

  • Fixed bug with wrong output file extension in WatchFolder (only for ‘.ts’ files).

  • Fixed minor issues in the new GUI.

  • Fixed bug when a console process remained in Task Manager after CodecWorks shutdown or console restart.

  • Fixed bug when consoles appear as Stopped for a few seconds.

  • If frozen, a console will show a Not responding message colored in red.

  • Fixed error that popped up upon a redundant source’s creation.

  • Fixed Manager freezing for 10—20 seconds at start.

v.4.3.160715

  • Added GPU load column to Manager (invisible by default—specify the GPU option in the config_w.xml file to enable).

  • Nginx web server can be configured to start jointly with CodecWorks.

  • When created, a new schema now has default as its default name—this name can be changed later.

  • Double-click on a running console to open the statistics window.

  • Now configuration cannot be finished unless all the required schema-specific parameters are specified.

v.4.3.54403.160607

  • Simplified the redundant source schema creation process.

  • Fixed licensing limitation logic for redundant source schemas.

  • Fixed issued that pop up upon creating an RTSP redundant source schema.

  • Updated the UI.

  • Implemented log auto-reloading.

  • Added the GraphRestartInterval functionality for automatic restart of an encoding schema in case it failed to start.

  • Fixed limited number of connections to MPEG Multiplexer component error.

  • Fixed crash when switching to a redundant source.

v.4.3.160419

  • Added source redundancy—if an error occurs, main source is switched to a redundant one.

  • Added stream monitoring for CC errors to the Push Demultiplexer component via the TS Lost count by PID parameter.

  • Implemented redundancy via various network interfaces, can be specified in config_w.xml: <Connection ... reserving_interface="" />

  • Support for MPEG4 video decoding.

  • Support for Intel Quick Sync-based HEVC video decoding support.

  • Added the functionality for limiting the number of HEVC decoders per console.

  • Support for AVerMedia DVB Source and StreamLabs MH4L video capture cards.

  • Increased the number of supported audio formats in AVI files.

  • Fixed bug (service not started if there are spaces in path).

  • Graph Export/Import filter can now be used only with filters registered in the DirectShow system.

v.4.3.160203

  • Support for AVI, MKV, MP3, WAV, Windows Media files.

  • Added the functionality for selecting a component that synchronization will be based on—if needed.

  • Added the possibility to specify desktop capture filter parameters via the configuration panel.

  • DASH Sink: Segment duration parameter is in milliseconds now.

  • Web server is OFF by default.

  • Added MPEG-2, AVC, HEVC video encoding via Intel Quick Sync.

  • Support for EVC and MJPEG decoding.

  • Support for AC3 audio decoding via AC3Filter.

  • Support for broadcast via the MPEG-DASH protocol.

  • Added WatchFolder functionality.

  • Support for input and output MP4 files.

  • Added the functionality for DVB-S, DVB-C, and DVB-T/T2 decapsulation and encoding.

  • Support for MPTS (Multi Program Transport Stream) creation and broadcast.

  • Implemented error notification via e-mail or SNMP protocol.

  • Support for Digital Devices, BeholdTV, and AVerMedia DVB video capture cards.

v.4.2.131016

  • Web interface for management and monitoring of the transcoding process.

  • N+M redundancy model.

  • Input stream redundancy (automatic switch to redundant source if the main source fails).

  • Fail-safety of output stream upon video signal loss.

  • HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and HTTP support.

  • Hot key combinations for main commands in CodecWorks Manager.

v.4.1.121109

  • More flexible approach to encoding schema building with the help of separate sections (source, decoding, transform, and render) is implemented.

  • Encoding parameter values can be set while building the schema.

  • More than 1 input stream source can be selected.

  • TBS interface card support is implemented.

  • Product robustness and performance has been enhanced.

v.4.1.120505

  • Added a new Elecard AVC Video Encoder MediaSDK component that uses Intel Quick Sync Video technology. The component enables encoding of up to 5 Full HD or 20 SD channels in systems based on Intel CPUs that support embedded Intel HD Graphics processing.

  • The encoding schema configuration is improved.

  • Encoding schema is adjusted automatically, if input multicast/unicast address is changed.

  • Manager operation with large quantity (50+) of encoding consoles is improved.

  • Support of AJA, Blackmagic, DekTec, SoftLab, StreamLabs interface boards.