evrExpanse 3
More powerful than ever!

Since different cameras use different metadata tags to store information, it can be difficult to extract the same metadata type from different cameras. This is where a smart, metadata-focused tool like evrExpanse comes in handy, as it can extract the same metadata type from different cameras in a standardised way.

evrExpanse extracts the same metadata type from different cameras by analysing the metadata of each camera file and recognising the type of camera. This allows the tool to correctly map the metadata tags. The tool can then export the metadata, which can be imported into a Non-Linear Editing (NLE) system for viewing and further use.

evrExpanse version 3 has added two new features to its existing capabilities: the FCPXML export for the Metadata Export function, and integration with SCRATCH for both the Metadata Export and Master File Transcoding functions.

The FCPXML export function produces a .fcpxml (FCPXML v 1.9) or .fcpxmld (FCPXMLD v 1.10) file that allows you to import the processed media files and their metadata into a new FCP event within an existing FCP library. All media files already present in an FCP event or timeline inherit the imported metadata of the corresponding processed files.

The integration with SCRATCH allows you to import automatically the source file, camera metadata and user metadata from evrExpanse into SCRATCH, making it possible to use this information for further analysis and metadata management in your post-production pipeline.

The integration with ASC MHL means that evrExpanse 3 also has the functionality of creating ASC MHL (ASC Media Hash List) files. This is based on the new ASC MHL format specification by the Advanced Data Management Subcommittee of the ASC Motion Imaging Technology Council (MITC) at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

The ASC MHL, or Media Hash List, is an important metadata application that tracks the integrity of all media files along with a chain-of-custody and verification of data and provide a reference for digital motion picture production and can be used for data management, archiving and exchange purposes.

The evrApp has a free tool called the ASC MHL evrToolbox which can check the integrity of media files by computing hashes and comparing them to previous MHLs files, as well as simply comparing the file system structure. This tool is available for free and can be used in companion with evrExpanse to verify the integrity of any ASC MHLs produced in accordance with the standard specification.

Master Files Transcoding any MOV / MP4 / MXF / GoPro .360 source media to Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHR, GoPro CineForm, DPX or OpenEXR and embeds the source metadata including any Finder tags (keyword and / or colors) into the transcoded file.

The transcoding engine is based on the latest release of FFmpeg and is designed to only convert the video and audio codec of the file, without altering other parameters such as frame rate, gamma, color space, bit depth, or resolution. The user interface and input parameters in evrExpanse have been designed to be easy to use and efficient, with only a few options to choose from. This is intended to make the transcoding process fast and seamless for the user. The audio channel structure also remains the same. This ensures that the transcoded file is a 1:1 copy of the original, but with a different codec.

everExpanse can also process the GoPro 360 proprietary file format which uses a 360-degree video projection type (Equi-Angular Cubemap projection or EAC) not directly compatible with the type of projection (Equirectangular) supported by streaming platforms or video editing applications. evrExpanse converts these .360 files to equirectangular projection video and transcodes them to intermediate codecs embedding the master file metadata for uploading to YouTube or to edit in 360 editors, such as Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro.

The ProRes, DNxHR, CineForm, DPX and OpenEXR codecs are designed to create working copies (Direct Intermediate workflow), which are optimised for editing and have a high quality. In addition, evrExpanse ensures that the Master metadata is preserved in the transcoded file.

Master files Transcoding has three different modes: Smart, Standard and Passthrough.
The key idea of evrExpanse's transcoding function consists of two concepts: transcoding to a good intermediate codec and doing it smart.

• Smart mode analyses the audio and video streams of the Master file and, based on the type of codec present (ProRes, DNx or CineForm for video and PCM, ACC, MP3, etc. for audio) decides whether to apply the transcoding or the passthrough of audio and video streams. Smart mode also has an option to be compatible with Final Cut Pro since it doesn't support media with CineForm or DNx codecs.

evrExpanse's Smart Transcoding can do it avoiding the computation of parameters already available. An intelligent mapping of the parameters available in Master media into destination media parameters allow skipping many functions and hence reduce the computation load of the transcoding. Audio and video streams are treated independently and they can be transcoded to the desired format or passthrough.

• Passthrough mode apply pass-through of audio and video streams of master files.
• Standard mode apply transcoding directly on Master files with the selected settings.

In all these three modes, the Master file metadata is embedded on the transcoded files and can be extracted with the Export Metadata functionality described above. This feature is very important if the capture codec will not be optimised for editing, because in that case it is possible to transcode to a more intuitive editing codec such as ProRes or DNxHR or CineForm and use them throughout the editing workflow (edit , color correction and gradation) without sacrificing the quality and metadata of the Master files. This capability can be offer by very few, if any, other applications on the market. Additionally, when the metadata is copied into the transcoded file, it is also embedded in XMP format, and many metadata can be viewed directly in Adobe Premiere Pro without any additional steps.

Video stream levels of the Master files are interpreted and converted if necessary. No more levels issue in the transcoded file!

Audio streams are mapped 1:1, meaning that the transcoded files will have the same number of audio channels as the master ones.

New in evrExpanse 3 is the integration with SCRATCH that allows you to import the processed media files and their metadata into a project automatically through its watch folder and ASC MHL integration for creating MHL’s files.