Almost 90 participants - broadcasters, post-production specialists and product vendors - created a buzz around Quality Control at the EBU this week. For two days they sought to answer the questions "what is quality?" and "how best can we ensure that we deliver it?". With the move to file-based production, traditional QC methods are no longer sufficient. And while automated processes are an attractive proposition, they also raise a lot of challenges and questions.

A highlight of this week's workshop was Wednesday's opening keynote from Red Bee's creative director Jane Fielder. With a creative track record second to none, she asked her mostly technical audience to think again about the concept of "quality" and how it can it can mean different things to different people. Acknowledging the creativity required for technical work also, she stressed the need for the two communities - engineers and content creators - to work together.

Above: Attendees had a chance to meet the vendors face-to-face in small groups; Top: Jane Fielder's keynote asked some search questions about what it means to talk about Quality.

A particularly valuable aspect of this workshop, aside from the many thought-provoking and inspiring presentations, was the opportunity for delegates to get 'up close and personal' with product vendors. Spread throughout the building, twelve vendors mounted demonstrations of their QC solutions, allowing workshop attendees to visit each of them individually to discuss their requirements. It was a valuable opportunity for both the users and the sellers - and a good example of how the EBU can serve to bring these groups together on neutral ground.

With a positive and open attitude prevailing throughout, the two-day event left all participants satisfied - and well-equipped to face into a new era of ensuring the Quality on which we all depend.

A Full Deck

This week's workshop saw the first appearance for a new set of playing cards with a difference. The EBU QC cards each detailed a specific QC check, grouped into audio, video, format and others. Together they form a 'periodic table' that will be built up over time.