Hi Rich,
I appreciate your post as it points out some things I should clear up to those that are new to the concept. Some replies below...
[Rich Rubasch] "Not sure I agree it is a game-changer. I see it as more of a niche service. Some will pay for the software and set it up, then train all their clients to use it. Will work great for them. But many of our clients, especially agencies, have their own sites where we put our sample clips and elements etc and they don't want our solution. We might be different in that regard."
Just to clarify, Media Batch isn't an outside service like YouTube or file sharing websites. It's software that lives on your own website server. When I initially created it as proprietary software, I wanted my clients to know that they were sharing files on *my* website and not some other company's website.
Although some agencies have their own file-transferring system in place, it's just that: a file-transferring system. Media Batch is much more than that. It has integrated tools, specific for the media industry that file-transfer systems just don't have. The timecode based FLV viewer with real-time marker-assigned notation and drawing capabilities come to mind! =)
Agencies themselves are doing the switch to Media Batch as well. In fact, there are some big-name companies using Media Batch right within their own internal production workflow. Yahoo! is one of them.
[Rich Rubasch] "Thier short demos don't hit on any real groundbreakers. It mentions that you can approve a clip, but it looked like it could be approved by only one person. Sometimes you need approval by many. In some ways this looked like a souped up .Mac account. Sure, I have to build the skin, but I still have to train clients where to go to see the clip."
I agree, the demos need updating, while some important demos don't exist (I need one for the Directory Manager, Client Portals, global logins and more). In fact, the Approval demo you watched is unfortunately quite out-dated. The latest Approval system allows for multiple degrees of an approval state (not just "Approved") and allows for a note right within the approval as well.
Likewise, more than one person can in fact approve a file(s) if you wish. Just assign each person you want the unique passkey for a specific file(s) will allow them to do so.
It's definitely much different than a .mac account. I didn't want to build something that already existed or put lipstick on a pig (not that .mac is a pig by any stretch). In fact, the reason I built it in the first place (solely as proprietary software in the beginning) was because there was nothing out there that did this and I was willing to pay for it. Since it didn't exist, I built it myself. It wasn't until much later that I decided to turn it into a purchasable product for the masses.
As far as training the client, there really isn't any. You send them the URL and the username/password. That's it. They're presented with a list of files to view/download/review/approve/etc. No special FTP apps. Just a regular http web address.
[Rich Rubasch] "What has workded for us is to send a web link and description to the client which plays off our web site in an FTP directory. We also send emails with JPEGs of the sample layouts or designs. I don't have too many issues with workflow here, except sometimes I agree that certain clients are phobic or untrained in using FTP sites. That has been an issue."
I agree that FTP can be a pain with clients. This was the very initial reason that I developed it. Corporate clients especially don't like (or in some cases can not use) FTP. But anyone can go to an HTTP address.
Prior to creating Media Batch as proprietary, I used to do the same thing: place the files on my site in a directory and they could then go download it. Problem though... I never knew when they actually downloaded the file(s). Media Batch tracks all of this so I know if the client is truly reviewing the work.
The other problem is that some clients didn't know to "right-click-and-save-as" and would play the file in the browser and then ask how to save it. Media Batch alleviates all of this. They can either view the file inline within their browser (with a proper web viewer) or they can download it with a simple click, no matter what file type it is; QuickTime, JPEG, whatever.
The notation feature for each file is quite powerful as well. We recently had a fairly large 3D medical device project that we finished (under OneRiver Media) and there's no way everyone in the project (spanning from California, Florida and Germany) could have conveyed the intricate information about each animation step without the notes pertaining to each file.
[Rich Rubasch] "Rather than these services, I wish our browsers would become more compatible with simple FTP transfers with easily customized interfaces. FTP in general seems like it hails from the ero of the Fax. Long gone. But we still use it more than ever. I think Media Batch solves the interface problem."
Again, Media Batch isn't a service, but an integrated "interface" of sorts, that lives on your own website. But more importantly, it's much more than an interface for file-sharing; it's a complete review and approval system where clients have unique tools for viewing these files.
[Rich Rubasch] "Our clients have peace of mind knowing that their sometimes sensitive media elements are on our site and not a public site where others might see them. Corporate clients can be pretty particular where we are putting their media files."
Agreed! This is why Media Batch isn't a service, but a system that lives and operates on your own website. =)
[Rich Rubasch] "Finally, I thought the sight had about 30% too much "glitz" for me. A few less animated buttons and slick Flash interface. It had a bit of the "look at me" affect and was a slight turn off for me."
Well, I couldn't agree with you more, Rich. Prior to the last NAB (where we had a booth and showed Media Batch for the first time), I needed to get a Media Batch website up and get it up FAST! The Flash-based site that you see now was the fastest way to do it, while keeping it from looking drab and boring. Agreed that there's too much glitz and the entire website will be changed in the next few months, hopefully before the next NAB. With the limited time I had, it's the best I could do without it looking the opposite: plain and taking away from the product. The next website revision will be much better.
Look Rich, it's *really* hard to know what the real benefits are to Media Batch until you start using it in a real production workflow. I've literally had my own clients say they had no idea how the project would have gotten completed as efficiently, timely and *accurately* as it was, had it not been for Media Batch. Like Hairclub For Men, I'm not just the president, I'm a client! =)
Having known you for so long over the years, Rich, I'm so convinced that it can change your workflow that I'll give you a FREE install and license to Media Batch Pro. If you like it and keep using, great. If not and you want to keep using your current methods, no worries. If you're interested, email me offline and I'll set you up.
For those that are interested, we're still running the 20% off discount. Just enter coupon code COW at the check-out stage.
Marco Solorio | CreativeCow Host | OneRiver Media | Codec Resource Site | Cinesoft | Media Batch
