Autodesk Wiretap

Access stored media without converting files or copying media across the network.

Access stored media without converting files or copying media across the network.

The Wiretap™ client server API enables third-party applications to access media stored on Autodesk® Stone® FS media file systems directly across a network without having to first export the media and copy it to a local file system. Wiretap exposes not only the media from creative applications but also complete project information, efficiently streamlining the collaborative datacentric workflow

Access stored media without converting files or copying media across the network.
Autodesk® Lustre®, Toxik™, Combustion®, and Cleaner® XL software applications use Wiretap to access Autodesk Stone media and metadata.
Commercial third-parties like Telestream, Inc., Fairlight ESP Pty., Maximum Throughput, Inc., and Creative Technologies, Inc., use Wiretap to interoperate with Autodesk systems.

Client SDK
This easy-to-use software developer’s kit (SDK) allows developers to write stand-alone applications that communicate with a Wiretap server in a facility. This provides access to media and metadata on Autodesk Stone file systems. The client SDK supports Windows®/Mac®/Linux®/IRIX® platforms.

The Python API allows existing third-party applications to embed Wiretap functionalities. Python is a popular and powerful scripting language. Facilities can easily add Wiretap features to their own custom tools, increasing the integration of Autodesk effects and finishing systems into the entire effects pipeline and automating administrative tasks.

Remote Media Management
You have external access to clip media and metadata from Stone or via Soft-import. You can browse any Autodesk system project and clip library—Wiretap supports read/write/delete of projects, clip libraries, reels, and clips. This means that applications can easily exchange media with Inferno, Flame, and Flint. Image I/O tasks can be scripted for automation and run in the background while the artist continues to perform creative tasks. The Wiretap server is designed to perform only light-weight processes so the host’s CPU is not compromised by Wiretap client requests. Heavier operations, such as image processing, can be offloaded to the client or another remote CPU.

Remote Project and User Management
You have access to project and user metadata. Administrative tasks can be performed remotely, or automated via scripts. Automation lets you duplicate settings on multiple machines quickly and reduces human error.

Concurrent Framestore Access
Wiretap manages concurrent multiple access to the same clip library. This lets people collaborate and work simultaneously on the same project. For example, two or more assistants can concurrently write clips to the same clip library using a Wiretap client. Meanwhile, an Autodesk® Flame® or Autodesk® Smoke® artist can load the clips to the desktop as each clip appears. As proxies or data are loaded, they appear to the artist, similar to Autodesk®Burn™ clips.

InfiniBand Support
Wiretap clients can connect to the Wiretap server over any network topology available – primarily Gigabit Ethernet and InfiniBand. The InfiniBand™ network, with throughput of 400 MB/s or more, is the network of choice when high bandwidth capabilities are required.  This low latency, high speed network protocol allows remote applications to have the similar performance to the local Autodesk system. For example, an application could playback a 2K10bit clip in real time off a remote Fibre Channel Stone framestore.

 

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