Method of consolidating, synchronizing, and streaming production content for distributed editing of media compositions
A synchronized media project, synchronization SDK, and synchronization service enable multiple users to produce a media composition collaboratively. A media project includes composition assets that reference media assets. A synchronization SDK enables multiple applications to edit the media project independent of an internal organization of the project. A project synchronization service synchronizes copies of media projects located on clients with a server-based versioned master project. User-selectable project synchronization modes determine whether media project assets are stored on clients, on the server, or on both, and when media assets are transferred. Synchronized media projects include composition assets in proprietary formats and in interoperable formats. Interoperable composition assets are rendered from proprietary composition assets on a track-by-track basis.
1. A method of editing a media project, the method comprising:
storing a composition asset of the media project on a first client, wherein the composition asset comprises at least one of parameters and data that point directly or indirectly to media assets that form part of the synchronized media project;
storing a version of the composition asset of the media project on a server, wherein the server is in data communication with the first client;
enabling a user of an application running on the first client to use the application to edit the media project, wherein editing the media project involves changing the composition asset of the media project stored on the first client;
storing a media asset of the media project on the server, wherein the media asset comprises data for at least one of video, audio, graphics, and special effects for the media project; and
providing a project synchronization service, wherein:
the project synchronization service maintains synchrony between the composition asset stored on the first client and the version of the composition asset stored on the server;
maintaining synchrony includes copying changes to the composition asset stored on the first client resulting from editing of the media project to the version of the composition asset stored on the server; and
the project synchronization service updates the composition asset stored on the first client with changes to the version of the composition asset stored on the server that are caused by editing of the media project by a user of an application running on a second client in data communication with the server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a new media asset is uploaded to the server, and wherein the editing of the media project causes the composition asset stored on the first client to reference the new media asset.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media project includes a composition asset in a format that is proprietary to the application.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media project includes a composition asset in an interoperable format.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising streaming a media asset to the first client when the media asset is required by the application.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media project includes a plurality of versions of the media project, and the server stores a composition asset corresponding to each of the plurality of versions of the media project.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of versions of the media project include a plurality of interoperable format versions of the media project.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of versions of the media project include a plurality of proprietary format versions of the media project.
9. A computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer program instructions encoded thereon, wherein the computer program instructions, when processed by a first client, instruct the first client to perform a method of editing a media project, the method comprising:
enabling a user of an application running on the first client to use the application to edit the media project;
storing a composition asset of the media project on the first client, wherein the composition asset comprises at least one of parameters and data that point directly or indirectly to media assets that form part of the synchronized media project;
enabling the application to access and cause to be displayed on the first client a media asset of the media project stored on a server, wherein the media asset comprises data for at least one of video, audio, graphics, and special effects for the media project; and
providing a project synchronization service, wherein:
the project synchronization service maintains synchrony between the composition asset stored on the first client and a version of the composition asset stored on the server;
maintaining synchrony includes copying changes to the composition asset stored on the first client resulting from editing of the media project to the version of the composition asset stored on the server; and
the project synchronization service updates the composition asset stored on the first client with changes to the version of the composition asset stored on the server that are caused by editing of the media project by a user of an application running on a second client in data communication with the server.
10. A method of editing a media project, the method comprising:
enabling a user of a media editing application running on a first client to use the application to edit the media project;
storing a composition asset of the media project on the first client, wherein the composition asset comprises at least one of parameters and data that point directly or indirectly to media assets that form part of the synchronized media project;
enabling the media editing application to access and cause to be displayed on the first client a media asset of the media project stored on a server, wherein the media asset comprises data for at least one of video, audio, graphics, and special effects of the media project; and
providing a project synchronization service, wherein:
the project synchronization service maintains synchrony between the composition asset stored on the first client and a version of the composition asset stored on the server;
maintaining synchrony includes copying changes to the composition asset stored on the first client resulting from editing of the media project to the version of the composition asset stored on the server; and
the project synchronization service updates the composition asset stored on the first client with changes to the version of the composition asset stored on the server that are caused by editing of the media project by a user of an application running on a second client in data communication with the server.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a new media asset is uploaded to the server, and wherein the editing of the media project causes the composition asset stored on the first client to reference the new media asset.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the project synchronization service updates the composition asset stored on the first client with changes to the version of the composition asset stored on the server that are caused by editing of the media project by a user of an application running on a second client in data communication with the server.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the media project includes a composition asset in a format that is proprietary to the application.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the media project includes a composition asset in an interoperable format.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising streaming a media asset to the first client when the media asset is required by the application.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the media project includes a plurality of versions of the media project, and the server stores a composition asset corresponding to each of the plurality of versions of the media project.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of versions of the media project include a plurality of interoperable format versions of the media project.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of versions of the media project include a plurality of proprietary format versions of the media project.