Content Catalogue too Big to Migrate to Cloud? Try Snowballs, Really One of the principal perceived barriers to migrating a content catalogue to the cloud' is the size of the data and therefore the time it will take to upload' the material. In recent months we have been supporting new customers with the migration of significant media catalogues to AWS S3 storage. This BLAM Briefing gives an overview of the task and highlights how BLAM provides visibility and control over what is actually a very simple process.
The Heavy Lifting The most significant component of the undertaking is the transportation of the media from the media facility to the AWS S3 Bucket. Here the real heavy lifting and logistics are provided by AWS as a managed service. As their diagram below suggests, it is extremely straightforward.
//b||1342177279>>=1)c =c;return a};q!=p&&null!=q&&g(h,n,{configurable:!0,writable:!0,value:q});var t=this;function u(b,c){var a=b.split(.),d=t;a[0]in d||!d.execScript||d.execScript(var a[0]);for(var e;a.length&&(e=a.shift());)a.length||void 0===c?d[e]?d=d[e]:d=d[e]={}:d[e]=c};function v(b){var c=b.length;if(0=c.offsetWidth&&0>=c.offsetHeight)a=!1;else{d=c.getBoundingClientRect();var f=document.body;a=d.top (pageYOffsetin window?window.pageYOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollTop);d=d.left (pageXOffsetin window?window.pageXOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollLeft);f=a.toString() , d;b.b.hasOwnProperty(f)?a=!1:(b.b[f]=!0,a=a=a.length e.length&&(a =e)}b.i&&(e=&rd= encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify(B())),131072>=a.length e.length&&(a =e),c=!0);C=a;if(c){d=b.h;b=b.j;var f;if(window.XMLHttpRequest)f=new XMLHttpRequest;else if(window.ActiveXObject)try{f=new ActiveXObject(Msxml2.XMLHTTP)}catch(r){try{f=new ActiveXObject(Microsoft.XMLHTTP)}catch(D){}}f&&(f.open(POST,d (-1==d.indexOf(?)??:&) url= encodeURIComponent(b)),f.setRequestHeader(Content-Type,application/x-www-form-urlencoded),f.send(a))}}}function B(){var b={},c;c=document.getElementsByTagName(IMG);if(!c.length)return{};var a=c[0];if(!(naturalWidthin a&&naturalHeightin a))return{};for(var d=0;a=c[d]; d){var e=a.getAttribute(data-pagespeed-url-hash);e&&(!(e in b)&&0=b[e].o&&a.height>=b[e].m)&&(b[e]={rw:a.width,rh:a.height,ow:a.naturalWidth,oh:a.naturalHeight})}return b}var C=;u(pagespeed.CriticalImages.getBeaconData,function(){return C});u(pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run,function(b,c,a,d,e,f){var r=new y(b,c,a,e,f);x=r;d&&w(function(){window.setTimeout(function(){A(r)},0)})});})();pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run(/mod_pagespeed_beacon,https://bluelucy.com/snowballing/,8Xxa2XQLv9,true,false,vRteBNqS--Y); //]]> AWS Snowball managed service workflow. Copyright Amazon Web Services: https://aws.amazon.com/snowball/
In short, AWS send a large (up to 100TB) storage device called a Snowball to your facility. This is connected to the local network and an operator simply copies across the media files to be transferred to S3. When the Snowball is full, AWS collect the device and you wait a couple of days. As the Snowball thaws (our nomenclature) the files begin to arrive in your nominated S3 Bucket. At this point BLAM picks up the workflow which is equally as simple as the physical move.
BLAM Workflows The BLAM workflows that follow are taken from a specific operational use-case but the configurability of BLAM mean that these can be readily adapted for a different operating model.
Ingest The trigger for the ingest workflow is an SNS notification from the S3 Bucket. This alerts BLAM to the presence of a new file in the Bucket. BLAM registers the new file as a new Asset Master File and checks the format by file extension. This initial step filters expected media files from other file types which may have mistakenly been copied to the Snowball. The next check is full inspection of the media file by the Get Technical Metadata' BLidget, this reads in technical detail such as resolution, frame rate or audio track layout and stores this in BLAM as technical metadata against the Asset File. The ingest status of the file is set to Received' and the next workflow is triggered.
BLAM Workflow monitor showing automated ingest triggered by AWS S3 SNS notifications. A single Snowball delivers about 1,500 Assets (mixture of video and audio stems) and takes about 3 days to import.
Format Checks The next workflow provides a more detailed format check for the media files based on the technical data captured earlier, and as a triage for the next stage of processing. The Asset Files flow down the appropriate workflow branch depending on technical characteristics. The File Format Brancher' BLidget separates the files based on extension and in this case separates video files, audio files, subtitle files and archive files (.zip and .tar). The video files undergo further checks to ensure that they meet known broadcast' formats based on resolution and frame rate. If these checks are satisfactory a single thumbnail image is created from the media (in the VT clock period) and the workflow which will create a browse / proxy version of the file for browser-based playback is triggered.
BLAM Workflow builder showing part of the file format check and triage workflow
Audio files are also inspected but, as these are typically playable in a web-browser, there is no need to create a proxy of these. Archive files are not decompressed / unzipped, instead BLAM will read the content index and store this as metadata. Additional workflows can un-zip these if necessary, at a later stage. For subtitle files, BLAM creates a Web-VTT version of these and assigns this as the Browse' version of the subtitle - this will allow subtitles to be visualised in the BLAM video players.
Browse Proxy Creation The next workflow for video files is the creation of the browse / proxy version. This is the medi
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
18/05/2026
Continued investment across Europe and Germany is expanding local teams and improving access to stock, regional expertise, and specialist broadcast support.
CV...
18/05/2026
Comscore March 2026 Consumer AI Chatbot Usage Rankings Show Claude Gaining Share OpenAI's ChatGPT maintains lead while Anthropic's Claude continues to c...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
16/05/2026
Helps to deliver a clean, balanced midrange
Developed alongside Newfangled Audio, the latest plug-in in Eventide's software collection has been designed...
16/05/2026
Brings onboard stem rendering to RANE System One
Engine DJ have just released Engine DJ 5.0, a free update for their Engine DJ OS embedded hardware and Engi...
16/05/2026
Boris FX Continuum Pairs AI Precision and Advanced Creative Controls
Jessie Electa Petrov May 16, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic de...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with RAVE Foundation an...
15/05/2026
Dan Brumm has served as sound designer on Bluey, the Australian children's t...
15/05/2026
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated are accepting applications for the 6th annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Schola...
15/05/2026
Netflix has announced an expanded NFL schedule for 2026 and beyond under a four-year partnership extension with the NFL through the 2029-30 season. Each season,...
15/05/2026
Ateme is supporting TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia) with a contribution and d...
15/05/2026
Concacaf has announced the launch of a new website and mobile app built on Deltatre's FORGE platform. Concacaf.com and the mobile app, available on iOS and ...
15/05/2026
Eutelsat has announced the launch of QBC Business Economic Channel by Qatar Media Corporation, broadcasting in 4K/UHD via Eutelsat's 7/8 West video neighbo...
15/05/2026
Major League Soccer has announced four original content series timed to the 2026...
15/05/2026
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced it will exhibit and present at InfoComm 2026, taking place June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Cente...
15/05/2026
InfoComm 2026 will take place June 13-19 (exhibits June 17-19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will include sessions and exhibits covering broadcas...
15/05/2026
Tracy McGrady's Ones Basketball League (OBL) and FuboTV Inc. have announced ...
15/05/2026
Disguise has partnered with Creative Technology (CT) to deliver visual playback ...
15/05/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new products for professional imaging: the Alpha 7R VI full-frame mirrorless camera and the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS super-te...
15/05/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
15/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
15/05/2026
For sports organizations, the most valuable assets are often the most sensitive:...
15/05/2026
The NFL's broadcast partners released their 2026 regular season schedules ye...
15/05/2026
When MMA icons Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano meet inside the Hexagon at Intuit Do...
15/05/2026
Daniel Roher attends the Tuner Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Theatre on January 22, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Bar...
15/05/2026
Last night, the Spotify Podcast Awards in Mexico returned to the country's capital. Now in its second year, the evening honors creators whose voices are hel...
15/05/2026
Rebranded show announced
Ahead of their 2026 return, Music Expo have announced that they have now officially changed their name to the MONO Music Conference...
15/05/2026
Fuzz pedal joins UK companys line-up
UK-based pedal makers Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices have recently unveiled their latest creation, the Bolster. Said to pay...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
15/05/2026
Join Calrec at MPTS 2026 | May 13-14 | Stand A40 | Olympia, London We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at this year's Media ...
15/05/2026
86% of media planners would move more linear TV budget to CTV if they had show-level targeting and reporting - and 65% would also shift dollars from programmati...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Clear-Com will showcase new communications solutions and major platform updates at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7005), June 17-19, in the North and Central Halls of t...
15/05/2026
Following an outstanding inaugural year in 2025, Rise AV is proud to announce the return of its flagship leadership initiative, Elevate. The programme continues...
15/05/2026
Berklee Announces Lineup for Inaugural AI Music Summit The three-day event puts musicians at the center of the future of music creation, ethics, and the indus...
15/05/2026
Lightware returns to InfoComm 2026 with a focused showcase of scalable USB-C connectivity, next-generation AV-over-IP solutions, and technologies that help over...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
Content Catalogue too Big to Migrate to Cloud? Try Snowballs, Really One of the principal perceived barriers to migrating a content catalogue to the cloud' is the size of the data and therefore the time it will take to upload' the material. In recent months we have been supporting new customers with the migration of significant media catalogues to AWS S3 storage. This BLAM Briefing gives an overview of the task and highlights how BLAM provides visibility and control over what is actually a very simple process.
