AWS for M&E Blog
Edit in the cloud: Nine Network modernizes edit suites with AWS
This blog was co-authored by Jun Ye, Graphics and Automation Technology Manager of Nine Network.
When Nine Network (Nine) faced the dilemma of aging edit suites and mounting hardware costs in their Brisbane studios, they didn’t just see a problem—they saw an opportunity. The traditional approach would have been straightforward: replace hardware (server, processor, memory, storage) with new edit suites, maintain the same workflows, and prepare for the same refresh cycle in a few years.
Instead, they asked a different question: What if Nine could transform their post-production capabilities while eliminating the traditional hardware refresh cycle?
This question led to an innovative collaboration between Nine and Amazon Web Services (AWS), resulting in a cloud-based edit suite solution. It combines the scalability and agility of cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade security—delivering a cost optimized environment. It has since evolved into, what team members describe as, a highly effective workflow for broadcast post-production.
We will explore how Nine leveraged AWS to build a secure, cost-effective edit suite in the cloud. It enables remote editing capabilities while maintaining broadcast-grade performance. We’ll share the architectural decisions, and technical implementations along the way.
Solution overview: Cloud editing architecture
The Nine broadcast team has built a comprehensive solution for editing in the Cloud, built on AWS services and integrated with AWS Partner solutions. By utilizing Amazon EC2 G4dn instances, running Adobe Premiere Pro and accessed through Amazon DCV, the architecture provides high-performance, color-accurate remote editing capabilities. The solution integrates Mimir (part of the Fonn Group and an AWS Partner), a cloud media production and collaboration platform for asset management, with AWS services. These services include: Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, and AWS Elemental MediaConnect. All together they enable seamless proxy editing, asset management, and low-latency timeline previews.
Managed through Amazon EventBridge and AWS Lambda, the solution offers flexible, secure, and cost-effective media production. Editors can collaborate remotely with professional-grade tools and unprecedented workflow efficiency. The team also leveraged AWS CloudFormation, an infrastructure as code (IaC) service, which made the solution repeatable across the business, and aligned with the business’s DevOps practices.
Figure 1: High-level cloud editing architecture on AWS.
Following is a walkthrough of the components of this architecture:
- An authenticated editor initiates an editing session using a Slack bot slash command. Slack routes the command to a Lambda function through EventBridge. Lambda verifies user authorization, then provisions or deprovisions EC2 G4dn instances and MediaConnect flows with the appropriate security configuration.
- The editor connects to their cloud workstations through Amazon DCV for secure remote desktop streaming. Elastic Load Balancing centralizes access points and distributes connection handling for both Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffic while adhering to the wider security practices of Nine.
- The editor begins working with video content in Adobe Premiere Pro through the Mimir plugin, using a proxy edit workflow. The Mimir plugin connects to cloud storage through a Kelda server, which orchestrates the workflow between local elements (such as network accessible storage) and proxy media.
- The editor completes editing and initiates export through an Adobe Media Encoder application. Kelda then downloads high-resolution content from Amazon S3 to Amazon FSx storage for rendering.
- Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is used as a Network Access Storage (NAS) to complete the edit workflow.
Remote editing experience
Editors can control their workstations, start and stop them as needed through familiar tools like Slack. This flexible model makes professional-grade video editing more accessible and economical while maintaining the broadcast-grade quality.
At the heart of this solution is the ability for editors to connect to high-performance cloud workstations from any location, with the same quality and performance they’d expect in a professional studio. Nine chose to use high-color accuracy setting (YUV 4:4:4) in Amazon DCV, providing the editor precise color accuracy and high-fidelity display output, crucial for professional video editing work.
“The responsiveness of Amazon DCV, combined with high image fidelity, means our remote teams can seamlessly work collaboratively in real time without needing expensive workstations,” explains Jun Ye, Graphics and Automation Technology Manager at Nine Network.
A typical feature of an edit suite is a separate, full resolution monitor showing the video output of the timeline. The solution leverages the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) output capabilities of Premiere Pro, streaming live timeline feeds to AWS Elemental MediaConnect. This provides secure, low-latency preview delivery to any SRT-compatible device, offering unprecedented flexibility for remote editing.
“One of my favorite features is the ability for editors to preview their work on any device. This flexibility means they can set up their workspace exactly how they want it, wherever they are,” explains Ye.
Once an edit is complete, rendering is initiated through Mimir to an Adobe Media Encoder. The system automatically manages all complex processes—retrieving high-resolution files from storage, rendering them, and storing the final output.
Conclusion
We explored how Nine Network transformed post-production by creating a cloud-based edit solution using AWS services, Mimir and more. The solution enables secure, high-performance remote editing without traditional hardware limitations.
The solution has transformed collaborative video editing by combining the accessibility of remote work with the power of professional editing tools. Teams can now work together seamlessly, accessing and sharing resources securely from any location, while maintaining the high standards expected in broadcast-quality video production.
This cloud-based edit solution isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s a strategic business transformation.
Contact an AWS Representative to know how we can help accelerate your business.