A TAILOR MADE
MEDIA WORKFLOW

As a partner with CODEX for the sale of data management solutions and other CODEX workflows and products, Media Tailor is at the forefront of providing innovation and support to different clients all across the media and entertainment industry in the Nordics. Considering the variety of clients Media Tailor works with, we sat down with the team to discuss in more detail the unique situation of providing data solutions for luxury cruise liners with Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Tell us more about Media Tailor, its history and team, and the type of services and clients the company serves.
Media Tailor is a media technology partner for forward-thinking companies. We have lived up to our name and our words for almost 30 years. With cutting-edge expertise and innovative development, we enable solutions that help businesses and stories across the media landscape to thrive. 

In September 2024, TV Tools and Media Tailor came together and embarked on a new journey together. United, we are an even stronger force that enables stories to be created, shared, and experienced like never before.

Our main service categories include TaaS (Technology as a Solution Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), and Media Services. Our service portfolio covers everything media companies need to produce, manage, and distribute top-quality media content. We are not just a hardware and project supplier, we offer comprehensive end-to-end services and solutions that are perfectly adapted to your needs. We only work with the best partners. 

We serve all businesses utilising media: TV and media companies, Production companies and advertising agencies, News media, Cruise liners, Event venues, and Creative professionals and companies of all kinds.

Our nature mission is to mitigate climate change, increase natural carbon sinks, and maintain the diversity of our unique nature. We spend over 50% of our company’s profits in fulfilling our nature mission! In addition to our nature mission, we strive to be as responsible as possible in our day-to-day work.

For more information about Media Tailor, visit our website.

How did the enquiry for a new storage solution from Royal Caribbean Cruises come about? Were they an existing client?
We have been building turn-key broadcast systems for ships of Royal Caribbean since 1997, Icon of the Seas being ship #18. On all of these ships we have also been in a consultant role so the proposal to use CODEX came from us.

Icon of the Seas

What was lacking in their previous storage system that made them decide they needed an alternative solution?
Previously they had only local storages on their edits and some minor shared network storages for office use. As the need for storage space has grown and ultimately the need to share files is growing, we proposed CODEX for their solution.

How was the experience of integrating the MediaVault R1200 into their existing workflow? Did TV Tools personally support the installation when the vessels were in the dock? And where?
TV Tools did a turn-key system from consulting, design, installation, configuration, and training. And finally, we have remote connections and support contracts for their systems.

CODEX MediaVault R1200

What edit stations do they use onboard?
Adobe Premiere and Black Magic DaVinci Resolve.

Did you have to consider how a global seafaring vessel would face varied environments, communication challenges, and other differences compared to a normal land-based server room installation, and has MediaVault met those demands?
The equipment rooms for Broadcast and entertainment do not have to meet any special security or maritime regulations. Connections to ships are nowadays very usable so that either isn’t an issue.

New systems can often present challenges to users so have the varying crew roles using MediaVault experienced a positive migration?
Feedback has been good. The crew is changing quite often so the maintenance of the system must be easy. User management and different roles have been working ok. There are not that many users though.

AquaDome hosts entertainment throughout cruises

Tell us in more detail about how MediaVault is being used on both vessels.
The MediaVault is used in a number of different ways across the vessels, firstly as the main storage for the 2 editing stations onboard (mentioned above). It’s also used as the Backup Storage option for their 12-channel video servers, Shared Storage for all digital signage material across the vessels, and for general office use. Lastly it also acts as storage space for recordings/streamers for venue show security and backup recordings.

Are Royal Caribbean Cruises looking to expand more services with the capabilities of MediaVault?
We have proposed to do so but it is finally up to them how they will end up with it. 

Traditionally everything has been in their own “closed lockers” so sharing technology is a new thing that they need to get used to. For example, we´ve proposed and executed a few improvements on the Icon class to use the technology as its planned to be used. For example, the vessel has multiple (10-15) smaller, medium, large, and huge entertainment venues. We did plan and execute a shared solution for the following systems, which opens the possibilities of using the signalling ship wide:

1. A ship-wide Entertainment and Broadcast ethernet network, with 48 Aruba switches.
2. A ship-wide Riedel Mediornet media (TV format video, and audio) network.
3. A ship-wide Riedel Artist and wireless Bolero intercom system with 170 user ports.
   

Being very much at the user end supporting enquiring clients, how do Media Tailor see its current position in the market, and where do they think technology is taking us in the future and how CODEX can support that.
Media Tailor has already showcased its ability to transform an entire industry in Finland. Now, the company is expanding its services across the Nordic region, beginning with Sweden, where David Mühle has been appointed CEO of Media Tailor AB.

With CODEX, we are excited to begin utilising its technology in individual projects, with limitless potential for future growth.