logo
DE
Glossary/Clipster
Back to glossary

Clipster

Introduction

CLIPSTER is a professional mastering and finishing system developed for high-end post-production facilities that require reliable creation of Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs), Interoperable Master Format (IMF) packages, broadcast masters, and other professional delivery formats. Originally developed by DVS and later maintained by Rohde & Schwarz, the platform is now continued by CineCert, combining decades of digital cinema expertise with modern mastering workflows. It has become one of the industry's benchmark solutions for theatrical mastering due to its flexibility, precision, and compliance with professional delivery standards.

Purpose

CLIPSTER serves as the final stage of the post-production pipeline, transforming completed picture and sound masters into deliverables suitable for theatrical exhibition, broadcast, streaming, and archival distribution. Rather than acting solely as a DCP creation tool, CLIPSTER is designed as a comprehensive mastering environment where editors, mastering engineers, and digital imaging technicians can assemble, process, validate, and deliver content according to strict industry specifications. Its timeline-based workflow enables users to combine media from different cameras, codecs, resolutions, and color spaces into a single project without extensive preprocessing.

Core Features

The CLIPSTER platform provides a wide range of capabilities for professional mastering environments.

Resolution-Independent Workflow

One of CLIPSTER's defining features is its ability to work independently of image resolution. Material ranging from SD and HD to UHD, 2K, 4K, and higher resolutions can coexist within the same timeline. Each source is processed using a high-precision internal pipeline, allowing editors to mix resolutions while maintaining image quality throughout the mastering process.

Flexible Codec Support

CLIPSTER natively supports both compressed and uncompressed media formats. Image sequences, camera formats, mezzanine codecs, and broadcast formats can be imported without transcoding, significantly reducing preparation time. This flexibility allows facilities to combine different source formats within a single timeline while producing standardized output files for distribution.

Advanced Color Processing

Professional color management is central to CLIPSTER's architecture. The software uses a high-precision procedural color-processing pipeline capable of handling multiple color spaces simultaneously. Editors can combine material encoded in different color spaces and convert everything into a desired output color container, including those required for digital cinema. HDR workflows are also supported, enabling mastering for modern display technologies while preserving color accuracy and dynamic range.

Timeline-Based Mastering

Unlike traditional encoding software, CLIPSTER operates with a nonlinear editing timeline. Users can assemble picture, audio, subtitles, and metadata directly within the application before exporting the final deliverable. The integrated conforming tools simplify the process of reconstructing timelines from editorial systems while maintaining synchronization between picture and sound.

DCP Mastering Workflow

CLIPSTER streamlines Digital Cinema Package creation through a structured mastering workflow. The process typically begins by importing the final graded Digital Source Master (DSM). Picture and audio are assembled within the timeline, where reel markers are established if the feature requires multiple reels. Once the project is prepared, the mastering engineer configures output settings, including naming conventions, storage locations, and package metadata. During finalization, CLIPSTER performs JPEG 2000 image encoding, converts media into MXF containers, generates XML metadata—including the Composition Playlist (CPL), Packing List (PKL), Asset Map, and Volume Index—and assembles the complete DCP. If security is required, encryption can be enabled and Key Delivery Messages (KDMs) generated for authorized cinema servers. After processing, the resulting package is ready for theatrical distribution and playback on DCI-compliant projection systems.

Professional Delivery Formats

Although widely recognized for DCP mastering, CLIPSTER supports numerous professional delivery formats. The platform can generate:

  • Digital Cinema Packages (DCP)
  • Interoperable Master Format (IMF)
  • AS-02 and AS-11 packages
  • Broadcast deliverables
  • Custom file-based outputs
  • Tape-based masters for legacy workflows Its configurable output engine allows facilities to customize deliverables according to proprietary client specifications while maintaining compliance with established standards.

Technical Architecture

CLIPSTER's architecture is designed around a high-performance processing engine capable of real-time playback of uncompressed media. Key technical capabilities include:

  • Timeline-based nonlinear editing
  • Native support for multiple codecs
  • Mixed-resolution processing
  • HDR color pipeline
  • High-precision color transformations
  • 4K uncompressed playback at up to 120 frames per second
  • Native handling of image sequences
  • Integrated SDI capture and playback interfaces These capabilities allow mastering engineers to work directly with production-quality assets without sacrificing performance or introducing unnecessary transcoding steps.

Standards Compliance

A major strength of CLIPSTER is its adherence to professional media standards. For digital cinema, it creates DCI-compliant Digital Cinema Packages using JPEG 2000 image compression, MXF containers, and standardized XML metadata. The system also supports SMPTE-based workflows for interoperability across cinema servers, mastering facilities, and distribution platforms. Built-in output wizards guide users through standard-compliant package creation, reducing the likelihood of delivery errors.

Industry Applications

CLIPSTER is used throughout the motion picture industry for mastering:

  • Feature films
  • Independent films
  • Television series
  • Commercials
  • Movie trailers
  • Archive restoration projects
  • Premium HDR content Its reliability and support for demanding delivery specifications have made it a common choice among major studios, post-production facilities, and digital cinema mastering houses.

Conclusion

CLIPSTER is more than a DCP creation application; it is a comprehensive mastering platform that integrates editing, conforming, color management, encoding, packaging, and delivery into a single workflow. Its ability to process virtually any media format, mix resolutions and color spaces, support HDR workflows, and generate standards-compliant deliverables has established it as one of the leading mastering solutions in professional post-production. By combining a flexible timeline-based workflow with advanced processing capabilities and strict adherence to digital cinema standards, CLIPSTER enables post-production facilities to produce reliable, high-quality deliverables for theatrical, broadcast, and streaming distribution.

Next term
CPL
Composition Playlist