About Liam Wall, Digital Media Technologist
As a Digital Media Technologist, Liam Wall plays a key role in identifying, evaluating, and implementing technology solutions that support video, audio, and platform services across his organization. “My job is to make sure the technology we adopt streamlines our workflows and
supports the needs of our clients,” he explains.
Liam first encountered Capella Systems several years ago, when introduced by Big Pic Media. Over time, he found himself increasingly impressed not just by the technology, but by its steady expansion.
“I’ve been following Capella Systems for quite a few years now,” he recalls, “and I’ve been watching their progress with the addition of new feature sets.” As his team’s workflow requirements evolved, Cambria FTC seemed a strong potential fit.
Why Capella? Responsiveness, Capability, and Collaboration
When the time came to evaluate media processing platforms, Capella quickly distinguished itself. One reason stood out: support.
“A major factor in choosing Capella over other platforms was the exceptional responsiveness and accessibility of their support team. Being able to raise issues or feature requests and receive prompt, effective assistance has been invaluable to our workflow.” The team also faced a particular technical challenge: a niche caption format rarely supported elsewhere.
“We needed a feature to accommodate a caption format that wasn’t commonly supported,” Liam explains. “Working with Capella allowed us to resolve that challenge far more efficiently than if we’d implemented the solution internally.”
Beyond that, Capella's feature set aligned with broader client needs, including support for UHD and emerging delivery requirements.'
Licensing Model That Delivers Value
The licensing approach was another decisive factor. Capella's perpetual licensing model offered long-term predictability and reduced operational overhead.
“Capella’s perpetual licensing model was a key factor. It gives us ongoing maintenance and updates without the recurring costs of SaaS. It’s financially predictable and ensures sustained access to new enhancements.”
Integrating Cambria FTC Into the Workflow
Introducing Cambria FTC into existing workflows proved to be a strong complement to the company's custom-built systems.
“FTC has helped complement our current solution with codecs, formats, and functions not currently available,” Liam notes. Their workflows include a broad range of codecs and wrappers, each tailored to the destination. “Not all destinations want the same things,” he adds.
Impact: Expanded Capabilities and Increased Efficiency
“Cambria has helped expand our capabilities by providing solutions that would have taken longer to build ourselves,” Liam shares. “It’s also allowed us to deliver on feature requests more efficiently.”
“The platform’s reliability has been excellent,” he says, “which contributes to greater operational consistency and confidence in delivery.”
“Capella’s updates are rigorously tested, and the upgrade process is straightforward. That minimizes downtime and keeps everything running smoothly.”
Onboarding: Smooth, Supported, and Well-Structured
Integration required thoughtful planning, particularly around handling XML job requests. But once the structure was defined, the rollout progressed smoothly.
“Integrating Capella into our workflow was an engaging and valuable challenge. Once we established the best approach for XML job requests, everything became seamless.”
The support team played a major role in the smooth transition.
“Capella’s team were exceptionally responsive throughout onboarding. They were always available to answer questions — big or small.”
Exceeding Expectations
Although Cambria FTC was introduced to satisfy a specific requirement, it quickly proved its versatility.
“Cambria has met, and at some points exceeded expectations,” Liam says. “We brought it in for one feature, but soon found it could help deliver on additional requests.”
“We’ve been able to increase the functionality we offer, and the platform’s reliability has been excellent.”
Final Thoughts and Advice
For organizations considering Capella, Liam offers straightforward advice:
“Take full advantage of the documentation — it’s an excellent starting point for understanding the platform’s capabilities. They’re approachable, knowledgeable, and always willing to assist. Request a trial license. Once you try it, you’ll quickly appreciate the performance, reliability, and ease of use. It simply works.”
“Cambria has met, and at some points exceeded expectations. We brought it in for one feature, but soon found it could help deliver on additional requests.”
Liam Wall
Digital Media Technologist, Cape.io
About Big Pic Media
Big Pic Media is a leading UK-based provider of production, post-production, broadcast, and media services. Established in 2005, the company operates from offices in both London and Los Angeles, delivering solutions that range from individual hardware items to fully integrated suites for broadcasters, post houses, and content creators.
