BitFire Spark™ Environment Builder

Welcome to the Spark™ builder — this tool lets you design and deploy fully customized cloud production environments. Note: All configuration options can be edited after the environment has been submitted by clicking on the pencil icon on the right side of the resource.

As you adjust components, you’ll see the associated hourly costs update in the lower right corner. Provisioned costs are incurred while the environment is idle; active costs apply when the environment is switched on.

1. Hosting

Select your Cloud Hosting preference:

• BitFire Hosted
  
  • BitFire-managed cloud provisioning and hosting
  • Simply turn your environment on/off when needed
  • Active Cost and Provisioned Cost apply
• Self Hosted
  
  • Hosted in your own cloud infrastructure
  • Assistance from BitFire TechOps encouraged for first-time setup
  • Unlimited usage, Active/Provisioned Cost doesn’t apply
  • Note: If you have not already received the AMI for self-hosted Spark™ Environments for your desired region, please reach out to client services for assistance.

2. Basic Configuration

• Name your environment.
  
  
• Choose a Region (e.g., AWS us-east-1) and Availability Zone.
  
  
• Select your Switcher Size (4, 8, 16, or 24 Inputs, with corresponding M/E and AUX buses).
  
  
• Select your Replay Size (e.g., 4x2, 8x2, or 8x4).
• Note: To provision environments with Switcher sizes larger than 8 inputs and Replay larger than 4x2, please contact sales@bitfire.tv.
• Choose your Output Format (e.g., 1080p59.94) and Orientation (Landscape or Portrait).
  
  

3. Storage

• Configure the number/sizes of Clip Stores, Still Stores, and size of the Audio Player.
  
  
• Match these settings to your estimated needs.
  
  
• Files can be uploaded via drag-and-drop into the system after launch.
  
  

4. Switcher

• Define what each switcher input will be from the following options:
  
  
  • Bookable Video Input
    
    
  • Clip Player
    
    
  • Still Player
    
    
  • Replay Output
    
    
  • FireBridge Contributor (WebRTC guest)
    
    
  • HTML5 Graphics Source
    
    
• Rename inputs as needed for clarity in production.
  
  

4. Replay

• Select which switcher inputs will be routed to the Replay system.
  
  
• Choose which audio tracks are embedded with each replay input.
  
  
• Rename UMDs (under-monitor displays) to reflect content or camera names.
  
  

5. MVW (Multiviewer) 1 & 2

• Customize your primary and optional secondary multiviewer layouts.
  
  
• For each tile:
  
  
  • Choose the video source.
    
    
  • Enable/disable VU meters.
    
    
  • Toggle display of format indicators and VU numbering.
    
    
  • Customize UMD text.
    
    

6. Users

• Define individual Users that will appear for FireBridge participants.
  
  
• Each user can select their name when joining the production via browser.
  
  

7. Comms

• Set up Comms Channels that appear directly in the Spark web interface.
  
  
• For AES67 audio routing:
  
  
  • BitFire can receive Dante-compatible comms via AES67.
    
    
  • Integration with 3rd-party intercom systems is supported — contact Sales for assistance.
    
    

8. Embedders

• Configure audio embedders for separate audio mixes
  
  
• Number of Embedders match the number of configured outputs for your environment
   
• Select sources from within the Audio Mixer:
  
  • Mixer Out
  • AUX
  • Bus
  • Direct Out

9. FireBridge

• Customize video and audio sources for each FireBridge view
• If utilizing FireBridge guest contribution, assign a dedicated return source here

8. Outputs

• Designate bookable Output Paths.
  
  
• Set video sources and associated audio mixes.
  
  
• Rename outputs to match your show’s format (e.g., “Program TX,” “Clean Feed,” etc.).
  
  

10. Licenses

• Assign a BitFire Production License to an environment
• If no license is assigned, environment will be billed ‘Pay As You Go’

Finalizing Your Environment

Once your Spark™ environment is fully configured:

1. Click Submit to deploy it.
   
   
2. The new environment will now appear in your Resources list.
   
   
3. To activate the environment, toggle the switch located on the right side of the entry.
   
   

You’ll see:

• Blue spinning arrows while the system spins up (approx. 5 minutes)
  
  
• Green dot once the environment is ready for use

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Finally, click the icon that looks like a box with an arrow pointing upwards and to the right to access links to all of your Spark resources.

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