This IS the Avid L2: Re: [Avid-L2] Avid Media Composer Long -Term Storage, Workflow, & Backup

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Re: [Avid-L2] Avid Media Composer Long -Term Storage, Workflow, & Backup

Curtis,
We use a Cache-A also. I don't care for their catalog search. (for example - trying to find a folder with a job number returns every single file in the catalog that contains that job number) My workaround has been to 'restore all' after every archive, and put each tape (really just the folder) in to 'neofinder' on the mac. Its search function is way more powerful.

Have you found that CatDV integration is useful? Does it make searching and recovering data easier?

Thanks,
Jeff

Curtis Nichols curtisn@pcsproductions.com [Avid-L2] wrote:

We have a Cache-A ProCache LTO-5, which is advertised at 1.5 Tb. I try to not hit the ceiling, so I usually call it full at 1.4x... I've gotten as much as 1.7Tb on a cartridge. LTO-5s are going for under $25.
The Cache-A is great. It's a network appliance, so I can send files to it from anywhere on our network. It maintains an internal searchable catalog of all cartridges. There is a Library module that will hold a number of cartridges if you need faster access to more than one at a time.
I think they are a CatDV partner, so the archiving coordinates with the media management.
It is costlier than a build-your-own, but worth it to me.

Curtis Nichols
PCS Production Co.
Irving, TX.

On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 4:11 AM, Dave Hogan mactvman@yahoo.com [Avid-L2] <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

LTO 6 drives are about $2,500. BRE (Tolis) or Pre-roll post (Imagine Products) are both 600.00 for a single license.

You need a machine with a PCIe slot, preferably PCIe 2.x or 3.x. ATTO SAS controllers are around $400.00.

If you have a trashcan MacPro or MacBook Pro you instead need an adapter to go from Thunderbolt to SAS (Atto, about $1,200.00). Alternatively, you can get an mTape drive (with built in thunderbolt interface) from Imagine Products (3,600.00)

LTO 6 drives are fast. Properly setup, they can read and write at around 400 MB/sec, if your disk storage is fast enough.

Single tapes are about $50.00 to $60.00 if bought in 5 packs. They are called 2.5TB tapes, but that's assuming compression of 2.5 to 1, which you never get out of already compressed video media files. In real world use, I wouldn't plan on much over 1 TB per tape, then be pleasantly surprised when you get more. LTO is an industry standard, with newer drives supposed to be able to read old tapes. Shelf life of tapes is nominally 15 to 30 years. If you beat a tape to death and re-use it a lot plan on the 15 or less number. If you back up and shelve it, more like the 30 year number should be expected.

When you are done with a project, back it up to LTO...Don't be mislead by the false promise of LTFS, which is supposed to make tapes look like removable HDs. It is unreliable, and crashes a lot when you try to use it like an HD. Use backup software that reads/writes to it in a linear fashion.

Did an evaluation of several pieces of backup software recently for a client, and I found by far the best speed performer, best support and for the most part simplest use to be BRU by Tolis. Retrospect was 2nd place in performance, but way more expensive. Pre-Roll Post is comparable in price to BRU but a much slower performer that relies on LTFS (see previous paragraph.) Pre-Roll post also puts on the tape sorted by size, so recovery of sub folders can cause the drive to beat the tape to death, moving all over the tape to restore just one folder. This behavior can be re-programmed, but it's not intuitive.

Using the mTape and or Pre-roll Post you have to run OS X 10.8 or better, or windows 7 or better.

Using a SAS drive and ATTO SAS controller, you can use older OS/drivers. I tested on a 1st generation MacPro tower, using OSX 10.7.5 (32bit boot) and got speeds of 400MB/sec to and from an internal 4 drive raid0.

Your mileage may vary...

Dave Hogan
Burbank, CA

On Monday, February 2, 2015 2:03 PM, "Agustin Goya agustingoya@gmail.com [Avid-L2]" <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

I've seen some Axle demos and looks promising but don't know how it works in the real world.
I can recommend Masstech, it has great Integration with Avid workflows and can archive Media directly from Media Composer to an LTO library, this solutions are targeted to broadcast environments, are highly customized, runs only on specific hardware and have a lot of additional features that make it quite expensive for a small shop.

I don't know if CatDV has an archive option, that might also be a good option.

Hope this help.

Agustin

Enviado desde mi teléfono.

El feb 2, 2015 5:25 PM, "prvteam47@yahoo.com [Avid-L2]" <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> escribió:

Hi to all,

Two Questions:
Q1: Media Composer Backup - I was wondering if you all could tell me the ways you backup, store, all your mxf... files, menus, and other clips related to projects.

I have been using media mover and just trying to keep projects on g-tech drives, but it's been a pain over the last couple of years with how many projects I have been involved in.
I guess this is also a workflow question as well.

Q2: Long Term Storage Solutions -

I would like to create almost a storage center for all my media, but something were all my computers can connect.

I currently run two avid media composers and would love to get them on the same page.

I capture with a P2 deck and store those clips on independent hard drives as well and then eventually bring them back into Avid in the future when needed.

Any ideas and suggestions would be appreciated.