External storage solution

W

Wheatloaf

Member
Hi everyone,

I'm wondering what everyone is using to edit their HVX footage on their Macbooks or iMacs.

We have 1.5TB of MXF files from our feature to import.

What kind of external storage solutions exist that would provide speedy, realiable connectivity to the iMac and allow us to hit 1.5TB online?

Does FCP allow us to use mutliple drives to edit from? I gather that USB is not viable due to dropped frames?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you!
 
Well I'm using 4 d2 LacCe Hd's (2 live + 2 back-ups) which serve Apple FCP 5. LaCie do do Tb sized Hd's but I know some people here don't like LaCie but I've not had any problems.

FCP does allow multiple Hd's as for USB I've not specifically used it but I don 't remember having any problems. I mainly use FW800 but FW 400 as well.
Regards

Indy.....
 
So it sounds like you're spanning your editing over multiple external fire drives.

Unfortunately trying to hit 1.5TB with a setup like that would mean using very large and expensive drives. It may indeed be the way to go, but I'd like to entertain other options.

One device I have been looking at is the Infrant Ready NAS ( http://www.infrant.com/products_ReadyNAS_NV.htm ). Unfortunately it looks like its only connectivity is via gigabit ethernet, which I haven't heard anyone using for this kind of thing. It could be the sustained data rate is insufficient for what I need.

I want to clarify that you never need the data from your movie to be on the same drive at the same time, even for a final output, is that right?

If we have 1.5TB of MXF files, how much storage should we have to edit on, including the space needed for final output?
 
Yes, it is what I have currently... actually, not the 1.5. I have the 1TB model. I have an iMac Intel -- so I can't connect to a SATA drive (because the iMac doesn't have that connector); therefore, I found this to be about as good an option for me as any. It works thus far.

You can get good help from Chris at 800-275-4576 extension 116.
 
Thank you for your suggestion. That device seems like it fits the bill.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Any experience with gigabit ethernet? The Infrant NAS solution is a lot cheaper, but it if won't do the job, then it won't do!

Thanks for your input!
 
720p24N will play fine off normal Firwire 800 drives like Lacie and the G-Raid. You can daisy-chain these drives no problem -- I've had as much as five 500GB Lacie drives daisy-chained together without problems (that was with SD material).

I have seen Lacie drives fail, though, so beware and always back-up your stuff. Right now I'm using a 1TB G-Raid Firewire 800 drive to edit 720p DVCPRO HD material and it's fine. Smaller and cheaper than Lacie, also.
 
There are good reasons on both sides of the fence... I like G-Tech drives, too. However, OWC's 1TB model is actually 2 TB (1 TB for back-up) for only $1,299. To get the equivelent with G-Tech would be at least $2,000.

The G-Tech drives, I believe, are Hitachi drives. Same as what Apple uses. I suppose you could buy an enclosure for 2 500GB Hatachi drives, raid them together, and probably spend less than both options (OWC or G-Tech). (By the way, I think OWC uses Seagate... also a reliable brand.)

That's sort of what I did to duplicate G-Tech's G-Drive Mini (external bus-powered drive) for my laptop. Their 100GB 7200RPM (FW 400 and USB 2) drive is $359.

I got a Hitachi 2.5 inch 7200 drive from NewEgg for around $140 and inserted it in a Mad Dog USB powered case (link below) that I bought from J&R Electronics for about $40. The enclosure is very durable and sports a usb2 as well as FW400 port (like G-Tech's). Total spent was about $180 as compared to G-Tech's $359... savings: $179!

It's true that G-Tech has a 2 year warranty... Mad Dog does too... I'm not sure about New Egg/Hitachi... either way, I'm not interested in paying $179 for a 2-year warranty on a $180 product.

Anyhow, I'm getting off topic, but I thought that might help someone.

Mad Dog Multimedia link: http://www.mdmm.com/products/enclosures/25anodizedcombo.asp
 
Hi everyone,

Unfortunately this issue has not been resolved. The producers want to use the spare 320GB drives they have kicking around (10), so I am stuck trying to find 2x5 Bay eSATA or Fire800 arrays that can be mirrored together. They need to come empty, and be available somewhere in north america to buy.

I did find the Sonnet Fusion 5 Bay unit, but it is back ordered until the end of the month. Something like that would be perfect.

Any suggestions you guys have that fit the requirements above are absolutely welcome. Thanks so much for your input!
 
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