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4k edit: storage solutions
Hi all!
I´m updating my workstation for the next upcoming proyect, a 100min. documentary film for theaters shot in 4k (Raw .mxf from sony FS700).
The production company told me yesterday that i´ll need to handle 120 TB of 4k footage. Wow! That´s too much for my machine capability. And i´m not counting storage need if i make 1080p proxies, although i´m planning in doing the job with raw material in PPro CC2014 which i´ve tested and worked fine with no need of proxies.
My PC only have 3 free slots for upgrading my drive setup, and using them only will rise my internal storage capability to 6 TB more, 18 tb in total.
So how could i handle this huge archive? I can only think in external Raid devices, but usb 3.0 connection could be slow for footage drive working with 4k video, what do you think? Is there any solution for this crazy storage needs?
Regards -
14 Replies
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[Gabriel Sanchez] “Is there any solution for this crazy storage needs? “
Of course there is but do you have the money for it? A NAS would be a good start.
[Gabriel Sanchez] “but usb 3.0 connection could be slow for footage drive working with 4k video,”
A small USB 3 RAID should handle compressed 4K like the MXF files from Sony cameras. When you’re dealing with uncompressed 4K (film scans, DPX/TIFF sequences) you’ll need some super hardcore drive setup to even play the files back in realtime.
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To accommodate a project of120GB plus overhead (you can’t fill the drives completely), renders, etc. you are going to require at least two 16-drive SAS enclosures, most likely filled with the new 6tb SATA drives, and an Areca or ATTO SAS controller card. Since it sounds as if storage is not your area of expertise, you should definteky call one of the many storage companies advertising here, as you should not try a build it yourself solution.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss ProductionsDavid is a Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Apple Final Cut Pro forum.
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He does not require a NAS unless he plans to share the storage with other users, and he would most likely require expensive 10GB connectivity to handle the 4K material. See my initial response for direct attached storage, which is s much less expensive solution because it does not require an expensive server.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss ProductionsDavid is a Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Apple Final Cut Pro forum.
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[David Roth Weiss] “He does not require a NAS unless he plans to share the storage with other users”
Quite true, I just thought that if one is getting a 120 TB storage it wouldn’t be just for one user. It will be pretty goshdarn expensive either way.
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Expensive indeed, but much more expensive when adding a server to the equation.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss ProductionsDavid is a Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Apple Final Cut Pro forum.
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[Gabriel Sanchez] “The production company told me yesterday that i´ll need to handle 120 TB of 4k footage. Wow! That´s too much for my machine capability. And i´m not counting storage need if i make 1080p proxies, although i´m planning in doing the job with raw material in PPro CC2014 which i´ve tested and worked fine with no need of proxies.
My PC only have 3 free slots for upgrading my drive setup, and using them only will rise my internal storage capability to 6 TB more, 18 tb in total.”You’ll need a serious external RAID, probably multiple 16 bay models to get that much storage. You won’t be connecting via USB 3, it’ll be a more robust connection like SAS or possibly even 10gig E which we use here. Look at Studio Network Solutions, Small Tree, G-Technology and other large volume RAID suppliers. In short, it’s rather expensive to set up a reliable external RAID for what you’re looking for and remember if they tell you 120TB for just the raw media, you’ll want to double that amount to ensure you have enough for renders, graphics, animations, audio, and whatever else is associated with the project.
We run approx. 100TB here all via 10gig E through a system from Small Tree, though we’re about to install a new system from Studio Network Solutions which will add another 48 – 64TB to our configuration.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative MediaCraft and Career Advice & Training from real Working Creative Professionals
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Thanks all for your valuable advices.
Definitely looking for direct attached storage will be my next step, and those 16-drive SAS enclosures sound good. Also I´ve been reading about the ATTO SAS controller which is used for several storage solutions, looks awsome.
I noticed that will need extra space for renders, media cache, animations, etc.. but even i´ll need double space for the footage backups…
Also, i´ll need extra storage for the final file, (¿DPX?, don´t know as i´ve never worked in 4k and never delivered a file for theatres), so here comes another question: how much storage space will i need for a 100 min. DPX file? And how could i deliver such huge file out of my computer?
Regards -
I prefer Areca cards these days… And, for delivery, you deliver on hard drives these days – FireWire 800, eSATA, USB 3.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss ProductionsDavid is a Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Apple Final Cut Pro forum.
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hey walter…
I’ve been eyeballing SNS Sharebrowser. Have you had a chance to try it?
Alex Udell
Editing, Motion Graphics, and Visual FX -
We’ve had the online demo with the team at SNS and it’s quite powerful. We’re scheduled to have a system installed at our shop soon, so once we have it online I can report back.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative MediaCraft and Career Advice & Training from real Working Creative Professionals
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