CatDV vs Final Cut Server

[Mark Raudonis]

Yes, I meant an “HTML Expert”. Yes. Web based interface.

Think about it.

Mark

[Dennis Kutchera]

Well, I am involved with both CatDV and Final Cut Server. But I am only using the standalone version of CAT DV. In my opinion they are two different products. CATDV is very well defined for media asset management with excellent database capabilities. But one weakness in (standalone) CATVDV is that it is too easy to delete something. I hate that. I have done that. If you don’t catch it and hit undo, it is gone – not the media, just the clip info and metadata.

I don’t think Apple is clear on what Final Cut Server is. First, Final Cut Server is a weak asset manager compared to CATDV, but a powerful workflow manager. It is a pig to set up and customize. I was stricken with the task, but the more I dig into it, the more I like, Mind you, I do not have CATDV server to compare to, so this is maybe a little lob-sided. Nothing I can do about that unless I get my hands on CATDV Server.

But with Final Cut Server, you can manage projects that will contain assets. It will work like a library system – I check out a project and work on it. Then I might add new assets. When I check it back it, FCS will upload the new assets. Someone else can check the project out and continue to work on it with media remaining on the server or copied to a local drive. There is none of this Final Cut Pro can’t find media bull. And media is never duplicated. If you use the same asset if 10 projects, it is smart enough to not copy it.

Inside Final Cut Server, the stored FInal Cut Pro project contains the media or alias to the media. It is very slick at maintaining organization. You can also script it to send emails when certain objectives are achieved and automate it to run files through Compressor and send them on to another destination.

You do not need any special software to view assets and annotate them A small java app runs Mac or PC; even over VPN. Proxies are automatically created. In fact, FCS works really well over VPN. I am managing a server in Finland from Canada.

Final Cut Server also manages levels of permission really well so things don’t get deleted accidentally. I think that is pretty dang important. Maybe the server version of CATV will do this; I don’t know.

There is a lot in Final Cut Server, but as I said, it is a tool for workflow management more than comprehensive asset management. In an ideal world, I would log in CatDV and store in FInal Cut Server. My pet project right now is to find that bridge. I think it is doable with FCS 1.5.

Dennis

[Dennis Kutchera]

Well, I am involved with both CatDV and Final Cut Server. But I am only using the standalone version of CAT DV. In my opinion they are two different products. CATDV is very well defined for media asset management with excellent database capabilities. But one weakness in (standalone) CATVDV is that it is too easy to delete something. I hate that. I have done that. If you don’t catch it and hit undo, it is gone – not the media, just the clip info and metadata.

I don’t think Apple is clear on what Final Cut Server is. First, Final Cut Server is a weak asset manager compared to CATDV, but a powerful workflow manager. It is a pig to set up and customize. I was stricken with the task, but the more I dig into it, the more I like, Mind you, I do not have CATDV server to compare to, so this is maybe a little lob-sided. Nothing I can do about that unless I get my hands on CATDV Server.

But with Final Cut Server, you can manage projects that will contain assets. It will work like a library system – I check out a project and work on it. Then I might add new assets. When I check it back it, FCS will upload the new assets. Someone else can check the project out and continue to work on it with media remaining on the server or copied to a local drive. There is none of this Final Cut Pro can’t find media bull. And media is never duplicated. If you use the same asset if 10 projects, it is smart enough to not copy it.

Inside Final Cut Server, the stored FInal Cut Pro project contains the media or alias to the media. It is very slick at maintaining organization. You can also script it to send emails when certain objectives are achieved and automate it to run files through Compressor and send them on to another destination.

You do not need any special software to view assets and annotate them A small java app runs Mac or PC; even over VPN. Proxies are automatically created. In fact, FCS works really well over VPN. I am managing a server in Finland from Canada.

Final Cut Server also manages levels of permission really well so things don’t get deleted accidentally. I think that is pretty dang important. Maybe the server version of CATV will do this; I don’t know.

There is a lot in Final Cut Server, but as I said, it is a tool for workflow management more than comprehensive asset management. In an ideal world, I would log in CatDV and store in FInal Cut Server. My pet project right now is to find that bridge. I think it is doable with FCS 1.5.

Dennis

[Matthew Stamos]

Great write up Dennis and certainly helps clears up how the products really take a different approach.

But one weakness in (standalone) CATVDV is that it is too easy to delete something. I hate that. I have done that. If you don’t catch it and hit undo, it is gone – not the media, just the clip info and metadata.

This can be achieved in CatDV server but is really a bit of a work around by creating read only catalogs and or using the user permissions.

But with Final Cut Server, you can manage projects that will contain assets. It will work like a library system – I check out a project and work on it. Then I might add new assets. When I check it back it, FCS will upload the new assets. Someone else can check the project out and continue to work on it with media remaining on the server or copied to a local drive. There is none of this Final Cut Pro can’t find media bull. And media is never duplicated. If you use the same asset if 10 projects, it is smart enough to not copy it.

CatDV Enterprise client works as a standalone application and though there is no formal check in check out process you can take your proxies with you to work remotely and publish changes when you connect back to the server. This also provides for logging of new material and publishing new catalogs when connected.

Inside Final Cut Server, the stored FInal Cut Pro project contains the media or alias to the media. It is very slick at maintaining organization. You can also script it to send emails when certain objectives are achieved and automate it to run files through Compressor and send them on to another destination.

The CatDV automation client WOrker Node has built in email notification for the completion of processes and notification of errors. When both FCP and CatDV are open an XML connection provides live exchanges between both applications for media and metadata.

You do not need any special software to view assets and annotate them A small java app runs Mac or PC; even over VPN. Proxies are automatically created. In fact, FCS works really well over VPN. I am managing a server in Finland from Canada.

CatDV can operate offline with any cataloged assets as it maintains thumbnails and metadata in the database. As for VPN access that is a separate that maybe the developer can shed more light on. I know there are ways to work around this by sharing catalogs and meta data.

Final Cut Server also manages levels of permission really well so things don’t get deleted accidentally. I think that is pretty dang important. Maybe the server version of CATV will do this; I don’t know.

CatDV server has permissions as well but does not operate with open directory as FCServer does. The CatDV Server has the concept of production group permissions in addition to user permissions and together offer a excellent degree of granularity to managing permissions through out the workflow.