-
Storage Solution for Documentary
Hello,
I am about to start editing a documentary that will end up with around 500 hours of footage.
It is shot on the Sony XDCam, and the files I’ll be working with in FCP are XDCAM EX 1080p 24 (35 Mb/s).
I am looking for a storage solution combining internal and external drives. The system hasn’t been purchased yet, so any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!Jessica
-
4 Replies
-
Try to avoid combinations of INTERNAL and EXTERNAL. Get a one enclosure solution. RAID 5 for protection and speed. Look at the 12TB RAid towers. 500 hours of XDCAM 1080p24 will take up just about 6.5-7 TB of space, and you need space to render, and some space loss for protection of Raid 5.
MaxxDigital EVO HD line. Caldigit HD One or HD Pro. Good options.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
As Shane says, do NOT combine internal and external storage solutions. What you want is something like the Maxx Digital Evo 2 HD line with the Expando Chassis or the Small Tree Granite Stor ST RAID. This allows you to daisy chain another array if you happen to need one in the future.
We’re working three feature documentaries right now with over 400 hours of ProRes material. We started out with a single 16TB Array that is shared across 6 workstations via ethernet and just added another 16TB array yesterday. Took all of 5 minutes to set up and connect the additional storage since it was a single cable from the original array to the new one. We can hang a few more arrays and keep building as we go.
I would get no less than 16TB to start with in your case. You have to remember that in addition to just your raw media, you will need room for graphics, renders, audio, animation and any number of other files required to complete the documentary. You can read up on my Final Share SAN system in an article here on the Cow and the Small Tree Granite Stor system here.
Click on the ST-RAID once you’re in there.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” now in Post.
Creative Cow Forum Host:
Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple Color, AJA Kona, Business & Marketing, Maxx Digital. -
Besides the storage you will be using for editing you also need a backup of all your media as well because you won’t have tape camera masters to go back to if you accidentally delete a clip or an ‘act of god’ fries your setup.
-Andrew
3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1) -
Hello,
thanks for your advice!
I did look into it, and I was wondering if there is a more budget friendly option out there.
I was initially thinking of getting G-Raid Drives (from G-Technology up to 4 TB), is this a bad idea?
Thanks,Jessica
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up