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Tried and true RAID storage suggestions
I entered the FCP world five years ago and purchased a 1.8 TB Media Vault from Huge Systems. I added a second editing desk a year later and purchased a 2.5 TB Media Vault for it. Both desks are G5s (dual-core and quad core processors with 2 and 2.5 gigs of RAM.) I am not running the very latest OS or the newest version of Final Cut, but they are only a revision or two down. Suffice it to say that for my needs (SD capture from BetaSP tape and printing back to BetaSP tape), it is robust enough. I use Blackmagic Design (SP & Declink Extreme) capture interfaces. No problems with the arrays most of the time.
The 1.8 TB array has been back for warranty repairs three times. The 2.5 TB has been shipped off once but has failed again this week (6 beeps and PFFFFT!) I’m still under warranty with the larger drive, but I’ve got to find something more dependable. That’s where YOU come it.
What do you recommend in the 2-3 thousand dollar range that will give me 1.5 to 2 TB of DEPENDABLE, SWAPPABLE, RAID 3? (I’ve been RAID 0 all of this time.) I only want to know of the product lines that you folks use and have had years of success with. I may be stepping up to some HDV 1080i work, so I’d need to anticipate a few streams of that with whatever I purchase. My credibility around here won’t tolerate any bad buys with short-term success and then off-for-repairs.
Thanks!
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6 Replies
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The CalDigit HDOne is a great solution for you. Because you have one computer that is PCI-x and one that is PCI-e, the HDOne will make your life very easy.
Just go to the Cow’s CalDigit Forum and state your case there. Jon and Jared will give you all the info and personal service you could ever need. They are very, very Cow friendly, and their gear is top drawer.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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[David Roth Weiss] “Just go to the Cow’s CalDigit Forum and state your case there. Jon and Jared will give you all the info and personal service you could ever need. They are very, very Cow friendly, and their gear is top drawer. “
I’ll add a hearty AMEN! to David’s suggestion. I have two of their S2VR HD RAID’s and they are solid. I have also spoken with Jon and several others at CalDigit and they really want your business and it shows in their commitment to customer service.
K
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YEARS huh? Well, difficult as much of the new drive technology is just that…new. So years of use is difficult. But I can also back CalDigit. I have had the S2VR Duos (eSATA solution) for a couple years, and then moved to the HD Pro and HD ONE. HD One I have had error free for 9 months. HD Pro I tested rather rigorously (click on my head at the top for a review).
But I have also had a Maxx Digital EVO HD 2 for 6 months and used that heavily with no issues. As I said, it is tough for “years” at this time as the current crop of drive solutions are new. ALL of the ones I mentioned are RAID 5…meaning protected. I will ONLY use RAID 5 from now on. Just lost a Raid 0 Avid array (hooked up to FCP) and now we have a week of re-digitizing ahead of us. Not fun.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Greg,
I feel your pain. My first major storage solution was a Huge Media vault. It worked well, but I had to ship it back for failing drives twice. Now it’s a doorstop. It only lasted two years.
Regarding Davids advice, go with it. He and I also like the Firmtek units, but the CalDigit is probably best.
Have a wonderful day.
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Can’t recommend MaxxDigital enough. We’ve been running the EVO HD’s for a while now and are planning a major upgrade to the new Expando series next month.
Sonnet and Dulce also make very good arrays.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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[walter biscardi] “Can’t recommend MaxxDigital enough”
Same here, the Maxx (Cinetech) EVOHD I have been working for the last 5 months with has rock solid performance and built like a tank.
I have a Dulce DQPro on my main desktop system that has not had a single issue in almost 2 years of 24/7 uptime.
I have had nothing but outstanding performance and service with products from BOTH of these companies and can recommend either of them without reservation.
I am especially happy with the MAXX’s EVOHD solutions ruggedness in the 1U and 2U units and am now using them exclusively in my location racks.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
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