[Malcolm Hamilton]

O.K., well, that’ll teach me.
Thanks for your help with this,
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Thanks for this Ian, but I long ago (space restrictions) got rid of shipping box, packing material, etc.
I’m afraid I was so excited to unpack the camera, I didn’t read all the accompanying notes and papers!
Is there some way I can retrieve the Content Browser serial number? I’m still in touch with the Sony distributor that sold me the gear.
Thanks,
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Hi Ian,
First time (I think anyway) posting on this much venerated forum.
I bought a Sony PMW-200 last January. I have a serial number of course. Will this allow me to get the new Content Browser 2?
(I’m getting by fine with v1.1 but I’m planning ahead.
Thanks,
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

I appreciate the extra info. So drives don’t have to be screwed into trays? (which is what I do now with my eSATA enclosure).
I usually buy from B&H, but I don’t think they carry the iStorage unit. I’m checking other options and will post back.
If this unit is approx. $1500, do you think it’s worth it, over the SOHOTANK?
Malcolm
(glad to see that links become ‘live’ when you post)

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Good point.

I’d want the expander unit.
I don’t know if the SOHOTANK can be expanded or not. I just re-read a description of the web at:

https://www.stardom.com.tw/sohotank_st8_feature.html

but can’t find a mention of this.

By the way, here’s a link to the iStorage unit:

https://www.istoragepro.com/prod.php?id=it8sae6g

What do you think about these two units?

(sorry, I don’t know how to make the links ‘live’)

[Malcolm Hamilton]

update:
I just found an update from the same reviewer who had used just one cable with the iStorage unit, and he said this:
“I initially tested the iStoragePro with one SAS cable, but I learned from the CiDesign contact that by connecting two cables performance could be improved by 10-15%”

So two cables with either unit, just to level out the playing field.

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Hi there,

I’m about to invest in an 8-bay SAS 6G chassis too.

(other components: 2010 Mac Pro, ATTO R680; I will be using Enterprise-grade SATA drives in a RAID 5 format)

Two choices that I can find:

1. Stardom SOHOTANK ST8 (for about $600; I think for this one I’d need two mini-SAS cables. The cables ATTO recommends for their R680 card cost $125 each, so add at least $250 to the cost of the SOHOTANK)

2. iStoragePro 6G SAS enclosure. I think I read in a review that, for some reason having to do with brilliant engineering, this enclosure might only need one cable. But the enclosure itself is quite a bit more expensive than the ST8.

Would those of you who know about these two 8-bay units mind commenting?
By the way, the same reviewer who spoke so highly of the iStorage 6G unit also said that it comes all set up for RAID 5 on a Mac. Makes it sound easy.

I’m looking for dependability for the long haul (when I buy something, I don’t mind spending a bit more if I get something that’s going to serve me well for a number of years at least).
Regards,
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

James, thank you for the response. I’m going to go ahead with this, except I’ll get the R680 instead of the 380. Might not do me any good now, but maybe down the line… I don’t know, I’m just going with what the tech support guy at ATTO suggested. As you say, the support at ATTO seems really good. The fact that I got a guy on the phone without having to wait was great.
Regards,
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

thanks for the reply.
I’m wondering if I should get the R680, just to future-proof myself a bit.
Malcolm

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Hi, yes, got it working. Have to use Windows, just long enough to convert the files to mxf. Within a couple weeks, Sony will release the next version of Clip Browser, which (finally on a Mac) will do this.
That will simplify the workflow, and save a lot of time.
Cheers,
m.