On the need for flexible networks to streamline postproduction processes

A 30-year veteran of video production and setting up shared storage networks, Weaver currently oversees a large production and post enterprise for SAS, the market leader in developing and marketing business intelligence and predictive analytics software. Located in Cary, NC, just outside the Research Triangle Park, the all-digital production facility includes two 4,000-square-foot production studios and several floors of post-production space. SAS acquires content on Sony XDCAM camcorders, then edits digitally on Avid systems to create content (commercials, webcasts and other video-centric promotional material distributed on TV, the web, and at trade shows) that promotes SAS’ sophisticated technologies. The facility also produces work for outside clients on occasion.
The massive facility employs 42 TB of fibre-channel storage systems from Facilis Technology (TerraBlock) to support dozens of video editors (working on Avid systems), audio engineers and graphics artists. For file storage the facility has standardized on the XDCAM HD (MPEG-2) format for all of its material, which is handled and saved as digital files. Finished projects are archived in the optical Blu-ray Disc format at 18-35 Mbps (depending up its final delivery).
Q: It appears that archiving all of your projects to an ever-increasing storage array can be expensive. Is there any way around this?
A: We’ve found that with a modular system like the TerraBlock, which allows us to scale up as needed, it’s less expensive than archiving to a physical media. We still save some projects on videotape when necessary to have a back up, but digital files maintain their quality and versatility forever.

Q: The concept of having footage available to anyone on the network whenever they want it – is that reality at SAS?
A: It is possible, but we’re not quite there yet. However, most of our content does not go stale. We repurpose it six months or even a year later, so it would be nice. What we’ve done is dedicate real-time access to our video editing stations with fibre-channel connectivity and less critical throughput for our audio and graphics artists with Facilis’ iSCSI technology.

The difference between the two is data throughput. Obviously video editors work with a lot more data, so they need the faster connections. We’re also using Fibre Channel for our transcoding applications. Audio editors simply have to move projects from the storage array to their workstations and then back again. So the need for high throughput real-time performance is not there. ??? We used to have them working on a Gigabit Ethernet network, but the iSCSI module from Facilis gives us a better workflow.
Some of our producers now also use the iSCSI connections, so they can review projects in process. We can deploy a lot more iSCSI clients for the investment we have to make.

Q: The TerraBlock system uses SATA technology. Does this provide the performance you need for HD video editing?
A: I’ve been following the SATA progression for the last couple of years and I feel, due to the cost versus performance ratio, that it’s exactly what I need. I have full RAID 5 protection if I need it and I get more for my investment. If we shoot a major project, we will back up the data on some physical format, just to be safe, but the SATA technology used in the TerraBlock system is more than adequate for most of our needs. It can accommodate different connectivity and allows us to work the way we want to. It doesn’t lock us into a proprietary workflow.

The TerraBlock system also allows me to set up dedicated storage volumes for a particular editor on the network who can mount that drive and have it show up immediately on that editor’s desktop. It’s really designed for video production storage as opposed to data storage, so we like that. As the administrator, I can assign storage to specific clients and have more control of the flow of data. This way users are not competing for shared storage. We have dedicated storage for all.

Q: What’s the most important aspect of designing a network for shared-storage production?
A: The key is to make the system flexible enough to change configuration on a daily basis if necessary. We do that here all the time because going into a project you never know exactly how much storage you’ll need. Things change, so access to storage has to change along with it. It takes a lot of research and a lot of planning to do it right. You need to talk to the people who will use the network and find out what tools they need most and provide them in the easiest way.

Of course, cost is always a factor in deciding the type of technology to deploy as well, so you’ve got to find common interfaces that work for most people on the network. You can’t please everyone, but you try as hard as you can.

For more information on the company, visit http://www.sas.com.