Storage news: Space 4K Duo, the facility goes on location

Issue 80 - August 2013 The 4K location shoot is now commonplace, particularly in film, music video and drama production. However, for digital imaging technicians (DITs) working in the field, UltraHD is extremely problematic. Once data is ingested, replicating the material for insurance purposes can be taxing and the process of offloading files onto the facilitys network is often a slow manual process.
Furthermore, the massive 4K data-rates mean that typical portable storage systems fill all too quickly and few can deliver multiple streams of video, making on set editing and grading very difficult. GB Labs launches Space 4K Duo that not only delivers the capacity and performance needed for shared 4K editing, but also introduces a complete workflow that offers a secure disk to LTO tape workflow with automated, high speed backup and data transfer capabilities.
For DITs in the field, ingesting, sharing, processing and protecting 4K video is a real headache. Says Ben Pearce, Sales & Marketing Director of GB Labs. They can store data on external drives but this isnt particularly safe, and theres little they can do with the files until they get back to the facility. Space 4K Duo changes all that. Now the facility travels with the production crew: collaborative editing, picture grading, file transcoding and media management can all begin instantly, with full data security in place.
Data Ingest
Space Duo enables users to import data fast without the need for a Mac or PC: Duos in-built USB 3 and an optional SATA port supports fast card readers for data ingest direct from the media. It can even host external hard drives for file offload, sharing and archiving. Storage and Shared Editing
Space Duos SSD-based RAID array provides 4.8TB capacity and very high sustained read /write speeds, easily exceeding 1000MB/s. Mac and PC computers can connect to the system via 10Gb Ethernet for instant shared file access and collaborative editing, even with DPX and RAW files.
Data Security
Media insurance and best practise demand multiple copies of video footage shot on tapeless cameras. Integrated into Space Duos portable design are twin LTO-6 drives, with the capacity (2.5TB) and speed (160MB/s) to backup or offload files fast from the primary storage array. Space 4K Duo can automatically replicate all new data onto tape, even while editors are working on the footage.
System security is also high on the agenda: Space Duo is housed in a robust mini rack, the OS is optionally hosted on a mirrored SSD and dual PSU units are available for power supply redundancy.

Completing the Workflow
On return to the facility or studio Space Duo 4K can safely and swiftly auto-replicate its new data onto a Space tier 1 or super-tier 1 array or into archive with Space Echo nearline. All data transfers can be managed using the web interface, accessible over the local IP network.