Avid Unity servers

Edward wrote on 6/6/2007, 11:58 PM
had a sales team pitch us on the avid unity server. seems impressive. unlike xserve, all updates to the files on the server will be seen realtime across the board, whoever is viewing. of course, only one person can write to the files.

any testimonies/complaints from anyone using this system? apparently, the spokespeople said that even tho it's an avid server, most applications can access the files on it. (the files are 'avid' media files')

ed.

Comments

farss wrote on 6/7/2007, 6:24 AM
I know nothing about them but they don't seem to offer anything over any other media SAN. There's many in that market now so depending on your needs you might save a bundle looking at a few more vendors.

Bob.

rmack350 wrote on 6/7/2007, 6:51 AM
We use a couple of Rorke Galaxy arrays managed by ImageSan and distributed to three systems over fibre. Those systems see the arrays as local drives. The ImageSan provides file level locking meaning that files are only locked if you're using them. The cheaper option would have been Volume locking meaning that an entire disc volume would be locked when you use it. And when I say locked I just mean write permissions. Everyone can read a volume all the time.

Files placed on this San are whatever you put on it. Media isn't 'avid' or anything else.

All three systems get enough throughput for HD and each system can pick up another's projects. These were the goals we had when we installed the thing.

Things to look out for: Do they gaurantee that the sytem will work all the time and for any edit system attached to it? If you have a problem, can you call them and get a response immediately? Is there a support contract? Can they deliver a replacement unit in 24 hours or less? This could be the most important feature of the product!

How loud is it? Do you need cooling? (We puchased Noren racks for these things because we couldn't have them in a soundproofed data room, and we're in San Francisco which is usually cool.)

Is there a per-seat cost?

There are other approaches like aggregated gigabit ethernet but the big issue is support.

Rob Mack
Coursedesign wrote on 6/7/2007, 1:23 PM
all updates to the files on the server will be seen realtime across the board, whoever is viewing

That is a client function, not a server function, if I understand you correctly.

This feature may well be in the ZFS (Zetta File System) that is coming in Leopard OS X this fall, but that won't help you with Vegas client machines.


Edward wrote on 6/7/2007, 10:41 PM
"that won't help you with Vegas client machines."

unfortunatly, we're a FCP house... I'm the only Vegas head here... CHEE HOO! I get more done in a day than any FCP editor here! When it's high school sports season, I complete over 30 spots a week... try that on FCP... All this and they went ahead and purchased the mac server with 8 FCstudios, and now are looking into the Avid servers. Have I not done enough to empress my management??? sigh.

from what the Avid peeps said, 4 people using media composer could access files all day long on the unity server, and write back. because mac uses quicktime, you'll get an error if you're using a file that's being altered or rewritten. with the 'avid preferences' wrapped around the media files, all clients can now see what's happenin' to the files realtime.

it's about $25k for 6 if i remember correctly. any increments of 4 would be $5k.

there was another machine that was impressive. it's kinda similar to 'yousendit.com' where you upload a huge file to their server, and they send the email recipient a link on where to retrieve it. thing is, you own the server. they say because of their 'avid' custumizations to the cards, it's a whole lot more dependable. it's faster than ftp. of course, this is also dependent on the pipes. we're Time warner cable... we own the pipes. we're not worried about that. they said the technology was created by their audio division. they tried to find ways around ftp and email to send audio files to and from locations.

remember, this is all 2nd hand info from a non-techie/techie wannabe. i could've missed some details here and there... and there.

ed.
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 6/8/2007, 12:18 AM
you could have them look at the HDXchange server system from Sony. it's relegated to 25Mbit but it works with Final Cut, Sony Vegas, and Avid Liquid and is designed to work with several seats, I was demoing the beta at last years NAB, and it's gone into full scale production since then, so I'd say, have them take a gander it was pretty innexpensive compared to its counterparts.

Dave
Edward wrote on 6/8/2007, 3:21 AM
NIIIIICEEE!
Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Totally forgot about Sony's server solutions. Freakin' guy gave us the tour at last year's NAB.

Thanks Dave. You've given me hope in this mad mad FCP world.

ed
rmack350 wrote on 6/8/2007, 8:12 AM
This second machine doesn't sound like what you'd want to use for editing. Faster than FTP? Email? Not really useful in-house but if you have people out on the road this server might come into play, allowing them to get elements or to post renders for review or delivery.

As far as the Avid Unity goes...I'm not sure how much of what they say is just puffing up common technologies. Happily, FCP problems aren't always Vegas problems, and since Vegas doesn't prerender anything it usually doesn't choke on a changed asset. So this is where a weakness becomes a strength. On the other hand, I've been reading many accounts here of how FCP completely screws up common formats so that they aren't very usable in other NLEs.

Avid says that Vegas is totally compatible with there server. In fact, the only system they hedge on is FCP. I'd definitely talk to other vendors, as well as reading whitepapers, etc, just to figure out what Avid is really bringing to the table that is unique. For instance, if their server can handle aquisition on it's own that would free up edit stations.

Rob Mack