GB Labs is launching a new portable central storage system, ideal for working with 4K video, at BVE 2014.
The 8TB Mini Space 1RU shared storage has been built to fulfil the needs of digital imaging technicians, editing workgroups and remote production crews and niche playout departments. The system is compact, robust and high-speed, and is suited to installation in small production studios, OB vans, on the film set or in local TV channels.
While multi-channel recorders and high bitrate cameras require safe high-capacity storage systems to give users instant access to review, edit, grade and transcode clips, niche playout facilities require inexpensive video servers that can play content reliably to air. As a high performance RAID 6 device with dual redundant power supplies and 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet connectivity, GB Labs claims that the Mini Space 1RU will outperform rivals in terms of speed, security and file access.
“The earlier Mini Space desktop unit is already very popular with broadcasters and news organisations including NHK, BBC and Reuters, who equip their broadcast journalists with the system to store media assets and edit programmes collaboratively in the field,” said Ben Pearce, director of GB Labs. “The new product has a form factor which will also allow producers to integrate their storage with rack-based recorders, playout systems and computer equipment.”
It will be available with enterprise SATA hard drives or very high speed and ultra-reliable SSDs, so that it can handle full HD or 4K environments respectively. As with all Space products, mixed operating systems environments are supported, with users able to share Adobe Premiere Pro, Grass Valley Edius, Avid Media Composer, and Apple Final Cut Pro projects as standard.
As networked attached storage, files can be securely replicated or offloaded to secondary devices or LTO tape, as required. Space is also cloud-enabled, for sharing data with users on a global basis.
The Mini Space 1RU will be demonstrated for the first time at BVE 2014 in London on stand P09.
By David Fox
