LAS VEGAS - Avid (www.avid.com) is at NAB with the Unity MediaNetwork 5.0 system powered by the Avid Media Engine - a next-generation system architecture that improves performance for its realtime shared storage solution. By consolidating several hardware components into a single, integrated file management system and storage server, the Avid Unity MediaNetwork 5.0 system delivers twice the performance of previous generation Avid Unity systems while maintaining robust data resiliency - all at a new, lower price point.
The Unity MediaNetwork 5.0 system is available in scalable SD and HD configurations, both of which offer Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) connectivity and 4 Gigabit (Gb) Fibre Channel connectivity, PC and Mac compatibility, and a storage capacity that can scale from 4TB to 40TB.
A small production facility can start with a SD base configuration of 4TB and GigE connectivity, grow the system to 40TB of capacity. Expanding the system with Fibre Channel capabilities - for higher-res HD and 2K workflows - can be accomplished by adding a Fibre switch and a Fibre Channel card. And Avid's Open Storage Initiative allows customers to connect a range of third-party PC and Mac products to Avid shared storage.
The Avid Media Engine is designed for SD workflows, and offers Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, 4TB or 8TB of initial storage, UnityRAID data protection, and eight client licenses. The base 16-drive configuration supports up to four dual streams of 2:1 SD content or up to 20 lower resolution clients in real time.
The Avid Media Engine FC is designed for HD workflows and offers support for larger bandwidth HD and 2K files via 4-Gb Fibre Channel connectivity, 4TB or 8TB of initial storage, UnityRAID data protection, and eight client licenses. The base Avid Media Engine FC supports up to seven dual streams of Avid DNxHD 145 media or up to 15 Fibre Channel clients working with a mix of resolutions.
Customers can increase the storage capacity of either Avid Media Engine configuration by adding Avid MEDIArray XT storage modules in 4 or 8TB increments. Avid also offers additional client licenses and Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet Kits that allow users to expand the networking capabilities of their respective SD or HD base configurations.
Media Engine and the Media Engine FC base configurations for Version 5.0 of the Avid MediaNetwork shared-storage system start at $24,995, and are expected to be available in Q2 2007.