Boosting productivity and simplifying the protection of digital assets for broadcast and creative workflows

Munich, Germany & Caerphilly, UK 25th May 2010 – Backup, archive and storage vendors Archiware and Object-Matrix today announced a cross-product support partnership between the company’s successful PresSTORE Backup and MatrixStore solutions. The joint implementation of PresSTORE and MatrixStore enables an extremely secure yet simple route to managing on/off-site repositories for all digital assets in a Mac- based workflow and is proven to address the challenge of efficiently backing up 100TB of data to an offsite location.

Archiware and Object-Matrix’s sophisticated Mac-based backup solution is particularly appealing to the video production, media and creative industries. These creative businesses rarely have an in-house IT team/person, so a non-specialist is usually left to struggle with effectively managing and storing the vast terabytes of data coming into their organisation. PresSTORE Backup and MatrixStore help to facilitate one multiple tenancy platform for archive, ingest and backup that users don’t have to worry about, allowing them to focus on the more creative elements of their job.

Advertising implementation agency Hogarth Worldwide, part of the WPP Group, is one of the first working implementations of the joint PresSTORE and MatrixStore solution in the UK. Hogarth has a 100TB Xsan in-house with a 1Gbit link to its 125 terabyte MatrixStore hosted by Global Switch.

“PresSTORE Backup and MatrixStore compliment each other perfectly and provide a highly effective disk-based solution ecosystem that is very enticing for the customer,” comments Archiware CEO Josef Doods. “PresSTORE seamlessly manages the backup of content to the MatrixStore repository, including workflow, emails, documents, where it can be securely stored and then re-accessed in a very fast and convenient way, all without the need for specialist skills.“

Nick Pearce-Tomenius, Co-Founder of Object-Matrix said: “The way companies capture content has changed, with everything now tapeless and file-based. Creative organisations have to store and manage hundreds of terabytes of data and rarely have the in-house IT expertise to do this productively or effectively. What we’re doing with Archiware is helping customers to move away from having separate silos for different parts of their storage and backup. We’re offering a single centralised solution that consolidates and protects customers’ data in a self-healing, self-managing way that theydon’t have to touch or worry about. We like to think we’re offering a virtual storage geek so that the client doesn’t need to be one and can get back to their real job of being creative.”

Full press release here: PresSTORE MatrixStore

The View From OM

We are pleased to be working with the Archiware team and hope that our continued efforts produce solutions that customers can use with the minimum of effort coupled with the peace of mind that their working data is protected.

Cardiff, UK – Object Matrix, a developer of secure asset archive and retrieval software, has today supplied Cardiff based content creator and post-production facility Boomerang Plus Plc with its rushes, nearline and library archive solution, The MatrixStore. The multi-purpose data management solution provides a secure archive for client owned content that enters the facility and also keeps content available to be re-purposed, re-used or monetised.

Paul Owen, Head of Post Production at Boomerang stated, “In line with the rest of the industry we are facing up to the challenges of tapeless and HD production. We manage a mixture of studio and post content which must be protected and available on demand. The solution from Object Matrix provides the peace of mind that the content that comes into the facility, or that we produce locally, is authentic and protected at the highest levels. ”

Boomerang is largely an Avid facility that produces its own content for clients such as the BBC, S4C and Channel 4.

“Boomerang owns a lot of content that it has created over the years which is mainly tape based and less accessible when we need to re-purpose content. We will use the Vault functionality of MatrixStore to keep legacy content available online to all authorised personnel which means we will save time and money when a request comes in for content.”, added Paul.

More here: Press Release: Boomerang

The View From OM:

We are gaining a lot of traction in AVID and Final Cut workflows, both of which face the same challenges of implementing a repeatable, audited process for content ingest and exploiting legacy content by sweating the value of assets.
Please contact us for more information on the use of MatrixStore in an AVID tapeless workflow.

Cardiff, UK – Object Matrix, a developer of secure asset archive and retrieval software, has
today supplied Cardiff based post-production facility Mwnci with its pre-production rushes archive and nearline archive solution, The MatrixStore. The multi-purpose data management
solution provides a secure archive for client owned content that enters the facility and also acts as a secure parking location for ongoing projects.

Rich Moss, Managing Director of Mwnci stated, “More and more of the projects coming into Mwnci are file based and as such we need to ensure we have the best infrastructure in place to cope with not only the incredible amount of content but also the wide variety of the content formats that come into the facility. The DropSpot software from Object Matrix understands the Panasonic P2 and Sony SxS formats allowing metadata entered on the camera to be harvested and attached to the content in our MatrixStore cluster. We made a decision to keep our production SAN at an optimal size for both performance and throughput whilst moving older content that still needs to be accessed to a more appropriate platform.

The MatrixStore fits perfectly as both the pre-production and the nearline archive in our Avid based workflow.”

Mwnci uses mostly Avid technology in the post production of television programming for clients such as the BBC and S4C.

More here….

The View From OM:
For more information on the use of MatrixStore in an AVID workflow go here..

Happy Days. A great end to 2009. Merry Christmas and wishing you a prosperous new year!

Broadcast Engineering Article on Tapeless Digital Workflow

http://broadcastengineering.com/automation/what-digital-workflow-mean-creative-industry-1028/

Article on Data Centre Inefficiencies.

http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.32449 (BCS – Chartered Institute for IT)

http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/?tag=energy-consumption (Business Computing World)

Cloud Computing Opinion Piece

http://www.launchlab.co.uk/article/Business-tech/What-is-Cloud-Computing-and-what-are-the-benefits/892

TV-Bay article on Panasonic P2 Live Centre and also piece on MatrixStore as pre-production and nearline archive.

http://www.tv-bay.com/imag/issue_034/pageflip.htm

That DAM Show (Audio Clip)

http://www.thatdamshow.com/latest/?currentPage=6

Digital Production Buzz

http://www.digitalproductionbuzz.com/Archives/buzz_09_05_14.m4a

Why use MatrixStore with Final Cut Server? Do you need to:

• Have a fast, multi-user and secure nearline or deep library of assets and completed projects available?
• Backup Final Cut Server databases?
• Backup Final Cut Server proxies?
• Bind strategic metadata together to Final Cut Server assets and productions?
• Archive entire productions in a single mouse click?

Then Object Matrix have provided free scripts and plug-ins here for you.

NB: please enquire if you require customized scripts for FCSvr related tasks.

The backup scripts are free of charge*, and modifiable/usable against any ftp server. The production archiving scripts are proprietary to OM and MatrixStore*.

*Please see individual license files for exact license details.

Have fun!!

Dev Team

Useful links

Backup to FTP Scripts (dmg) (UPDATE 17/Oct/2008)

Archive to MatrixStore Plugin (dmg)

Final Cut Server and MatrixStore (blog entry)

Email questions to Object Matrix

MatrixStore Plugins Overview

MatrixStore plugins for Final Cut Server are a set of scripts and utilities that provide extra features to FCS extending its usability and allowing a seamless integration of MatrixStore as an archive device into your workflows.

• Allow binding strategic metadata together with Final Cut Server assets and productions along the whole process from creation through edition to archiving by storing that metadata with their archived copies on MatrixStore device. Once archived, the user has the ability to find assets and productions easily on the archive device – MatrixStore using the search-driven Dropspot application.

• Provide easy backup of Proxies together with FCS database. By using Final Cut Server Backup function and MatrixStore plugins, the user can automate archiving FCS database and Proxies and keep them together in case of unexpected events and failures. Restoring the whole FCS without time-consuming re-creation of Proxies is a huge advantage and allows to save time, especially for installations with vast array of assets.

• Provides the possibility to archive whole Final Cut Server productions (project) directly from Final Cut Server client application to MatrixStore device, which is extremely useful for project-oriented users.

Installing MatrixStore Plugins for Final Cut Server

You can install MatrixStore Plugins on any Mac running Final Cut Server.

Please note that a MatrixStore cluster must be installed with vaults and vault users created before this process.

You must also install MatrixStore Connect as described in its users guide and create at least one account. Connect presents MatrixStore vaults as FTP accounts to Final
Cut Server.

DMG and Installer

Mount the MatrixStore Disk Image on your computer, go to “FinalCutServer integration” directory, run MatrixStore-FCS Plugins Installer.pkg and complete the installation process.

The installer installs all the necessary files in:
/Library/Application Support/MatrixStore/FCS Support

You can access the log files here:
/Library/Logs/MatrixStore/FCS Support/logs/

To finish installation you have to follow the instructions in Backing up Final Cut Server and Archiving Final Cut Server Productions.

I spent time this week chatting to Larry Jordan on ‘The Digital Production Buzz’ podcast talking about www.thematrixStore.com, the integrations with CatDV/Final Cut Server and disk based archiving. I will link the podcast when it becomes available. Click on the image to listen:

I would like to thank Larry and the team (Cirina and Debbie) for giving us the opportunity.

Larry  is an internationally-renowned consultant and Apple-Certified trainer in digital media with over 25 years experience as a television producer, director and editor with national broadcast and corporate credits. Based on Los Angeles, he’s a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. Jordan is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Edit Well, the rich-media newsletter for Final Cut Studio, published by Peachpit Press. He is the author of hundreds of hours of online training, published by Lynda.com and two books on Final Cut Pro, published by Peachpit Press. Visit his website at www.larryjordan.biz.

Object Matrix will shortly be helping to host a seminar and panel discussion on digital file based/tapeless workflows in the media and Creatives industries. The event will be hosted in Cardiff, and will be in a similar format to the preceding events held in London and Manchester.

The seminar looks at the full digital production workflow, taking in: Acquisition, Assets, Archiving and going out to Air,  aka .. A4 and is held in conjunction with Skill Set, Panasonic, Apple and Bectu.

Attendance is by invitation only and numbers are strictly limited, but please feel free to contact us if you feel the seminar would be appropriate to your organisation. ]]> http://www.matrixstore.net/2009/04/16/a4-tapeless-workflow-seminar-cardiff/feed/ 0 http://www.matrixstore.net/2009/01/23/hogarth-worldwide-chooses-the-matrixstore/ http://www.matrixstore.net/2009/01/23/hogarth-worldwide-chooses-the-matrixstore/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:28:18 +0000 NPT http://www.matrixstore.net/?p=473 Great news. See Press Release below:

PRESS RELEASE 

Hogarth Worldwide turn to Object Matrix for data protection 

Agency implements ‘The MatrixStore’ to secure digital assets in its file based, tapeless workflow 

London, UK – Object Matrix, a developer of secure asset archive and retrieval software, 

has today supplied advertising implementation agency Hogarth Worldwide with its 

brand new digital archiving solution, The MatrixStore. This multi purpose data 

management system provides a secure archive for digital assets and eliminates the 

need for a physical tape library.    

Mark Keller, CTO of Hogarth Worldwide stated, “At Hogarth Worldwide LLP we use the 

full breadth of media, including print, moving image, and digital. Hogarth’s state of the 

art fully digital file based production systems are optimised for a tapeless workflow. The 

nature of our business demands that we must hold a wide variety of assets for an 

extended period in a form that is easily accessible – this means that we have been 

looking for a secure disk based archiving product.” 

Hogarth specialises in producing and delivering global advertising campaigns. The 

company has a number of offices across London, Sussex and New York and provides an 

extensive range of services including editing, all aspects of production and post 

production, global implementation, and content management consultations. Hogarth 

has worked with clients such as Ford, BBC, MTV, Nokia, Procter & Gamble and ESPN 

and represents the ideal customer for Object Matrix. With such a wide array of 

disciplines available, the agency produces a vast amount of large media projects which 

need to be organised and stored digitally.  

“The MatrixStore completely fulfils all of our requirements in this area and we are really 

excited about the implementation of a three node 27 TB cluster into our secure data- 

centre at Global Switch,” added Mark. 

The MatrixStore solution consists of a cluster of off-the-shelf server hardware combined 

with innovative and powerful software. Extra storage can be added for the simple cost 

of an additional node. The MatrixStore provides users with a key word search tool to 

quickly and efficiently search through stored material. The cost effective and easily 

scalable nature of The MatrixStore makes it the perfect solution for today’s digital 

workflows. 

Nick Pearce, founder and marketing director of Object Matrix, commented, “We believe 

that announcing this partnership so soon after The MatrixStore’s launch clearly shows 

the relevance and potential of this important technology. Hogarth World Wide is a large 

and influential agency and represents exactly the type of customer to benefit from the 

MatrixStore’s extensive features. We are confident that this technology will allow Mark 

and his team to extract the maximum value from the assets in their workflow.” 

Analyst Robin Harris from the Data Mobility Group, stated, “The MatrixStore combines 

clustered storage technologies with commodity components, a trend pioneered by 

Google’s massive storage systems. The cluster provides the scalability required for the 

rapid growth of digital content, while the commodity components minimize cost and 

enable upgrade-in-place longevity. In the current climate savvy organisations such as 

Hogarth Worldwide are saving money and reducing risk by moving to non-proprietary 

platforms with pricing that scales as capacity grows. The Object Matrix product offers 

customers the benefits of the Google architecture in a solid commercial product.” 

—–Ends—– 

For more information on the MatrixStore please contact Tom@raniericoms.com 

About Object Matrix 

Established in 2003, Object Matrix is a software company based in Caerphilly (Wales, 

UK). Its acclaimed product MatrixStore has been used in production since 2006 by 

broadcast and creative agency customers.  

Object Matrix is comprised of a team of storage industry experts with a shared vision 

for high levels of data security combined with intuitive user interfaces. In addition to 

providing solutions and product integrations for the storage, search and retrieval of 

media assets, Object Matrix also provides consultancy, training, systems integration, 

and ongoing support services. 

About Hogarth Worldwide 

Hogarth Worldwide is an advertising implementation agency that creates value whilst 

valuing creativity. 

Hogarth has been designed to take advantage of new technology to deliver advertising 

fundamentally more efficiently. By operating on a large, almost industrial scale Hogarth 

can implement international advertising campaigns in print, TV or digital media at a 

fraction of the normal cost.

The View From OM

Happy Puppies.

Some show blurb:

“Broadcast Video Expo is the technology event for production, post, delivery, AV and new media.  Broadcast Video Expo plays host to 200 leading manufacturers and features more stands, seminars, workshops and conference sessions than ever”

The View from OM

We are not usually ones to show at trade shows but this one in London is very focused and appears to be well attended with relevant people whenever I have been in the past.

We aim to show the workflow of archiving productions from Final Cut Server with a single click (ok 3 clicks .. small ones).

Looking forward to it.

Anyway, press release:

PRESS RELEASE  

The MatrixStore archiving solution provides instant on-demand access to digital assets 

London, UK – Object Matrix, a developer of secure asset archive and retrieval software, has 

today partnered with distributor Channel Dynamics to launch The MatrixStore, a multi 

purpose disk based archive solution. The MatrixStore provides a secure archive to businesses 

with large data libraries at a fraction of the cost of a tape library. Ideal for the broadcast, 

design and creative industries, this solution offers users on-demand access to digital assets at 

a more affordable price point.  

Nick Pearce, sales and marketing director of Object Matrix, commented: “As the creative 

industry begins to rely more on rich media content in projects, storage requirements also 

become more advanced and demanding. With file based workflows becoming more common, 

the scalable nature of The MatrixStore makes it an ideal and cost effective alternative to tape 

libraries, while enhancing the workflow by delivering on demand access to archived content. 

Additional storage nodes can be added as the storage requirements increase, providing users 

with an easily expandable digital archive. Although it is not market specific, this product is 

particularly well suited to creative environments in which there are more requirements to 

provide access to current and legacy content.” 

As the demand for instant access to data rises and acquisition technology advances, the 

creative industry is increasingly moving towards a ‘tapeless’ workflow. The combination of 

inexpensive server hardware and powerful software provides users with an economical and 

easily expandable method of archiving all their assets within a project. Archived data is 

always available and the ease of installation and administration allows businesses 

to concentrate on their core competencies, rather than the demands of IT management. 

I will post images of the launch in another post.