LumaForge LLC, an innovative hi-tech, systems integrator and file-based workflow specialist is pleased to announce the installation, testing and roll-out of the revolutionary ExaSAN PCIe storage area network into one of LA’s most progressive post-houses, Hollywood DI. The multi-user SAN implementation was put through its paces with vigorous testing on the 3D TV series ‘DARK SECRETS’. As well as handling 3D with ease, the ExaSAN/metaSAN platform easily managed real-time playback of HD, 2K and 4K digital camera files.
‘DARK SECRETS’ was shot on a mixture of 3D cameras, edited on Avid Media Composer and then conformed and color corrected on DaVinci Resolve by Hollywood DI‘s 3D colorist, Bjorn Myrholt. The 3D TV series is the first to be finished using storage hardware and software supplied by the newly formed partnership between LumaForge and ExaSAN. The partnership provides high-end servers and storage systems in tandem with professional workflow consulting and system integration services. The two companies leveraged the tried and tested metaSAN software from Tiger Technology running on the Accusys range of RAIDs and switches all connected through a high speed PCIexpress network.
Mas Omae, Director of Sales at Accusys, is impressed with the way that LumaForge implemented and delivered the ExaSAN/metaSAN solution. “We knew that Neil’s background in the computing industry would put LumaForge at the forefront of implementing our powerful and sophisticated SAN solution into the Media and Entertainment market, but even I was surprised with how quickly LumaForge installed and tuned the ExaSAN/metaSAN platform. We literally delivered the 24TB A12S2-PS RAID to them on a Wednesday and by Friday they had it up and running and ready to use on the 3D TV show that was just coming in. To my knowledge this is still pretty unique in this market and I am looking forward to working with LumaForge on many future joint projects,” said Omae. “We really like how efficient their approach is and how flexible they are at meeting customer’s requirements in a cost-effective manner. Neil assures us that the combination of ExaSAN hardware, metaSAN software and high-end DaVinci Resolve workstations is more than capable of delivering a multi-user professional quality finishing environment at a price most customers can afford.”
Neil Smith, CEO of LumaForge LLC, is delighted with the incredible performance and cost-efficiencies provided by the wide range of storage and SAN products provided by ExaSAN. “For a state-of-the-art system integrator like LumaForge that specializes in file-based workflows for filmmakers, commercials and TV shows, it’s imperative that we find the most robust and cost-effective platform possible to deliver digital dailies, editorial, color correction and finishing services.” said Smith. “Working with ExaSAN‘s highly-tuned hardware running Tiger Technology‘s easy to use metaSAN software is a delightful experience. Modern digital acquisition and file-based workflows demand a ton of horsepower and resilience. Traditionally this has been supplied by big-iron, expensive proprietary systems. However, with ExaSAN‘s smart engineering and LumaForge‘s savvy systems integration approach we were able to easily connect and share terabytes of HD, 2K and 4K data in real-time over the 20 gigabits per second PCIe infrastructure. The performance and reliability we achieved from the ExaSAN RAID platform with metaSAN combined with a high-end Resolve color correction system was nothing short of breathtaking!”
The Tiger Technology metaSAN software was installed on four workstations allowing other members of the Hollywood DI post team to access the same project files at the same time. Bernard Lamborelle, Regional Sales Director at Tiger Technology, said, "The combination of ExaSan hardware running our metaSAN software is an exciting new addition to Tiger’s family of high-performance SAN, iSCSI and LAN shared storage solutions for production and post-production. Allowing simultaneous access to the same project files with applications like Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve means that metaSAN is ideal for the data intensive work involved in file-based editing, color correction and finishing."
Hollywood DI‘s 3D colorist, Bjorn Myholt worked closely with the LumaForge team to ensure that the SAN was stable and ready for action as quickly as possible. Within a few days of the ExaSAN arriving, Myholt was grading the TV show. “The whole process worked seamlessly,” Myholt adds. “DaVinci Resolve running across the ExaSAN/metaSAN delivered faster than real-time processing for all the major camera formats I tested including ARRI Alexa, Red Epic, Sony F65 and Canon C500 and HDSLRs. I can easily grade footage from multiple projects and also have our other editors and colorists accessing the terabytes of digital files without any loss in responsiveness. I’m very impressed with ExaSAN‘s superior ability to handle large volumes of data in real-time and improve the efficiency of Avid to Resolve workflows.”
Smith concludes by saying that, "The combination of ExaSAN‘s finely tuned hardware with enterprise hardened software like Tiger Technology‘s metaSAN is an integral part of LumaForge‘s approach to providing cost-effective workflow solutions to customers requiring a robust and reliable storage infrastructure at an affordable price. We are busily installing ExaSAN hardware and metaSAN software into our FLOworks (Flexible, Lean and Open workflow) platform as well as high-end finishing and color correction systems and have no doubt that this will be an incredible combination! LumaForge in conjunction with our strategic partners, Accusys and Tiger Technology will continue to provide customers with a cost-effective alternative to the typical heavy-iron expensive shared storage systems currently on the market. It’s a win-win for everyone."
About LumaForge LLC
LumaForge, a Southern California-based value added reseller and systems integrator, installs and maintains the FLOworksโข (Flexible, Lean and Open workflow) integrated shared storage, server and network platform for film and television productions seeking a fast, simple and cost effective approach to processing, storing and sharing digital files between workgroups.
Visit www.lumaforge.com for more information on the FLOworks platform.
About Accusys
The complete line of ExaSAN Storage and SAN Solutions continues to be developed by Accusys, a worldwide leader in design, manufacturing, and marketing of RAID products since 1995. Initially developed in 2009 to take advantage of the speed, economics and roadmap offered by the PCIexpress bus, ExaSAN is currently shipping its 3rd generation products targeting production and postproduction segments in the media and entertainment industry. With years of experience in the storage market, Accusys product lines fulfill versatile applications, ranging from small offices to mission-critical data centers, and covering all major storage interfaces.
Visit www.exasan.com for more information on their wide range of networking and storage products.
About Tiger Technology
Tiger Technology is a developer of high performance storage area networking (SAN) software management tools and solutions. The company’s cross-platform file sharing management software solutions set new standards for multiple users sharing and managing access to bandwidth intensive data consolidated on a centralized storage location. For more information visit: www.tiger-technology.com