SolidStore - A on-set download tool

[Dylan Reeve]

Initial details of our debut product the SolidStore (http://www.shotwrangler.com/solidstore/) are now available on our website.

The SolidStore aims to serve as a flexible on-set data transfer/backup device - allowing for hassle-free transfer of media from RED CF or RED Drive to redundant removable hard drives. It is faster and easier than using a laptop on set, and a lot easier. All files are coped two the two drives and verified as they are copied.

We're currently working on prototypes, and expect to be able to offer a production model in Q3 2008 (hopefully sooner). Our hardware platform is very flexible and has been spec'd to allow future support for XDCAM EX and P2 media, and to be expandable to support other flash and drive based professional acquisition formats as they arrive.

We are very open to suggestion, and will be providing more information as we finalise more details of the product.

The SolidStore is not intended to replace a laptop for things like shot review but instead intended to work alongside those tools, but also allow for an easy data offload workflow in situations where a more involved on-set DIT setup isn't required. Featuring Gigabit Ethernet, the SolidStore allows for easy file access from on-set computers.

So, let us know what you think. What do you need to see in an device like this?

[Dylan Reeve]

...just bumping this up, seeing as I edited an older post, rather than starting a new one...

[Thor Wixom]

Yesterday would not be soon enough. :-)

Good work Sycophant. Can't wait to use it.

-Thor

[J.D. Frey]

1. capacity is going to be a big need- It would be nice if the array could hold at least two RED drives (or more) prior to removing them. This would allow for A and B cameras to dump at the same time so the RED drives can go back in to the rotation.

2. lots of I/O- Since the red drives are mini raids the other side needs to match the pace of a red drive (really two red drives or more at the same time if possible).

3. Rugged- it would be nice if it was already in some sort of rugged container if possible- of it there was a container readily available that would work with it.

4. Simple workflow- plug in, push go and the files copy.

5. DIT access- it would be nice if the DIT could access the drives, or if there was a way to access a shared RAID by both the SolidStore and the on-site playback system

[Dylan Reeve]

1. capacity is going to be a big need- It would be nice if the array could hold at least two RED drives (or more) prior to removing them. This would allow for A and B cameras to dump at the same time so the RED drives can go back in to the rotation.

It's reliant on small form-factor (2.5") drives - presently the largest available ones are 500GB, so two totaly full RED Drives wouldn't fit on one 500GB drive, but two Drives in real world use (ie. Not totally full) should do.


2. lots of I/O- Since the red drives are mini raids the other side needs to match the pace of a red drive (really two red drives or more at the same time if possible).

I haven't yet got my hands on a RED Drive, but I believe it only offers USB and FW connections, so potential transfer speed will be limited by that. Only one unit will be able to be copied at once, however copy should be faster that recrod time in most circumstances.


3. Rugged- it would be nice if it was already in some sort of rugged container if possible- of it there was a container readily available that would work with it.

Aside from the removable drives is it solid state, so fairly rugged. It is small enough that it shouldn't be too hard to fit it in a Pelican case or similar.


4. Simple workflow- plug in, push go and the files copy.

Workflow is:

Insert card / connect drive
Press 'go' button
Wait for green light



5. DIT access- it would be nice if the DIT could access the drives, or if there was a way to access a shared RAID by both the SolidStore and the on-site playback system

The content of the drives is available via SMB/Windows (and possibly NFS) network share over Gigabit Ethernet. Otherwise the drive cartridges can be removed and used as an external harddrive with a supplied cable and power supply.

[Dylan Reeve]

Yesterday would not be soon enough. :-)

Sadly Yesterday would be a little difficult, what with the space/time continuum and all.

We're estimating Q3 production, but if the gods smile on us it could be a bit sooner than that. Keep an eye on the site and here, I'll post more information as I am able to.

[David Birdy]

Great product idea Dylan.. What is the Price point?

Dave

[Brent J. Craig]

I would rethink the 2.5" drive limitition. These are always much slower and about double the price of similar 3.5" drives.

[Dylan Reeve]

Great product idea Dylan.. What is the Price point?

We're still finalising supplier and pricing details, so I can't announce a price just yet, but will do in the next month.


I would rethink the 2.5" drive limitition. These are always much slower and about double the price of similar 3.5" drives.

Agreed, there are drawbacks to 2.5 drives, but we're aiming to keep the overall physical size of the device as small as possible, and a removable 3.5" drive actually requires quite a lot more space than you'd expect.

Also, 2.5" drives are more resilient to common handling motion and vibration than larger drives, and overall the prices aren't too bad.

[Paul Leeming]

RedDrive definitely has an eSATA connector, it's just in a non-standard format. If you're building a device to interface with the RedDrive though, why not go the whole way and make an eSATA adaptor that plugs directly into the RedDrive's proprietary connector? Then you'd have full speed SATA throughput with just the addition of the RedDrive's power cable.

HTH

Paul

[Paul Hazlett]

I see from your site you are thinking an external usb/firewire to hook up to
a computer if you dont pull the drives from the unit after capture, yes?

I would hope that you consider firewire 800 or esata so people can just take
there whole unit to ingest and have a fast means of quickly getting it in.

[Mark L. Pederson]

f you're building a device to interface with the RedDrive though, why not go the whole way and make an eSATA adaptor that plugs directly into the RedDrive's proprietary connector? Then you'd have full speed SATA throughput with just the addition of the RedDrive's power cable.

HTH

Paul
That's the right move. But, right now - I am sure READ speed (of the REDDRIVE) taps out in the neighborhood of 40-50 MBs anyway - but to "future-proof" for the eventual RAM drives - it would be very smart.

[Dylan Reeve]

RedDrive definitely has an eSATA connector, it's just in a non-standard format. If you're building a device to interface with the RedDrive though, why not go the whole way and make an eSATA adaptor that plugs directly into the RedDrive's proprietary connector? Then you'd have full speed SATA throughput with just the addition of the RedDrive's power cable.


That's the right move. But, right now - I am sure READ speed (of the REDDRIVE) taps out in the neighborhood of 40-50 MBs anyway - but to "future-proof" for the eventual RAM drives - it would be very smart.

Also not sure what write speeds we'll be reaching, but we'll probably have an eSATA connector, so we'll look at making a RED-Sata to eSATA adapter to work with that.


I see from your site you are thinking an external usb/firewire to hook up to
a computer if you dont pull the drives from the unit after capture, yes?

I would hope that you consider firewire 800 or esata so people can just take
there whole unit to ingest and have a fast means of quickly getting it in.

The drives will support eSATA connection, but I don't think the controller interface will support FW800, so the options will be USB2, FW400 and eSATA.

[C.H.Haskell]

May the gods smile down on you!

[LEON]

Also not sure what write speeds we'll be reaching, but we'll probably have an eSATA connector, so we'll look at making a RED-Sata to eSATA adapter to work with that.



The drives will support eSATA connection, but I don't think the controller interface will support FW800, so the options will be USB2, FW400 and eSATA.

WHY NOT FIREWIRE 800 ??

[J.D. Frey]

Thanks for all the info- I signed up for announcement on your site- looking forward to the price, specs, etc.

[Dylan Reeve]

WHY NOT FIREWIRE 800 ??

The hardware we're working with doesn'y have FW800 support at this time. It may be available in the future, although it's somewhat out of our hands.

[Brent J. Craig]

Agreed, there are drawbacks to 2.5 drives, but we're aiming to keep the overall physical size of the device as small as possible, and a removable 3.5" drive actually requires quite a lot more space than you'd expect.

Unless you're making a pocket device, I suspect most people would dislike always being a generation behind in drive capacity and paying almost double for the same amount of space.

And without Firewire 800 (?) maybe this is a good time to rethink those suppliers before it's too late.

[LEON]

The hardware we're working with doesn'y have FW800 support at this time. It may be available in the future, although it's somewhat out of our hands.

By the time your delicious device becomes availaible to users, USB3 might be out and maybe a faster firewire, so please Firewire 800 is a minimum !

[sbaechler]

It will have eSATA wich is 1.5-3 Gbit/s and Gigabit Ethernet, which is 1000 Mbit/s. FW800 is only 800 Mbit/s.

Having the RED SATA/Power connector would be necessary though.

[Dylan Reeve]

Given that it's a copy device a FW800 interface for the interface with source devices is probably overkill, it won't be writing to the drives at that speed.

The removable drives will support USB2 and eSATA, and at this stage FW400. A new chipset may become available for them to offer FW800 support (and maybe USB3 when it actually exists, but that's at least 18 months off realistically).

Our official recommendation would be to sync the device to your network storage using the gigabit ethernet and our supplied sync software, or to use one of the drive cartridges connected via eSATA or USB2 (with our supplied sync software, or another mehtod).

The eSATA interface on the SolidStore will be a standard one but ideally we (or someone else perhaps) will make available a eSATA to RED SATA adaptror, although I suspect power in that case will have to be supplied by the RED Drive powerpack.

[sbaechler]

What kind of drive modules will it use? Addonics, Vantec or something else?
Are they in a 3.5" slot so I could put in my own If I had to?

Regards
Simon

[Dylan Reeve]

We haven't finalised the suppliers and specs, but whatever we do choose will be non-proprietary so you will be able to get a drive bay and mount the drives directly on your own system.