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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Any recommendations for portable storage options for off-loading dailies?

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Michael McCaffrey

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I am going to be traveling for a week or two, maybe 2 or 3 different times this summer and need to find a good portable drive to offload and store dailies shot with the scarlet. Anyone have any recommendations? What about backing up footage on two drives? Is it necessary? If so, would a RAID 1 be a good option? Or maybe its just cheaper to get two drives and copy the card off twice?
 
I use these...

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/usb/raid_1/Gmax_Portable

pic_mini_stacked.jpg
 
Michael McCaffrey said:
What about backing up footage on two drives? Is it necessary? If so, would a RAID 1 be a good option? Or maybe its just cheaper to get two drives and copy the card off twice?
Click to expand...

Rule of thumb: If it does not exist on two different drives in two different locations, it does not exist at all.

Since you will be on travel, consider shipping the second drive back to you via a common carrier, hand carry the other.

Don't forget to verify the data transfer before reformatting the original media.
 
I have been doing a lot of location work, usually remote locations for extended periods of time.I am not a rep or anything, but the system I am using now works great, and I feel a lot better backing up to tape as well as hard drives in the field.I have been using a 1 Beyond Wrangler LTO-5 Net-Drive system.

It's a self contained unit that is basically a PC with an LTO-5 tape drive and REDMAG reader built into it. It's portable- fits in a carry on pelican case, and the software is simple and intuitive. It generates a log and confirms that your REMAG has been downloaded successfully. http://www.1beyond.com/products/tapearchive_lto5_netdrive.asp?search=tapearchivingAs

As a back-up I always take an extra mag reader and because I am paranoid, I still back up all my material to two hard drives in addition to the LTO-5 tape.
 
Wow. Cool tech.... Terrible logo???
In any case, how much is this device?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M0QrbRncac

Joe Pontecorvo said:
I have been doing a lot of location work, usually remote locations for extended periods of time.I am not a rep or anything, but the system I am using now works great, and I feel a lot better backing up to tape as well as hard drives in the field.I have been using a 1 Beyond Wrangler LTO-5 Net-Drive system.

It's a self contained unit that is basically a PC with an LTO-5 tape drive and REDMAG reader built into it. It's portable- fits in a carry on pelican case, and the software is simple and intuitive. It generates a log and confirms that your REMAG has been downloaded successfully. http://www.1beyond.com/products/tapearchive_lto5_netdrive.asp?search=tapearchiving As

As a back-up I always take an extra mag reader and because I am paranoid, I still back up all my material to two hard drives in addition to the LTO-5 tape.
Click to expand...
 
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Another low cost option is using bare 2.5" drives and backing up to more than one using the RED Station. They're inexpensive, small, and as was posted earlier, you can mail one of them back to yourself so it's off-site. Get some plastic cases like these from Fry's: http://tinyurl.com/7y8pwrz
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I like the compact option of the Gmax but I think I found a great solution.

That is this:
(1) Thermaltake BlackX Duet eSata Docking Station (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153112)
(2) Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200 RPM 2.5" Drives (http://www.gosale.com/5793495/seagate-barracuda-3tb-7200rpm?gclid=CKrT3NXMgrACFYcBQAodW186Gg)

The eSata docking station will hold both drives and give me the additional benefits:
1. Price. I can get 3TB of storage for $387 (including the dock) vs Paying about the same price for 1.5TB in a RAID array or two separate external enclosures.
2. Portability. The dock and drives are each smaller and more versatile.
3. This setup allows me to make one transfer to two drives simultaneously, which I wanted to save time offloading.
4. I can separate the drives after the transfer and put them in small storage cases and have them in different locations to protect the drives.

The only thing Im not sure of yet, is if the transfer over eSata will go to both drives as quickly as it would transfer to one drive, or if the data is actually copied to the eSata drives twice anyway? If the latter is true, then maybe it wont save me time..? I also am wondering if I connect the REDSTATION via eSata directly to the docking station, if the data will transfer from the Redstation directly to the drives on the docking station, or if it has to go through the Macbook Pro first (connected to the docking station via firewire 800)?
 
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Michael McCaffrey said:
I am going to be traveling for a week or two, maybe 2 or 3 different times this summer and need to find a good portable drive to offload and store dailies shot with the scarlet. Anyone have any recommendations? What about backing up footage on two drives? Is it necessary? If so, would a RAID 1 be a good option? Or maybe its just cheaper to get two drives and copy the card off twice?
Click to expand...

If weight is an issue, then look to smaller portable drives with esata, and pick yourself up a Lacie hub. I too do a lot of travelling, and often where there is little in the way of the power options. This is what I have found to work well, just tested last week in Africa.

Mac Pro
Lacie Thunderbolt to Esata hub.
I like drive docks as they are better then heavy drive as shown below and have a variety of options (esata, firewire 800, USB3) They can also take both 2.5 and standard drive sizes. I have yet to find a thunderbolt one, but I suspect there is on coming soon. You just buy a bunch of drives at computer shop.
voyagerswitch_q_2.jpg

If power is an issue, then I suggest getting a Power Gorilla which has USB and 12v power options.
I also for simplicity use a voltage stabilizer into a 220 to 110 down-converter, then use a power bar.
When I have a vehicle I use a simple 400w inverter from the car lighter which gives me two 110 plugs, plus a USB 5v.
 
Until Red releases a thunderbolt redstation there's no real advantage to a thunderbolt dock or esata adapter is there? (Maybe there is for just transferring files to or from the computer, but not offloading red ftg from the mags)
 
Bob Gundu said:
Wow. Cool tech.... Terrible logo???
In any case, how much is this device?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M0QrbRncac
Click to expand...

I got an NAB special, but I want to say it's between 5,800.00 - 6,000.00. I got a deal at NAB, so I am not sure.
Best to check with them directly:
http://www.1beyond.com/products/products.asp

I am using the Voyager Q docking stations as my external drive. Before I got this system I used two Voyager docking stations - backed up to one and then the other. But I wanted the security of LTO tape, and I wanted to have software verification, so a stand alone system seemed like the perfect choice for me.
Now, I will be putting this system through it's paces in very remote and inhospitable locations over the next couple months so I will post an update.
 
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