Is RAID required for editing?

[Andy_Johnson]

Hi all,

I'll be editing on a maxed out newest-version 5k iMac with 4.5k (at most) R3Ds. Without having done much editing with RED files (other than 10 second sample footage), I'm wondering if I need a minimum drive speed/configuration like RAID or Thunderbolt/USB3/etc.?

If it helps, my workflow is very basic: FCPX + RedCine-X Pro.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Akin A]

A RAID is not required, but it helps if you want to edit at a high quality.
In Resolve, I edit at 1/4 res and I would even do 1/8 res if I needed to. 1/16 res looks like shit, so I wouldn't use that.

When you're ready to deliver, just set the debayer quality back up to full.

 

[Andy_Johnson]

What about if I have an external SSD via USB3.0 to edit on? Would that suffice for Raven footage?

 

[Kwan Khan]

Just started to using/testing Samsung Portable SSD T1 1TB USB 3.0 Drive, so far very happy (its smaller then business card),
I will be buying bunch of those (monthly)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1112685-REG/samsung_mu_ps1t0b_am_1tb_portable_ssd_t1.html

 

[M.Halsell]

Todays storage media is pretty fast by yesterdays standards, so HD stuff most new systems can handle with non issue, above HD the throughput requirements increase. RAIDs are bit of a nuisance but essential in complicated production environments. If you can do without, go for it until absolutely essential.

 

[Carsten Schuffert]

I have good experience in editing by storing on the Promise R thunderbolt storage. Reasonable pricing, good quality.

Best
Carsten

 

[Brian Merlen]

I like raid 5s and duplicates of materials. It won't hurt you throughput wise. Soon the market will be using SSD raid 5s, large capacity is coming out finally but not yet very affordable vs slow optical but both are great

 

[Björn Benckert]

You dont need a raid but single disk is quite slow and single SSD is quite small.

This is my latest little hack. I love the Lacie raids. I taken appart pretty much all raids out there and I can only say to me Lacie has the best builds of them all Their extruded aluminium chassis are really inteligent made. The way they made the discs dock onto the extortion and all that stuff could not be done better. So what I did is that (on this picture only one) I screwed on two Vlock plates, one on each side. and drilled holes into the chassi and soldered the cables onto the inside of the power connector.

Basically that gives me a rugged 2 slot raid with on board battery power so I can use it with my laptop out in the forest if wanted. Have not really checked how long the Blueshapes last for but it´s more than enough / covers my daily use. Then also I can power it with the normal AC power plug. and hot swap batteries if wanted.

Whats nice is I just need the thunderbolt cable and it´s good to go, no dangling power supply that somebody unplug or loose power during a transfer etc. Think if lace would start to make these they would make a bundle.

[/url]IMG_0249 by Björn Benckert, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Brian Merlen]

Impressive! I wonder if it can run larger units? Like raid 5?

 

[Kevin Reilly]

They aren't necessary but they sure do make life easier.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Impressive! I wonder if it can run larger units? Like raid 5?

I think anything that runs of 12v ac adapter would work. but a raid 5 is normally on a 110v/220v power supply, no?