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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 :)

Maxx Digital Mobile Rocket Raid

Looks like nobody knows, I would try MAXX digital themselves to get an answer.

As for the SSD reader, I can bet without a doubt you'll want RED's reader, because its probably been speed tested, and is fastest... but I'll be proven wrong.
 
tillHavis said:
Anybody have any news on the Mobile Rocket Raid from MAXX digital; doest it have an internal/external battery option ?
I was hoping for something like the Hyperdrive for the MacBook Pro or else a 4pin XLR connector to make the unit a complete mobile editing solution.

Also does the unit have a 1.8" SSD Reader included ? I think most people moving to SSD's would really like a reader included in the unit. Don't get me wrong I love the Red station but it's another cable and power source connected to my Macbook Pro. A built in 1.8 SSD and Flash Card Reader would make the Mobile Rocket Raid the best offload, monitoring and Raid system available for Red cameras.

Looking forward to getting a price for the unit; hope it's competitive, I hear Aja are working on a Ki Pro, type device for 4K

http://maxxdigital.com/shop/index.php?cPath=153
Click to expand...


No battery option, use a UPS instead.

The 1.8" SSD reader will be sold by Red.
 
Unfortunately we are back ordered about three months. We will post once they become available. Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to contact us at 714-374-4944.
 
Maxx digital Mobile Rocket Battery back up

Maxx digital Mobile Rocket Battery back up

We are working on some options for mobile battery back up. There are several issues with heat and getting enough reserve power to handle the Rocket. Stay tuned for updates. We will have the Bomb Squad run it through the mill when it is ready.
 
Ron Amborn said:
We are working on some options for mobile battery back up. There are several issues with heat and getting enough reserve power to handle the Rocket. Stay tuned for updates. We will have the Bomb Squad run it through the mill when it is ready.
Click to expand...

Interested...
 
tillHavis said:
Thanks Ron !

Even if we could only offload to the Mobile Raid via battery power it would be great.

I think most people who need a complete mobile solution (battery powered) would require it only for offload and backup, maybe limited monitoring.

Also an inbuilt 1.8" SSD / CF Reader would be so helpful !

When working in remote locations I want only one cable connected to my MacBook Pro; any more cables are just things to worry about.

I think their would be a substantial market in the Documentary/National Geographic and Indi-filmmaking for this.

Regards
Till

P.S. If Maxx could look at offering a bare bones system and various upgrades it would help.
I for one would like to build and upgrade drives and cards as I need.

Just a suggestion:

A Hard Case with added storage for a MacBook Pro and some accessories would be great.
If this was a front opening case (allowing both the top and front of the case to be removed, or at least opened)
with a space in the lid to accommodate a Macbook Pro, the case could double as a mobile editing station.
A small slot running the length of the case (where the Pcie Cards and power source are) could allow monitors and
additional items to be connected to the Mobile Raid without removing the unit from the box. Making it perfect when working
in difficult locations and weather conditions.
Click to expand...

This is a great suggestion Till, a complete mobile editing solution. I would place the MacBook Pro on top of the actual Mobile Rocket Raid itself; slightly raised to
allow air to circulate beneath the Macbook Pro.
The top of the case (lid) could act as a wind breaker and offer limited protection, I like the idea of a front and top opening case, If the Macbook Pro
sat on top of the unit then you could connect the unit directly to the express card 34 slot.
I think the additional slot you suggested (where the Pcie and power supply are)
is a good idea and would mean the unit would not have to be removed from the case each time you wished to connect it.

If the unit contained a 1.8" SSD /CF Reader this could be placed at the front of the unit for easy offload and backup.

This would be a fantastic unit and I'm sure there would be a great demand for it.
 
Here are two Kata cases I have come across with a front opening, some combination of both would make a great Case for the Mobile Rocket Raid. If the second was collapsable then maybe it could be contained in the top half of the first case and allow the Macbook Pro to sit into it with a mini sun visor/hood to allow it be used in the outdoors and in different weather conditions.

Just a thought.

Case 1

226010.jpg


Case 2

MOMO-17_main_small.jpg
 
I came across these two Kaga cases the first has a font opening, some combination of the two might work with the Mobile Rocket Raid.
They would have to be integrated together and a side opening added for the Pcie /power connectors and cables to be attached without removing the unit.

I think a 1.8" SSD/CF Reader on the front of the unit is essential if you want producers and large productions to use the unit.
Most of these producers and productions need complete mobility and a secure backup system. Better still why not just add the Red 1.8" SSD/CF reader ?
I have used my Macbook Pro on locations for offload and agree the less cables attached to it the better.
Also, like Till mentioned a battery even for offload would be great.

Case 1

41yY9boAT8L._SL500_.jpg


Case 2

MOMO-17_main_small.jpg
 
Last edited:
The more I think about it, it would be madness not to include the Red 1.8" SSD/CF reader in this unit. Most productions looking at the Mobile Rocket Raid want a simple and safe set-up, the more cables connected to a MacBook Pro the more things can go wrong.

If Maxx offers this as a bare bones system with add-on's they will corner the market. By doing what the Scarlet and Epic have done and allowing a modular system it will allow everybody to get on board....

My suggestion would be to offer the basic unit with 1.8" SSD/CF Reader; USB firewire 800 and esata ports and some form of battery power then charge extra for things like drives, cards, carry case and the Red Rocket itself,
this way customers will grow with you, it will also allow the big guys to configure the system they want, and everybody's happy.

Just my 2 Cents
Click to expand...

Ditto to this
 
1.8" SSD Reader?

1.8" SSD Reader?

Any update on this? It would be great if the Red 1.8" SSD reader could be included in the system. That would make for one killer onset backup device ...

Also, since this is listed as a RAID, I assume that there is a built in RAID controller, is that correct? Can I make a RAID 5 out of it? I was thinking that I could, but I do not see any specific mention of that ...

Lastly, at 200MB/second speeds, I could offload 12TB in one hour, and at 600MB/second I could do 36TB. So if my math is correct, then with the EPIC at 6 - 8GB / minute, I could offload 1,500 minutes (25 hours) in 1 hours time (at 200MB/sec). Am I understanding this correctly? If so, then I think that I just found my data management solution on set ...
 
Hey Ryan,

Yes you can make a RAID 5 out of it but it requires the use of one of your PCI-e slots. I have an ATTO R348 in mine. A Red Rocket and ATTO H380 in the other two. I use the H380 with a miniSAS to eSata fan out cable, or to hook up to another miniSAS drive expander.

I took this setup onto a little 18 day feature as a test and it worked quite great until the 15th day and then I'm not sure what happened (maybe some software update I had to do for another job, not sure still, but it wouldn't work on my laptop or tower--lots of crashes). I took a good while optimizing the system before the feature to make sure it was ready. I had it hooked up to a new 17" MBP with 8GB Ram and i7 core with 240 OWC SSD. On heavier work days (3 Reds, 1 7D, 1 5D and 4 GoPros, I hooked it up to my 8-core tower via x8 HBA). It was pretty killer expect for an occasional kernel panic and a little bit of latency, stuff I could mostly work with given that I was doing nearly the whole thing off a laptop. The laptop/tower flexibility was great. Doing all media management and transcodes to DNxHD 36.

Since then I've been running out of my tower again and haven't had time to get back to trouble shooting it. To be fair I have the iStoragePro version of it, which to my understanding is going to be discontinued so Maxx Digital is going to be your go to source for questions, etc...

In short, it's a great idea that still needs some tweaking to get it to work right consistently. A lot of it is on Apple's part cause Red and Maxx/iStoragePro are trying to get it all to work on an x1 express34 bus. Btw, you get about 1/2 real time transcodes off the laptop. It should be noted that any Blackmagic or AJA card won't work in their either unless something changes.

As for the data transfer speeds, your offload estimates seem high but I was getting 200 plus MB/s off the RAID 5. 12TB in 1 hr. definitely wasn't happening. Check your math on that. Maybe when lightpeak comes out but that even seems fast for lightpeak. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

Best
 
Lonny,

Thanks for the detailed reply- that is very helpful info.

In regards to your setup- were you running the CF cards through FW800 then? If so, then I would guess that is where one bottle neck would be. For the Epic, I want to avoid FW800 all together and go straight through via eSATA, which is why I'd love to see this product integrate Red's 1.8" reader...

As for the Math, I'm sure that real world it will be different- I was just basing my figures off of what is listed on the MaxxDigital site of 200MB and 600MB per second. If I am understanding those numbers and doing the math correctly, then theoretically, I could get 12TB downloaded per hour.

What I am trying to figure out, is a way to get offloading done as quick as possible that provides me with redundant, checksummed copies. And if possible, it would be great to do it in a small / portable package like this plus a laptop. (For my own stock footage work I do.) I'm not looking to do any transcoding / processing on set. I do all that when I get back to the office.
 
Yes, running CF cards and Red Drives through FW800. The CF card itself is a bottleneck sometimes too. I have a Sonnet Qio but it's not compatible with the Rocket Raid. Haven't tried red stations on it. If you're not transcoding and just reviewing and data management, worth a shot.
 
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