Burbank, CA (April 12, 2012) - Once again listening and responding to customer needs for reliable, powerful and more cost-effective expansion storage options for their Avid storage systems,Archion Technologies has introduced Synergy IS for the Avid ISIS 5000. The only alternative RAID protected add-on storage for the ISIS 5000, Archion's Synergy IS with its patent pending technologies offers seamless, plug-and-play integration into ISIS 5000 shared storage systems. Since its introduction in 2010, ISIS 5000 has been recognized as a powerful component of Avid workflows. However, like the Unity MediaNetwork, Avid only offers expensive expansion options that can put undue pressure on budgets when it comes to adding expansion storage. Archion's Synergy IS is the long-awaited storage option for Avid's ISIS 5000.   "Since the successful introduction and widespread adoption of our Synergy system for the Avid Unity MediaNetwork, clients that use ISIS 5000 have been consistently requesting a solution from us that avoids that expensive upgrade path," said Reuben Lima, Chief Operating Officer of Archion. "Today, we are pleased to announce we have once again responded to our clients' demands with the introduction of Synergy IS, which offers a powerful expansion engine for the ISIS 5000 with a price that starts at a very attractive $22,995."   During the last five years, an increasing number of post production and broadcast facilities across the country have come to rely on Archion's solutions for future and past shared storage technology releases from Avid. In effect, Archion has positioned itself as the first choice in storage hardware for Avid users. They have become comfortable knowing that they can utilize Archion's proven technology for years, while expanding with ease as their storage requirements continue to grow.   "Synergy IS is just another example of the flexibility of our patent pending innovative technologies to adapt to and bond with existing storage systems," said James Tucci, Chief Technology Officer of Archion. "This technology allows us to provide faster, compatible and more reliable expansion storage for Avid and other content creation systems, with an unbeatable cost/benefit ratio."   Patent Pending and Advanced Storage Technologies Archion engineers originally developed the award winning and patent pending Vdisk™ in 2006 to enable plug-and-play integration of hardware parity RAID into Avid Unity MediaNetworks. Later, this innovative technology was expanded and enhanced to create greater compatibility among applications in creative and collaborative environments. Now, Archion's more innovative technologies are being leveraged to deliver a completely compatible and seamless integration with Avid's ISIS 5000 shared storage platform. Incredibly, ISIS 5000 owners can save nearly 50% when adding Synergy IS storage rather than Avid storage.   Synergy IS is as transparent to ISIS 5000 as Archion's Synergy XTR is to Unity. The 3RU chassis is a direct replacement for the ISIS 5000 engine and offers all of the protection of the Archion standard RAID 5 4+1 configuration, which Avid adopted for use in ISIS 5000. Synergy IS cannot become or be used as a system director or failover system director. It is strictly designed as additional storage for ISIS 5000, connecting via 10gigE to the Force10 switch and the ISIS 5000 system director. Binding is done as with any ISIS engine, and storage groups and workspaces can then be created.   Technical specifications: Storage size: 16 and 32TB Protection: RAID 5 Three 4+1 with hot spare Connectivity: 10gigE for ISIS, gigE for management Physical size: 3RU (29" x 19") Power: 2+1 power supplies 650W The Synergy IS will begin shipping Q3.  

Object Matrix, a leading developer of scalable object based archive systems has today announced the launch of WatchSpot, a new, free, backup application, designed to work in harmony with MatrixStore, its flagship clustered storage product. The combined solution ensures that MatrixStore customers can automate the protection of content on their shared storage to a highly secure nearline storage platform. WatchSpot is a simple server based application that watches selected folders on any network file system (XSAN, UNITY, ISIS) and automatically mirrors changes to the contents of each folder inside a MatrixStore vault. When changes to the ‘watched’ folder occur WatchSpot copies the new or changed files to the MatrixStore vault. Version 1.0 of WatchSpot runs on Windows operating systems with a Mac OS and Linux version being release later in the year. Object Matrix customers receive the new application free of charge. The features included in v1.0 of the WatchSpot application include: ·         Watch selected folders on any network file system and automatically mirrors changes to the MatrixStore vault. ·         The WatchSpot Administration GUI lets you specify which folders to watch, monitor copy jobs in progress and view historical jobs. ·         The contents of the vault can be exported as a list in CSV format. ·         Specify a regular schedule for watching each folder (eg. “3am every weekday”). ·         A “Scan Now” button lets you start the watch ahead of schedule. ·         You can associate a different vault with each watch folder. ·         Supports multiple versions of files. Nick Pearce, co-founder, Object Matrix: ”The vast majority of our customer base have, at some point or another, enquired about a solution that can simply backup a folder. They need a solution that is intuitive, that is not prohibitively expensive, does not require constant administration and integrates with their current infrastructure. The features of WatchSpot, coupled with an upcoming integration with LTO archive solutions, are further evidence that Object Matrix is driven by a desire to meet the specialist needs of Creative workflows”. MatrixStore acts as a pre-production, nearline or long-term disk-based archive, allowing content to move smoothly through any digital workflow from ingest to delivery. Implementing a tapeless or file-based workflow has been highlighted as one of the top challenges facing creative organizations. With no tape to put on the shelf broadcasters, post-production facilities and creative agencies are looking for a solution to keep their assets secure and more importantly available throughout the production process. A single MatrixStore cluster acts as rushes/dailies, nearline or local archive allowing content to move seamlessly through any digital workflow from ingest to delivery. Availability WatchSpot v1.0 is available for demonstration on 16th April from Object Matrix and its worldwide network of business partners.    

Ross Video today announced the launch of their new line of BlackStorm Video Servers. BlackStorm is an affordable production player with file based workflow support. The BlackStorm 102P Playout Server is a 2 channel high definition 1 rack unit video player. It natively supports the popular Quicktime (.mov) file format and a selection of codecs. It provides an easy to use, user configurable and intuitive client/server interface fully integrated into the Ross DashBoard Control System. The 1RU chassis is designed to use off the shelf hardware and is built on Dell Server hardware. BlackStorm is an excellent live production playback solution and supports file based workflows with popular editing systems and graphics packages such as Final Cut, Adobe Premier, Avid Media Composer and Adobe After Effects. BlackStorm supports production-oriented playlists with built-in transition effects, and it integrates well with Ross’ Production Switchers as well as 3rd party units and controllers. “The BlackStorm product line is the next step in the evolution of video servers from Ross,” said Todd Robinson, Marketing Product Manager, Video Servers, Ross Video. “This is a whole new design using next generation software architecture and the latest IT server hardware – providing a compelling product offering at a very competitive price point.” BlackStorm is now shipping, and has been put through beta-test in a number of live production environments. Priced at $14,995 USD, BlackStorm is also available as a “Studio System”, a specially priced package with either Vision, Carbonite or CrossOver Production Switchers and the XPression Graphics System.