GB Labs’ Space

The GB Labs Space storage range is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system. 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections mean that editors can work with footage and Final Cut Pro X libraries stored on shared storage.

With current connection speeds, the limiting factor for video data rates isn’t the networking technology but the speed of the shared storage and storage controllers.

For two simultaneous users who need a fast direct connection to their storage, GB Labs sell a relatively portable product: the Midi Space SSD. It is designed to travel from place to place with a film crew.

The Midi comes in the form of a Tower PC with two 10GbE connections with up to 13TB of storage with 2,000MB/s throughput.

The GB Labs Space SSD is less portable, but higher performance device with a througput from 3,000 to over 6,000MB/s. It is rack-mounted and serves multiple editors via an external switch:

GB Labs’ workflow page for Final Cut Pro X.

ICYMI: Workgroup storage for Final Cut Pro X from @GB_Labs: up to 30 XDCAM-50 streams http://t.co/4wHaMLBMQq pic.twitter.com/QV4Be5Jkg2

— Alex Gollner (@Alex4D) May 4, 2015

In response to a Twitter question from Sam Johnson:

@samschannel @alex4d Hi Sam, We use Raid 6 under the covers but the connection is AFP via 10Gbe to one of our Mini SPACE #NAS solutions.

— GB_Labs (@GB_Labs) May 5, 2015

LumaForge’s LumaShare

LumaForge recently introduced their LumaShare Mobile family. It is a portable (as in a luggable single tower PC-sized device) system that supports up to 12 4K users using direct 10GbE connections. Adding an external switch supports more users.

Their 4 minute demo on Vimeo shows how many streams of 4K can ber served from a single LumaShare box:

Because of the way Final Cut Pro X can work with files, the same 16 4K files can be simultaneously streamed to multiple editors on the same network via their own Final Cut libraries (which are also stored on the server).

Later that same day at the April 2015 meeting of the LACPUG:

For speed and storage specifications for the LumaShare family along with prices, visit LumaForge.

As well as GB Labs or LumaForges devices for each workgroup, each Mac needs a 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection. Modern Macs get this using Thunderbolt adapters – such as those from Promise, Atto and Sonnet.

Almost plug and play

The new economic model for post production support means that the market will need medium to high-end solutions that are almost plug and play. There isn’t much margin in selling Macs and video editing software. The new generation are becoming accustomed to doing without service contracts – supporting themselves instead. LumaForge say that they tune each LumaShare they sell to match the specific needs of the workgroup – including the way Final Cut Pro X libraries work on NFS shares. GB Labs have partners in Europe and the US.

Products like GB Labs Space and LumaForge LumaShare are designed to be set up by assistant editors and DITs. If both companies provide enough online training and support, collaborative workflows for many artists working with large amounts of high resolution footage will be accessible to many more people.

Up until now, obscure user interfaces have been a sign of ‘high-end professional’ products, but as products move ‘down market,’ UI quality will become more important than features. Once products provide good enough hardware and software to get the job done at similar proces, it will be the system that is easier to set up and maintain that will win.