UK Postproduction Facility Incorporates StorageDNA in File-Based Workflow

StorageDNA, a leader in intelligent storage and archiving workflow solutions for media professionals, announced that Films at 59 has implemented its flagship solution, DNA Evolution. The award-winning postproduction facility is leveraging the solution’s automated processes to streamline its demanding file-based workflow with a faster and more reliable archive-retrieval process to save time and storage costs for their clients.

Highly regarded for its television and film work, Films at 59 is a pre- and post production facility based in Bristol, United Kingdom, where it creates and delivers content for broadcast and theatrical release for clients such as the BBC, Discovery Channel, and Disney Nature. With more than 25 years of industry expertise, Films at 59 provides a complete range of production services to its clients including workflow design, camera hire, picture editing, sound design, and mixing. Films at 59 recognizes the value of investing in and staying at the forefront of technology to ensure it delivers the best solutions for its clients.

“We deal with vast amounts of camera master data, often shot at 4K and 5K, which takes up a massive amount of space on our nearline storage, and we also use a number of different platforms and tools for editing and finishing,” says Stuart Dyer, Operations Manager, Films at 59. “DNA Evolution integrates easily into our infrastructure and enables us to utilize our network storage more cost-effectively. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to quickly archive the high-resolution media and conform directly from the LTO tape–easily restoring content selectively against an edited timeline regardless of the specific system our craft teams choose to use.”

“We worked closely with StorageDNA and Films at 59 to provide this solution and have been able to demonstrate workflow efficiencies that are already making an impact,” comments Charles Manolescue, Sales Director, Digital Garage. “The fact that DNA Evolution is an intelligent software solution designed specifically for media, which has the ability to scale based on demand, and can easily create open source broadcast deliverables on LTFS-formatted LTO tapes, makes this a very valuable tool for their fast-paced media environment.”

As Films at 59 works with high profile broadcasters on projects that have enormous amounts of media that must be kept online for an extended period of time, it recognized the need for a more efficient and dependable archive-restore process and selected StorageDNA’s media intelligent LTO LTFS solution. With DNA Evolution, Films at 59 rapidly archives immense amounts of camera master data, from multiple formats, to protect critical file-based assets long-term. The company has implemented the solution which enables them to move content off of hard drives and other storage onto LTO tape with timesaving automated processes. By using DNA Evolution’s Web-based user interface, they are able to check the system from any computer in their facility freeing them up operationally and increasing their time savings.

“Our old LTO-4 archive system took one or two days to complete a job and required constant checking and manual tape changes,” says Bobbie Tutton, Data Assistant, Films at 59. “We can now have an archive job completed in two to four hours and be anywhere in the building.”

DNA Evolution will deliver advanced archive, retrieval, and conform workflows for the next landmark series of a prominent broadcaster where high quality images of more than 150 Terabytes will be shot over the next year using many different camera formats. Additionally, the solution saves Films at 59’s clients from having to purchase hard drives to store camera masters, and offers them a faster, more reliable, and cost-effective archive-restore workflow.

“StorageDNA is pleased to be working with Films at 59 as it is a great example of this new era of digital post production,” says tC Chakravarty, CEO and president, StorageDNA. “We are finding that more and more of our customers recognize the value of being able to selectively restore content and conform directly from LTO tape. These features demonstrate the real value of LTFS and how we can offer truly advanced workflows that have measurable results.”