Post-Production House Optimus Uses Quantum StorNext

Quantum Corp. announced that Optimus, a digital imaging post-production company, is using StorNext data management software to increase efficiency and productivity between its creative and finishing teams.

Optimus uses different industry-leading applications to handle each video processing step when creating a commercial and StorNext serves as the bridge between these heterogeneous platforms in a shared storage area network (SAN) environment. Optimus sees StorNext’s value of enabling shared storage on a daily basis, especially when it comes to managing the massive amounts of data involved in video and animation.

Optimus uses StorNext software to manage sharing of rich media files between multiple applications, including Autodesk Smoke and Flame, FilmLight Baselight, Quantel eQ, Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects and Avid Media Composer.

Over 40 workstations are part of the SAN, where StorNext streamlines Optimus’ workflow pipeline and allows completion of multiple client projects, such as commercials in high definition (HD).

StorNext is managing over 260 TB of data residing on six file systems running a combination of Windows, Linux or Mac operating systems. Optimus also leverages StorNext Distributed LAN Clients to bring Windows access over IP to the SAN.

Optimus uses Quantum’s Scalar i500 tape library to manage rich media files in a digital archive via StorNext Storage Manager.

Autodesk MandE Professional Services worked closely with Optimus to architect a digital workflow solution that met the demands of post-production work and the challenges of multi-platform environments.

Knox McCormac, director of operations, Optimus, said: "StorNext touches every piece of our digital workflow at Optimus. It doesn’t have any trouble keeping up with our demanding video processing applications, and that’s what we were looking for in a solution. The shared, higHPerformance SAN environment enables us to spend more time collaborating and creating award-winning commercials. I couldn’t be happier with what StorNext allows us to accomplish."

Janae Stow Lee, senior vice president, File System and Archive Product Group, Quantum, said: "Optimus is a great example of how many of the world’s leading broadcasters, movie studios and post-production houses rely on StorNext to streamline their rich media workflows. StorNext is very well-architected for managing video as a file type and gives our customers an advantage when it comes to higHPerformance file access, sharing and storage."