NL Technology: Integration Between NLT Archive for Avid Interplay and Spectra Logic BlackPearl Converged Storage System

NL (Non Linear) Technology enhanced its Archive for Avid Interplay Production Asset Manager to allow digital assets to be archived using the Spectra Logic Corp.‘ BlackPearl converged storage system.

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The company used the .NET/C# software development kit to build a certified Spectra S3 client for its Archive, providing a long term storage solution that is integrated with Avid’s MediaCentral|UX.

Firm’s Archive and BlackPearl converged storage system provide Interplay Production users in the broadcast news, film production and reality markets a archive workflow. Sequences and master clips are moved to the BlackPearl system at any time – prior, during or after production – a viewable proxy and associated metadata remain in the Interplay database for later reference.

Using company’s Archive with BlackPearl is intuitive to Avid users, there are no new tools to learn. Assets are selected for archive or retrieval using Avid’s search and browse tools, which are integrated within the MediaCentral Platform. A click performs the operation.

By combining firm’s migration technology that provides the interface between Interplay Production, and a library management system, content can be moved quickly from online to a near-line position and later restored to Avid’s SAN for online reuse. Since clip and sequence metadata are always online within Interplay Production, users can quickly find and decide which assets to retrieve from the archive.

• Archive provides desktop-based archiving and retrieval of media assets: clips, sequences and other asset types. The Interplay database tracks media files stored in the library, so users can look for both archived and online media using a single interface such as Interplay Access or MediaCentral|UX. Users select and right click to restore assets,firm’s Archive moves the media assets to the Avid SAN, where they appear online automatically.

• Optionally, the solution indexes content and supports searching independently from the Avid Interplay Production database. All archived assets are cataloged by firm Archive’s browser-based asset manager. This makes archived content searchable from any PC, Mac or iPad connected via WiFi, allowing archived assets that originated in Interplay Production to be searched and retrieved by users not connected to the production workgroup.

• Archive provides browsing of all assets in the archive via its built-in H.264 streaming player. When each master clip is archived, a streamable H.264 proxy file is also generated and associated with master clip and metadata. Users who are browsing assets can play back any clip, scrub within the clip, advance frame by frame and share comments on the clip with their colleagues.

• BlackPearl and Archive deliver a simple, hybrid storage ecosystem that provides users the ability to move data to various storage tiers, by utilising object storage, including the lowest-cost storage tiers for savings.

“We chose to integrate our NLT Archive to work with Spectra Logic’s BlackPearl Converged Storage System because the technology offered by BlackPearl provided a solid solution to meet Avid user expectations and archive requirements. The available SDK options and exceptional support from the Spectra Logic technical team made it an easy choice,” said Richard Laws, VP, software development, NL Technology. “Avid clients demand high performance and reliable operations from an archive solution. With the extensive feature set and reliability offered by BlackPearl, and the ease of integration with Spectra Logic SDKs, we enthusiastically joined Spectra’s partner developer programme.“

“Spectra Logic’s BlackPearl Converged Storage System is a revolutionary new solution that provides a streamlined approach to content archives utilising cloud architecture,” said Matt Starr, CTO, Spectra Logic. “By integrating with NLT Archive, Spectra can offer Avid users a sound storage ecosystem for their invaluable content.“

The company’s Archive and the BlackPearl Converged Storage System are available.