Framestore Visual Effects Studio Opts for Quantum Stornext and Tape Library

Quantum
Corporation announced that Framestore Ltd, a visual effects and computer
animation studio, has selected its StorNext File System and StorNext
Storage Manager for its workflow and digital content
archive.

With StorNext software, Framestore can collaborate on its entire workspace of
130TB of content, as well as migrate assets across the
entire workflow from edit to archive, resulting in a 30-60% increase in
productivity.

Framestore uses a variety of edit and
finish tools, including Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer and Autodesk
Flame, Smoke and Smoke on Mac. StorNext provides Framestore with shared access to its workflow tool set across platforms, including Linux, Mac OS X and Windows OS. Additionally, because
StorNext enables collaborative work to occur without moving large files from
one workstation to another, there is less strain on the network and less time
used in getting data where it needs to be.

To address the management challenges and
costs of handling growing amounts of content, Framestore leverages StorNext
Storage Manager and Quantum’s Scalar i500 tape library to provide asset
protection throughout the workflow process. Removing a manual process for
managing archives, StorNext Storage Manager moves terabytess of
content through primary to near-line storage and also cost-effective
tape. With this policy-based migration, Framestore frees up resources,
improving content management efficiency up to 60% and providing more
time to deliver projects on schedule.

In the future, Framestore plans to make use
of StorNext Storage Manager to replicate assets between
its UK and NYC facilities. Benefits from replication will include
enabling sharing of workloads between the two facilities, strengthening the
company’s DR capability, and providing employees with familiar equipment and
processes as they move between offices.

Andy Howard, head of engineering,
Framestore, said: "Quantum truly
understands the challenges we experience in the post production world and knows
how to work with the customer to deliver the ideal solution. Two or three years
ago, people tended to work in isolation on projects, but now it is all about
collaboration and huge numbers of files being shared by everyone. Having the
StorNext File System really speeds up the workflow greatly, and with StorNext
Storage Manager we are able to protect all of that content. It’s very clever
software that really makes a difference."

Alex
Grossman, head of media industry segment, Quantum, said: "Media content management continues to evolve
rapidly. Post and broadcast facilities are increasingly dependent on
high-performance collaborative workflows to improve the efficiency of their
businesses. For over a decade, StorNext technology has helped customers in the
media and entertainment industry address their specific needs for managing,
sharing and archiving their massive libraries of video content. Framestore is
an excellent example of how StorNext seamlessly fits with existing workflows
and delivers the performance and scale to maximise productivity and ROI."