On Point Digital Media Installed Small Tree Shared Storage Technology

Success for small video production facilities such as On Point Digital Media in Tallahassee is dependent on client volume. Whereas larger facilities can rely on big budget projects, On Point Digital Media relies on a consistent flow of projects to ensure its business continues to grow. To maintain its reputation and attract more clients, the company must deliver projects on time and on budget. To that end, On Point Digital Media recently installed an Ethernet-based shared storage solution featuring Small Tree technology to improve its workflow.

Specializing in high impact, HD video production for long form marketing videos, corporate videos and regional/national broadcast commercials, On Point Digital Media features two Final Cut editing suites equipped with state-of-the-art technology. With its editors often working concurrently on a project, having to copy files from one editing suite to an external drive and then physically transporting the files to the other editing suite had become maddening, according to James Curran, company owner and editor.

“Prior to installing Small Tree’s system, we managed our workflow issues by pulling out our hair, cursing and using FW800 drives,” Curran joked. “When we got the Small Tree system up and running we were floored that it worked so easily. Now, it’s easier to keep track of projects. Productivity and morale at the facility are way up.”

Having originally looked at Fibre Channel solutions, Curran quickly determined that the facility didn’t need the throughput, or the added expense, of Fibre Channel for his clients’ HD projects. To streamline workflow, On Point Digital Media installed Small Tree’s GraniteSTOR shared storage technology with its unique OS X networking capabilities supporting multiple Ethernet ports, tightly integrated with Apple’s built in file sharing system. The GraniteSTOR solution incorporates Small Tree’s PEG6, a 6-port Ethernet card with the Edge-corE ES4528V, a 28-port Gigabit Ethernet switch certified to work with Small Tree’s technology.

“We’re working with HDV, DVCPro HD, XDCAM HD and ProRes 422 formats with no dropped frames or issues,” Curran stated. “We’re able to get the throughput we need and we can add up to 10 users, so there’s room to expand if we need to. Best of all, we were able to do this without breaking our budget or tearing apart our facility for a major overhaul.”