Introduction example

>Introduction example>IMAGICA Corporation

Background of the introduction and system outline
IMAGICA Corporation is a professional group of video production from shooting to editing in various fields such as movies, television and TV commercial message. Usually, in cinematography department, RAW data which was filmed by a high-definition camera is stored to several external hard disk drive (HDD) and the HDDs are passed to post production department together after shooting is finished. In the case of overseas location, to send the video data at a certain stage before shooting is finished is more efficient. However, several issues were pointed. The concern is possibility of damage or lost of HDD during air transportation. Also, the cost will be increased because many HDDs should be prepared. Meanwhile, IMAGICA considered LTO media that has been focused, and adopted "LT60 USB" as a LTO drive which has high operatability and compatibility by USB3.0 connection. At the movie shooting locations in Japan as well as overseas, the drive is utilized to exchange the data at higher frequency.
IMAGICA Corporation
2-14-1 Higashi-gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
URL  http://www.imagica.com
Shooting, Editing of video/sound of Movie/TV program/CM/PR etc, DCP(Digital Cinema Package), Content distribution/delivery service, Film development, Digital synthesis/VFX/CG, dubbing/subtitles/translation, various video technical service
Mr. Tomohito Kanamaru Creative Production Unit

Shooting /Ingest G
Shooting Coordinate
Mr. Kazuki Maejima Creative Production Unit

Shooting /Ingest G DIT
Ms. Kana Takahashi Creative Production Unit

Shooting/Ingest G DM

Even important shooting data, it can copy easily and reliably.
Also, handling of transportation is easier than an external hard disk drive. With less stress and cost, delivery of the data was done.

Considering the future operation, we need to gain the experiences of LTO

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is often talked about excellent convenience and its weakness at the same time. Especially, in broadcast video industry, HDD is commonly used because of its convenience and speed. However, it has become a problem that HDD is not so strong during transportation and is not suitable for long term storage. Under such circumstance, IMAGICA attempted to try a combination of LTO and HDD.

“We belong to the shooting department. All of shooting data has been copied to HDD as a master and a backup. Then we passed one of the copied data to editing team. When shooting data was increased, the number of the HDD should be increased, and the cost also increased accordingly. However, it is necessary when we consider about the problem on the devices. The problem is if the HDD for backup can be used 3years after storage. So, we have been thinking to change to LTO from HDD for backup. But we have not officially introduced LTO because transfer speed and data capacity of the LTO was slightly not enough. The meantime, we got opportunities of movie filming more than 1 month in overseas and one month in Japan. In the case of long-term shooting location, we need to send the large capacity of data little by little to editing team. If we will send the device by airfreight, LTO tape is much safer than HDD which has many risks during transportation. Also, we judged it might be a good idea to gain experiences in advance if we will use LTO instead of HDD for data exchange.” Mr. Kanamaru of IMAGICA said.

Studio which a number of photographic equipment is stored. We depart on the location after collecting necessary equipment.

Cost reduction was accomplished by using both HDD and LTO.
We feel relief in many ways.

Mr. Maeshima, who participated as a DIT (Digital Imaging Technician), told us about how to use the LTO at shooting locations. "This movie shooting takes more than one month in Philippines. If we send the video data in the middle of shooting each time, many HDD are required. Since shooting team changes the camera cards one after anther this time, more HDD should be prepared.

Equipment set used in this overseas location

If we have prepared the equipment as usual, we think that the weight and cost of the HDD became very high. However, this time, we could use low cost, small and light LTO instead of HDD for backup. We managed the equipment well. As workflow, we took a copy of the video data from memory cards to several HDDs at shooting location and copied the data from HDD to LTO at hotel. Then, at each stages of the shooting, we sent the LTO tapes to the head office. We transferred the data to the LTO as copy & verify when we were sleeping. We only needed to check briefly when we woke up. Transportation period of the LTO cartridge by airfreight needs only few days. We utilize the LTO tape safely and without no concern that the data is destroyed or gone like HDD. Furthermore, this is specific issue of overseas, we got the custom check very strictly when we brought large number of HDDs. Officer asked us "Do you want to sell?”. In the case of LTO cartridges, we have never been asked at custom. This eased our mind.”

LTO is light and compact.
Good point is that the operation is very easy.

Ms. Takahashi who stayed at the shooting location as DM (Data Manager) for Japanese location said “I had been taken with two cameras called DRAGON and EPIC made by RED. The amount of data is roughly 200GB per one day (maximum 400GB per day). So, I sent the data every 3-4 days to Post Production. Basically, the data in LTO was sent by courier in a duralumin case or in a Pelican Case. We were glad about its light weight and compact size. It was easy for us to pack because there was occasionally hand carried. Only one concern is operational noise is a little larger. Since recording department was located in the next room, we operated the LTO drive at day time by shifting the working time as much as possible. I heard that UNITEX made a new product which reduced the operation noise. So, I am expecting the new product. Even currently LTO drive is not popular in the movie industry, I believe the day which LTO will become popular in the movie industry will come soon.”

"I could copy the data to LTO tape easily" Ms.Takahashi said.

Product

USB LTO Tape Drive

LT60 USB
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Features
  • 2.5TB (Native), 6.25TB (2:5:1 compressed) data capacity per one LTO-6 tape
  • Maximum 140MB/Sec high access speed
  • By "Plug & Play" of USB function, user can use the drive with multiple systems such
    　as server and note PC
  • Supports Linux/Windows/MacOS. Data can be exchanged regardless the platforms
LTFS function
（Linear Tape File System）
  • Easy data access and management can be done as well as files on disk, in the LTO tape
  • By common file/folder operation such as "Drag & Drop", it can read and write LTO easily.
  • Possible to share the data in between different OS
To those customers
  • Handles big data in broadcasting, video, surveillance camera and medical industry
  • Proceeds the work by sharing large amounts of data with other companies
  • Studies the archives destination of the video assets
  • Delivers the video related data for post-production
  • Delivers and stores CAD/CAM design
  • Organized and centralized management of image processing and medical record
    　in the medical field

* The company names and the product names listed in this brochure are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.
　The descriptions are as of February 2016. Copyright 2016 Unitex Corporation
* The information described in this brochure is based on the information when the company was interviewed.
　Please note the information may have been changed when you read this brochure. Unitex Corporation