New eMAM Blog

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Empress unveils a flexible new eMAM™ interface and advanced integration with Adobe Premiere Pro CC at the Broadcast India Show

Mumbai, India-October 8, 2013--Empress Media Asset Management, LLC ( Empress) will showcase advances in its flagship eMAM media asset management system with the release of Version 3.4 at the Broadcast India Show, October 9th-11th, booth D410. eMAM is a full-featured media asset management software system designed to support all digital file formats for the demanding workflows of media, entertainment, and corporate customers. It is accessible using any standard web browser, easy to use, and scalable to support the needs of the largest organizations.

Version 3.4 is built on a widget style interface: users can add, remove, and resize elements to customize their own workspaces. These workspace templates can be stored for later use. Different departments can set standard workspaces for their staff. Users can share online logins to the eMAM library with end user clients with a customized (branded) interface, simplified functionality, and access to select asset categories or projects. To support flexibility and unify workflows, a new HTML 5 player has been developed with an entire range of functionalities. The new interface also has a new timeline editing feature for web-based rough cut editing or storyboarding. 

The integration with Adobe® Premiere® Pro CC has been extended with eMAM project export functionality and project version management features. These functionalities extend on the current built-in extension panel that allow editors to move projects in and out of the Adobe Premiere Pro CC desktop and export editing sequences. 

 “With Adobe Premiere Pro CC, our customers can edit video faster than ever. We continue to innovate with new features including improved media management, a redesigned timeline and more,” said Simon Williams, director of strategic relations at Adobe. “Empress is tapping into Adobe Premiere Pro CC to build powerful post production MAM workflows – definitely a priority for our users.”


David Miller, COO of Empress Media Asset Management, LLC commented, “We are looking for a tremendous response for eMAM at the show in Mumbai this week with the new features supported by our Indian development and service teams.”




About Empress (www.empressmam.com)
Empress Media Asset Management, LLC., a private company, is a  leading provider of digital asset management and workflow management systems for media & entertainment, and corporate clients.  It is part of the Empress family of companies, which includes Empress Cybernetics System PVT LTD, specializing in customized software and database development and Empress Media Inc., one of the largest distributors of blank recording media and supplies. To learn more visit www.empressmam.com

Empress Contact:
Binu Paul
CMD, Empress Cybernetic Systems Pvt Ltd.
1st Floor, Leela Phase II
Info Park, Kakkanad, Kochi – 682030.
Telephone: +91-484-4042440


Monday, September 23, 2013

Telestream powers desktop encoding and video capture for the eMAM™ platform.

Telestream powers desktop encoding and video capture for the eMAM™ platform.

eMAM from Empress is a powerful media asset management system for easy organizing, sharing, and sending of digital content:
  • Simple:   easy to use interface accessible from any web browser or native iOS or Android apps.
  • Flexible:  can be deployed on one or more storage and processor locations or in the cloud
  • Powerful:  can scale to be a major enterprise system with redundancy and failover
  • Feature rich:  users can manage archive, storage, delivery, and more directly from the interface
  • Collaborative:   users can share comments, projects, markers, subclips, and more from any location

Telestream Episode can be used to generate proxy copies for web based preview and various file formats for post-production and new media workflows. These files can be directly ingested to the eMAM system to power the review & approval, annotation, rough cut, markers and project sharing with NLEs.

Episode offers several key advantages:

  • Great format and feature support, including common SD and HD formats, BluRay, MXF, DNxHD, ProRes,  standards conversion, and more
  •  Can be less expensive than server-based transcoding
  •  Clustering can use multiple desktops to accelerate transcoding
  •  A desktop license can be used for other encoding workflows when not used for eMAM proxy generation



Media files and output files from Pipeline can be ingested directly to eMAM through Episode. Workflows can be created in eMAM and Episode to make various files formats for online sharing, review & approval and collaborative editing.

About Empress and its product
Empress Media Asset Management, LLC is a privately held company providing digital asset management and workflow management solutions for broadcast, media, and corporate clients including its eMAM Online, eMAM Vault, eMAM Workgroup, and eMAM Enterprise product lines.   It is part of the Empress family of companies, which includes Empress Cybernetic Systems Private Limited, specializing in customized software development, and Empress Media Inc, one of the largest distributors of blank recording media and supplies.

eMAM was developed to meet the demanding digital file based workflow requirements of Empress customers. eMAM seamlessly utilizes Telestream’s Pipeline control for ingest of tape or multiple live feeds, as well as Episode engine for transcoding. Creatives can access, annotate, and share entire content libraries on the fly with eMAM. All types of assets, such as video, audio, images or documents, can be easily searched using eMAM’s powerful search engine. Users can comment, tag, perform simple edits, mark up individual frames, and send for approvals.

For more information visit :  www.empressmam.com


About Telesteam and its products
Telestream is a leading provider of video encoding, transcoding and workflow automation solutions. Telestream products make it possible to get video content to any audience regardless of how it is created, distributed or viewed. Throughout the entire digital media lifecycle, from capture to viewing, easy enough for consumers, yet powerful enough for high-end professionals, Telestream products range from components and encoding applications to fully-automated workflow systems. In a MAM workflow, Telestream’s Pipeline and Episode products enable both real-time and file-based acquisition of SD or HD media, network connectivity, automated format detection and transcoding, metadata entry and automated extraction – plus seamless integration with third party solutions such as eMAM. Pipeline is a real-time media encoding hardware device that provides flexible tape and baseband video capture for Telestream's FlipFactory and Episode as well as third party products. Episode is flexible, scalable, desktop-based workflow automation software that provides unparalleled file transfer support for the wide range of systems and format variants found in today’s digital media environments.

For more information, visit:     www.telestream.net        

Thursday, September 12, 2013

CINEDECK AND EMPRESS ANNOUNCE MAM INTEGRATION




Cost-effective media asset management for broadcast, digital cinema and post production

IBC 2013, Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 12th 2013 – Cinedeck LLC (www.cinedeck.com), a pioneering developer of tapeless capture systems for digital cinema, broadcast and post production, and Empress Asset Management, LLC (www.empressmam.com), a leading developer of web-based, media asset management (MAM) systems, have announced the product qualification and successful integration of eMAM™ media asset management with Cinedeck’s dual-channel RX3G and quad-channel MX recorders.

The new solution marries the versatility of Cinedeck’s dual-channel RX and quad-channel MX recorders to integrate with MAM systems in broadcast and digital cinema workflows, with the ability of Empress Media’s eMAM to easily organize, share, archive and repurpose digitized content. Visitors to IBC 2013, Amsterdam, will be able to see the new solution in action with the Cinedeck RX3G at Facilis Technology Inc. stand, Hall 7.D05. The RX3G and MX can also be seen at the Cinedeck stand in Hall 10.F39

eMAM provides an easy-to-use interface and powerful asset management tools. It can now be used to directly index and manage files recorded on the Cinedeck RX3G and MX rack-mountable, multi-format, multi-channel HD-SDI recorder, monitor and playback systems. eMAM ingest tools can monitor for recorded, high-resolution, file-based content as well as H.264 MP4 proxy files from any of the Cinedeck destination folders – whether they are on the recorders’ removable SSD drives, or on an external NAS (network attached storage) or SAN (storage area network).

eMAM can be used to input and process metadata associated with the content, and move files as needed to a centralized SAN storage for collaborative editing. As an example of use, H.264 proxy files, created by the Cinedeck RX or MX, can be directly used inside the eMAM’s players to support review-and-approval, annotation, rough-cut and marker functionalities, from any standard web browser or mobile devices.

The wide range of recoding formats and compact design of both the RX and MX make this solution suitable for the wide variety of production workflows in live, OB, broadcast and archive remastering operations. This solution reduces the ingest time and cost associated with separate transcoding to make the proxy files.

“We have worked closely with Empress to successfully integrate eMAM media asset management with the Cinedeck RX and MX technologies,” said Suzette Ferguson, Cinedeck worldwide VP of sales and marketing. “With this new MAM solution, content creators across the broad spectrum of production and post production have a new, powerful and comprehensive management solution at their fingertips.”

David Miller, Empress COO, commented, “We are focused on providing solutions for end-to-end tapeless workflows for customers. Cinedeck technology provides us with a powerful ingest functionality.”


About Empress:
Empress Media Asset Management, LLC is a privately held company providing digital asset management and workflow management solutions for broadcast, media, and corporate clients including its eMAM Online, eMAM Vault, eMAM Workgroup, and eMAM Enterprise product lines. It is part of the Empress family of companies, which includes Empress Cybernetic Systems Private Limited, specializing in customized software development, and Empress Media Inc, one of the largest distributors of blank recording media and supplies. For more information visit www.empressmam.com.

About Cinedeck LLC:
Founded by cinematographers, and headquartered in the heart of New York City, USA, Cinedeck manufactures innovative, touchscreen recording systems for use with all popular digital cinematography cameras. Along with on-set monitoring, playback and quality control capabilities, these recorders also unify camera-to-post workflows by offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of ready-to-edit output formats. Cinedeck EX, the industry’s first camera-mountable device, has proven essential to the workflow on hundreds of TV and cinema productions, and has won TV Technology’s “2010 STAR Award”, the “2010 Vidy Award”, DV Magazine’s “Award of Excellence”, and Studio Daily’s 2012 “Prime Award” for Best User Interface/User Experience. Continuing this pioneering spirit, Cinedeck LLC has addressed the challenges of the mobile OB broadcaster with its Cinedeck RX rack-mounted, multi-format recorder, monitor and playback system. Cinedeck RX was awarded the prestigious “2011 Pick Hit Award at IBC 2011” from Broadcast Engineering Magazine. The new Cinedeck MX builds on the company’s proven technology platform to offer fully-tapeless workflow for broadcast and cinema entertainment production and post. For more information, visit www.cinedeck.com.

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Cinedeck                                                                   
Ron Prince, Prince PR                                                          
T: +44 1225 789 200                                                          
E: ronny@princepr.com        

Empress Media Asset Management LLC
Danielle Riesel
T: 001 888 808 3856
E: Danielle@empressmam.com


Monday, August 26, 2013

Empress to present the newest developments in media asset management at IBC 2013


Demonstrating at Facilis Technology and Co-exhibiting with ComputeNext, Empress will present the latest innovations and joint solutions for collaborative editing and cloud services. 




Facilis Technology, a leader in shared storage for post-production, and eMAM will be demonstrating their combined cross platform capabilities for collaborative editing. Facilis Technology’s product Terrablock offers the edit-in-place functionality necessary for editorial workflow, and the ability to link original files into Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Avid Media Composer using the project XML export option in eMAM. eMAM will be displaying this integration at Facilis Technology’s booth 7.D05

Empress will also be presenting their built in panel and an export plugin in Adobe Premiere Pro  which offers a comprehensive, highly-integrated workflow with speed, performance, and features that video professionals needs to delivery high quality productions. eMAM can now make editing an open process through its powerful media asset management tools. Together eMAM and Adobe Premiere Pro offer a seamless integration which allows editors to access the MAM features within Adobe Premiere Pro without leaving the interface. eMAM tools can be used from tablets or any web enabled device , anywhere, anytime, to review, annotate, mark, perform rough cuts, create projects, and assign projects to editors.

You can find more information on this integration in our White Paper 
 http://www.empressmam.com/whitepapers.htm


Empress is also presenting their evolution from web-enabled MAM to 100% cloud-enabled MAM in partnership with ComputeNext, a cloud marketplace which offers a gateway to 20+ public cloud providers. This cloud MAM package enables broadcast engineers to focus on content, and remove the need to manage infrastructure updates and operations, while finding the right cloud whether based on price, performance or location.
ComputeNext and Empress will also be showing their collaboration in the mediapaas product, an integrated solution of best-of-breed media application packages available for on-demand deployment. The solution utilizes Empress eMAM for a full suite of collaboration and content distribution tools and leverages ComputeNext’s cloud inventory to store, archive, and access brand assets. mediapaas pricing starts at $49.99/month, with packages including accelerated file transfer, automated transcoding, and more. ComputeNext booth 14.180 in the Connected Hall will demonstrate mediapaas as well as eMAM 3.3 managing online collaborative workflow solutions. 

Got Archive on your Mind? ......

Interested in hearing more about eMAM's archive and storage abilities,  then join us for a Breakfast Reception at:

Holiday Inn Amsterdam
De Boelenlaan 2, 1083 HJ, 
Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
( I km from IBC Show)

September 16th, 7:00 am to 9:30 am


Monday, July 1, 2013

Maxell Introduces External Hard Disk Drive for Professional Applications









                                                                           News Release

Maxell Introduces External Hard Disk Drive for Professional Applications

— Multi-Interface External HDD Has Up to 3TB Capacity to Meet Archiving Needs of Video, Broadcast, and Post-Production Professionals —

Woodland Park, NJ – April 2013 –Maxell Corporation of America introduces the Multi-Interface External Hard Disk Drive(HDD), which has been specifically designed to address the large files associated with HD environments, including audio/video editing, digital photography, and animation. Part of Maxell’s Professional Plus series of professional-grade storage media, the Multi-Interface HDD provides video, broadcast, and post-production professionals with the capacity, durability, and overall performance necessary to easily and cost-effectively archive and back up HD, 3D and other large files.

Maxell offers Multi-Interface HDD in three capacities – 1TB, 2TB, and 3TB. To accommodate large files and ensure high transfer rates, the Multi-Interface drives support USB 3.0, eSATA, Firewire 400, and Firewire 800, and has a hot plug and play function for simple connection. It spins at 7200 RPM and has at least 16MB of cache. The drives support Apple Mac OS X 10.5 (or later), Microsoft Windows Vista 7, 8, and Windows Server 2003, 2008.

“High definition and 3D have created an archiving and backup challenge for video, broadcast, and post-production professionals,” said Patricia Byrne, senior marketing manager for Maxell. “Our introduction of the Multi-Interface External HDD provides professionals with a means to reliably, quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively transfer HD files and footage.”

Specifically designed for professional environments, the Multi-Interface HDD has a durable aluminum housing and features excellent shock resistance. The drive also has a wide temperature range of -20° C to 60° C, and is RoHS compliant, making it environmentally friendly. Measuring 5.61 x 1.38 x 8.52 (inches), the Multi-Interface HDD can be positioned vertically or horizontally, so it can fit into tight configurations often associated with post-production suites.

List pricing for the Multi-Interface External HDD is $213.00 for 1TB, $276.00 for 2TB and $351.00 for 3TB.

About Maxell
Maxell Corporation of America, a technology and marketing leader, is a full line manufacturer of digital media products for professional, data storage and consumer markets. Maxell has been recognized for over forty years for delivering a comprehensive line of digital tape and disc-based recording media products. The company offers a full line of optical and tape based media storage products including SD Cards, Flash Memory and a complete line of accessories. For more information, visit www.maxellpromedia.com.
                                                                        # # #

Maxell Contact: 
Patricia Byrne
Maxell Corporation
Professional/Commercial Products Group
201.794.5922
pbyrne@maxell.com

Media Contact: 
Lee Groeger
SGW
973.263.5481
Lgroeger@sgw.com

Maxell Professional Announces Launch of Professional Plus SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter for use with Sony® SxS® Applications









                                                                       News Release

Maxell Professional Announces Launch of Professional Plus
SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter for use with Sony® SxS®
Applications

—SDHC/SDXC UHS-I Memory Card Adapter Provides Broadcast Professionals with an Economical Alternative—

Woodland Park, NJ – April 2013 –Maxell Professional Media continues its commitment to creating high-quality, performance-driven media storage products with the introduction of the SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter for Sony® SxS® applications. Debuting in the spring, this product rounds out Maxell’sProfessional Plus series – a line of professional-grade storage media – to meet the needs of today’s multi-tasking broadcast professionals.

Maxell Professional Media’s SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter provides a perfect solution for XDCAM® EX camera users needing an affordable and reliable memory replacement to SxS® media. The adapter makes it possible for the excellent price/capacity ratio SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I memory cards to be used as recording media for XDCAM® EX camcorders and, in addition, supports UHS-I memory cards.

“The importance of providing our customers with affordable, reliable, high-quality professional data storage options is paramount to what we do,” said Patricia Byrne, senior marketing manager for Maxell. “The SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter enhances Maxell’s family of products, offering broadcast professionals a flexible data storage tool that will perform at the level they require, and have come to expect from Maxell products.”

Unlike similar adapters, a key advantage of the Maxell’s SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter is that it also works with memory cards above 32GB; namely, it supports SDXC cards up to 2TB so crews do not have to worry about running out of storage space during long shoots. Post-production professionals will benefit from the flexibility.

A multi-functional device, the SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter can be used as a super-high-speed card reader/writer for SD, Mini-SD, Micro-SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards on desktop PCs, laptops or Macs with ExpressCard slot.

List pricing for the SDHC/SDXC UHS-I to ExpressCard Adapter is $57.00. Hi-res images and spec sheet available upon request. For more information, visit www.maxellpromedia.com.

About Maxell
Maxell Corporation of America, a technology and marketing leader, is a full line manufacturer of digital media products for professional, data storage and consumer markets. Maxell has been recognized for over forty years for delivering a comprehensive line of digital tape and disc-based recording media products. The company offers a full line of optical and tape based media storage products including SD Cards, Flash Memory and a complete line of accessories.

Sony®, SxS®, and XDCAM® are registered trademarks of Sony ® Corporation. There is no affiliation between Sony® and Maxell Corporation of America or this product.
                                                                                  # # #
Maxell Contact:
Patricia Byrne
Maxell Corporation
Professional/Commercial Products Group
201.794.5922
pbyrne@maxell.com

Media Contact:
Lee Groeger
SGW
973.263.5481
Lgroeger@sgw.com

Maxell Professional Announces Launch of Professional Plus SD Card







                      News Release

Maxell Professional Announces Launch of Professional Plus SD Card

—16GB and 32GB Professional SD Cards Provide Broadcast, Video, and Post Industries
with Reliable, Durable Media Storage Options—


Woodland Park, NJ – 2013 – Maxell Professional Media expands its line of professional-grade products with the introduction of a Professional SD Card, furthering its dedication to supplying the professional broadcast, video, and post markets with storage media of the highest standard. The SDHC UHS-I Card, for DSLRs and Professional HD video cameras, debuts this spring, rounding out Maxell’s Professional Plus line of media storage products specifically developed to meet the stringent needs of broadcast, video, and post-production professionals who require storage options.

This Ultra High Speed UHS-I SDHC Memory card, is a full Class 10 with read speeds up to 95MB/s and write speeds up to 45MB/s*. It is faster, smarter and more robust than current SDHC cards and has been fully optimized for professional use.

“It is crucial that our customers be provided with data storage options that are optimized for professional use,” said Patricia Byrne, senior marketing manager for Maxell. “The SDHC UHS-I cards accomplish that goal on every performance level, and we are happy to add it to Maxell’s family of broadcast products.”

Maxell’s robust SDHC Cards, available in 16GB and 32 GB, will ensure that the quality of a user’s content remains true to the original source throughout the process of capturing, editing and transmission.

List pricing for the Professional SD Cards is $37.83 for the 16GB and $72.99 for the 32GB.Hi-res images and spec sheet available upon request. For more information, visit www.maxellpromedia.com.

About Maxell 
Maxell Corporation of America, a technology and marketing leader, is a full line manufacturer of digital media products for professional, data storage and consumer markets. Maxell has been recognized for over forty years for delivering a comprehensive line of digital tape and disc-based recording media products. The company offers a full line of optical and tape based media storage products including SD Cards, Flash Memory and a complete line of accessories.

*Performance may vary according to different hardware configurations and operating system
                                                                         # # #
Maxell Contact: 
Patricia Byrne
Maxell Corporation Professional/Commercial Products Group
 201.794.5922
pbyrne@maxell.com

Media Contact: 
Lee Groeger
SGW 973.263.5481
Lgroeger@sgw.com

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Archive systems and LTO media

Media companies have already adopted or are in the process of archiving important content to LTO media


Backup vs Archive

One of the first questions for an organization to ask is whether to archive or backup their content.   Either approach can help an organization protect itself against loss of data.   Backup systems are simple, linear systems that record all information stored on a device from start to finish.  When a device fails, the backup copy will be used to rewrite all of the information back onto the failed storage device.   An archive system will store and restore only chosen files as needed, not an entire drive or volume.

The problems with backup are:

  • The process may take a very long time to write all of the data back to the failed drive/location.
  • Sometimes only one file or a select group of files may be needed.
  • An archive with dynamic access is cheaper and more reliable than current storage on hard drives or spinning discs.   If users can easily restore content as needed, then the archive can be a powerful centralized storage system.


Archive systems will cost more money, but most media companies need the rapid access that only an archive system can provide.

Why LTO  Archive? 
  • Security:   LTO (Linear Tape Open) has become the gold standard for IT data backup, with systems widely deployed across the entire range of medium and large enterprises.   The tapes are certified for 30 years of storage.   While hard drives have moving parts which can fail with either frequent use or long periods without use, LTO is based on simple stable magnetic storage technology. 
  •  Openness  LTFS (Linear Tape File System) is an open standard allowing LTFS tapes to be read on any device supporting LTFS.   LTFS files are as easy to use as hard drives, with desktop drag and drop for ingest and a self-describing unit, so users can open a LTFS tape from any compatible Windows, Linux, or Mac system
  • Larger capacity and faster than before:   LTO 6 tapes now hold 2.5TB with a transfer rate of 160MB/s.   If compressed, a tape can hold 6.25TB with a transfer rate of 400MB/s. 
  • Cheaper than hard drives, physical media, and nearline storage systems:  LTO 6 tapes sell for market prices of about $100, which is expected to decrease over time.     This makes it cheaper to store large quantities of data on LTO.

The following diagram shows options based on your organizational need for LTO.





Listed are some popular options.  Contact us for more details and more choices.


Make LTO


Option 1:

An appliance such as the 1 Beyond Net Drive (starting at $6,995) can be used to ingest content from popular camera memory cards.   Different versions of the Net Drive have different card readers, but they all have the ability to play most common camera formats, store content on an internal hard drive, and make multiple copies simultaneously to LTO tapes and hard drives as needed.   

Option 2:

Computer or server with attached LTO drive using LTFS. By using LTFS (Linear Tape File System), users can mount the LTO drive like a hard drive and simply click and drag content to the mounted LTO drive.  One popular standalone desktop model with a SAS connection is the LTO 6 desktop SAS Quantum $2400  (http://www.quantum.com/Products/TapeDrives/LTOUltrium/LTO-6/Index.aspx).

Option 3:

XenData  X2500 $5690 (see below under manage content).
               
Option 4:

eMAM Vault:   $59,900  (see below under manage content).

Store LTO


LTO media can be stored in automated appliances and robotic tape libraries.   These systems store the cartridges inside the system.   Like the arm putting the vinyl LP onto the jukebox, the LTO library system automatically pulls the correct LTO from the slot to read or write.    A library system can have one drive or multiple drives, and they can scale to enormous sizes for petabytes of content.   Some libraries support additional tapes stored offline “on the shelf”, with notifications sent when somebody needs to put a given tape into the system.   Some LTO libraries have built in storage (hard drives) to act a buffer to store some of the content for rapid delivery on demand.

With an automated system, content can be written and restored quickly to LTO tapes.   Without a library system, staff needs to find the correct tape(s) and put them in the library system as required.  Instead of investing in a library system, many small organizations store tapes on the shelf, but this is unfeasible for larger organizations or large quantities of content.

LTO robotic systems require special HSM software systems to manage the LTO library.   Empress has partnered with many of the leaders in this field including SGL, XenData, QStar, and CrossRoads.  We can support library systems from many vendors including Quantum, Qualstar, HP, SpectraLogic, Atempo, and Cache-A.

Sample systems are:

Quantum Scalar LTFS Appliance $8263 with the Quantum Scalar i40 tape library starting at $4800 http://www.quantum.com/Products/TapeLibraries/Scalari40i80/Index.asp

CrossRoads Strong Box 35tb  NAS Appliance  starting at $15,500
(http://www.crossroads.com/pdf/sb/CRDS_StrongBox_DataSheet.pdf)  with up to 35tb of content stored in the system linked with the Spectra T50e Tape Library starting at $13,995

eMAM Vault can also store the content (see below under manage content)

Manage Content


Archive systems have considerable benefits for data security and cost savings, but these are irrelevant if users do not have effective means of finding and using the information they contain.  Effective management can turn an archive system into a powerful shared central repository storing all of the content of a major organization.   

Out of the box, a tape drive or LTO library will have only basic tools for organizing the content.   A standalone tape drive will have no memory of the tapes it has produced and what content each tape stores, so users must use paper logs or a spreadsheet to track where content is stored.

A XenData x2500 connects any computer to a single desktop LTO drive.  In addition to creating LTOs from digital media, a desktop XenData x2500 maintains a list of content put on each LTO tape.    It will keep a folder list of all tapes made and what content is in each drive.  Sharing this desktop information to other network users is a cost effective means for users in the organization to locate media.   Users can then get the right tape to put back into the drive.   This system only supports a list:  it will not allow browse, preview, and other collaboration.

eMAM Vault:   an integrated turnkey system that can create LTO, store the media, and manage the content  (http://www.empressmam.com/emamvault.htm)) This powerful system combines the best of all of the options above.  $59,900.

It can create LTO tapes from an attached hard drive or other local source.   It has a powerful dedicated server to manage the library and store the media.   Included with 12TB of storage, it can store some of the content in current storage for faster response processing.  The library includes XenData management software and a Spectra Logic T50 library to store up to 75 TB of internal storage, with additional offline “on the shelf”. 

It has most of the features of the eMAM system ( http://www.empressmam.com/workflow.htm) to manage content, including browsing, sharing, approval, annotation, and delivery for any authorized users worldwide from any web browser.