NAS Storage devices/Media server for live setup

[kissvid]

Hi All,

I have a question that I don't know if anyone can answer but here it goes. I am a videopgraopher and I video dance competetions. At the event I will usually film 200 routines. All the routines are captured on a laptop using Adobe Onlocation and captured to an external hard drive. During breaks I take the drive bring it to the sales table and transfer the footage to each laptop (there's 3 of them) so that parents can sit at my table and preview routines before purchasing. Yes this is very time consuming.

This is what I am looking to do to save time. I was thinking of getting a NAS or NAS media server and connec tit to a switch which is connected to all the laptops. My concern is what brand of NAS is good and will there be a playback problem if all 3 laptops are playing videos at the same time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

Marc

[aedipuss]

shouldn't be any problem for a fast nas unit. they have a fast cpu and 2 - gb network connections. add 7200 rpm hard drives and you'll have plenty of speed for video viewing. something like -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108113

[Cornucopia]

For multiple simultaneous users, and since these would be accessing source footage (probably higher bitrate codec), I would want to bump up the access speed by using a RAID system (2-disk RAID 0 for speed or 4-disk RAID 10 for speed+safety).

Set you laptops up to be receiving this through WIRED LAN, not wireless, for better connectivity & reduced throughput problems (e.g. skippiness). I assume you've already made sure to have installed the necessary codecs (used from the camera/capture chain) in the laptops.

@OP, what Preview/Purchase Web storefront software are you using?

Scott

[yoda313]

Set you laptops up to be receiving this through WIRED LAN, not wireless, for better connectivity & reduced throughput problems (e.g. skippiness).

Yes in general wired is always better than wireless.

However if it can't be helped be sure to be on an all wifi N platform. Make sure the devices are rated for 300mpbs. You'll never get the maximum rating of a wireless device but make sure you have the highest you can get.

If you aren't in a close proximity to your transmitter use repeaters to ensure a steady signal.

I wasn't sure about hd over wifi until i got a wifi N router and an extender that both support 300mbps. I can stream a 720p hd mkv (h264) file without stuttering or buffer delays. I was really surprised and very happy with it.

However wired is best in most cases.

In the end you can run long lan cables or get switches or some kind of unpowered extender devices to make the lan cable reach your destination.