Automate & Optimize Adobe Workgroups with FLOW and Helmut
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Efficient and powerful production workflows leverage EditShare technology and automations, enabling creators to focus on telling their stories. By partnering with MoovIT and their Helmut suite of Adobe workgroup project management tools, we enhance FLOW media management to handle more of the mundane, error prone, and overly complex steps of your production workflow. Join us to explore the benefits of FLOW and Helmut for Adobe creators, from simple automations to a complete workgroup optimization platform.
** This webinar has passed. Please fill out the form to access the recordings.
Efficient and powerful production workflows leverage EditShare technology and automations, enabling creators to focus on telling their stories. By partnering with MoovIT and their Helmut suite of Adobe workgroup project management tools, we enhance FLOW media management to handle more of the mundane, error prone, and overly complex steps of your production workflow. Join us to explore the benefits of FLOW and Helmut for Adobe creators, from simple automations to a complete workgroup optimization platform.
End-to-end solution for collaborative editing and project management leads to big workflow gains for large Adobe workgroups, on premise and in the cloud
Boston, MA – July 21, 2020 –EditShare®, a technology leader that specializes in secure media management, collaboration and intelligent storage solutions for video content creators, and MoovIT GmbH, developers of the Helmut suite of Adobe workflow tools, announced today an exclusive global partnership that transforms Adobe enterprise workflows. As the use of Adobe creative tools in distributed collaborative environments continues to grow, the need for a robust media management environment that connects users, content, and media becomes even more critical for workflow efficiency. EditShare’s EFS shared video storage solution and FLOW media management, integrated with the Helmut suite of products, form the industry’s most comprehensive project management and remote editing workflow solution for enterprise Adobe workgroups.
“To succeed in the evolving world of video production, our customers are looking to EditShare to provide open solutions that allow them to rewire their workflows and adapt,” states Tom Rosenstein, vice president of business development, EditShare. “EditShare’s expanded partnership with MoovIT allows us to bring to our Adobe customers a powerful, adaptable set of tools to address those challenges head-on. The Helmut platform coupled with EFS and FLOW, embodies the workflow structure users require. Powerful, yet simple, collaborative Adobe Premiere Pro project management alongside adaptive media production management. It’s the complete package professional editors have been waiting for.”
Helmut solutions are used by leading broadcasters, newsrooms, sports leagues, corporations and new media organizations for their robust project management and administration, enhancing creative workflows for large distributed Adobe workgroups.
“Partnering with EditShare gives us a significant advantage in developing collaborative editing workgroup solutions for Adobe customers. EditShare’s strategy of empowering creatives through a robust set of open APIs enables us to bring the full potential of Helmut’s project management capabilities, creating better workflow and richer end-user experience for Adobe editors and artists,” states Wolfgang Felix, managing director of MoovIT. “The unbeatable combination of EFS, FLOW, and Helmut provide a resilient media foundation with the flexibility for large Adobe workgroups to work on premise or in the cloud, which is critical for supporting today’s climate of rapidly changing business models.”
Scalable to the enterprise level, EFS, FLOW and Helmut integrated workflow offers a media technology foundation that combines storage, media management, workflow automation, and workgroup management for a proven all-in-one solution.
EditShare is the exclusive reseller* of the Helmut suite of products. To obtain more information, please visit here.
Learn More about Powering Collaborative Adobe Workflows with EditShare and MoovIT on July 22 Join EditShare and MoovIT on July 22, 2020 at 9am EDT and again at 2pm EDT for a joint webinar on how to ‘Automate and Optimize Adobe Workgroups with FLOW and Helmut’. To register for one of the time slots, please visit: https://editshare.live/webinar072220session1pr (9am EDT) and https://editshare.live/webinar072220session2pr (2pm EDT)
*Excluding the DACH region.
About Moovit MoovIT provides video and IT solutions for broadcasters and organisations of all shapes and sizes. The company, headquartered in the Schanzenviertel district of Cologne, specialises in the development and support of workflows for all aspects of post-production, news and archiving at the interface between video and IT. MoovIT leverages particular expertise in the field of technical solutions for sports reporting. In addition, the company develops web-to-video solutions, localisations, remote editing systems and video hosting products used by organisations across a highly diverse range of industries. MoovIT’s customers include broadcasters, production companies, sport event organisers, agencies, and enterprises from a wide range of backgrounds.
About EditShare EditShare is a technology leader in networked shared storage and smart workflow solutions for the production, post-production, new media, sports, and education markets. Whether you need on-prem, cloud, or hybrid solutions, our products improve efficiency and workflow collaboration every step of the way. They include media optimized high-performance shared storage, archiving and backup software, a suite of media management tools and a robust set of open APIs that enable integration throughout the workflow. Customer and partner success are at the heart of EditShare’s core values ensuring a world-class experience that is second to none.
Press Contact Cat Soroush Zazil Media Group (e) catherine@zazilmediagroup.com (p) +1 (631) 880-9534
Customers have long been asking for the ultimate in remote workflow flexibility. Whether that means hiring video editors from distant geographies or simply letting employees and contractors work from home, production houses no longer want to be tethered to their machines. COVID-19 has only accelerated this request. As a part of EFSv, we recently announced the capability to achieve true seamless proxy editing. This patent-pending feature enables the first cost-effective cloud editing infrastructure, overcoming one of the primary objections of migrating media workflows to the cloud.
Cloud editing economics –block storage vs object storage
Until today, the questionable economics of editing in the cloud has been one of the biggest objections to adoption. With EFSv seamless proxy editing, we have dramatically reduced the costs, making cloud editing economically viable for anyone. When we say dramatically better, we mean reductions in the region of 50-75% compared to current cloud editing infrastructure implementations.
When it comes to editing video in the cloud, assuming you plan to use standard applications such as Adobe® Premiere® Pro, Davinci Resolve, Media Composer®, ProTools® or Adobe® After Effects®, you need your shared cloud storage to appear as though it is just another drive attached to your workstation. That is to say, the storage needs to have a filesystem that supports all normal operations such as read, write, seek, modify, The filesystem also needs to use standard mechanisms to tell an application if your username or group has permission to read, write, and lock a file for exclusive use. To protect your media you also need file system auditing to see who is accessing files within your storage. And, of course, you need storage that’s fast enough to play back your media in real time. These are all features that can be realized easily in the cloud using block storage.
Unfortunately, block storage in the cloud is expensive. However, there is a lot of value that cloud providers are bringing on top of standard disk storage. Behind the scenes you are getting file protection and robust security for your data with high performance guarantees.
Being able to utilize object storage in the cloud (like AWS S3) would be much less expensive. However, out of the box, it doesn’t meet the requirements of media creation applications because it lacks the features needed to create a real filesystem and instead focuses on simplicity, scalability, and reliability. By limiting the features of object storage, cloud providers can offer significant cost savings. You only pay for the exact number of bytes you store, rather than reserving a whole block of storage that ends up only being partially used.
But what if you could make object storage appear as a standard filesystem so that you could enjoy the cost benefits and also get it to work with editing, mixing and visual effects applications? In fact, that’s part of what we have done with EFSv — making object storage look exactly like a normal file system, regardless of whether it’s connected to Windows, MacOS or Linux. But there’s still one more challenge to overcome that is specifically problematic for video and audio editing – latency.
Object storage is fine for throughput, and when you play a video from a streaming platform such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+, you are almost certainly streaming the video from an object storage solution. These streaming platforms deal with latency (the time it takes to read the first byte of video) by having you wait a small amount of time to watch the first segment of video (you know, that little bit of buffering you see before the video plays) and then, because the videos are generally played linearly, it is always possible to keep ahead of the user, disguising the latency.
While this works for streaming services, such a solution is not acceptable for video and audio editing – by its very nature these are non-linear activities. When you edit video even a small amount of latency will impact your workflow as you attempt to read multiple video files simultaneously and jump quickly back and forth between different files on your timeline.
Current object storage trades latency for resilience and throughput. Indeed most object storage solutions not only have higher latency than is acceptable for video editing, they also have inconsistent latency. So the challenge is to find a way to blend object and block storage into a single filesystem in a manner that lets you have your cake and eat it too — in other words, get the cost savings of object storage but the low latency of block storage that’s needed for editing.
Fixing the headaches of proxy editing
EditShare isn’t the first company to come up with the idea of blending object and block storage. Since people first started editing in the cloud, a common approach to mixing the two types of storage and saving money has been to put high resolution original media into object storage, and then transcode everything to smaller, just good enough low-resolution proxy files for rough editing and store just those proxy files on the more expensive block storage. Because proxies are small, they don’t use up a lot of block storage — and so you save money. Then, at the end of a project, you restore from object storage back to block storage just the files that made it into the final cut and you “conform” your sequence back to high-quality originals.
Adobe UI accessing content via FLOW panel and toggling proxy with high res content
Unfortunately, this kind of proxy workflow is fraught with problems.
Just ask anyone who has ever had to proxy edit a project. First, there are inevitably shots that don’t look great in the proxy version, and it’s really frustrating to have to wait for the conform to find out a shot isn’t any good. Second, it’s impossible to create accurate effects that match colors when you are dealing with proxy files. Third, it’s no fun to have rough cut and fine cut screenings based on your proxies because these screenings will never give the best impression. Fourth, at the end of an edit, it takes time to copy high-resolution files back to block storage and if your project is coming down to the wire, every minute counts. And finally, there’s nothing worse than conforming an edit and getting a “media offline” or “nothing relinked” message when you attempt to relink back to the original.
It’s probably safe to say, no one loves the offline and conform workflow. While it is not a ‘broken’ system, it’s far from ideal. And it doesn’t even save as much money as it could, because at the end of the day you still have to copy at least some content back to expensive block storage.
A seamless proxy workflow designed for everyone
The EFSv seamless proxy editing feature solves all these problems. It is open — we have yet to find a NLE that it doesn’t work with — and fundamentally, it changes the economics of editing in the cloud.
EFSv lets you put your high-resolution files into cost-effective object storage but makes those files appear as if they are on a normal mounted block storage file system. At the same time, EFSv provides the scalable high performance block storage needed for low-latency access to proxy files and renders. Proxies can be generated by our FLOW media management system, or by your own tools. Both high-resolution and proxy versions are accessible at all times to your media creation application. And when you import clips into NLEs such as Premiere Pro using our new FLOW panel, the panel “teaches” the application about the existence and location of both high-resolution and proxy versions, so you can toggle back and forth between versions any time you want. While you won’t be able to play back your whole timeline from the object storage — mostly because of the latency — you can nonetheless view the original high-resolution clips at any time (including for color correction), and when it comes time to rendering your timeline for a screening or for the final deliverables, you just toggle to (or link back to) the originals and hit the render or export button. There’s never anything to copy or restore from object storage. Instead, you render directly from object storage — a process that is not slow, by the way. The momentary latency you get when first accessing a file and that can frustrate timeline playback won’t make any noticeable difference for rendering.
Our new system not only works with cloud workstations you connect to by advanced remote desktop software such as Teradici, but it also works spectacularly over a VPN — so if you want to keep working from home with the editing application running on your own workstation or laptop, this is also an option. You can get the same proxy/high-resolution toggling — and this even works with macOS-based workstations (something you cannot run in any cloud today). And if you need to download proxies instead of working with them “in place” from central storage, that’s supported too.
There’s a reason we refer to this as “true” seamless proxy editing — because it is truly seamless.
For creatives, the new system eliminates any compromises on quality or workflow, and for the people who look after the finances, the news is equally good. Better. Faster. Cheaper.
Cost savings – it’s BIG.
The savings you get with EFSv seamless proxy editing are tremendous. For example, you may have a media library of about 100 terabytes for a project — consisting of a little over 2,000 hours of original media assuming you’re using a 100 Mb/s codec. With traditional block storage , storing this content for editing would cost about $4,500/month. On top of this, you’ll require fairly powerful storage and workstation instances to handle the bandwidth of this high-resolution content. Suddenly, cloud-based editing may stretch outside of your budget. In fact, in many cases, your high-resolution codec will be of a higher bit-rate; for example many ProRes codecs exceed 500 Mb/s.
Seamless proxy editing resolves these issues. By taking down the content to a lower bit rate for editing we can reduce your block storage needs down to the 2-4 terabyte range, a factor of 25x or more. In this scenario, your total storage costs (object and block) will come down to something closer to $1400/month. And since we will be editing proxy files, less expensive compute instances can be used for storage management and NLE workstations. Your high-resolution files will continue to be stored in cheaper storage tiers, where they can be accessed instantly by the NLE with no additional workflow effort required. An added bonus – with your high-resolution files residing in object storage, you can easily take advantage of cloud-based AI tools such as automatic object recognition and audio transcription, and also share your files with partners who may be doing other work on the project.
EFSv with seamless proxy editing not only makes cloud editing affordable for the first time, it also creates the opportunity for new cloud-centric workflows to make your media projects more efficient. Learn more.
Barstool Sports creates innovative content with massive distribution on multiple platforms including web, apps, podcasts, radio, video, social, events, pay per view, subscription and television to an incredibly engaged audience.
6/23/2020
Lowering cloud infrastructure costs up to 75%, the seamless proxy editing feature of EFSv makes cloud editing irresistibly affordable while allowing you to leverage your tools of choice and the workflows you love
Boston, MA – June 23, 2020 –EditShare®, a technology leader that specializes in collaboration, security, and intelligent storage solutions for media creation and management, today unveiled an EFSv innovation that transforms the economics of editing in the cloud while significantly improving the efficiencies of dynamic and remote editing workflows. Making cloud editing more accessible to more facilities, EFSv optimizes the use of both object and block storage located in the cloud to allow for savings up to 75% compared to the existing costs of cloud video storage and workstations. A solution that solves the work arounds associated with proxy editing and conforming, EFSv facilitates a true seamless proxy editing experience for all editors including Adobe, Avid, Blackmagic Design and Grass Valley. Costs savings through better cloud storage management allows facilities to keep production content and archives online and available at all times.
“The economics of cloud production have been a barrier to widespread adoption for media companies everywhere. Often it is considered as a back-up plan or short-term workaround to a specific situation or project,” states Conrad Clemson, CEO, EditShare. “While other solutions provide a bandaid for the problems, we have actually solved it. The innovative implementation of the seamless proxy editing feature of EFSv unlocks the power of the cloud as the last piece of the content supply chain.”
EditShare’s cloud innovation comes at a time where many facilities have moved from viewing the cloud as a future consideration to one that is an immediate and foundational component to support their business. Removing workflow complexities and costs barriers associated with cloud editing, EditShare serves as a trusted partner for customers to completely shift to the cloud.
“By integrating cloud-based management that simplifies workflows and reducing storage costs, EditShare prioritizes content creators in remaining true to one of their core tenants,” said IDC’s Jacob Groshek, research manager. “This development offers compelling economics and an important value-add proposition that is top of mind for many media organizations moving into the cloud. It gets to the heart of the matter and helps customers create and edit high resolution video content via proxies in the cloud, on demand, collaboratively while ensuring affordable day-to-day operations and business continuity.”
With EFSv, high-resolution original files can be stored in economical object storage, yet read through the EFSv native file system driver while small lightweight editing proxies are stored in standard block storage. Both sets of files are always available and accessible to the NLE application — streamlining color grading, effect creation and conforming. Additionally, for Adobe Premiere Pro, the new FLOW panel automates the clip import process to ensure Premiere Pro understands that both versions exist, and enables the ability to toggle back and forth between them at any time.Clemson concludes, “EFSv is a robust solution that will enable businesses to fully embrace the cloud with their entire content catalog and workflows using the tools they love. It’s a win-win — the user experience is outstanding with a much lower total cost of ownership.”
EFSv Typical Benchmark The intelligent and seamless movement between storage tiers will save clients a fortune over an entire production. High-performance block storage tiers, used for high-resolution editing, are expensive. If clients can minimize their use of block storage by only storing editing proxy files there, while maintaining the high-resolution files on object storage, huge savings can be achieved. For example, block storage can be 5x the cost of object storage. The beauty and simplicity of EFSv is that it provides for these cost efficiencies while allowing an editor to toggle between high-resolution and proxies with the click of a button. EFSv allows for the benefit of proxy editing without requiring editors to endure the complicated workflows typically associated with those environments.
About EFSv The EFSv platform supports industry-standard third-party creative tools for editing, audio mixing, and grading with best-in-class security capabilities such as file auditing to propel secure, end-to-end editorial workflows in the cloud. EFSv native drivers eliminate traditional IT bottlenecks and deliver superior performance in virtual environments. The RESTful API lets customers and technology partners easily automate advanced storage management workflows.
About EditShare EditShare is a technology leader in networked shared storage and smart workflow solutions for the production, post-production, new media, sports, and education markets. Whether you need on-prem, cloud, or hybrid solutions, our products improve efficiency and workflow collaboration every step of the way. They include media optimized high-performance shared storage, archiving and backup software, a suite of media management tools and a robust set of open APIs that enable integration throughout the workflow. Customer and partner success are at the heart of EditShare’s core values ensuring a world-class experience that is second to none.
Press Contact Cat Soroush Zazil Media Group (e) catherine@zazilmediagroup.com (p) +1 (631) 880-9534
Part 5 of a 5 Part Series introducing EditShare’s FLOW Asset Management and Remote Video Collaboration.
Open platform with broad compatibility across creative tools for editing, audio mixing, and grading. Enables high-performance cloud video storage and collaborative editing. Virtualized in AWS, Tencent Cloud, and other public and private cloud environments. Simplified migration to the cloud with pre-configured and pre-tested EFSv solutions.
These turn-key configurations allow you to immediately adapt your workflows from traditional, on-premise environments to cloud-enabled remote workflows.
Part 3 of a 5 Part Series introducing EditShare’s FLOW Asset Management and Remote Video Collaboration.
Wide Format Support: FLOW Story supports hundreds of formats, from professional broadcast codecs such as ProRes, DNxHD, AVC-Intra and XDCAM, through to 4K and beyond, such as RED R3D, XAVC, Cinema DNG and DPX. As well as working with low-resolution proxy files, you can import and export almost any format locally. You have the option to switch between hi-res or proxy media on the fly.
Real Time Collaboration: When connected to any Editshare FLOW Database, FLOW Story has real time collaboration with other FLOW users, such as FLOW Browse and AirFLOW. Projects, Clips, Sequences, Markers and Metadata are all updated and synchronized in real time, opening up endless possibilities for creative collaboration.
NLE Integration: FLOW Story has a strong integrated workflow with other NLEs (and DAWs) such as Avid Media Composer®, Adobe Premiere®, Da Vinci Resolve® and Avid ProTools®. This enables FLOW Story to be the perfect creative hub for anyone that needs to collaborate with editors. Through AAF and XML, FLOW Story provides interchange files that can support round-trip workflows. Create a rough cut in FLOW Story and open it in Avid. Changes made in Avid can then be viewed in FLOW Story – from anywhere in the world. This feature enables new possibilities for workflows involving Review and Approval, or simply for quickly scaling up a post-production operation.
Work Offline: FLOW Story is built with remote editing in mind. While you only need a regular internet connection to access your content, clearly it is not always possible. FLOW Story can work in a standalone mode – for accessing FLOW projects that you have already been working on, or for working on local projects. Once your internet connection is re-established, any changes to your FLOW Project will be synchronized, and you will also see any changes made by other users, giving you true flexibility to work wherever and whenever you need to.
