FlashNet is working with Avid to provide and integrated archive system unparalleled in Avid Unity environments. Avid users will be able to archive and restore compositions and master clips directly from the Avid MediaManager desktop to a number of different data archive libraries from DVD all the way through high performance tape libraries, Avid users can make use of almost unlimited storage capacity.
This is all made possible byt he direct integration fo the FlashNet archive manager with the Avid MediaManager.
MedaManager is a powerful media asset management application deisgned to allow intuitive search, sort, management, and retrieval of media and metadata.\It comples with the Open Media Management (OMM) interface standard and is completely compatible with Avid project and bin file structure common to all Windows NT based
Avide editing applications. FlashNet operates as an integrated part of this system such that sending material to an archive is achieved by selecting "SendToSGLArchive" in an Avid pulldown menu much like a "SendToWorkgroup" transfer. The restoration process is equally simple in that all the MediaManager search tools for Unity also apply to archived material. This includes searching by text, time, project, bin, or media type. The same choice of views available with MediaManager for Unity systems also apply to archive searches.
The mechanism by which FlashNet is integrated with MediaManager is the Dynamically Extensible Transfer (DET) interface. DET provides a mechanism for vendors to implement their own transfer protocols under the control fo the Avid TransferManager server. Sending material to the archive is initiated by the editor application or from the MediaManager. In the case of initiation from the editor, the user selects one or more master clips or compositions in a bin. He then selects the "SendToWorkgroup" menu and then "SendToSGLArchive". From the Mediamanager, the user selects one or more master clips or compositions and drages and drops them into the archive portion of MediaManager. In either case, the selection initiates the transfer to the archive library via FlashNet. FlashNet then selects the proper DVD or tape and writes the master clip or composition to the media. All media written by FlashNet is self-contained such that even if it is removed from the library, it remans part of the FlashNet database.
FlashNet - THE software in broadcast industry
Retrieval from the archive is equally simple. Using MediaManager allows the user to search on a number of different attributes with flexible views of the search results. These views can be a Head Frame view which represents each clip by name with a head frame as well as the clip type, creation date, date last modified, check-in date, and tape name or a Text view with only the attributes sor a Head Frame Only view with only the Head Frame. When the user finds the master clips or the compositions desired, he can drag and drop them into a Media Composer or Newscutter bin or into a local MediaManager. FlashNet in turn takes this request, finds the media where the master clip or composition is stored, and restores it to the requested location. All this is accomplished without further interaction by the user.
Integrated with Avid Desktop
Eliminates re-encoding of previously generated clips
Single repository for all related files
Extensible to multiple workgroups
Multiple storage levels from on-line to near-line to off-line
FlashNet provides the means to abstract the archive library from the apllication and, therefore, the user. The archive library acts as a logical extension of the storage available on the Avid systems. The implication of this is that the user sees virtually unlimited storage for his Avid systems and a way to search and retrieve archive material. With a matter of a few clicks, projects can be archived and retrieved without having to re-encode material or find other files associated with a master clip or composition.
FlashNet has all the features you would expect from a superior archive management system including off-line media tracking, media spanning, prioritization, grouping and many more. More than 4000 copies of FlashNet have been installed worldwide. FlashNet is available on SGI Irix, Sun Solaris, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 to provide maximum flexibility for any operation. Clients are also available for Mac-based Avid systems.
