Media Distributors Unveils Powerful Storage Manangement Appliance

The product, a combination of the innovative Constellation VCM™ storage and archive management software with customized Windows 7 servers, provides customers with a foundation for performing multi-tiered storage management, archiving and back-up functions – and includes, search, retrieval and manipulation of assets – through a single visual interface. The system is compatible with leading edit and storage systems, including Avid, Apple Final Cut Pro, and virtually all NAS and SAN storage systems.

Media Distributors also announced that RFD-TV, the nation's first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agriculture, and Cooperstown Dreams Park, America’s Foremost Youth Baseball Experience®, are the first customers for the Constellation Andromeda Server.

The Constellation Andromeda Server will be demonstrated today at the 2010 Creative Storage Conference in Culver City, California. Media Distributors will conduct demonstrations throughout the day, while Nathan Adams, the company’s senior technology consultant, will appear on the 3:15 pm ‘Content Archiving and Asset Management’ panel.

The Constellation Andromeda Server builds on Media Distributors’ March, 2009 release of Constellation VCM, which has been successfully installed in such major production and post-production facilities as Universal Sports and Point360, among others. The product is sold through the company’s Line1 Media division. Constellation Andromeda Server is sold standard with an on-board LTO Tape Drive and Hard Disk Storage. It also includes Media Distributors tech support, as well as software maintenance, and installation for media and entertainment customers nationwide.

“We have standardized a hardware configuration that boosts the power of Constellation VCM software. We have created a server appliance that is a complete package. It includes everything a customer needs for this type of system, and gives them flexibility and scalability for future requirements. This is simple to use and easy to upgrade so customers can comfortably evolve their use of Constellation software throughout their networks and facilities,” said Tony Cahill, chief engineer of Media Distributors. “The Constellation Andromeda Server is storage agnostic. Customers can add additional storage that includes any type of hard disk storage, tape libraries, and optical disc libraries. Constellation provides a very efficient solution for storage and archive management of digital assets. Users now have a simple and very efficient search and retrieval tool for video assets and any other type of digital asset.”

Using the Constellation Andromeda Server, for example, customers can more rapidly access video assets, including those stored on LTO tape systems or off-line by using video proxies that match time code for precise retrieval and manipulation.

The Constellation Andromeda Server provides multiple levels of security and authentication, and automated media management through user-defined parameters. The price for the product is listed at $24,999.00.

Constellation improves flexibility and scalability in storage and distribution systems for a wide range of customers, from large-scale video rights holders to small production and post-production companies. The system easily conforms to the existing workflow of any organization.

“The Constellation Andromeda Server is a baseline for customers who want to grow their storage and asset management needs using the industry’s most powerful search and retrieval software, and we have successfully tested this concept with customers who may not have previously considered the software,” said Steve Klein, CEO of Media Distributors. “As an appliance, Andromeda Server is ready to go right out of the box. For customers with more advanced requirements, there are tremendous levels of customization offered through the Andromeda server. It is designed to integrate with all leading systems and products used in today’s production and post-production environments.”

About Media Distributors

Since 1998, Media Distributors has become the nation’s largest independent distributor of professional recording media products to the production, broadcast and entertainment industries. Supported by 85 full-time employees, it has earned this position by leveraging its numerous authorized dealer relationships to provide its customers with outstanding service, competitive pricing and a best in class branded product offering. The company offers a vast array of products, including professional videotape, motion picture film, data media, storage, video editing systems, rentals, software, disc duplication/publishing systems and media accessories. In addition, Media Distributors offers a number of value-added services, including product re-certification, recycling & disposal, custom barcoding, consultation and systems integration. Offices are nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, and San Francisco.