In the world of post-production, your storage system can be your best friend or your biggest nightmare. Whether you’re working with large ProRes or DNxHD files, or trying to edit multicam without your computer crashing, understanding how storage systems work and how to optimize them is essential. From NAS and SAN to RAID, LTOs, and backup setups, here’s everything you need to know to keep your workflow running smoothly.
NAS vs. SAN: What are they and which one is right for you?
NAS (Network Attached Storage)
The NAS is like a shared library where everyone on your network can access the same files. It's great for team projects or as a backup center.
Advantages
Easy setup and use.
Scalable: You can add more disks as your needs change.
Economical compared to a SAN.
Disadvantages
SAN (Storage Area Network)
SAN takes the NAS concept to another level, providing blazing-fast speeds and support for large volumes of data.
Advantages
Ultra-fast speed thanks to fiber optic or high-speed Ethernet connections.
Designed to handle multiple editors working on large projects (4K/8K/RAW).
Disadvantages
Which one to choose? If you're editing from home or in a small studio, a well-configured NAS is sufficient. But if you're working on a production with many hands editing at the same time, a SAN might be the solution you need.
HDD vs. SSD: Speed or Capacity?
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Traditional hard drives are reliable and inexpensive, but they are not the fastest on the market.
Advantages
Low cost per GB.
Very high capacities (up to 20 TB per disk).
Ideal for mass storage or long-term backups.
Disadvantages
SSD (Solid State Drive)
SSDs have no moving parts and are incredibly fast, making them perfect for working with high-resolution video files.
Advantages
Ultra-high read/write speeds (~500-7,000 MB/s depending on SSD type).
Durability and impact resistance.
Nearly instantaneous access times.
Disadvantages
Tip: Use SSDs for active editing (your “work drive”) and HDDs for storage and backups. A hybrid system can give you the best of both worlds.
RAID Configurations: Balancing Security and Performance
RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) allows you to combine multiple disks to improve speed, security, or both. Here's a summary:
RAID 0
Combine discs to maximize speed, but if one fails, you lose everything.
Advantage: Maximum performance.
Disadvantage: Zero redundancy.
RAID 1
RAID 5
RAID 10
File Systems: Advantages, Disadvantages and Security
Your file system affects the compatibility, performance, and security of your data. Choosing the right one is crucial depending on your operating system and workflow needs.
NTFS (Windows)
Advantages:
Supports large files (up to 16TB).
Ideal for Windows environments, with excellent stability and performance.
Allows you to configure advanced access permissions.
Disadvantages:
Limited reading on macOS without additional software.
Less support for cross-platform systems.
APFS / HFS+ (macOS)
exFAT
EXT4 (Linux)
Safety Considerations
NTFS and APFS stand out for their advanced user permissions and built-in encryption, making them ideal for protecting sensitive projects.
exFAT , while versatile, lacks robust security tools, which can be a problem in critical workflows.
If you use disks in Linux environments, EXT4 offers great reliability, but you will need external tools to encrypt data.
What to wear?
If you work only on Windows: NTFS.
If you are a macOS user: APFS.
If you need cross-system compatibility: exFAT, but consider manually encrypting sensitive data.
Connections: Inputs, outputs, names and measurements.
The connection between your computer and storage can be the biggest bottleneck. Here's a rundown of the most common options and their maximum theoretical speeds:
Connection | Maximum speed (theoretical) | Advantages | Disadvantages | Recommended Use |
USB 3.0 | 5 Gbps (~625 MB/s) | Wide compatibility, economical, ideal for basic external drives. | Limited for high-resolution video projects or intensive multitasking. | Fast backups, non-critical external storage. |
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | 20 Gbps (~2,500 MB/s) | Excellent for high-performance external SSD drives. | Only compatible with modern devices, shorter range than Thunderbolt. | Edit from external SSDs, fast transfers. |
Thunderbolt 3/4 | 40 Gbps (~5,000 MB/s) | Stunning speed, ideal for 4K/8K video editing, Daisy Chain. | Expensive, less common on non-Apple devices. | Real-time editing, demanding workflows. |
Gigabit Ethernet | 1 Gbps (~125 MB/s) | Economical, reliable, ideal for small computers or home NAS. | Insufficient to handle multiple high-resolution video streams. | Basic NAS, sharing files on a small network. |
Ethernet 10GbE | 10 Gbps (~1,250 MB/s) | Great for advanced NAS and multi-user workgroups. | Requires compatible hardware (switches, network cards, cables). | Network editing, high-performance NAS/SAN. |
Optical fiber | Up to 128 Gbps (~16,000 MB/s) | Extreme speed, ideal for large studios with multiple editors. | Very expensive, complex to configure, requires specialized hardware. | Big productions, high-level workflows. |
Tip: For demanding projects (4K, multicam, etc.), use Thunderbolt 3/4 or 10GbE Ethernet to avoid interruptions.
Bitrate and Video Formats: Why Does it Matter?
Understanding Bit Rate
Bit rate measures how much information is processed per second. The higher the bit rate, the more demanding it is on storage.
ProRes 422 (1080p): ~147 Mbps (~18.4 MB/s).
ProRes 4444 (4K): ~330 Mbps (~41.25 MB/s).
DNxHD 36 (Proxy): ~36 Mbps (~4.5 MB/s).
DNxHR HQX (4K): ~900 Mbps (~112.5 MB/s).
Multicam Edition
Multicam editing means handling multiple video streams at once. For example, 4 cameras in ProRes 422 would add up to ~588 Mbps. Without fast storage, lag will be inevitable.
Avoid Bottlenecks:
Use RAID 5 or 10 for faster speed.
Configure your connection (Thunderbolt or 10GbE).
Work with proxies for editing and reconfigure at the end.
LTO: The tape that never goes out of style
If you need to save your projects for decades, LTO (Linear Tape-Open) is an economical and reliable solution for long-term archiving.
Advantages
High capacity: 12-18TB per tape (LTO-8 and LTO-9).
Economical per TB compared to hard drives.
Durability of up to 30 years.
Disadvantages
Rule 3-2-1:
3 copies of your files.
2 different storage media.
1 offsite copy.
Do this and you'll avoid drama. Nothing like a cloud copy or an LTO somewhere else to help you sleep peacefully.
Need help? Let's talk!
Confused with so many options? Not sure if you need a NAS, SAN or LTO reader? Don't worry, you're not alone! I offer personalized consultations to optimize your storage system according to your needs.
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