Selecting High-Performance Post-Production Media Storage

February 17, 2025

What's the best storage for video post-production? How do NVMe, SSD, LTO, and HDD compare? Mixing Light shares expert answers from OWC.

Tutorials  /  Office Hours  /  Selecting High-Performance Post-Production Media Storage
Series

January 2025 Office Hours: Exploring Storage Built for Post-Production Workflows

All 10 of us – without a server room, without an IT person, without a network switch – can all be working from this box that’s in the room that’s quiet and has 400 terabytes so we can all edit 4K off of it simultaneously.

On this edition of Office Hours LIVE!, Mixing Light Founder and CEO Patrick Inhofer sits down with OWC Director of Sales Loren Mally to explore everything you need to know about post-production storage.

They discuss the differences between NVMe, SSD, and HDD, how RAID configurations impact performance, and why shared storage can be make or break for teams of any size.

They also discuss budgeting, network setups, and archiving—covering everything from SSDs to LTO (and why some people refuse to touch tape again). Plus, hear how Jellyfish storage has powered projects like the Oscars.

If you’ve ever struggled with slow drives, dropped frames, or just figuring out the best setup for your evolving workflow, this conversation is for you!

Key Takeaways:

  • NVMe vs SSD vs HDD – Differences in speed, lifespan, and best use cases
  • How RAID configurations impact performance and redundancy
  • How to choose the right storage system for your needs
  • Key factors: Performance, capacity, user count, and workflow type
  • Is all-flash storage the future?
  • How different storage types handle 4K, 6K, and 8K footage
  • Networking & Connectivity: Direct connections or network switches
  • When upgrading RAM actually helps—and when it doesn’t
  • Why LTO is still used—and why some people avoid it

Mentioned in this Insight:

What are your biggest storage questions?

Have you used OWC storage before? What was your experience like? Do you have a current storage question or problem you need help with? Leave a comment and let us know!

– Patrick

Chapters

  • 00:00 – Why Storage Matters in Post-Production
  • 01:27 – Meet Loren Mally & His Journey from Editing to OWC
  • 03:18 – Understanding Storage as More Than Just Capacity
  • 05:29 – How OWC & Jellyfish Provide End-to-End Storage Solutions
  • 09:41 – NVMe vs. SSD vs. HDD: Performance & Reliability
  • 12:04 – Shared Storage vs. External Drives: What’s Best for Teams?
  • 14:31 – How to Choose the Right Storage System for Your Needs
  • 17:30 – Case Study: How the Oscars Used Jellyfish Storage
  • 20:47 – The Future of Storage: SSD, HDD, and Cloud Trends
  • 23:11 – Budgeting for Storage: What’s Worth the Money?
  • 28:22 – Real-World Performance: What Drive Type Do You Really Need?
  • 32:59 – Networking & Connectivity: Setting Up a Storage Workflow
  • 37:49 – How RAM Affects Storage Performance
  • 41:43 – Media Management & Remote Access for Post-Production
  • 46:09 – Jellyfish in the Real World: Testimonials & Use Cases
  • 47:50 – Archiving & Backup: LTO, Cloud, and Other Options
  • 49:35 – Syncing & Remote Editing: Keeping Multiple Storage Systems in Line
  • 51:20 – High-Speed Connectivity: Do You Need 25GbE or 100GbE?
  • 53:10 – The Hidden Costs of LTO and Long-Term Storage
  • 56:20 – Customer Support, Tax Breaks, and Buying Advice

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Patrick Inhofer
Insight # ML 1381
Type Video
Duration 64:03
Skill Level Intermediate
Skills Non-Linear Editors
Categories Collaboration Hardware On Set Other World Computing
Series Office Hours

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