Three versions feature expandable storage capacity, browser-based access, automatic proxy creation, multiple admin and user access levels
axle Video, the pioneer in radically simple media management, today launched axle Drive, a revolutionary low-cost appliance designed for today’s media explosion.
The system is available in three versions all offering:
• Expandable storage capacity
• Browser-based access to media from laptops, iPads, iPhones and Android devices
• Automatic creation of video, photo and PDF proxies
• Distinct administrator and user access levels and privileges
axle brings media management technology to the wider world of HD and 4K media acquisition, especially from devices like smartphones, GoPros, DSLRs and iPads. Until now, the task of managing and sharing large amounts of media files was an elaborate and costly undertaking, with specialized storage systems and customized media management software known as MAM (media asset management).
“Most of the media captured today gets stashed away on loose hard drives, with no ability to search or reuse the content at a later date without a time-consuming process of constantly plugging and unplugging drives, then playing through media to find the right items” said Sam Bogoch, CEO of axle. “Now, finding and using media is a simple and swift process, thanks to axle’s unique software and increasingly affordable storage and networking technology that put this capability within easy reach of any creative studio and even the living room.”
In addition to automatically creating browsable proxy versions of both media and still image files, axle’s user-friendly browser interface makes it very easy to search, catalog, tag and even subclip media files. Larry Jordan (LarryJordan.biz), an acclaimed expert in the video industry, recently purchased axle and blogged “when we organize our files and folders in the Finder, they’re immediately visible through Axle’s browser interface. In addition though, we can add comments, metadata and select information to axle, above and beyond the organization provided in the Finder. axle then lets you search everything from nearly any device.”
A music video showing axle in use can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/axledrive2 .
The three configurations are:
· axle Drive 2 – Holds about 100 hours of HD footage, or 5,000 hours of H.264 proxy media. 2 Terabytes of usable storage with USB3 connectivity, and axle’s radically simple browser-based media management system. Lightweight, portable hardware can be taken anywhere. axle Drive 2 comes pre-loaded with sample selections of stock footage, audio and images from leading vendors, plus a year of knowledgebase and email support from axle Video. $995 / €895 (Euro).
· axle Drive 4 – Holds about 200 hours of HD footage, or 10,000 hours of H.264 proxy media. 4 Terabytes of fully redundant (RAID1) usable storage with dual Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and axle’s radically simple browser-based media management system. axle Drive 4 comes pre-loaded with sample selections of stock footage, audio and images from leading vendors, plus a year of knowledgebase and email support from axle Video. $1,995 / €1795.
· axle Drive 6 – Holds about 300 hours of HD footage, or 15,000 hours of H.264 proxy media. 6 Terabytes of fully redundant (RAID1) usable storage with dual Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and axle’s radically simple browser-based media management system. axle Drive 6 comes pre-loaded with sample selections of stock footage, audio and images from leading vendors, plus a year of knowledgebase, email and phone support from axle Video. $2,995 / €2695.
The systems are aimed at media professionals, as well as the rapidly growing ranks of prosumers who are now capturing terabytes of media for the first time and struggling to manage it. axle is anticipating high demand for the system in applications such as weddings, sports events, religious gatherings, high schools and colleges, and corporations.
All axle Drive systems must be connected to at least one Mac computer, typically a dedicated Mac mini, iMac or Mac Pro, running OSX 10.8 or higher. For customers who do not already have a Mac available, axle Video and its resellers are offering bundles with Apple’s latest 2.8GHz Mac mini model for an additional $999. An add-on module, axle Edit, offers connected rough-cut video editing from the latest iPhones and iPads, and is available beginning in March from $795 for 2 users.
All configurations are available immediately; axle Video is demonstrating the systems at CES’s Storage Visions 2015 conference, booth #207.
About axle Video
axle Video LLC is a Boston-based startup dedicated to radically simple digital media management for small and mid-sized workgroups. Founders Sam Bogoch, Steve Ryan, and Patrice Gouttebel have extensive experience in media asset management for creative applications. axle’s media management technology was unveiled in late 2012; it was recognized with Best of Show awards at its introduction at IBC 2012, and at NAB 2013 received prestigious DV Magazine Black Diamond and Post Picks awards. A privately held company, axle Video is the recognized market leader in affordable, simple-to-deploy media management solutions, with hundreds of systems already installed at media organizations worldwide. Learn more at www.axlevideo.com.