Lights, Camera, Let's Go! Lacie 5big for 4K Streaming

If you work in the video industry, you may be familiar with SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers). It is the organization responsible for setting standards that facilitate interoperability in the film and television industry. From before the first talking movies to today, SMPTE has been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. And as technology has advanced, so have the needs for data storage.

Howard Lukk, former vice president of production technology at Walt Disney Studios, directed the documentary “Moving Pictures” for SMPTE. The documentary details the history of SMPTE from its founding in 1916 to the present day. Given SMPTE’s focus on technology, it should come as no surprise that the film was shot in 4K. However, doing so also presented its own challenges.

Any storage solution had to be lightweight, durable, and portable to withstand the film crew’s on-the-go needs, while also providing exceptional reliability, speed, and large storage capacity. The focus on mobility and reliability was what led Lukk to choose the LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2.

The ability to transfer data at up to 785MB/s significantly reduced the time required with previous storage solutions, while equally important was the portability provided by the LaCie 5big's relatively small size and weight compared to other 30TB solutions.

“The LaCie 5big was a no-brainer,” said Lukk. “I’ve worked with LaCie before and knew how reliable they are, so it was my first choice for a Thunderbolt-connected storage solution of this size. You can’t really put a price on the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have safe and reliable copies of important footage you’ve shot in a day.”

“It’s fantastic to work with LaCie,” said Lukk. “They understood our requirements very quickly, and the process was very easy. Storage is now very easy and fast, and I’m really looking forward to the next LaCie product line.”