As a heavy duty pro tools user, I am not sure why you aren't using Pro Tools already to do this rather than tape.

100baseT networking is probably faster than loading up a tape. It sounds like you already have a central file store. Many post production houses use work on centrally stored files shared between multiple users.

Have yo tried this? If so are there specific obstacles you have run into impeding your work flow?

Steve

Steve,

The main reason has been of the ease of voicing to tape, not to mention it's more forgiving on input. During our busiest concert seasons, speed is crucial. But you're right, we've should have already made the switch. We've just completed the installation of 6 DM2000 Yamaha consoles - so we've made a turn to that direction. Do you know if fiber optic networking would be an advantage?

Hey Frankb3, did you get your systems from Al Priest?

If you guys need a remote HD rig, let me know.

Maybe you should check into an SNS AV/San network based on fiber optic: it's granted to be the most fast and effective storage and transfer solution for multiple workstation arrays.

Hope this helps

L.G.

Fiber San could be an advantage but many of your spots will be very short (I imagine) and normal 100BaseT is very fast for short low track count stuff.

Using a new feature in Pro Tools V6 called the "Workspace" window, you can open a template session, find your file in the Workspace window (it works like a finder window), you can even audition the audio in the workspace window with pro tools open and running.

Once you locate the file just drag it right onto the track in your session. Hit record and get the VO done. If you use a pre-defined session template you could be openning, importing and recording in less than 5 minutes. And I have to think that 24 bit A/D recording is as forgiving as any recording medium.

I do a lot of work with Mercy Songs where we prerecord 100's of short scripture readings and several musical passages. Then we assemble them into composite works such as the Rosary. Etc. Using the Workspace feature of Pro Tools seems like it would be a very powerful tool for you.

Steve

Thanks for the replies so far. Sound like great suggestions. Sdevino & Gerax, I'll do some investigation into what you talked about, and PT Version 6. We do literally hundreds of :30 & :60 second commercials in a week.

Sheet, we did get the PC Pro Tools from Al Priest.

Frank

This is what your looking for...

Mac support

Im sure its quite expensive... were running two of them right now. Very fast, immediate file access and can handle a serious load. 4 rooms running 24 tracks real time no problem.

Also consider gigabit Ethernet, with a switch that provides for Full Duplex operation.

Optical is the foundation for the internet backbone, and is both stable and fast. And expensive. SAN is very expensive and a pain in the ass.

Disk space is huge these days, and ridiculously inexpensive.