The VVW Series™ digital disk recorders were designed for broadcast and post production applications requiring compressed and uncompressed 8 or 10-bit video recording and playback. As video hardware developed and advanced, and as industry needs matured, we focused on developing high quality uncompressed systems, with specific high end production and post-production applications in mind. Storage issues were largely overcome by several capable storage vendors, resulting in the ability to scale storage capacity and bandwidth for a single user or a facility, depending on the requirements of the application.

The Titan Series™ - The groundbreaking VVW Series™ models have now been superseded by the Titan Series™ digital disk recorders. All of the features and functionality of the VVW Series™ have been implemented in the Titan Series™ DDRs, and there are new features available which were not present on the VVW platform. For advanced capture, control, conversion and output in all the most important broadcast and production file formats, you can view details on the Titan Series™ DDRs using the below link:

MediaReactor™ file transcoding was included in the VVW Series™ DDRs, and has been integrated into the Titan Series™ DDRs as well. MediaReactor™ provides facility-wide file type compatibility by transcoding media to the file type best suited to the client's actual workflow. You can view details on MediaReactor™ digital video file transcoding using the below link:

QuickClip™ capture/control/output software was the main engine of the VVW Series™ DDRs, and is an integral component of the Titan Series™ DDRs as well. QuickClip™ software is no longer available as an end user product, but if you are an OEM or developer and you need to build DDR functionality into your application or product we welcome serious enquiries. You can view details on QuickClip™ using the below link:

MediaNXS™ software has since been developed as our retail capture/control/output software product. MediaNXS™ is a streamlined version of QuickClip™, and includes onboard import and export components of MediaReactor™, EDL and timeline editing functions from QuickClip™, and new signal measurements and analysis tools for signal maintenance. You can view details on MediaNXS™ using the below link:

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Example of VVW 5000/700 configured to convert a linear online edit suite to non-linear online

In this example, three VVW 5000/7000s are configured as source VTR replacements in a traditional linear online suite. The VVWs are networked together to a shared storage pool as well as to a fourth VVW 5000/7000 residing in the VTR room. This configuration provides the benefits of a traditional uncompressed A/B/C roll edit suite combined with the non-linear access of the VVW 5000/7000s and the workflow of a networked facility. By placing the fourth unit in the VTR room, the edit bays do not need to be tied up digitizing and printing to tape. Reels can be loaded and laid off without interruption of the editing facility.

In another variation, MediaReactor is utilized and the network connection is extended to the graphics suites. This allows graphics, CG and composites to be introduced to the online edit via the VVW 5000/7000s without the need to lay them to tape first and introduce potential generational losses.

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Example of VVW 5000/7000 used as a graphics and animation DDR / Server

In this example, a VVW 5000/7000 is configured like a traditional animation or graphics DDR. Graphics files are transferred to and from the VVW 5000/7000 via the network and MediaReactor takes care of converting them to and from video clips for output or digitizing. Unlike a traditional DDR, the VVW 5000/7000 is not limited in the amount of time it can record. Storage can be expanded to hundreds of hours. The VVW 5000/7000 also can communicate to the workstations via a high speed 1Gbit Fiber Channel interface, drastically accelerating the transfer of graphics and footage.

MediaReactor supports digital media file conversion from NT, SGI and Mac based workstations and devices.

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Example of VVW 5000/7000 used as a telecine transfer system

In this example, a VVW 5000/7000 is used to digitize footage from a telecine film transfer. VVW Auto Proxy is used to simultaneously create a proxy file to be sent to a non-linear off line editing system or for internet distribution. The high quality uncompressed footage is also maintained on the storage and made available for graphics, compositing and effects work. Two more VVW 5000/7000s are used as A/B roll sources for the final uncompressed online edit.

By using MediaReactor to simultaneously generate a compressed stream for the off line edit, time is saved in redigitizing. Also, the off line edit can begin immediately also saving time, especially when dailies need to be assembled. Since all of the systems are connected via Fiber Channel, it is also possible to use a long distance glass fiber connection to send the proxy to an off line edit at another facility.