Quantum's ProVideo A-Series products are the first data tape solutions enhanced for professional video and today’s file-based workflows. These scalable archive solutions offer from 300GB to 6.4 TB of removable networked storage and a tape-based file system that is MXF-aware.  A-Series products are based on your choice of SDLT 600 or LTO-3 drive technology and are available in Desktop, Rackmount and Autoloading configurations.

For detailed product information, link to these web pages:

• LTO-3 A-Series
• SuperLoader 3A

Quantum has taken standard data tape drives to the next level, specifically to meet the needs of the video industry with the ProVideo A-Series drives and these most requested features:

• Network-Attached
      - Easy to deploy with built-in Gigabit Ethernet
      - Accessible anywhere on the network
  
  
• Tape-Based File System
      - Files are readable by any application under any OS
      - Tapes are portable, exchangeable and shelf-storable
  
  
• MXF-Aware
      - Access subclips by timecode
      - Save time with partial restores
      - Fast access to key MXF metadata

The Quantum LTO-3 A-Series drive now joins the A-Series with the same network attached, tape-based directory and MXF-aware capabilities as the SDLT 600A Professional Video Drive.

With its 400GB data tape cartridges, the LTO-3 A-Series enables video professionals to store 33% more data on more cost effective data tape cartridges.  With it’s 68 MBps data transfer rates, content can be archived almost twice as fast as with our SDLT 600A drive.

Quantum's ProVideo A-Series data tape drives are the first data tape solution specifically enhanced for the professional video industry. This revolutionary system combines the well-established benefits of data tape archiving with video tape’s convenience and accessibility.

With a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port, A-Series drives are network-attached so they can be directly connected to any network and accessed by every edit workstation, networked server, graphics devices and other computer-based video equipment on the network.

Because they use either Super DLTtape® II or LTO Ultrium 3 cartridges, all A-Series products deliver a 30-year archival tape life to protect professional video, audio and data assets better than any video tape backup. Each Super DLTtape® II cartridge holds 300GB of information and allows faster-than-real-time transfer rates of up to 288 Mb/sec and each LTO Ultrium 3 cartridge holds 400GB of information and allows even faster transfer rates of up to 544 Mb/sec. And, because each A-Series tape contains key MXF metadata in a tape-based file directory, your media is transportable and exchangeable for seamless application independence.

The A-Series feature set makes the drive MXF-aware, which permits video tape-like access to subclips by timecode and provides an unprecedented level of interoperability between applications and environments.

Easy to Deploy - With its included gigabit Ethernet interface and built-in FTP, A-Series data tape drives can be easily attached to any network where they become instantly accessible to every workstation and server through Windows Explorer and standard browsers. The system can be used in stand-alone, rackmount and table-top configurations and the new SuperLoader 3A can be integrated into the full range of robotic tape libraries.

Flexible - The data tape format of the A-Series data tape drives includes a file system on the tape, making any cartridge readable anywhere, anytime. Traditional video archiving uses proprietary management software, which dictates that tapes must remain locked in a library system in order to restore any data. Quantum's A-Series cartridges are free from this restraint; they can be easily moved between libraries, stand-alone drives and even video facilities. With this flexibility, A-Series drives are ideal for serving the full range of video applications -- from hand-carrying video content out to a truck for live production to a facility-wide, long-term and secure archive.

Secure Yet Accessible - Quantum's A-Series data cartridges have a robust 30-year archival life that ensures the longevity of precious video content. At the same time, the A-Series is an ideal solution for archiving content because the files remain easily accessible. The A-Series enables partial restores of subclip files by timecode or even metadata with an ease unlike any other data tape solution – establishing a new level of accessibility in data tape that defines "working storage."

Unmatched Performance and Capacity - At native rates of up to 68 MB/s, data transfer is many times faster than real-time, even in HD. At a native capacity of up to 400GB per tape, a single tape can accommodate more than seven hours of 100 Mb/s HD content.

Cost-Effective - In addition to its file-based, faster-than-real-time access to HD, SD and data assets, the A-Series data tape drives are a much more cost-effective storage solution than video tape. Because it is built on Quantum's popular, industry-leading data tape platforms, the A-Series platform benefits from significant economies of scale.