Specifications

Chapter 3: Using a Client in a MediaNetwork System 23
Sharing Allocation Groups and
Media
Audio and video files can be shared among sev-
eral MediaNetwork clients. However, keep in
mind the following restrictions when sharing
Allocation Groups and files:
• Audio files for Pro Tools clients should be in a
separate allocation group from the video files.
• Pro Tools clients cannot use files that are in a
shared uncompressed allocation group.
• Each Avid video editing client that is using
dual-stream 1:1 video must have dedicated ac-
cess to the single-user allocation group con-
taining the video files. No other clients can
share the video files while these clients are us-
ing them.
• Only one Pro Tools client can access a finish-
ing allocation group containing 1:1 video
files. The allocation group may not be used si-
multaneously by a video editing client, and
the Pro Tools client can only play a single
stream of video.
• Up to three Pro Tools clients and one video
editing client can access an allocation group
containing 3:1 or lower compressed video
files.
• In an environment with at least one Avid
Media Composer client running two streams
at 1:1 video resolution, the maximum num-
ber of clients that can normally be supported
is seven.
• Each finishing video allocation group must
connect directly to a MEDIASwitch port.
Performance Characteristics
You should experience no functional difference
between working with Pro Tools attached to a
MediaNetwork system or working with
Pro Tools attached to local storage. However,
due to the architectural differences between Me-
diaNetwork and local storage, some subtle dif-
ferences may be noticeable.
User Interface and Graphics
The Pro Tools workstation is tasked in a com-
pletely different manner when Pro Tools is re-
cording or playing from MediaNetwork storage.
For this reason, the update speed of the display
and the responsiveness of the Pro Tools user in-
terface might differ somewhat when compared
to using local storage. When using MediaNet-
work storage, the Pro Tools workstation might
periodically be interrupted by sporadic bursts of
communication with the File Manager. This can
cause the display to not refresh smoothly. These
periodic, brief interruptions in display updating
are most prevalent during long recording ses-
sions or while playing back large sessions. These
interruptions do not necessarily indicate that a
problem exists and do not affect audio playback.
Except for these interruptions or when tasks are
in progress, display and user interface perfor-
mance should be comparable to using local
storage.