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[toro]

i read the previous tread talking about sonnet Qio, its a great tool we use it to offload sxs, i am also interested to know if someone could try the Triplicator. It is a smart tool that manage three copies at one time through e-sata. The system look the three volumes as one and the "parity" is managed by the triplicator...

here the link,
http://www.glyphtech.com/products/triplicator/#/images/products/triplicator-gallery-front.jpg

best regards

[Harry Clark]

Yes, I have used this device many times. It is an excellent way to speed up data managing with a laptop, where bus speed an connectivity is usually limited.
The Triplicator has a few rules to follow about sequence of powering up/ down attached drives, attaching drives to the exact same ports if you move or change your setup, etc.
You need fresh drives or drives with no important data, since the Triplicator requires you to press an erase button and delete all data, then reformat the drives from the Finder (it's a little scary since the "erase" button on the front is unprotected, but disabled after your original format process)
After you are done for the day, each of the drives that you connected to the Triplicator will be identical copies. If you disconnect them and add data (thus changing) one of the drives the Triplicator will erase the new (unmatched) data, so be careful.
I also had a friend get into trouble by somehow powering down and up in the wrong sequence (I think) and lost all the directory data on the drives. Nothing could be recovered. I think this was operator error, though.
My rule of thumb (for one-day commercial shoots) is to set it up at the start of the day, use it to manage media UNTIL YOU HAVE TO REFORMAT A CARD. Until this point, the data always exists on the camera original SxS. If there is some kind of fluky data disaster, you still have the media. WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF FRESH SxS CARDS go back to the older, slower method of copying to the drives in daisy chain fashion. You may get a bit behind later in the day but this is the safest method.
Cheers,
Harry

[DITDANE]

Excellent device but not the best location tool. On a camera truck or a table away from others walking by or brushing it in anyway can spell disaster.

Protocol is everything, esata connections are the best, monitor the flashing light. With that being said I've used it many-a-times and its done wonders on jobs were Agency, Client, and Production needs a copy.

best of luck,
Dane Brehm

[elhanan]

I've been avoiding the Triplicator, it's got way too many known issues. I use the QIO everyday with two drives connected via esata. Copying a single 32 gb SxS card to both drives only takes about 6 to 8 minutes (depending on the drives), a 64 gb card only seems to take about 12 minutes. The Triplicator reduces this to about 4 to 5 minutes and 7 minutes. I don't think it's worth the headache, now if you're copying using a USB SxS card reader then maybe...

[adrianjebef]

Yeah, I agree on what has already been said. The Triplicator is a very useful tool but one needs to understand its intricacies in order to use it properly. I've found it helpful when dealing with very large file formats like ARRIRAW, uncompressed HD, Phantom Cine files, or even Epic R3D's. The Triplicator can easily save you time making multiple copies of these large files. But if your just dealing with ProRes you should be fine even with a laptop and a FireWire drive.

[Harry Clark]

Yes, Adrian, I agree.
The SxS/ ProRes workflow is very "light" so I don't usually use the Triplicator.
Highspeed or uncompressed work is different, as are some other camera workflows.
The addition of multiple cameras, lower compression, etc. will all put pressure on the pipeline and I think the Triplicator is a pretty cheap and easy way to deal with it.
Follow the rules though, or disaster lurks!
Cheers,
Harry