Ann Keefe, Regional Director - UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the future
By Contributor
Published: April 18, 2024
Ann Keefe, Regional Director UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the future
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Ann Keefe, Regional Director UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the future
https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/how-todays-storage-and-memory-decisions-underpin-future-creativity title=Share via Email class=share-email>
The media and entertainment (M&E) industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, fuelled by the shift from analogue to digital workflows and the proliferation of streaming services. These changes have led to increased demand for higher-quality content, more complex deliverables, and improved capture. Consequently, companies working in the M&E sector face mounting pressure to deliver more, faster, and at a lower cost.
Flexible external storage One of the most significant challenges facing M&E businesses is the need for speed and storage capacity. The resolution of footage has progressed from HD to UHD, quadrupling data bandwidth requirements. Modern software tools are memory-hungry, and the original camera files, as well as the final deliverables consumed on streaming platforms, reside in the digital realm. While modern technology advancements allow companies to explore new creative avenues - such as shooting from multiple angles and focusing on enhancing the overall quality of their productions - the increased flexibility comes at a cost - the need for faster read/write speeds in storage solutions and greater capacity are now top priorities.
Ann Keefe, regional director UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology Cost optimisation is another critical factor. Even the biggest productions aim to minimise storage expenses to allocate more resources toward on-screen elements. This necessitates solutions that are not only fast and offer the required capacity, but which are also affordable, and maximum reliability is paramount to ensure seamless operations. While solid-state drives (SSDs) may be more expensive upfront compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), the long-term operational costs associated with the more traditional, and slower media can quickly erode the initial cost advantage of HDDs. For production houses relying on hyper-efficient workflows, the performance benefits offered by SSDs can make a significant difference in the commercial success or failure of media projects.
Working on outdoor sets and on-location shoots means that portability must be considered, particularly if production is taking place in challenging environments. Heavy and bulky drives or slower HDDs are often impractical in these situations. Compact and ruggedised SSDs, designed with durability and speed in mind, are more practical. Production companies are no longer prepared to compromise when it comes to what and where they can shoot, which means using solutions that offer the bandwidth to manage high volumes of data from multiple cameras and cards, regardless of whether they are in the field or at a static location.
On-premise vs cloud Like other industries, the debate around on-premise, cloud-based, or hybrid approaches to data storage rumbles on. There is not a one-size-fits-all' option for media and entertainment companies, particularly on location. On-premise storage offers control and guaranteed access to data, which can be invaluable. However, cloud storage is useful for collaboration and leveraging the scalability and computing power of cloud platforms. It also allows companies to take advantage of AI and machine learning smart tools that are highly processor-intensive, demanding the kind of resource and storage capabilities that the cloud is well placed to provide, and which will reduce the time for tasks such as rendering, video processing and data analysis. A hybrid approach, combining on-premise storage for active projects and cloud backup for archival purposes, is possibly the best of both worlds - ensuring business continuity while benefiting from the flexibility and scalability of the cloud.
Utilising memory Regardless of the storage and computing approach, M&E companies must ensure that their production staff and editors have the necessary memory capability to turn concepts into final output efficiently. High-performance memory solutions, such as DDR4 and DDR5 modules, can provide the speed and capacity required to handle demanding workloads, enabling creative teams to focus on their craft without being constrained by technical limitations. When purchasing memory solutions, companies should prioritise addressing their most pressing bottlenecks. Whether it's transfer times, slow application response, or limited capacity, identifying and resolving these pain points can significantly improve overall workflow efficiency. User needs must be considered. Power users running multiple resource-intensive applications simultaneously, such as video editing, compositing, photo editing, and sound applications, will require more memory than those running one or two creative applications at a time.
As end-user demands continue to evolve, the media and entertainment industry is pivoting towards flash-based solid-state storage which satisfies the need for speed, capacity, and reliability, is cost-efficient, and allows emerging technologies like AI and cloud computing to be leveraged. By adopting a strategic approach to storage and memory, M&E companies can ensure their production staff and editors have the tools they need to bring the
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
26/03/2026
Extron and Audio-Technica have announced that their Design Solutions devices, Ce...
26/03/2026
SPORTEL Asia took place March 24-25 at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drawing 370 participants representing more than 220 companies from 35 countries. Approximate...
26/03/2026
LTN will demonstrate satellite-to-IP migration solutions for broadcasters, cable networks, MVPDs, and station groups at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2100).
The C-Ban...
26/03/2026
The Seattle Mariners have partnered with Daktronics to install an upgraded outfi...
26/03/2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esp...
26/03/2026
Telestream has announced expanded integration between its Vantage workflow platf...
26/03/2026
FOR-A Corporation has announced a partnership with Nippon TV and NVIDIA to distr...
26/03/2026
CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their partnership through a new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement. CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular-season...
26/03/2026
Zac Brown Band will star in the Sunday Night Baseball show open on NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports announced. The open was filmed at American Family Field, home of ...
26/03/2026
Major League Baseball opens the 2026 season with nationally televised games across multiple media partners. Fans can visit MLB.com/Watch for a complete schedule...
26/03/2026
DIRECTV has announced an agreement to carry nine new MLB-operated team channels, covering the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers (Detroit SportsNet), Kansas City R...
26/03/2026
Nationals.TV, the Washington Nationals' local broadcast channel, is now avai...
26/03/2026
Starting Thursday, March 26, MLB.TV will be available on the ESPN App, giving fans access to more than 2,000 out-of-market regular season games. Fans can also r...
26/03/2026
Spotify's partnership with NAVER, Korea's leading digital platform, is built around one simple goal: making it easier for listeners in Korea to discover...
26/03/2026
Exclusive to ComposerCloud for first month
Sample library and virtual instrument gurus EastWest have announced the upcoming release of a new virtual drum i...
26/03/2026
Friday 27 March
Friday 27 March will mark Dynamic Range Day 2026, the annual day of online activity that was started in 2010 by mastering engineer Ian Sheph...
26/03/2026
Includes four separate instruments
Max Richter's SRM Sounds venture have just announced their fifth release, ASMR Choir. Captured at the main live room ...
26/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), has been tasked with administering the Sixth Presi...
26/03/2026
By Matt Klein
Hello to everyone reading this - whether you're a current YEP, HPA member, or just YEP-curious. I'm Matt Klein, one of the co-chairs of t...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
28 participating companies, from start-ups to blue-chips, lead the UK Group as part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland presence across all the Halls at N...
26/03/2026
Arkona Unveils BLADE//planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
New graphical configuration tool and...
26/03/2026
Bitfocus showcases complete control at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
Continuing development drives advances in security, availa...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Nevion introduces powerful new Panel Builder to enhance VideoIPath broadcast con...
26/03/2026
2026 Oscar Nominated Films Powered by Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 25, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio used on 27 of this year's no...
26/03/2026
Leader to present full suite of advanced Test & Measurement solutions at NAB Sho...
26/03/2026
Boston Conservatory to Present New England and Collegiate Premiere of Groundbrea...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
HBO Max included for Sky and NOW customers from 26 March...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
Sky Sets Iconic Costumes Dancing Together Like Never Before' in Brand CampaignTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy o...
26/03/2026
Wuppertal March 26, 2026
CS live Builds Future-Ready OB Van With Riedel MediorNet and hi Control SystemRiedel Communications today announced that Czech-based ...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
Have a Wish Worth Dying For? Netflix's First Korean YA Hor...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
The Truthers, Starring Jose Coronado and St phanie Magnin, Pre...
26/03/2026
Enhancements to Harmonic's Sports Streaming Solution Introduce Server-Side Multiview, Contextual Metadata-Driven Advertising, Dynamic In-Stream Ads and Robu...
26/03/2026
Open the report
Our 2025 report brings together results from 79 business magazine titles across 22 market sectors, published by 49 media owners. Over the year,...
26/03/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
26/03/2026
RT Commercial today announced Fiat as sponsor of The Louise Duffy Show on RT Radio 1, Weekdays 3pm 4pm.
The Louise Duffy Show is the home of daytime music...
26/03/2026
That gaming backlog won't clear itself - GeForce NOW is here to help. Stream the latest titles straight from the cloud across a variety of devices.
This we...
26/03/2026
Wayne, N.J., March 26, 2026 Phantom High-Speed announces the latest product li...
Ann Keefe, Regional Director - UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the future
