TORONTO & FAREHAM, ENGLAND—Masstech and Software Generation Ltd. (SGL) are joining forces to form a new company, Masstech Innovations. This new endeavor will serve the broadcast and media industry as a provider of technology for the management of media assets, per the official announcement.

Left to right: SGL co-founder Bernie Walsh, Masstech President and CEO Joe French, and SGL co-founders Paul Moran and Dave Bray.

Masstech President and CEO Joe French has taken an increased ownership position and will run the combined business from the U.K. headquarters. SGL founders and directors Bernie Walsh, Dave Bray and Paul Moran will eventually retire after a period of consulting with the combined entity. FPE Capital will be the majority shareholder in the new company.

“The merger provides us with an opportunity to grow and develop solutions, particularly on-ramps to the cloud and managed services, faster than we could have done as two smaller independent companies,” French explained.

Financial terms of this deal have not been disclosed.

LAS VEGAS—SGL will highlight enhancements to its FlashNet content management system at the 2017 NAB Show. The latest FlashNet version now incorporates new tools that enable multiple sites to stay in sync with each other, even when every site is running its own production processes. They’ve also revised the FlashNet Watch Folder Service, which now manages projects, offers efficient incremental archiving, monitors vast numbers of watch folder files and supports Mac and camera storage workflow.

There’s also new support for Amazon S3 and Glacier cloud platforms, allowing them to be used seamlessly as archive destinations. With FlashNet’s life-cycle rules engine, media assets can move easily between platforms. Support for Sony Ci, Sony’s cloud-based service has also been added, allowing media professionals to collaborate on the creation of high-resolution content.

There is also additional support for DPX formatted assets, and allows a pre-defined number of drives to be allocated within the library for specific purposes, such as archiving only Avid jobs or restoring/archiving material at a certain time of the day.

The 2017 NAB Show also marks the U.S. launch of SGL FlashNet Lite, an entry-level archive system that provides options for content storage that is disk-only, tape-only, optical disk-based, or a combination of disk and tape. Running on a single server node, the scalable system incorporates important FlashNet tools including: integration with partner solutions and storage devices, business storage rules, partial file restore, and SGL’s sophisticated Infinity user interface.

The 2017 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 24-27. SGLwill be in boothSL5306. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

LOS ANGELES–SGL is highlighting its new entry-level archive solution FlashNet Lite and new user interface FlashNet Infinity at SMPTE 2016, booth 214.

FlashNet Lite comes in four configurations: FL Disk, FL Tape, FL Hybrid and FL Optical Disk, providing options for content storage that is disk only, tape only, optical disk or a combination of disk and tape. FL Hybrid is upgradeable to 50 TB of disk support, two tape drives and 100 slots with one server. This gives nearly 600 TB capacity with LTO7 tapes. Running on a single server node, FlashNet Lite can grow as the customer’s archive expands. FlashNet Lite includes FlashNet tools including: integration with a range of partner solutions and storage devices; business storage rules; partial file restore; and SGL’s new Infinity user interface.

SGL also is demonstrating its new FlashNet Infinity user interface. Providing broadcasters and content owners with a dashboard that simplifies the management of media archives, Infinity delivers a toolset for archive and restore functionality, system health, monitoring, analysis and more. It is available as a free upgrade to all SGL FlashNet users covered by a current support contract who are running FlashNet 6.6 or later.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS—SGL will showcase new features to its FlashNet content management solution for MAM or any automation control system, at IBC 2016.

Several new features to Flashnet will be making their European debut, including a new Infinity user interface, which provides customers with a dashboard that provides archive procedures and tools, restore functionality, system health, monitoring and analysis. Also new is support for SMPTE’s Archive eXchange Format (AXF) and Sony’s Ci cloud-based service. FlashNet also now has pre-defined drives for specific archive roles.

SGL will also demonstrate Flashnet support for DPX-format assets, featuring a one-file-per-frame function for cinema-oriented media, as well as the FlashNet Amalgamation Service, which consolidates multiple small files (i.e. JPEGs and XMLs) into one set of files, which can then be simultaneously archived without additional tape positioning. SGL will also showcase plug-in support for Avid Interplay Web Services so that customers can employ Avid Interplay Archive at any time in the future without the need to re-archive any content.

To see all these new additions to the FlashNet content management solution, visit SGL’s booth 7.J15. The IBC Show takes place at the RAI in Amsterdam, Sept. 8-13.

LAS VEGAS—Content archive and storage management software provider SGL has been selected as an Avid Alliance Partner. With this announcement also comes an Avid certification, which is granted to third-parties that can prove a high technical standard and integration within the Avid MediaCentral Platform, according to SGL’s press release.

“The partnership greatly reduces the risks of problems when products are upgraded as careful testing has already been completed,” said Lee Shephard, SGL’s director of product management, in the press release. “It also gives assurance that key improvements to either product are being communicated to each manufacturer so that integration is always optimized.”

LAS VEGAS—SGL will unveil a new version of its FlashNet content management system at the 2016 NAB Show. This version, which will be rolled out over the next 12 months, has an elegant user interface/dashboard that provides easy access to sophisticated tools that simplify the archive and restore process.

With this version, customers can now allocate a pre-defined number of drives within their library for a specific role, such as archiving Avid jobs only, or restoring/archiving material at a certain time of day, for more efficient operations.

SGL also developed a new Avid Interplay Web Services plug-in with a partial file restore feature powered by Glookast. With this partial file restore feature, operators can use the archive capabilities they currently require, but employ Avid Interplay/Archive at any future time, without the need to re-archive content, and easily select and restore elements of a clip directly from the archive in high resolution. Prior to this, partial file restore functionality could only be achieved using the full Avid Interplay/Archive system.

SGL is also announcing support for AXF, LTO-7 and the Sony Ci cloud-based service, which allows media professionals to collaborate, create and share high resolution content, and transfer it directly to the cloud from their MAM system using SGL Flashnet. SGL also supports Aspera and Amazon S3 via the ExpeDat Gateway. And the latest version of SGL’s Flashnet API now supports REST, further simplifying Flashnet integration for partners.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. SGL will be in booth SL5306. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND—Marquis Broadcast and SGL are continuing their relationship with the integration of Marquis’ Project Parking Avid storage management system and SGL’s FlashNet content management system.

By combining Parking and Flashnet, facilities are able to archive and restore whole projects, according to Marquis; this includes all bins, sequences and media files. The Parking system creates complete copies of any Avid project and media onto the FlashNet storage.

Marquis is also currently offering a free download of Parking, which analyzes a facility’s shared storage and how it is being used. This free version will identify how much space projects are taking up and space wasted by orphan and duplicate media. The free version does not “park” projects. Users can download the free version at www.marquisbroadcast.com/sgl.

FAREHAM, ENGLAND—After it takes part in SMPTE 2015, which is currently underway in Los Angeles, SGL will be making a stop at CCW 2015 to demo a number of new and updated products. Among its goodies, SGL will highlight the new FlashPack system and new version of FlashWeb, as well as cloud and Avid services.

Asset migration services will be a key of SGL’s presentations, with the FlashNet Migration Service on full display. The service enables a whole migration to be set as a single background task that optimizes available archiving equipment and speeds up processes to reduce migration times.

The new entry level FlashPack is a content storage management ‘in-a-box’ system that provides all elements of an integrated Hierarchical Storage Management archive, allowing broadcasters and content owners a fully expandable archive. Meanwhile, the new version of FlashWeb includes enhanced search capabilities and simplified navigation for the ability to archive and restore material to any configured FlashNet disk or tape group.

SGL will also showcase a recent collaboration with Aspera and Data Expedition that allows broadcasters and content owners to transfer media to AWS cloud service. Another integration offer from SGL that will be on display is the support for Avid Web Services, allowing users to employ Avid Integrated Archive at any time in the future.

FAREHAM, ENGLAND—U.K.-based content archive and software management provider SGL will be hopping across the pond to attend SMPTE 2015 in Los Angeles, and they’re bringing a bunch of new software to showcase.

Among the technology that SGL is planning to display are services that offer integration and compatibility with Avid systems. The first is the Direct Connect, which allows Avid ISIS users to transfer high-res material quickly. SGL also provides support for Avid Web Services, allowing customers to employ Avid Integrated Archive at any time in the future without having to re-archive content.

SGL will also have a collaboration with Aspera and Data Expedition in regards to Cloud services that it will demonstrate at SMPTE. The new software enables broadcasters to transfer content to the cloud services of Amazon Web Service for additional means of storage and disaster recovery workflows.

New versions of both the FlashPack and FlashWeb are also set to be unveiled. A new entry-level of FlashPack, SGL’s content storage management system ‘in a box,’ provides all elements of an integrated Hierarchical Storage Management archive. The latest version of FlashWeb, meanwhile, includes enhanced search capabilities and simplified navigation to archive and restore material to any configured FlashNet disk or tape group.

Additionally, SGL will display an asset migration service, LTFS support, and a new SGL web service with enhanced API with support for REST.

SMPTE 2015 takes place from Oct. 26-29 in Los Angeles. SGL will be located at booth 214.

FAREHAM, ENGLAND—SGL has announced that its FlashNet content management software is now fully integrated with the ExpeDat Gateway for Amazon S3 from Data Expedition, Inc. The integration enables broadcasters and content owners to transfer data directly to Amazon Web Services at maximum speeds, which provides an additional means of storage and disaster recovery workflows.

FlashNet with ExpeDat enables files to be transferred to and from S3 at 700 Mbit/s. Once stored, data can be moved to Amazon Glacier using a standard AWS interface.

FlashNet’s rules-based implementation provides fully-automated data duplication across multiple storage layers and locations. The FlashNet archive can also track and record where material is at any given time and can alert third-party systems that content is available for download. With the FlashNet, users can also create additional rules to send materials directly to the cloud.

SGL is a provider of content archive and storage management software based in Fareham, England. Data Expedition delivers data transport technology.

FAREHAM, ENGLAND—Content archive and storage management software provider SGL has announced the slate of products that it is bringing to IBC 2015. Key third-party integration projects will be front and center, as will a handful of new products.

One of SGL’s integrated products is the Direct Connect for the Avid ISIS. Direct Connect allows Avid ISIS users to transfer high resolution material quickly; this includes archiving and retrieving clips or sequences over several GBs or shorter clips with high bit-rates.

SGL will also showcase cloud-based archiving to Amazon’s S3 and Sony’s Ci Cloud services. Working with Aspera and Data Expedition, SGL enables broadcasters and content owners to transfer media to AWS services and Sony cloud services at a guaranteed speed. SGL will also show a full archive using Grass Valley’s GV STRATUS, including full search, archive and restore integrated with SGL’s FlashNet archive.

The FlashNet Migration Service will also be launched at IBC 2015.This new system enables a whole migration to be set up as a single background task that optimizes the use of available archiving equipment and speeds up processes.

Additional products and services set to be on display include SGL’s Avid Web Services integration; an archive demonstration via Avid Interplay PAM; support for LTFS; a new version of FlashWeb with enhanced search capabilities and simplified navigation; and enhanced API with support for REST via new SGL web service.

SGL will be located at booth 7.J15a. IBC 2015 runs from Sept. 11-15 in Amsterdam.

AMSTERDAM—SGL, a provider of content archive and storage management software, will premiere its new entry-level archive system FlashPack at IBC 2015. A turnkey archiving system designed for all major media and production asset management systems, FlashPack requires no extra hardware or extra software.

SGL FlashPack

FlashPack contains SGL’s FlashNet, a content archive and storage management system, for power, resilience and scalability. Implementation is completed by linking FlashPack to the user’s MAM or PAM system. The software is designed for broadcasters, sport venues, post-production houses, corporate communications and other organizations.

SGL also plans to showcase other new tech and third-party integration at its booth, located at stand 7.J15a.

IBC 2015 takes place from Sept. 11-15 in Amsterdam.