Is the On-Set Download Solution We've All Been Waiting for Finally Here?

For as long as we’ve been shooting to card-based media, we’ve needed a way to download that media to hard drives or other backup sources on set. If we’re going to format that camera card and keep shooting with it, we need to make at least two copies on set. While there are a ton of solutions for the big productions, for indie shoots there isn’t really a solid download station right now. Into that hole in the market comes the Orico Data Matrix, which could possibly be the “single unit” download system we need.What is the Orico Data Matrix?The Orico Data Matrix is a single-box system that connects to your laptop via Thunderbolt. Inside is some combination of multiple hard drives, including a super-fast SSD drive and then a redundant HDD setup. It also has additional Thunderbolt and USB ports for accessories and a front-facing SD card slot for direct downloading.What is the Workflow Like?The thing that makes this particularly interesting is the combination of SSD media and HDD media in a single physical box. This means that, with the HDD drives setup to RAID 1 (our preferred format), two hard drives appear on your computer desktop. One SSD and one raided HDD. The HDD raid has two identical copies of all media on it (so if one drive fails, you have a backup), and appears as a single drive on your desktop.This combination makes for an interesting solution when you are running short of cards. Most of the time, you’ll want to backup your media (using a Checksum verified tool like Levee, Offshoot, Shotput, or Silverstack), HDD backups are going to be pretty darn slow. Nature of the beast with the HDD—they just take more time.But if you are short of cards, there is that SSD there. Back up your card to the SSD, which will happen very quickly, then you can format the camera card while your SSD backup copies over to your HDD raid. Not the solution you want for every card, but it will do in a pinch.SpeedThat SSD itself is just blazing fast, hitting 2800mb/s on the speed test. When you need the speed, it's there. One key to remember is that the speed is still going through the computer; it's not a standalone unit that can download when not working with a laptop or desktop. You'll also likely see some speed slowdown if you add a lot of additional peripherals to the system. But plugged into one Thunderbolt port, with your camera card into another Thunderbolt port, this will scream.Hardware SwitchOne of the nice features of this system is that instead of a software menu or tricky button press, you format the hard drive how you want it with a dip switch. We wanted RAID 1 (giving us a single backup copy), and it was easy to set it up that way with the dipswitch. For other workflows, it would be easy to change, but be aware—every time you change the setting, you end up losing all your data.Physical DimensionsOne thing you can’t help but notice is the similarity in its design to the Mac Studio. It’s ever so slightly bigger, but clearly intended to “complement” the studio on your desktop. At the same time, it’s small enough you could easily imagine cutting some custom foam in a flight case and making for the ultimate “on-set download station” that is ultra-portable but gets the job done.In addition to the standard ports on the back (power, thunderbolt, and DisplayPort), you’ve also got very robust front ports. This includes a thunderbolt port that gives out enough power for your laptop. A USB port that can be used to plug in card readers if you aren’t shooting to SD cards.ConclusionWith a variety of sizes available, and a smartly thought-out design combining multiple types of storage in a single box, Orico provides a solution that a lot of busy filmmakers might find exceptionally useful.

Feb 6, 2025 - 03:35

Is the On-Set Download Solution We've All Been Waiting for Finally Here?

For as long as we’ve been shooting to card-based media, we’ve needed a way to download that media to hard drives or other backup sources on set. If we’re going to format that camera card and keep shooting with it, we need to make at least two copies on set. While there are a ton of solutions for the big productions, for indie shoots there isn’t really a solid download station right now. Into that hole in the market comes the Orico Data Matrix, which could possibly be the “single unit” download system we need.

What is the Orico Data Matrix?

$Orico Data Matrix\u200b$

The Orico Data Matrix is a single-box system that connects to your laptop via Thunderbolt. Inside is some combination of multiple hard drives, including a super-fast SSD drive and then a redundant HDD setup. It also has additional Thunderbolt and USB ports for accessories and a front-facing SD card slot for direct downloading.

What is the Workflow Like?

$Orico Data Matrix\u200b$

The thing that makes this particularly interesting is the combination of SSD media and HDD media in a single physical box. This means that, with the HDD drives setup to RAID 1 (our preferred format), two hard drives appear on your computer desktop. One SSD and one raided HDD. The HDD raid has two identical copies of all media on it (so if one drive fails, you have a backup), and appears as a single drive on your desktop.

This combination makes for an interesting solution when you are running short of cards. Most of the time, you’ll want to backup your media (using a Checksum verified tool like Levee, Offshoot, Shotput, or Silverstack), HDD backups are going to be pretty darn slow. Nature of the beast with the HDD—they just take more time.

But if you are short of cards, there is that SSD there. Back up your card to the SSD, which will happen very quickly, then you can format the camera card while your SSD backup copies over to your HDD raid. Not the solution you want for every card, but it will do in a pinch.

Speed

$Orico Data Matrix\u200b$

That SSD itself is just blazing fast, hitting 2800mb/s on the speed test. When you need the speed, it's there.

One key to remember is that the speed is still going through the computer; it's not a standalone unit that can download when not working with a laptop or desktop. You'll also likely see some speed slowdown if you add a lot of additional peripherals to the system. But plugged into one Thunderbolt port, with your camera card into another Thunderbolt port, this will scream.

Hardware Switch

$Orico Data Matrix\u200b$

One of the nice features of this system is that instead of a software menu or tricky button press, you format the hard drive how you want it with a dip switch. We wanted RAID 1 (giving us a single backup copy), and it was easy to set it up that way with the dipswitch. For other workflows, it would be easy to change, but be aware—every time you change the setting, you end up losing all your data.

Physical Dimensions

$Orico Data Matrix\u200b$

One thing you can’t help but notice is the similarity in its design to the Mac Studio. It’s ever so slightly bigger, but clearly intended to “complement” the studio on your desktop. At the same time, it’s small enough you could easily imagine cutting some custom foam in a flight case and making for the ultimate “on-set download station” that is ultra-portable but gets the job done.

In addition to the standard ports on the back (power, thunderbolt, and DisplayPort), you’ve also got very robust front ports. This includes a thunderbolt port that gives out enough power for your laptop. A USB port that can be used to plug in card readers if you aren’t shooting to SD cards.

Conclusion

With a variety of sizes available, and a smartly thought-out design combining multiple types of storage in a single box, Orico provides a solution that a lot of busy filmmakers might find exceptionally useful.