Early last week Avid announced their new VideoRAID ST and SR solutions that enable editors to continue working full speed ahead even while a RAID drive is being rebuilt.

“…Avid VideoRAID solutions help customers keep up with the fast pace of digital content creation by maintaining full performance and data protection, while rebuilding the drives in the background. Customers will also be able to take advantage of real-time playback of up to two streams of uncompressed HD on as few as eight Avid VideoRAID drives. Additionally, Avid is offering all new VideoRAID ST and SR customers a three-year warranty on drive mechanisms and enclosures and will provide advanced exchange of replacement parts to customers at no additional cost.”

The VideoRAID ST includes a 5-drive tower while VideoRAID SR is a 16-drive rack mount configuration. Capacities are 2.5TB to 16TB per system. Here’s a quick glance at the featureset:

* Real-time parity RAID
* Full performance during drive rebuild (albeit without “full content protection”)
* 2.5TB to 16TB capacity
* SR model includes load-sharing, redundant power supplies
* Field-replaceable controllers, drives, and power supplies

MSRP starts at $4795 USD for 2.5 TB. Expect these new VideoRAID offerings to begin shipping in Q2 2008. More info at www.avid.com/videoraidST