Hey All,
We are looking for asset manager software for out studio. Something that can track all assets, view thumbnails of that asset as well as being able to search for an asset based on tags.
I know about Canto Cumulus but this is pretty expensive and can do a lot more than we really need.
Does anyone no any others or can recommend anything?
Thanks,
Richard
Add comment viewed 1,178 times Latest activity 11 months ago
rotoforever
We've looked at quiet a few solutions and we've decided on Shotgun.
The concepts behind it are very well thought out, the web-based UI is amazing, the API is open and can be easily accessed through Python. Pricing is on the more expensive side, if you have many seats.
We're using it as a front-end for production and artist to manage tasks and assets. It's not an asset manager with deep hooks to artist tools, like Tactic, though. It doesn't manage files or how assets are published etc. You have to write your own code to do that. It's a plus point in my book though as all facilities like to handle that differently.
Martin Pengelly-Phillips
One thing to point out is that Shotgun is more of a production tracking system rather than an asset management system. This is why, as bFloch points out, it appears more suited to production workflows (task management, scheduling, high level breakdowns etc) rather than integration with artist applications to load assets from disk.
It will always be difficult for a piece of software to work off the shelf as an asset management system in this industry. The different ways that studios approach the pipeline (even different shows within one studio) make a silver bullet solution difficult.
Additionally, the effort required to stay up to date with changes in third-party applications is tremendous and that is why larger studios still need developers for pipeline integration. The most beneficial asset management software is probably the one that behaves more like a framework on which to build rather than an off the shelf solution.
Francois Schneider
[ Editor ]
Temerity Pipeline seems to be a pretty solid contender, but it's way to expensive and rigid. We were on the verge of choosing it, but a quick financial simulation showed us we'd better develop our own. In addition to the renting cost of the software itself, you have to take into account that you need to pay for them to install and do a first customization of the software, and then at least have a dedicated developer AND a dedicated TD/evangelist full time to support the software.
We were later proven right when another studio, with the right man for the job (I mean one of the very best developers in the industry), finally canned Pipeline and decided to go elsewhere.
If you have the good resources (seasoned TD/developers who really know something about a production pipeline), I think the better choice is still to develop your own, unfortunately.
On the off-the-shelf side, it seems that Shotgun keeps getting better and better. Their price structure is still on the expensive side IMHO. The rest of what we've toyed with (Tactic, Alienbrain...) is just not up to snuff.
aaron_66
Project Overlord does exactly what you are looking for. It's asset management with a layer of project management sprinkled on top. http://www.give-soft.com
bfloch
Shotgun seems like an awesome production asset management software.
Here a few things that I disliked about it though:
Python API gives only access to database queries. Nothing object oriented more elaborated ...
Events and hooks to events are based on looping a query on the last commands that were executed (may work but does not sound clean to me)
due to web based nature pretty complicated to execute applications on workstation: Protocols must be setup differently on each platforms, maybe even browser?!
You are in charge of making sure that your file system is up-to-date with the database since there is no easy way Shotgun could take a peek on your filesystem, especially when hosted (this may be good design decision but can make your life harder IMO)
To make it short shotgun is probably the best asset manager for a producers. It was probably build with the producers in mind. But from artists standpoint, and making it work with the artists tools on his/her workstation it is no other than any db driven webapp.
Correct me if I overlooked something.
Tactic seems to handle the file system and has better integration with the tools as you can see from the presentation: http://www.cgchannel.com/2010/07/product-focus-southpaw-tactic/
laura vanmorlegan
Fuzion (http://www.fuzionassets.com/en) is an ISO 9001 Media Asset Management platform (server-client solution) that unifies media files version control and project management in one place.
You can preview 200+ file types through a built-in preview window, even photoshop and illustrator files, different audio and video formats, without needing to install 3rd party tools, audio or video codecs (3D models visualization will be soon available).
It has an integrated advanced search system, allowing you to add tags to assets, and also save your search results under a customized View (for quick access later). You could later browse by, for example, "characters" or "scenes".
A super-quick install solution at an affordable price, with a great-looking, very easy to use GUI.
Request the trial version now and start using it in less than 15'!
More info, screenshots and a demostrative video at: http://www.fuzionassets.com/en
Paul Nendick
[ Editor ]
The only such system I know and could recommend is Temerity Pipeline - which is all these things plus render management. I'd wager small-to-medium studios would find it quite expensive but medium-to-large ones not so much.
I'll be quite curious to hear the other answers as well.
/p
timor
Hi Franssu,
we are currently looking into tactic and shotgun. Could you specify what you liked and disliked at tactic...(because it´s our favourite at the moment)?
Thanks...
Sachin Shrestha
Shotgun doesn't provide any deep integration with the 3d apps? This is one thing I always find lacking in off the shelf project management tools. They overlook integration with the artist tools that are used and/or provide limited integration leaving the studio to do most of that on its own (which seems pointless because you again have to hire TDs or programmers to do that for you).
In my last engagement, we were also mulling over Temerity but the overall cost proved too expensive. In the end we built our own system and it worked pretty well as we developed it not just from the producer's point of view but also from the artist's pov. So the integration with the artist tools and apps provided seamless workflows.
aaron_13
If you are looking for ASSET MANAGEMENT software you may want to look into Project Overlord. http://www.give-soft.com It's asset management at its core sprinkled with layers of project management tools.
It's a desktop application, so you get true interaction with the local file system.