The video industry has been using tape as a storage medium for many years, but several technologies which have been growing in use and declining in cost during the past decade have begun to allow a shift away from tape. These technologies are computer hard drives, high speed data networks, and real time operating systems. Now systems can be constructed consisting of the above components and video, audio, and data I/O which duplicate many of the functions of conventional VTRs, audio decks, and cart machines. These systems can expand to bring together support for multiple applications that meet the current and emerging needs of the video industry. Such systems are called video servers or media servers. The goal of such systems is to do some of the functions performed at broadcast facilities and television networks in a way which enhances currently available functionality while giving new functionality, increasing reliability, and reducing operating costs. Some of these functions include commercial insertion, time delay, program playback, and news editing and playback.