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Going tapeless – am I nuts?
In going HD, I’m trying to avoid the cost of multiple decks (as well as maintenance costs). I’m talking with some folks who are interested in shooting vericam footage onto P2 cards. From what I can tell, that would be a good solution for us (P2-capable cardbusses for desktops are about $80 IIRC), but I can’t get my head around the archiving hassle that we will suddenly have on our hands.
So, any advice from the tapeless gurus out there? It looks like redundancy is a good thing if we can swing it- no opportunities for re-dig.
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12 Replies
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[Mark Arenz] “So, any advice from the tapeless gurus out there? It looks like redundancy is a good thing if we can swing it- no opportunities for re-dig.”
I understand your pain. As for P2, it is a great quality format BUT the idiots at Panasonic who came up with the idea of a card that holds 4 gig or 8 gig without any form of backup should be shot! Panasonic’s quality is absolutely amazing, its a shame they dropped the bomb on what to do with the media after the edit.
As for us, we use Sony’s XDCAM HD system and have used the XDCAM SD for the past year and a half. The workflow is awesome and being able to use the discs as data or as standard media was a huge plus. Besides, we ALWAYS have a backup copy on the shelf. Its price is more than Panasonic’s BUT you have a hard copy after your done.
So, If I were you, look very seriously at Sony’s XDCAM HD system. If you have any questions that you would like to have answered about this format, feel free to ask and I will try to answer any question that you may have.
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Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Second the XDcamHD thinking. A much better camera (ask Discovery channel not me) and just archive the disks. Mp4 proxys thrown in!
It was this hassle with P2 that put me off.
Alan in PALland
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I’m looking into a method for automating the process of archiving every P2 card onto DVD (as QT files, of course). For us that would be great, like random access tapes that cost a buck a pop.
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[Mark Arenz] “I’m looking into a method for automating the process of archiving every P2 card onto DVD (as QT files, of course). For us that would be great, like random access tapes that cost a buck a pop.”
Well, I guess that’s ok if you are going to use 4 gig P2 cards. But, if you use the 8 gig cards, you’ll have to use DL DVDs and they cost a bunch at the moment. You best option will probably be looking into a Blue Laser drive. Then again…. Disks are a little on the pricey side.
Sony’s XDCAM HD system is already done when you come out of the field. Yeah, its $30 a disc but its done.
And by the way, don’t archive as quicktime files. Its easier to relink and re-capture the native P2 files using FCP P2 Importer.
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Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
what is the editing workflow like with XDcam? i know it’s an mpeg 2 format like HDV (though i recall the GOP structure is different)….basically is it lilke HDV in that it turns your G5 into the performance of a beige G3?
G5 DP 2.0 (Power PC)
4.0G RAM
OS 10.4.8
QT 7.1.3
FCP 5.1.2
BMD Decklink Extreme 5.7.2
PAL Land -
Going tapeless – am I nuts?
I just had a head clog on a second camera I had running in the corner by itself which I was monitoring on a sony pvm-5041. I didn’t know I had a problem till I was able to get to the camera and saw the rf warning in the viewfinder. The first thing I thought of was tapeless! I’m thinking P2. If you remember the first dvd’s were over $50.00 each and now they are what .50
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We aren’t going COMPLETELY tapeless, but have two HVX-200s for B and C cameras to compliment the Varicam we use. Currenlty I back up all the footage to hard drives. When HD DVD technology comes out SOLID, then I will most likely archive to that format.
But we have had no issues with the P2 workflow. Works like a dream.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
How happy are you with the images you get from the HVX200?
Jim
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Very happy. Intercut with Varicam very well. Softer due to the built in lens and the 1/2 sized CCDS (really only noticable in CUs), but in many cases softer is preferred, so you do see every pore on the persons face.
Edited a broadcast documentary with them…very happy.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Does anyone know anything about this:
https://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/products/infinity/camcorder/
To me it looks like ultimate HD-solution, it has all the good things from both Sony/BluRay and Panasonic/P2 and none of those bad things in those formats?!?!
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