Tapeless Workflow For Freelancers

[Emre Tufekci s.o.a.]

For XDCAM, you hand off the cartridge.

For P2 a few options:

P2 store can be lent to very dependable clients but that is soon becoming redundant as P2 store is 60GB and 32 GB cards are out.

I download the material on the spot to P2 Store or Laptop on location and transfer to clients hard drive right there.

You can take the material home and either FTP server it or burn disc/copy to another hard drive.

I have never handed my P2 cards to a client as if they get lost, even if they replace them, I am out of business for the time being.Sometimes clients will bring a fs-100 or rent cards for me.

XDCAM EX: Should provide similar workflows as the P2

Ikegami: I have a friend who’s company invested in ikegami’s and they are as sorry as they can be. They have no solutions. They hate the systems.

Hope this helps.

Emre
http://www.productionpit.com
Boxx Tech PC, dual-dual AMD 2.0,4BG ram,Avidexpress HD w/Mojo,UVW-1800,DSR-25, Adobe Premium CS3.Steadicam OP/Owner.

“Creative cow is udder madness.”

[David C jones]

Thanks for the info. I’m still considering which way to go, P2 or EX, but it sounds like workflow issues would be the same ether way. I guess I would be concerned with downloading on a clients laptop because, wouldn’t they need to have clip software already installed? I also wonder if they would want to wait around while the footage downloads. I guess I’m just use to working with producers from tv shows that always seem to be in to big of a hurry for anything!

That’s interesting about the Ikigami system. I was looking at it a while ago, but could never get much info on it at the time.

[Zane Barker]

[David Jones] “I guess I’m just use to working with producers from tv shows that always seem to be in to big of a hurry for anything! “

Then have them provide the P2 cards!

Happy Editing To You!!

[Emre Tufekci s.o.a.]

I also wonder if they would want to wait around while the footage downloads. I guess I’m just use to working with producers from tv shows that always seem to be in to big of a hurry for anything!

For people that are in that much of a rush “can” generally afford to rent the cards. Speed, cost, quality…they get to pick 2 only.

I guess I would be concerned with downloading on a clients laptop because, wouldn’t they need to have clip software already installed?

Panasonic has a free P2 viewer software available for PC.There are also a plethora of choices availible from commercial sources your clients should have if they want to go tapeless.

I’m still considering which way to go, P2 or EX, but it sounds like workflow issues would be the same ether way.

If you are looking to choose between P2 or EX the workflow is similar but the technology is completely different. Long GOP vs. I frame, 4:2:0 vs 4:2:2 full raster vs pixel shifting. With P2 AVC-I full raster differance has actually gone away.

I chose to go P2 because I do a lot of effects/Green screen and compositing work.Panasonic has been at the solid state media business longer so the have a lead. At the time of my purchase (2 years ago) there were no tapeless 4:2:2 options. And I dont think there still is.

PS; I think it’s the first time I used the word “plethora” in a sentence. 😛

Cheers,

Emre
http://www.productionpit.com
Boxx Tech PC, dual-dual AMD 2.0,4BG ram,Avidexpress HD w/Mojo,UVW-1800,DSR-25, Adobe Premium CS3.Steadicam OP/Owner.

“Creative cow is udder madness.”

[David C jones]

In situations like the one I described, I think you’re right the field producer will just show up with a “case” of cards to shoot on. There is still the question of what format to go with; I really like the full-size P2 cameras but, I’m having visions of the M-II debacle. I kind of feel like we’re already headed down that path (I know…I just started something with that statement…lol).

[Randall Raymond]

[David Jones] “In situations like the one I described, I think you’re right the field producer will just show up with a “case” of cards to shoot on.”

Probably, and more likely, he’ll show up with a $70 hard-drive (250gig) – cheaper than tape or cards – or decks or card readers back at the studio. I think that scenario will pan out for either brand of cameras. The beauty of a digit is it’s ubiquitousness – the ‘media’ becomes anywhere it resides.

[Kyle Self]

“There is still the question of what format to go with; I really like the full-size P2 cameras but, I’m having visions of the M-II debacle. I kind of feel like we’re already headed down that path”

Your still thinking in terms of tape formats. Neither is a format, they are storage devices. Granted they are storage devices that are company specific, but they are still only storage devices.

You can record to either card in a format that is easily used by most places. It is not like needing to worry over whether the place you go has the correct VTR to play your tape. It is a computer file that is pretty easily handled.

The best part? Both the P2 and the SxS cards will handle new formats, they are after all only computer storage devices. Unlike a tape deck you will be good to go with a new format change. Well at least until the new recording format requires more bandwidth than the card can provide.

Talk to your clients and get their thoughts on how they want to handle the footage.

K

[David C jones]

My only point compairing M2 with P2 is that not enough companies have adopted it (yet anyway), and that the (p2) format is already becoming outdated. Now before everyone starts screaming “bloody murder”, I understand that you can get a $100 adapter. That’s fine for now, but if the newer format (sxs) becomes dominant, or even Sony’s disk cams, will Panasonic bail on P2 for another format (like they did with M2)? All that being said, I am still considering the P2, but the cards really need to come down in price.

[Steve Wargo]

David

Have you been to the P2 forum. We just discussed this very thing last month. My prediction is that producers will someday carry 250Gb solid state storage drives that plug into the cameras. But that is in the way distant future, like 24 months from now.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
Sony EX-1 has arrived and it’s fascinating.

[David C jones]

I just now checked out the P2 forum. I think you’re right about 250Gb storage drives. And, that the whole workflow thing with tapeless cameras will be more “in place” in about 48 months. But that’s so long from now! lol.