[Chip Hess]

I just wrapped up a location shoot here in Chicago, using exactly this setup. We used two external drives
for backup, just using the Store for reading, not storage. It was indeed an experience!

The biggest problem I encountered was viewing/verifying the files.
We are presently tied to FCP at this point, in terms of viewing files.
I got TONS of phantom error messages, only debunked by rather
time-consuming troubleshooting: restarts, reboots, reconfiguring.
All files on the cards turned out to be fine, but just try telling that
to FCP! Yikes.

I do not know if the culprit is the Universal 5.1 FCP, the laptop
or the nature of the MXF files. We were working very quickly,
turning over our four cards as fast as I could. We were shooting a feature,
and there were times we had to slow down shooting due to the workflow.
The problem is the patchwork nature of the viewers now, apparently
not the actual cards/format.

On location, I would recommend sticking with battery power.
God help you if you lose AC power, our system freaked out.
Also make sure to unmount the P2 Store before you eject/insert
a card. The cameras might “hot swap” fine, but the Store DOES NOT.
Trust me, don’t even think about it.

The pictures are sweet, but we need a third party vendor to step up
with a cross-platform software viewer designed around this format.

[Chip Hess]

Steve;

I am dubbing directly from my cam,
a JVC DV500 to VHS. Have gone through
all menu settings and I’ll be darned
if I can come up with anything.
I am taking sig from composite, too.

May just have to go with reading control track.

Thanks for the replies, all!

Chip

[Chip Hess]

Thanks so much!