Clint Fleckenstein
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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I’m looking to do the same: archive files to PDW-U1. I’m using a Mac. I was certainly hoping to be able to do this, yet I can’t even figure out where to start! I put in a blank disc, and my only options are to Ignore or Eject.
I just got the drive (Firmware 2.065) but it doesn’t show up as a device anywhere on my Mac. It shows up as a USB device in Windows XP using Parallels, but I don’t want to us it with Windows. I run FCP Studio 2.
This thing’s gonna be a $2500 boat anchor (and a real dent in my workflow plan) if I can’t store files on it.
Cf
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“I think it really comes down to how much you’re willing to invest in your workflow.”
Sure, but throwing money at it doesn’t necessarily make it better. In our case, I’m leaning toward consolidating our cards as we transfer them. Just glancing at the description of Shotput, I don’t see that available. I’m going to fill out the lengthy form and get a demo copy to look at, for sure.
Automatic copying, formatting, and renaming sure looks cool if you’re cranking out full SxS cards all day. Copying to multiple locations automatically looks sweet, because there’s no way I’m coming home with only one copy of my offloaded footage.
It sure looks like a handy tool, but I don’t think the workflow using only the Sony tools is broken. I look forward to seeing how the demo shapes up. If it’s as useful a piece of software as you suggest, it’s well worth the price…even if it’s only occasionally used.
Cf
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I’m still working out these details myself. Shotput looks pretty cool if you are cranking out cards and want a utility to make quick, methodical backups. In our case I think we’re going to go the route of using Clip Browser to consolidate the cards from each shoot.
One thing about shooting cards that you reformat and reuse with a quick turnaround is that each card’s ID really isn’t all that useful. An exception might be if you are trying to track down a faulty card…but that might manifest itself when using error correction during shot transfer.
I like the idea of Shotput reformatting and renaming the card when it’s done, but again I don’t know how useful that really is if you’re reusing a card every hour or two.
I remain convinced so far that we’re going to use the following workflow on each location: a) use Clip Browser to consolidate the clips (with CRC) to a common directory assigned for that day’s shoot; and b) use XDCAM Transfer to assemble any split clips and re-wrap the footage as .MOV files for use. I do plan to copy to a second drive as a backup in the field, and it’s nice that Shotput will automate that process…but so far it looks like the Sony tools are quite capable. If we find shortcomings there that Shotput or other software addresses, then we’ll look at that solution.
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Sorry…I missed that you tried that in the original post. There I go, rushing to be helpful, but not reading too closely. 🙁
Clint
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According to the manual (We just got our EX1, I’ve been too busy to start playing with it) the menu item for IR REMOTE automatically sets itself to OFF every time the camcorder is powered down. I have no idea why.
My guess is you’ll just have to enable it in the menu.
Cf
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I’m a little confused on the Decklink/MXO adapters. Do I have to give up my second DVI output as a computer monitor when using these devices? I like to park my palettes for Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. in my second monitor, as well as XP Pro in a window using Parallels. Being limited to one monitor for my computer desktop is NOT an attractive option. I’m unable to find anything about this on either manufacturer’s website.
Thanks,
Clint -
Same here. My decision to recommend XDCAM EX to my boss hinges on being able to archive footage to XDCAM disc media. Once Sony makes this drive usable as an archiving device, they set themselves apart as having a tapeless format with some decent archiving capabilities.
Cf
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There’s something reassuring about being able to stick a tape in our fire safe and be reasonably sure it’s going to stay there intact. Of course, trying to jam HDV onto those same goofy little tapes is NOT very reassuring. I’d rather shoot tapeless and archive to XDCAM discs using that drive, so I’m eyeing that workflow very closely. Then we can stuff the discs into our gigantic safe just the way we’ve done with tapes in the past.
Cf
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The archiving issue has been the one thing that’s had me in a holding pattern on HD at our shop for a while. I need something that I can archive because our footage is ALWAYS being used across projects. We have a wide variety of clients that have stuck with us for ten years or more, so it’s handy to have their footage available.
I also need to be able to have footage available for project managers to review. I’m really excited about an EX1/EX3 option with a Firestore type of device for backup in the field, and the XDCAM disc format for archiving. At around $25 a disc, that starts looking pretty comparable to DV/HDV media (providing you fill the disc, which our projects would do). It just depends on how well that drive works.
We’re meeting on this very subject again today, and from my perspective (and my daily magazine/web reading) it seems that the XDCAM EX format seems to be the way to go for a shop that’s been on DV for so long, and the only format with an archiving solution that fits our needs.
Clint F
Bismarck ND -
Most likely the Acers have drives that only read one flavor of DVD media. We have this issue with older computers we test with in our shop.
Clint