Mini App to format Drive on a computer

[Steve Freebairn]

I'd really like an application that could format the Red Drives on the computer and force reels so that once I download the drive, I could then open the app, force a reel and format the drive so that when I swapped the drive on the camera between takes, that it would be a faster process.

[J. Eric Camp]

I completely agree. It could almost be a widget.

[Emery Wells]

Yep, would be fantastic. Especially since the format changes in build 15. It takes a few extra seconds I just don't have.

[dewaldaukema]

Would be good. Graham?

[bobbystone]

What format are the RED Drives?

[Steve Freebairn]

They are Fat32, but that isn't the issue, it's forcing the reel that would be super handy.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Could just do it with AppleScript / Automator, make a droplet right on the desktop or dock. Drag the volume icon to it and it will prompt with the next reel based on your last format or you can change it, confirm the format and done.

On Windows, it's a bit more involved... Probably best handled as a simple app. Doing it through vbscript, python, java, etc.. would still need to interface to the OS format function and it's a real pain to convince the format function to create a FAT32 volume beyond 32GB without error. ..Or interface with some other third-party format tool.

[Deanan]

Please don't do it. We recommend (I would insist with arm twisting if I could) that you always format on the camera. We have seen problems when we've tested formatting off camera.

[Evin Grant]

OK then how do I keep the camera ascending reels numbers. It seems like as soon as I force a reel number the next reel is one generated in sequence from some total sum of cards as opposed to the one after the force reel. And having non-sequential card numbers is really a pain the ass when trying to conform in Crimson.

[Deanan]

We're making some changes to how the reels #s are handled.

[Cail Young]

OK then how do I keep the camera ascending reels numbers. It seems like as soon as I force a reel number the next reel is one generated in sequence from some total sum of cards as opposed to the one after the force reel.

Flip the project base framerate to something other than your shooting rate then back again before you format the first card of each project. This will reset the counter properly. After that, just don't use force reel.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

OK Deanan, I won't do it. :matrix:


Flip the project base framerate to something other than your shooting rate then back again before you format the first card of each project. This will reset the counter properly. After that, just don't use force reel.

Good tip.

[Emery Wells]

Flip the project base framerate to something other than your shooting rate then back again before you format the first card of each project. This will reset the counter properly. After that, just don't use force reel.

Very good tip. The reel numbering was driving me mad!

[Mark L. Pederson]

Very good tip. The reel numbering was driving me mad!
problem is - people do this by mistake all the time - see #2 in this thread -

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13303

[Emery Wells]

problem is - people do this by mistake all the time - see #2 in this thread -

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13303

Mark, In another thread I suggested having user definable presets. So if you are shooting 4k 2:1 and 2k 2:1 60fps for highspeed on a particular job, you set those up in a preset beforehand and just toggle back and forth with one button in the menu. This is a bit off topic though.

Glad to hear the reel numbering is being refined. I'd like the ability to force the reel in the reel formatting dialog.

In addition to the normal formatting warning, it should also tell us what reel number the card will be formatted as and give us the option to change it right then and there.

[Steve Freebairn]

We're making some changes to how the reels #s are handled.

That's great!

If should have an option that lets you automatically force the reel every time a drive or card gets mounted that increases by 1 even if the drive has other media on it (in that case it would create a "virtual reel" as it says in the manual)

[Harry Clark]

Deanan,
That change CANNOT come too soon. The reel numbering slog is the MOST frustrating thing about the camera, even more than boot-up time! ;)
Cheers,
Harry

[ayarbro]

I must agree, telling first ACs that the need to add the extra step in when they are already having a hard time understanding the system is frusterating for them and gets them angry at the DIT types.

[Trevor Meier]

Want frustrating? Try having to swap a body out and maintain reel numbers. I had to sit in the camera truck and format a CF card 47 times to get the reel on the new body to match what it was replacing...

... which I wouldnt've have to do if RED let us have a service centre in town. (Just saying...)