Formatting CF cards from computer?

[Brandon Fraley]

I've read that some people format their cards from their computer after copying over the data and that this can be more efficient on set. I was reading RED manual and it discusses formatting from a computer, but I didn't see it mention anything about making sure the cards have proper reel names or about generating profile information.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

THANKS! :)

[Harry Clark]

I use r3d manager. It has an excellent "reformat red media" control panel.
Saves time on set... though 16 gig cards format lickety split in camera, so the most dramatic time saver is with Red Raids.
Cheers,
Harry

[Brandon Fraley]

thanks Harry. Is there a way just in finder to format the card, but make sure it has the right sequential reel name, and also the correct profile files?

[godxiang]

thanks Harry. Is there a way just in finder to format the card, but make sure it has the right sequential reel name, and also the correct profile files?

I think Harry's way is OK,the sequence reel name is OK.try

[J. Eric Camp]

Brandon the answer is no. Even if you format in finder and put the right reel name in... you still need the mag profiles for the camera to see it as a mag and those profiles need to key to the same name.

Right now R3d manager is the only app that can do this to my knowledge. However, Red's stance is that this is not nearly as reliable as formatting on camera.

Use at your discretion.

[Alex Carr]

I would avoid doing this, even with R3d Data Manager. Formatting on Camera is the best low risk way of doing it. Ive seen a mag with a different name than files recorded or from a different camera. (Like 1st AC forgot to format, and the Reel Name came from .profile file)

For consistency format on Camera. Don't Like drives? Use Cards.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I've had issues with the formatting in R3D DM. Always best to just format in the camera. You can speed up the process a bit by deleting the profiles from the root directory of your media after offloading. Then when you insert the media into the camera, it will assume it's unformatted.

[Brandon Fraley]

Thanks guys :) This was all I needed to know. I'm always looking for the best way to do things, and if it's not recommended to format away from the camera, then I won't be doing it that way.

[Casey Schendel]

I'd be scared to format on a computer just because I could wind up with the same file names by accident one day. I've never used the r3d app but I think that would give possibly the same problem,