Mag circulation

[Deanan]

How are people putting mags back in to circulation?

[Mark L. Pederson]

How are people putting mags back in to circulation?

Most jobs we use a small number of cards - as few as 4 - each card getting used 5 or more time in one day - we copy to two drives with checksum and currently re-format on camera - however - we want to move to a "never format on camera - only format in "copy/verify/database" utility.

If the job has unusually harsh conditions, we will consider just taking enough cards to get though the day or to lunch without re-formating.

With the REDRIVES, we always use TWO, so we can swap between set-ups and offload more often.

[Shawn Nelson]

I strictly format in camera, I thought it was better for the cards.

[Deanan]

"never format on camera - only format in "copy/verify/database"

I would highly recommend always formatting on camera because the camera will do it correctly. There can be differences in the way different tools format fat32 and the only way know for sure that it's being done correctly with respect to the camera is to do it on camera.

[Mark L. Pederson]

I would highly recommend always formatting on camera because the camera will do it correctly. There can be differences in the way different tools format fat32 and the only way know for sure that it's being done correctly with respect to the camera is to do it on camera.

100% agree - I said I would LIKE to move to a "not on camera" format - I don't have the right tool to do it "off camera" ... YET.

I still really want a "copy protect" / clone flag in the magazine profile ....

[Kyle Mallory]

2 drives, swap back and forth. Depends on the project and circumstances, but generally copy to PC/erase from drive, format in camera.

Sometimes we'll keep copy new footage off for backup, and then reinsert the drive, without deleting/formatting, and continue recording on it, appending to the existing clips.

Whacked, I know...

[Cail Young]

Format on the MBP on set once copied and verified to two drives. Instruct the AC to return any fresh card/drive that doesn't come up as 'Unformatted'.

i.e. the DMT makes the call when to empty the mag, not anyone at the camera.

[Harky Jewett]

So what is best to do?

Take the full CF card, copy over the footage, take it back to the camera, format and shoot?

[Paul Lee]

Maybe somebody takes a note, checks a box, etc.? (we like a nice paper trail, just in case we need to track down a problem :) )

PS- Hi Deanan. Edit goes REALLY well. We shot a ton of footage and are in fine-cut now, all at 2K in the suite, and many smiles. Learned some good stuff...

Two cameras rolling almost all the time, high shooting ratio, good old fashioned discipline. I think we hit about 365 reels and not a single problem with cards/data.

[Christopher Nagel]

I notice nearly everyone formats the media every time they put it on the camera. Is this the recommended procedure?

I suppose this could allow the card to rotate the FAT through its address space, but if the cards are not burn-leveling, would it not simply shorten the lifespan?

Chris