Ann: New Mac P2 offload software. Beta testers needed....

[Anders Holck]

Update
Ok, P2 Genie v1 is available:

http://p2genie.andersholck.com

You can download a full featured demo (limited to 15 sessions) or support the development and buy the registered version for €25, using credit card or a PayPal account.

The final interface for v1 looks like this:
http://p2genie.andersholck.com/P2%20Genie/Images/Picture%207.png

Feel free to try it out!

(The "Use single Folder" option is not active in this version, but will be in an point update later. I had some last minute issues that I want to iron out first)





After 14 days with the Hvx-200e, 2 x 4GB cards (and a few days with the P2 store) I got tired of backing up the cards and partitions. Not to mention an endless amount of renaming.

Well, my solution is a small utility I call P2 Genie.
Basically it takes all mounted P2 cards and P2 store partitions and copies them to a selectable destination. The smart thing is that it will automatically copy each P2 item to a unique folder at this destination, with an incrementing reel number. You can set the starting reel number by typing it or use the + and - buttons. The last reel will be remembered when you quit the utility so you can continue the sequence when you relaunch it.
When it is done you can eject all P2 cards and partitions by a single button.

Here is a screenshot of the current beta build:
http://www.andersholck.com/Beta4Teaser.jpg
Upcoming Beta 4




And some of the older builds:
http://www.andersholck.com/b3a.jpg
Beta 3


http://www.andersholck.com/b2b.jpg
Beta 2


http://www.andersholck.com/b2a.jpg
Beta 2


http://www.andersholck.com/P2 Genie.jpg
Beta 1
The left finder window shows the P2 partitions on a P2 store, the right one shows my selected destination, where I have already backed up 2 cards in another session.
The P2 Genie window is the center one. It has detected all 5 P2 partitions and if you click start backup it will copy the 5 partitions to the folders: 25, 26, 27 ,28, 29.

Send me a private message if you are interested in testing it...

[The Sarlacc]

Interesting. I'm still trying to grasp exactly what you are doing...I have the basic idea.

What I want is the ability to do this IN camera, and then have it translate to the P2 Store under the same method.

Til then, I opt not to use the P2 Store.

[Anders Holck]

As I don't have the P2 store yet (I tried a borrowed unit for a few days) I offload directly to my Powerbook using the cardbus slot.
Using my utility I just awake the powerbook insert the P2 card and click "start Backup", keep shooting and when it's done, I eject the card.
No need to fiddle in the finder.

The last two features I'm implementing is verify and automatic emptying of the cards. With that in place it's a one-click system.

[The Sarlacc]

As I don't have the P2 store yet (I tried a borrowed unit for a few days) I offload directly to my Powerbook using the cardbus slot.
Using my utility I just awake the powerbook insert the P2 card and click "start Backup", keep shooting and when it's done, I eject the card.
No need to fiddle in the finder.

The last two features I'm implementing is verify and automatic emptying of the cards. With that in place it's a one-click system.


Brilliant!!!

Figure how to get it to dump the card and its genius.

My only suggestion...is that only having one roll per 4gb card, is a bit of a waste. Anyway to get at least 2 or 3 cards into one roll?

I very much like where you are going with this, bravo.

[Bill Southworth]

Nice work. I'd love to try it.

I'm using four 8GB cards and a P2 Store. Most days I end up only using the two to four cards (170 minutes of 720/24PN). Then I load them directly into a Powerbook. I'm migrating to a Macbook Pro and will need to use the P2 Store more as the intermediate reader. Currently I find keeping track of the shot order a bit tricky. File names sometimes get recycled and SMPTE time some times gets out of order. I need to be very careful about copying the cards in the order they were used. Anything that can help keep this all more organized will be a huge help.

[pkendall]

I would LOVE the ablity to put everything in one folder. too many partitions too many folders, too many clips.. too confusing..

[SPZ]

Great idea Anders.

[PKraft]

Anders, great idea. While have cam this weekend to test.
Would love to test your app on my PBG4. Will send PM.

Best

[RichardVClark]

I would love to try it!!!

[Anders Holck]

Great response...
I will make a new beta build which will function for 14 days, (I will get an update out before that) and send out to you guys.

[ckarcher]

same here anders... looks like a great little app. I sent you a message: please count me in!

[jeffyjones]

Well done. I knew someone would do something like this sooner than later. I was thinking about writing something for Windows to do the same thing, though I'm pretty firmly sticking with the Mac from here out.

[Matt De Jesus]

Anders,
Great job! I was wondering if your utility will also format the P2 card instead of having to do it in camera or in a P2 Store? Thanks.

[steadicamsteel]

Hi Anders,

I PM'd you but got no reply?

Have you filled the Beta Tester Spaces?

Regards

Rich

[David Saraceno]

I also e mailed him yesterday with no reply.

Are you out there Anders?

[Anders Holck]

I will send everyone that PM's me a demo build.

As I'm busy today and tomorrow you should recieve it sunday the latest, Danish time.

[ckarcher]

Hi Anders, any news on the beta test? I have a shoot on wed. (usa time) and would love to take my laptop any your software along with a P2store on the shoot.


best,

Chris

[Anders Holck]

Ok, everyone I have emailed the beta to everyone who send me a private message with an email address.

If you didn't receive it and still want to test, please send me a PM at this board or an email at p2genie(at)andersholck.com, but you must provide an email address.

[ckarcher]

Anders, great software! I just used it for 4 reels on my p2 store and it worked perfectly.


bravo!

[rightfrog]

This sounds like a great idea. I'm shooting a short film this weekend and would love to try it out...

Thanks,

[deadhead]

Once again, Anders solves another problem. WHat a great programmer!!!!

PS I'll take a copy of the beta to emailists1 at yahoo

[Paul Nordin]

Anders, this little program rocks! Downloaded 11 volumes off my P2 Store with just a couple of clicks, no problems. Major timesaver at the end of long shooting days.

[dglasgal]

great job- hook us up!

[Anders Holck]

Ok Beta 2 is out and sent to everyone who sent me a PM.

The main feature in this release is emptying of P2 cards.
I haven't tested it with a P2 store yet, as I don't have one...But I would guess you would still have to format that independently.

Send me a PM if you did not receive this new release...

[tlorenzo]

Great idea, Anders. Wish I had an HVX to test your software (maybe this is an excuse to buy one) :-). How about a setting that will automatically unload all files when you insert a P2 card and delete them on the card afterwards? Isn't that basically what the P2 Store does? A small laptop with a big harddrive and a USB2/Firewire PCMCIA reader would do the job, wouldn't it?

Tony

[Anders Holck]

How about a setting that will automatically unload all files when you insert a P2 card and delete them on the card afterwards? Isn't that basically what the P2 Store does?

On the P2 store you have to mount the cards and press the start button for 2 secs. to offload
Then when done you have to eject the card, reinsert it, press the erase card button for 2 secs.and then press the start button for 2 secs to erase the card.

With my software (beta 2) you:
Insert the card and hit enter (when it is mounted) to offload.
When done hit escape to empty the card and eject it.


? A small laptop with a big harddrive and a USB2/Firewire PCMCIA reader would do the job, wouldn't it?

A P2 card is a Cardbus device not a PCMCIA device, so you need a Cardbus slot.
There are currently no USB/Firewire cardbus readers except panasonics expesive 5 slot device.

[tlorenzo]

On the P2 store you have to mount the cards and press the start button for 2 secs. to offload
Then when done you have to eject the card, reinsert it, press the erase card button for 2 secs.and then press the start button for 2 secs to erase the card.


Damn - that sounds cumbersome. I guess that's what camera assistants are for ;-)


With my software (beta 2) you:
Insert the card and hit enter (when it is mounted) to offload.
When done hit escape to empty the card and eject it.

Pretty simple. My idea was just to simplify the workflow even more - if possible. Good work, Anders!


A P2 card is a Cardbus device not a PCMCIA device, so you need a Cardbus slot.
There are currently no USB/Firewire cardbus readers except panasonics expesive 5 slot device.

I see - thanks for clearing that up for me, Anders. The Cardbus interface is "just" a 32-bit version of the PCMCIA interface, right?

Tony

[Anders Holck]

The cardbus slot is a full PCI bus implementation with hotswap, that is backwards compatible with PCMCIA cards (so you can still mount PCMCIA cards in the slot). The

[Anders Holck]

Here is a screenshot of the current beta build:
http://www.andersholck.com/b2a.jpg
http://www.andersholck.com/b2b.jpg

[Anders Holck]

Beta 3 is away:
http://www.andersholck.com/b3a.jpg
New autoloader mode

http://www.andersholck.com/b3b.jpg
New splashscreen. What a nice guy :-)

New features are:

- New Autoloader mode as suggested by mr. lorenzo. It allows you to offload P2 cards automatically. Just insert a P2 card, and P2 Genie will automatically detect, offload, empty and eject the card. Pretty neat and works great.

- Folders are now created with leading zeros. So reel "7" is now "007" when created.

- The "empty cards" drawer setting is now remembered between launches. The new autoloader mode is also sticky between launches.

[ullanta]

Any chance you could add verification?

[Anders Holck]

Yes, i'm working on that. I use unix commands for the copy operation, and I think there must be a copy tool that verifies....
I use "ditto" at the moment.

[mccainds]

So how to I purchase this little app? How much will it cost? I am ready to move on software like this hoping it will clear up the problems I have been having with the P2 workflow with laptop.

[J P]

Sounds awesome!

Can this program backup the files to DVD? One 4GB card fits nicely on a DVD-R.

[Illya Friedman]

Anders,

I think what you're doing is awesome. This is the first fan-coded P2 mac app of which I'm aware.

What you're doing is equivalent to composing a sonnet to a true love, and will surely encourage others to adapt more innovations.

Congrats!

I.

[filmstox]

Anders,

Congrats on getting Genie off the ground. An idea, have you played with including multiple destinations? My workflow is to copy to two drives and having Genie do it would be wonderful!

Unfortunately I am running 10.3.9 and haven't yet tried the app but am eager to break it in.

Keep it up!

-filmstox

[Anders Holck]

Yes I'm looking into multiple destinations.

The dilemma i'm facing is that there are two ways to do it:

A. The easy one: Use the code I already have and simple do the same copyoperation twice to to different destinations. Very easy to do, but it now takes 2x the amount of time before you can pull the P2 card.

B. The hard one: First copy to Destination A, then erase the card contents, eject the card, and then copy from destination A to Destination B. At first it sounds pretty easy, but what it you connect a P2 store or multiple cards. In that case I have to copy all the artitions first, keep track of the destination folders, erase and eject the originals before making a backup of the backup.

I could do the first option pretty fast as I just have to repeat the copy operation twice in my code, but the last option is best for "on set" shooting or when using the autoloader mode.

PS. Now do that upgrade!!!!

[Anders Holck]

BTW. I'm working on a licensing scheme at the moment. The easiest way for me is to make builds that are tied to a specific machine. So you send me the machine serial number from the system profiler and I deliver the software in an email. How does that sound, that the software is locked to a specific machine?

[tlorenzo]

I guess you're right - tying the app to the machine would be a pretty straightforward way to solve the licensing problem, but that would require two licenses if the customer wants to install your app onto both a desktop machine and a laptop - and it would give you a lot of continuous support when people get new machines because they would need an updated application from you every time.

Another way to solve this issue would be to program some sort of encryption algorithm that takes the user's name and e-mail address and makes a registration key/serial that they'd enter when the program starts up for the first time. It would require you to store this information in the preferences so the user wouldn't have to enter this information every time he or she opens the application. It's not a bulletproof way to do it - but then again... there's no such thing as software that can't be cracked ;-)

Tony

[Mike@AF]

BTW. I'm working on a licensing scheme at the moment. The easiest way for me is to make builds that are tied to a specific machine. So you send me the machine serial number from the system profiler and I deliver the software in an email. How does that sound, that the software is locked to a specific machine?

Then how about allowing two installs per purchase. I will have a PowerBook/MacBook Pro on set for transfers and a PowerMac G5 for editing in post.

[Anders Holck]

Yes, that would be an option as well.
As I will make an automated buildsystem connected to a database it would be pretty easy to allow several machine serials in the same build.
The great thing about this is that you can install the same build on all the systems you register for, and I will only send a single email.

Well, I don't want to spend to much time/energy on this as I think there is a limited audience for this utility. Just want to make a usefull tool really.

[Anders Holck]

Yes, the downside it that i'd have to make a new build every time a user gets a new machine. The great thing is that it's pretty easy to implement...

[Bhaskar Dhungana]

how about selling the software to Panasonic who could bundle it with their P2 devices???

[Anders Holck]

Here is a teaser of P2 Genie Beta4:
http://www.andersholck.com/Beta4Teaser.jpg

Two new features:
Filmstox Naming and 2'nd destination...

[CareyB]

Hey, sign me up. I'm ready when you are.

Thanks,

Carey

[tlorenzo]

Anders - get some sleep already! If you keep working nights and days then we won't see a version 2 of this app ;-)

Tony

[Anders Holck]

Beta 4 is out.
Changes in Beta 4:

- New 'Filmstox' Naming Scheme Instead of the progressing Reel number you now have the option of tagging the destination card folders with a project name combined with the modification date of the Last file of the card in the following format: Project_MMDDYY_TIME

- 2'nd destination. Now you can backup to 2 destinations at the same time. Both copies are made from the P2 card, so backup duration is exactly times 2.

- EXPERIMENTAL. P2 Genie will now quit the backup when it meets an empty card. This is just to test a possible operational scenario. Please comment if this is annoying!!!

- It's now impossible to overwrite a destination folder If the destination cardname folder has been used before the new folder follows this convention:
In 'Filmstox' name mode: First copy: PROJECT_MMDDYY_TIME, 2'nd copy: PROJECT_MMDDYY_TIME_1
In normal mode: First copy: 010, 2'nd copy: 011.

- New Online Help. Available from the Help menu.

- New registration serial check.

[filmstox]

A. The easy one: Use the code I already have and simple do the same copyoperation twice to to different destinations. Very easy to do, but it now takes 2x the amount of time before you can pull the P2 card.


Actually I like option A better, I ran into a problem where there was a bad copy on a card to drive A and the error just propigated to drive B. I look at the second drive as a process redundancy not just a hardware redundancy. It does take longer but I'm planning to use it for dumping the P2 store to the back up drives at the end of the day so the added time won't be that big of a deal.

So you use the single copy option while shooting (same security as the P2 Store) and the multi-copy option for end of day dumps.

(and yes, the update is on the way)

-filmstox

[jeffyjones]

Why are you asking for serial numbers now? That's a little ridiculous, and you don't need that information to have people test for you.

[Anders Holck]

Well one of the things to test is the possible security scheme. I haven't decided on a licence plan / price for the utility yet, but it might include this nonintrusive hardware check.

[jeffyjones]

Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.

[PKraft]

Anders,
sent you an email with a serial number problem - my PB does nor have a serial number any more after its mother board has been changed :-(
Any other options?

[David Saraceno]

Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.

Have you used this thing?

It's fabulous, and it's worth the price of admission, at least to me.

I don't know what Anders intends to charge, but if it's reasonable, I'm in.

Plus, exactly what community are you talking about?

May be Jarred or Barry should give away Boot Camp or the book should give it away for the good of the community.

[Anders Holck]

Well, that's certainly a show stopper for my scheme....
Hmm.....well back to the drawing board then...It was just so easy to do it this way :-(

[Brian Petersen]

Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.

I've been testing it and it's great! He's done good work with this. And why do you have to jump on his back for trying to earn a little back for the time he has spent into this. "For the good of the community"? How about this. He'll give you the P2 Genie in exchange for an 8GB P2 Card. It's all of for the good of the community.

[bgundu]

Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.


Give me a break. "the good of the community" means you help people out. Paying for something that you use to make your life easier is a no-brainer.

[PKraft]

Well, that's certainly a show stopper for my scheme....
Hmm.....well back to the drawing board then...It was just so easy to do it this way :-(
Anders, can't you have P2Genie suck the serial number off the processor?
Needs to be done only once, with each licence comprising the right to register two
processors.
Will email you a concept for a safe licencing process tomorrow.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

:) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[filmstox]

Well, that's certainly a show stopper for my scheme....
Hmm.....well back to the drawing board then...It was just so easy to do it this way :-(
Anders,

You could always do what Maya used to do and use the machine's MAC address. (Not the Manufacturer but the unique ID of the Network Addapter)

Alternately, you could follow Panasonics example and use the Serial Number of the Camera, then people could install on more than one machine.

-filmstox

[jeffyjones]

You guys have got to be kidding me. It's a file copying program. I suspect you could write scripts to do this.

[Jared Meyer]

So do it!

[jeffyjones]

I just did. You can create a workflow in Automator to do it.

If you want to spend money on something like that, go for it. My initial objection had more to do with the fact that someone asked for my help to test something they'd later reveal they want to sell.

[bgundu]

You guys have got to be kidding me. It's a file copying program. I suspect you could write scripts to do this.


That's not the point.

[PKraft]

I just did. You can create a workflow in Automator to do it.

If you want to spend money on something like that, go for it. My initial objection had more to do with the fact that someone asked for my help to test something they'd later reveal they want to sell.
I have no clue how Automator can be scripted. Would you mind sharing that Automator file with us?
Is it be as elegant as Anders' app?

[Cut2muz]

Great thing about a free market economy is that people can choose to buy or invest on their own free will. I'll pay someone a resonable fee for work I can't or don't want to do, hence the PA. Ander has released FCP Rescue which is free and a great time saver if I'm working and a money saver if I'm paying. I offer my support and hope others do as well. Beta testing gave me a free great time saver and brain saver for a while, better than what I had before. I've beta tested for huge corporations before and I get a shirt and lots of frustration when the final rev is released and they do what they want in the first place.

Don Wilson

[Anders Holck]

Jeff.

I started to develop P2 Genie because I needed the tool myself.
Just like when I developed FCP Rescue (which is also just a file copy tool)
The reason why I want to charge something for P2 genie, is because it will demand much more work to implement the features I am planning for the final release.
And let's not forget that we are talking about trusting the utility to backup very precious files, so these routines need to be bullet proof.
Then there is the aspect of support.
Even a very small utility like FCP Rescue, produced a lot of support emails, which I off cause all answered. But it still takes time to troubleshoot etc.

Actually I'm pretty stunned by your reaction. If you read the email in which I enclosed the very first Beta version of my P2 Genie to you, or read the splash screen, there was actually a blurb about this utility being shareware. That's shareware as in "It costs something, but only a small amount, and only so I can fund further improvements and do the support part"

Here is the info paragraph from the first email I sent to you. Note the last paragraph:

Some very important info (please read):

- You need Mac os x 10.4.

- Please don't distribute this demo to third parties. It's mighty fine to show it off, but please direct people to send me an email at: p2genie@andersholck.com to apply for a demo.

- This demo is only valid for 14 days. I don't want any of these early builds to stick around so please be aware that it will expire around the 30'th. I will send a new build out in good time for you to update.

- The mounted cards and the partitions on the P2 store must be unnamed to be detected by P2 genie, so has to mount as "No Name" in the finder. I'm working on a more advanced algorithm for card detection for a future release.

- Interface is locked during copy operation, so there is currently no way to abort an ongoing copy operation. Use force quit to abort.

- Only some premature error code is implemented at this time. I haven't experienced any errors though, so it should not be a problem.

- Card emptying is not implemented yet, but ejecting is :-)

- This beta "program" allows you to help me creating my little utility, when finished it will be distributed as shareware. I haven't decided on a price yet, but if you have an idea of what it's worth for you please comment on that as well. I'm no capitalist, but some funds to help improve the app would be great.

And from the beta 2 email:


Introduction:

Ok, now we have an option to empty our cards when ejecting!
PLEASE, be carefull. Be aware that I won't be accountable for your actions.
Remember that this is a beta so start with material that is expendable.
Also please report back at p2genie@andersholck.com.

I especially need your thought's on:
- Features Any other features I should cram into the utility?
- Price What should the price be for this utitlity?
- Bugs Anything?

And from beta 3:


Please report back at: p2genie@andersholck.com

- Features Any other features I should cram into the utility?
- Price What should the price be for this utitlity?
- Bugs Anything?
- Spelling English is not my native language, so if you catch any funny spelling errors please report it.

Then in the Beta 4 email I added this blurb about the need to send your machine serial to be able to run beta 5:


Note: The next public beta of P2 Genie requires registration! (From Beta 5 and foreward)
To get it running you need to send me your machine serial number in an email.
The machine serial is easily obtained in the hardware pane of the System profiler.
If you don't send me the serial, I will delete you from the Beta list as you won't be able to run Beta 5 without it :-)
Thank you for taking the time to test my software...


So I gave you four free betas and offered you a fifth free beta version, if only you sent me your machine serial number. There was newer any talk of you giving any money for the betas, and right from the start in the very first beta I stated that the final goal was to distribute my finished utility as shareware, and not freeware.

If you browse the shareware catalog at versiontracker.com you'll find that most shareware is in the $10-$40 pricerange, and should give you a clue of the potential price of P2 genie when I finish it up. Until then it's a FREE beta program.

If you want to make a free alternative as a set of applescripts or automator actions you are very welcome to do so. But be aware that this has already been done, and are available as a free download elsewhere on these boards.

If that solution is good enough for you, then by all means use that instead.
My aim with P2 Genie is to make the best offload solution on the Mac with features such as the autoloader which will automatically detect, copy empty and eject P2 cards as you mount them, automatic renaming of the folders and so forth. My goals for beta 5 are renaming of the Media files themselves(So you can tag them with the project name), an option to compile all the offloaded cards into one folder (Making one big P2 card) and browsing P2 cards by the Icon files.
All of these feature takes a great deal of time to do properly but they are indeed very useful at least for my workflow. And why not offer it to others as well :-)

[PKraft]

Anders,
as I emailed you, my PBG4 has no serial number any more (you know why).
What do I do now to remain included in your list of Beta5 testers?

[bgundu]

I have no clue how Automator can be scripted. Would you mind sharing that Automator file with us?
Is it be as elegant as Anders' app?


http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/automator/

[HansK]

Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.
Hopefully there aren't products on your computer from Apple, Adobe, etc. that have been "donated" for the good of the community. :)

[captainkirkby]

Good Job Ann,

Would like to try it. You say it will be able to empty the card once downloaded to
my G4 right? How can I get a chance to try it?

Jeffrey

[monolith]

Anders - fabo idea, however I'm somewhat fond of my P2 Store. You mentioned a while back that you were wrestling with the logistics of dealing with multiple cards/partitions - does your view of the future include a P2 Store dedicated/compatible P2 Genie?

[OliverM]

Anders, just a thought... Do you think it would be difficult to add the 'unwrapping-thing' as an option. That way, the computer can translate the native files to QT while you are shooting; and thatn could save time and hassle to get the project up and going in FCP. Especially for ENG-type work you could find many costumers for this.
I love what this app is turning into right now, and I'll surely ask you for a beta once I get a HVX. Or buy it if testing is over by that time obviously.
Keep up the good work.
Grtz,

Oliver

[erdiaz]

Yes I wan to try it, but is there a Windows version ?

And... speaking a little about every thing... I´m shocking about how you, serious people, have paid attention to a selfish and not so mistic person.

that´s the case of jeffyjones and all the dust his comments have done

If there is some body asking for help, well, let´s help, and if latter we need some help, then ask for it!

This give some balance to the world. (I think)

(Sorry for my bad english, I´m spanish spoken person)

[tlorenzo]

If there isn't going to be a Windows version then I'd be glad to help you make one, Anders :-)

Tony

[n8ture]

Any idea when the new version of P2 Genie will be released? Mine's expired now and I miss it. :-)

[Anders Holck]

Hey what's this????
http://www.andersholck.com/p2b5.png

[Skuzzle]

Anders,

Enough Beta already. I need something to work with and will pay cash money, ready or not...

Skuzzle

ps. looks better w/ every revision!

[Anders Holck]

I hope this is the last beta.
I will concentrate on getting the Manual done and an order website.
I have decided on a price of €25.

[235 Studios]

Cool, I've been following this thread. Thanks for your work Anders- I will definately get this once I buy the HVX.

[kstnate]

after managing p2 store w/out this helpful applet I will never go back. My biggest complaint about the p2 store was the partitioning problem. I even had a gung ho producer back off (justifiably so) from using HVX200 on job on the road because it was just too scetchy to move files w/out making a mistake. So now that I have this I have been spreading the gospel. as for the expected price, I frankly don't care. I would pay triple the price and still feel like I got what I wanted. Biggest problem with HVX200? Data management. Biggest solution? this P2 Genie. I GUARANTEE it will generate work for me and/or my camera. as it will for everyone who owns a camera. in my opinion all P2 stores should ship with this. Not doing so is like buying a new car w/out the keys for the doors. "Hey, it's revolutionary, but you have to figure out on your own how to get in." P2 genie is the key into that car.
my only question is why the @&*(!? is Panasonic selling cars w/out door keys :)
And why doesn't this thread have a sticky on it?
-Nate

[Shane Ross]

I can't type a project name into the window for it. I am now running the Public Beta 5. Is that because I need to have NAME&DATE selected?

I think the thing on the right is a finger. Maybe tissue in a hand?

[nicholasraeburn]

Please make this a sticky!!!!!:crybaby:

[Anders Holck]

I can't type a project name into the window for it. I am now running the Public Beta 5. Is that because I need to have NAME&DATE selected?


Yes, Projectname is for name&date for now. Might change in the future....

[Jay Silver]

Anders,
Seems like a really great way to stay organized. I've been shooting with my camera for a couple of months now and downloading the P2 store has been a challenge for my organizational abilities. If you want to send me the beta tester, I've got a shoot coming up later this week and next week for the CFDA.

[imgentertainment@mac]

Sorry I know this has been talked about. But how dose it deal with the p2 store. Are we stuck with one project name for each partition or are they all the same?

[videogeek]

I would like to get a copy of P2 genie. I will pay $25 if necessary. Are you still in the need of beta testers?

[morisato]

Me too. Can I beta test too?

[BollingerPro]

Just got my MacBook Pro! Could I be a beta tester?

[cbdv]

Hi Anders, just got the hvx today, I have a G4 powerbook, can I try your P2solution?

thanks cb

[jgrimson]

Anders, OliverM asked about building in MFX to Qt conversion? I'm wondering the same especially since it sounds like Apple will not be supporting MFX any time soon. I'd buy this application ASAP. Thanks.

[Anders Holck]

MXF to QT is not something that is easily done.
What I am working on is P2 card browsing, so you can see the contents (Name, Thumbnail, Timecodes, format, framerate) on your P2 devices prior to backup.
It will also enable you to select the cards to backup from, and maybe the individual clips.

[RFK]

I have sent a email with my PB serial #, How can I become a beta tester?

[zilla151]

I'm doing a large project and would love to test this out. Is that possible? Thanks.

[235 Studios]

PM Sent- sign me up- my HVX should be coming soon.

[235 Studios]

ok, so no PM was sent- your box is full. I would like to either be a beta tester, if the product is not ready yet, or buy the software from you if it is ready. (I have a project coming up soon that I would love to try it out on.)

[psts]

Great response...
I will make a new beta build which will function for 14 days, (I will get an update out before that) and send out to you guys.

Can I test it as well?
Thanks,
Philip

[LighthouseMedia]

Anders,
If you could add the functionality of the P2 viewer to this software ie..setting metadata and what have you, then in my opinion and what I have seen with this software it would be a SLAM DUNK! Thanks so much for your work on this project.

[Green Hornet]

If there isn't going to be a Windows version then I'd be glad to help you make one, Anders :-)

Tony


I need a windows version, and will pay for it.

I need it to do:

1. Back up entire P2 store to one folder, with file naming option.
2. Back up from computer cardbus slot without P2 store.
3. Make backups of the backup, at a later time, or when idle for over 5 minutes
(when I am shooting, and not at the computer)
4. Would like, but not mandatory - Icons of the clip.
5. Would like file naming followed by time code (e.g. dancer_5_16_06_10:30) I use time of day timecode.

[monolith]

I need a windows version, and will pay for it.

I need it to do:

1. Back up entire P2 store to one folder, with file naming option.
2. Back up from computer cardbus slot without P2 store.
3. Make backups of the backup, at a later time, or when idle for over 5 minutes
(when I am shooting, and not at the computer)
4. Would like, but not mandatory - Icons of the clip.
5. Would like file naming followed by time code (e.g. dancer_5_16_06_10:30) I use time of day timecode.

...and a cherry on top

[turing]

anders, you should accept email addresses and set up a notification list - I'd like to beta test this immediately and would be happy to plop down EUR 25 for it tonight, were that a possibility.

may I humbly suggest that you set up a paypal account and let us all pay you so we can use this thing? :)

Also, has anyone noticed that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find the P2 driver for powerbooks anywhere on the web? Does it occur to anyone else as being incredibly stupid of Apple/Panasonic for failing to make this trivially available online? I'm going to have to post this in my private file archive so I can get at it from anywhere.

best,

_a

[turing]

my homies at videolan will make it happen:

http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/152

looking at the MXF format, it's pretty lametarded. cute and very basic, but what ever happened to a well formed file with some good headers? anyway, as soon as a demuxer is available for VLC it will be a bit easier, but the first problem (that anders appears to have solved) is definitely organization of downloads.

I know a lot of professional photographers with the same problem, though I hear aperture and lightroom solve them.

So we just need an aperture for MXF :P

_a

[erdiaz]

Hey Anders... Don´t you have plans for a Windows genie?

[dBdigitalTV]

Hi, my name is Brunella and I have a small production company. I have just gained access to a Panasonic P2 and would love to test your downloading software.
I was hoping to continue using macs since I edit in Final Cut.
Hope to hear from you soon.

[kstnate]

my p2 genie beta has expired and can't raise anders via email about getting it renewed or pay for release. great program, I really miss using it. Waahhh!

[maverickstunts]

Anders , tried to send you a pm. Your box is full. I am interested in the program as well.
thanks,
steve

[Anders Holck]

Hi. Please rest assured that I'm still working on it. It's just that I got ton's of work thats slowing me down...

[Skuzzle]

Anders,

Leaving for a 3 week HVX shoot in India on 6/1 (lone gunner).
Please sell me a beta of "P2Genie" before I leave. I can't bear the thought of
transfering all those P2 cards manually.

I'm on bended knee begging you...

Skuzzle

[winslowb]

Could you send me a copy of the p2 genie. I just received my hvx200 and love it but the multiple files drives me crazy from the p2 card. My e-mail is photopa2004@yahoo.com. My name is Winslow. Thanks alot..

[Pelican]

Anders,

Does the genie app work with a mbp when the camera is just connected via a firewire cable? That's all I'm doing right now to get my files from the HVX to the macbook pro. I'd reall like to try the genie.
rick

Serial Number: W86200HQVWY

pelicanlist@hotmail.com

[Anders Holck]

I have just upgraded myself to a 17" MBP and I now have the genie running as a Universal build. Soon very soon.

[235 Studios]

Nice! So if I understand correctly the app will work on both the PB and MBP correct? can't wait to get it! :)

[Anders Holck]

Actually it worked fine before (running under rosatta), but that was just not quite right was it?

Now I can wave that cool universal logo...

[LighthouseMedia]

Anders,
One frustration I have is the naming system of clips would it be possible to add a batch rename function so I could select a way to easily rename clips?

[Anders Holck]

How would you like it to work?
I have something going , I can rename all the fileames but the clipname is integraded into the XML, so it's not enough in all cases....

[Anders Holck]

Would anyone miss the basic reel number function if I removed it?

I always use the name & date names and it would unclutter the interface a bit.
Any comments?

[235 Studios]

Anders,
One frustration I have is the naming system of clips would it be possible to add a batch rename function so I could select a way to easily rename clips?

You mac will / can already do this for you. Check out the following tutorial, although it is for DVDSP / iPhoto- it shows you how to create a batch rename automation.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html

It is the second article down under new releases- "Batch processing images in DVDSP ..."

[235 Studios]

Would anyone miss the basic reel number function if I removed it?

I always use the name & date names and it would unclutter the interface a bit.
Any comments?


As I havent used the software yet, I can;t say that I would miss it. But I have usually named my tapes when capturing with FCP with reel numbers- so I would miss not naming it that way- I haven't used date names. (Even with the FS-4 I would rename the clips to reel numbers and names.) I'd drop the date, but that's just me. Anyone else have any comments?

I'm just anxious to get the software ....
:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[ckarcher]

Anders,

keep the reel # option as it is a lot simpler in some cases. sometimes I just want a simple folder with filenames or reel #'s.

FWIW

[Anders Holck]

Yep, I'll do that.
Well, at long last I'm almost god to go.
Doing the website right now
Actually I've done a bit work on the V2 interface, but thats a bit out into the future:
http://www.andersholck.com/v2.png
P2 cards and the destination folder mounts on the left.
Select one of them and you can browse the contents in the right side. ( a bit like iTunes)
There are thumbnails, but no video playback...
If you select the destination you can edit the clipname as well.

[ckarcher]

kickass Anders! So far, nobody has any software like this- I'm amazed that Panasonic has not tried to snatch up your app.

I'd like to thank you! I am so tired of the P2 "noname" copy then rename folder... then copy again....what a pain: until P2 Genie. I spent 2 hours backing up 13 P2 cards off of my P2 store last week- I dearly missed your app.


cheers,

Chris

[235 Studios]

Looking good. Can't wait to use it- looks like it will have a lot of useful info to go along with the actual back up of the P2 cards. Thanks.

BTW- I like your home page on your site- that is a great picture. Which one are you?

[Anders Holck]

BTW- I like your home page on your site- that is a great picture. Which one are you?

Oh, I'm behind the camera pretending to be a still photographer....

This is me flashing the HVX:
http://www.avm.dk/artikel/billed/Anders5.jpg

[LighthouseMedia]

You mac will / can already do this for you. Check out the following tutorial, although it is for DVDSP / iPhoto- it shows you how to create a batch rename automation.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html

It is the second article down under new releases- "Batch processing images in DVDSP ..."


Yeah I tried this but it's somewhat cumbersome what I'm hoping Anders will allow us to do is select a set of clips, say 5 of them, and specify a batch name to those 5, ie...Scene A, and P2 Genie would add sequential numbering to all the selected clips. 001,002,003 etc....SO I can batch select shots by scene or take or location and have P2 Genie rename them sequentially using a user determined naming scheme. This would allow me to rapidly sort and log footage much better.

[235 Studios]

Oh, I'm behind the camera pretending to be a still photographer....

This is me flashing the HVX:
http://www.avm.dk/artikel/billed/Anders5.jpg


Nice! Good job on the photography.

[235 Studios]

Yeah I tried this but it's somewhat cumbersome

Yeah, it is not prety, but it somewhat works ...

I have not used the software, but I thought that you could specify the name when you first made the transfer using the genie- is this not the case? (If it is the case, then why not name it then? What am I missing?)

[diegballs]

Hi Anders,

I have a shoot in one week and after reading through all of these posts, I would really like to have the Genie software available. Sounds like it would make everything run smoother, that is worth something, so I would gladly pay the fee and give you whatever serial # information you need.

Thanks.
Diego

[Anders Holck]

Ok, P2 Genie v1 is available:

http://p2genie.andersholck.com

You can download a full featured demo (limited to 15 sessions) or support the development and buy the registered version for €25, using credit card or a PayPal account.

The final interface for v1 looks like this:
http://p2genie.andersholck.com/P2%20Genie/Images/Picture%207.png

Feel free to try it out!

(The "Use single Folder" option is not active in this version, but will be in an point update later. I had some last minute issues that I want to iron out first)

[imgentertainment@mac]

Good Job on the web site

[Anders Holck]

iWeb, never thought I'd use it, but it's actually pretty good (besides some weird bugs)

[n8ture]

Incase anyone was wondering, according to my convertor, 25 Euro is about $32.17 USD. Not sure if Paypal charges anything additional or not.

[Anders Holck]

PayPal should not charge anything extra on your part.
They subtract €1.33 as a fee from me, so I get the €23,67 from the €25 you pay.

[kstnate]

I plan on spreading the gospel. great program! Now I can finally buy a copy (which i alrady have) and will get all my friends to buy it. Keep up the good work.

[Anders Holck]

Thanks, hope you have a lot of friends :-)

[kwoff]

Anders,

I am not very familiar with making purchases internationally. Have you established a price in US dollars or will Pay Pal automatically convert the purchase price from 25 euros to a dollar amount if a US credit card is used? Does Pay Pal charge a fee for the currency conversion?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Anders Holck]

Yes, I pay the transaction fee. It's currently 3.9% + $0.3.

PayPal will show the amount in local currency (USD) just before you pay.

€25 is around $33.

[Anders Holck]

Update:

I have had to many questions regarding currency conversion, fees price etc.

So now I have made 2 BUY buttons: One leads to an order page with EURO, the other to a USD order page.

It's €25 and $33.

Hope thats better!

[kwoff]

Thanks for the information, Anders. I plan to buy P2 Genie (as soon as my HVX arrives, which I hope will be soon).

Kevin

[235 Studios]

Just sent payment- thanks!

Just a sugestion for the site- in the user guide that you created, which is nice BTW, you should have a downloadable PDF version. That way people can take it with them when they are not connected to the internet.

[235 Studios]

WOW, now that's great service- payment sent, and product received.

Thanks Anders! :)

(Now I'm just waiting on the HVX to arrive ... any day now ....)

[Mark Smith]

What is up with your site. I tried to download the demo but get directed to this lame Batcave promo page. Where can i download the demo from???

[kenn michael]

Congrats Anders! Once my HVX arrives, I'll be buying a copy as well!

[diegballs]

Anders,

Read through the P2 Genie documentation online, a couple of quick questions just so I'm clear. If I have 2 external HD mounted via firewire (named Media & Backup), I can have P2 Genie on automatic copying files to both drives. Then when it's time to empty the P2 card "No Name" Genie will only empty the card and not the other mounted media drives. Also, how are the files copied over... I've read another thread that making a disc image is a good "safety" solution for data integrity... is this an option say for 2nd Destination copy which would be going to the Backup Drive? Or are both 1st and 2nd destination copied over in the same fashion. Planning a shoot with a PowerBook g4 with PCMCIA slot and FCP loaded on it, however don't want files to be copied to the internal hard drive.

Thanks

[filmstox]

Anders,

I finally upgraded and had a chance to run Genie through it's paces with my brand new G5 Dual Duo (a far cry better than my poor old 800mhz G4! :badputer: ) and I must say this app is a God-send! One suggestion for your next release and a word of caution for those using the current build. The portable USB HDD's that I use as loaner drives for clients are all formated fat32 since I never know what system the client will use. They are often named NO NAME and P2 Genie doesn't distiguish it from a P2 card. I noticed it when the display told me I had 17 cards to transfer from my P2 store otherwise I would have had an interesting problem. I named the drive and Genie adjusted appropriately.

Perhaps you could have Genie use the drive size as a way to ensure that it is infact seeing a card (4g 8g ect.)

Thanks and look for my order soon...

-filmstox

[Anders Holck]

Just a few notes:
- Im very sorry to report that a bug is present in the current build. It only affects the "name & Date" naming scheme, and not "reelname" scheme. The bug shows up VERY rarely and only affects some installations.
Im currently tracking down this bug and will post an update as soon as possible.
The bug is in the date tracking algorithm that reads the date of the lastclip.txt file from the P2 card, and causes P2 genie to break just before it starts to offload. It will NOT cause any data corruption, but causes P2 Genie to stop functioning on rare occations, when in "name & date" mode.

- The card detection algorithm is also going to be improved in the next point update. Currently it detects all devices called noname as P2 cards.

- P2 genie will currently only empty PArtitions called "No Name", so you destination disks will never be affected as long as they are named something else.
I will enhance the detection with a new algorithm in the next version to make it bullit proof. Both destinations are copied the same way, one at a time.

[Anders Holck]

Hi.
I had some issues with hostng of the Demo .Zip files on the site.

Tony Lorentzen has stepped up and is now generously hosting it on his servers.

So the demo is now available again....

[Spinflight]

Anders,

I just read about your app and downloaded the trial version. Great app but there's a problem. Maybe it's a bug with the trial version only and you may have already fixed this, but when the drives you are copying to are filled to capacity and you continue to copy using P2 genie, it'll say that the files tranferred successfully when in fact they didn't. You can verify this by using "Apple I" and plainly see that the folder isn't nearly the size it should be. I watch my drive space carefully so I wouldn't run into this problem on purpose, but for those of us who might overlook how much space they have left would continue to copy using the app and unknowingly not have their footage.

Is there any way for you to write into the code a warning about not enough disk drive space to copy over all the data instead of having the app say it copied all the data over successfully when in fact it didn't. Thanks

[Anders Holck]

A space meter and fail when the drive is full is already implemented in my development version. This features will be included in version 1.5

[vittiphoto]

Dear Anders,

Glad you put thios together. Working on a multicam feature, all P2. Have a few challenges here in addition to data mangement and assembly edits: bwf file conversions, red rocks micro image inversion, and an inexperienced production co. What's new??

yers,

[doccutter]

Anders:

Last night I used p2 Genie for the first time during a shoot. When I inserted the card, p2 genie read it, showed frames from the video it was importing, then formatted the card. When I looked in the folder where the video should have been, there was nothing. I tried several times, but I couldn't get it to work. When I looked at the space free on the hard drive, it indicated that nothing had been copied. Just thought I'd offer a heads up.

Powerbook 15" 1.5 Ghz, 8 Gig P2 card, 160 G internal drive, 1 Gig ram, os x 10.4.6

[Anders Holck]

This sounds very serious!

Can you please send a full report on your setup, settings and procedure to P2genie@andersholck.com

I want to investigate this ASAP!!!


Anders:

Last night I used p2 Genie for the first time during a shoot. When I inserted the card, p2 genie read it, showed frames from the video it was importing, then formatted the card. When I looked in the folder where the video should have been, there was nothing. I tried several times, but I couldn't get it to work. When I looked at the space free on the hard drive, it indicated that nothing had been copied. Just thought I'd offer a heads up.

Powerbook 15" 1.5 Ghz, 8 Gig P2 card, 160 G internal drive, 1 Gig ram, os x 10.4.6

[nycfilmmaker]

Anders great job! does the app work with P2 Drive AJ-PCD10?

http://panasonic-broadcast.com/images/produkte/ProductVisHigh11422.jpg

[Anders Holck]

No reason it shouldn't.

[nycfilmmaker]

perfect. I hear the cineporter will be out soon. From what Spec-comm is saying the footage will be recorded in 4GB clips. The HDD is 320GB so imagine how many of those clips will be present for offloading.

Will your app be able to handle the cineporter?

P.S.
Are you creating a P2 Viewer for Mac? there's a missing link.

[tlorenzo]

I've been in contact with Andrew over at Spec-Comm and you're right; The CinePorter will mount itself as individual partitions so I don't see any reason why the P2 Genie shouldn't work with the CinePorter... I'm not sure if he's tried the Mac version with the CinePorter yet, though...

[Anders Holck]

Tony, I don't think that is correct, from the cineporter faq thread:
"Currently and subject to change, a separate directory is created on the HDD for each 4Gb virtual P2 card. Not a partition with a separate drive letter like on a P2 store, but a uniquely named folder. The camera writes in 4GB chunks and links them together through meta data. You will notice that an 8GB card contains 2 4GB clips even though you were recording continuously. The camera creates a separate clip every time you stop and start as well. We are keeping the naming convention the same as P2 cards for now. "

So only one partition with a folder for every 4 GB

[RDykmans]

Just used P2 Genie for the first time with a half full P2 Store and I must say the SW works great. The copying went extremely fast (faster then doing a straight drag and drop copy) and for the first time I actually got all my files copied without any errors!

This is with a MBP going in USB2 (obviously) and out to a FW800 GRaid. Anyhow thanks Anders I will be sending you some $ here shortly, keep up the good work on this program!

[nycfilmmaker]

Tony, I don't think that is correct, from the cineporter faq thread:
"Currently and subject to change, a separate directory is created on the HDD for each 4Gb virtual P2 card. Not a partition with a separate drive letter like on a P2 store, but a uniquely named folder. The camera writes in 4GB chunks and links them together through meta data. You will notice that an 8GB card contains 2 4GB clips even though you were recording continuously. The camera creates a separate clip every time you stop and start as well. We are keeping the naming convention the same as P2 cards for now. "

So only one partition with a folder for every 4 GB


so will your app work with the cineporter?

[Anders Holck]

Yes, when the cineporter is awailable it will. Currently with the pre-release specs and P2 genie v1.0 it wouldn't work. The Cineporter is slated for a q3 release, around start september.... so there is quite some time for the specs to change and for me to prep the software.

[nycfilmmaker]

thanks for such a great affordable app.

would you ever consider doing a p2 viewer? or integrating Genie with a viewer? something like the OVER priced HD Log, but with your own Genious

[Anders Holck]

A small issue has been found in the current build. I have sent out a warning email to my registered users, but I will put it here as well.

It is regarding naming conventions in the projectname, in the destination filepath and the 2'nd destination filepath.
Some characters (non alphabetic and numerals) might cause P2 genie to fail it's copy operation without notice.
If this case is combined with the automatic empty and eject mode, data loss might happen.

So in the current build IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ONLY USE ALPHABETIC AND NUMERALS IN THE PROJECT NAME, IN THE DESTINATION FILE PATH AND I THE 2'ND DESTINATION FILE PATH!

Best Regards
Anders

[ben7281]

Hi Anders, are you still giving out beta versions of P2 Genie. Or have you finished a final version. Eather way, i would love to use it. Im in desperate need of a better workflow of copying files off the P2 Store. I messaged you a few time a while back about it, but you were probably too busy to respond at the time. If you could let me know or message me a link to where i could get a copy that would be great.

thanks,
Ben

[Anders Holck]

Go here:
http://p2genie.andersholck.com

You can download a demo version that offers full functionality for 12 activations.
Or you can buy a license for $33

[kenn michael]

Well I finally got my HVX, P2 Store and P2 Genie... Great work Anders. Brilliantly useful app. I've already copied 120GB of data using P2 Genie. I love the single folder option!

[Anders Holck]

hmm.single folder isn't implemented yet....are you messing with my head?

[kenn michael]

??? did a single folder copy two days ago with a version marked 1.0 created June 13th... worked perfectly...

[nycfilmmaker]

Anders
there was a great question posted on a different threa wondering if the p2 genie has this feature:

I'm using the FS-100 [and eventually the cineporter] which splits clips every 2GBs or so will the P2Genie recognizes this and will let me choose which clips should be imported as 1 long file.

[nycfilmmaker]

any thoughts?

[turing]

hey Anders -

what about creating checksummed DMGs from the P2s? there's another thread on this. I had considered writing my own stuff to checksum basic file copies (well, rsyncs) but the dmg idea might be great because it means an entire card would retain its checksum information.

would be pretty easy on the command line to do this, and I imagine many of the UI switches would be the same -...

;)

[Anders Holck]

Can you enlighten me a bit about how this workflow would work?
And if you have the Terminal commands for doing it, I'd might implement it....

[turing]

Everything the same, just instead of copying to a folder, you create a disk image from the mounted P2 card, checksum it and store it in the target folder.

_a

[nycfilmmaker]

I guess turing is saying: does the p2 genie do a copy AND verify byte by byte so each copy is an exact duplicate to the byte using native FAT32, which is one of the advantages of creating a disc image, decreases file corruption by copying the contents in fat32 rather than when you copy straight to the mac harddrive whcih copies it using HFS+

so i would guess p2 Genie when copying to the hardrive uses HFS+, correct me if am wrong Anders.

[turing]

well, remember that verifying at copy time is quite different from creating a disk image which retains the checksum information after the copy - so it can be re-verified any time it is used or transferred to another system.

[nycfilmmaker]

so you're saying to kep your p2 files as disc images so that when you do need them again you could create the file out of disc image which will reverify de novo

[Anders Holck]

Just a breif note:

Im shooting on location this week.
So if you order thruh the PayPal store it might take 1-2 days before you get the registered copy. I will try my best to deliver within 24 hours.

Best Regards
Anders Holck

[turing]

hi anders,

If the tool were to do checksumming and write a little CHECKSUMS.TXT file into copied folders which could be used to verify:

./relative/path/to/file (tab) checksum
./relative/path/to/file2 (tab) checksum

etc..

Then this tool would be worth every penny. As it is I can't quite justify it because I can do nearly everything you're doing very fast on the command line.

A crc32 or MD5 would be fine.

_a