Hi all,
I've been reading as much as I can find about the P2 workflow.
Backup is still painful. I decided on an LTO tape drive, as I just don't trust a hard disk for long term backup. However, I realized that my G5 doesn't have a spare slot for a SCSI card and no one makes a FireWire LTO drive. I tried the Exabyte VXA-2 drive but it was way too slow. I've got a Quantum SDLT600a on loan, which uses gigabit Ethernet but at around $7000, it's a bit expensive. So, I decided to use something I already had: a Sony Professional Disc for Data drive:
http://www.sony.net/Products/MO-Drive/ProDATA/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1617148,00.asp
The discs store 23 GB and are almost exactly the same as the discs used by Sony's XDCAM system. It's basically a Blu-ray drive and is fast, USB 2.0 and is seen by the Macintosh as just another writable drive.
Unfortunately, Sony decided not to continue the use of this format. They'd originally said the capacity would grow to 100 GB discs in a couple of years. You can still buy the drive and the discs (about $40 each).
The ProData system seems to work pretty well. However, because of its relatively limited capacity, I only want to backup what I need. Most of the advice here is that the P2 format files should be backed up, not the QuickTime files that Final Cut Pro makes. Unfortunately, because I'm on the Mac, I don't have P2 Viewer to use (I wish Panasonic would make a Mac version!). Right now, my workflow is:
1. Copy the P2 card(s) to numbered folders within a folder that has the date and name of the shoot.
2. In FCP, use the P2 import feature and put all the clips on the timeline.
3. Write down the names of the clips I'm not going to use.
4. Go back to the numbered folders and seach for files that match the main six character file name. This will find the audio, clip, icon and video file for each clip I want to delete. Delete the relevant files.
5. Copy the remaining P2 files to the ProData disc.
This workflow seems to be working ok. I wish I had a bigger backup option and I wish there was P2 for the Mac, because that would make sorting the good clips from the bad easier.
Does anyone have any tips for make this process easier?
Regards,
fh
I've been reading as much as I can find about the P2 workflow.
Backup is still painful. I decided on an LTO tape drive, as I just don't trust a hard disk for long term backup. However, I realized that my G5 doesn't have a spare slot for a SCSI card and no one makes a FireWire LTO drive. I tried the Exabyte VXA-2 drive but it was way too slow. I've got a Quantum SDLT600a on loan, which uses gigabit Ethernet but at around $7000, it's a bit expensive. So, I decided to use something I already had: a Sony Professional Disc for Data drive:
http://www.sony.net/Products/MO-Drive/ProDATA/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1617148,00.asp
The discs store 23 GB and are almost exactly the same as the discs used by Sony's XDCAM system. It's basically a Blu-ray drive and is fast, USB 2.0 and is seen by the Macintosh as just another writable drive.
Unfortunately, Sony decided not to continue the use of this format. They'd originally said the capacity would grow to 100 GB discs in a couple of years. You can still buy the drive and the discs (about $40 each).
The ProData system seems to work pretty well. However, because of its relatively limited capacity, I only want to backup what I need. Most of the advice here is that the P2 format files should be backed up, not the QuickTime files that Final Cut Pro makes. Unfortunately, because I'm on the Mac, I don't have P2 Viewer to use (I wish Panasonic would make a Mac version!). Right now, my workflow is:
1. Copy the P2 card(s) to numbered folders within a folder that has the date and name of the shoot.
2. In FCP, use the P2 import feature and put all the clips on the timeline.
3. Write down the names of the clips I'm not going to use.
4. Go back to the numbered folders and seach for files that match the main six character file name. This will find the audio, clip, icon and video file for each clip I want to delete. Delete the relevant files.
5. Copy the remaining P2 files to the ProData disc.
This workflow seems to be working ok. I wish I had a bigger backup option and I wish there was P2 for the Mac, because that would make sorting the good clips from the bad easier.
Does anyone have any tips for make this process easier?
Regards,
fh