P2 in HVX offload to ext. HDD via FW?

D

daktulus

Well-known member
In the HVX brochure I read that it´s possible to offload from the camera directly to an ext. HDD with FW connection.

Can I use any ext. FW HDD, e.g. WD mybook, connect to HVX via FW and offload P2?

So on the road only any ext. HDD with FW is needed, no controller?
(it says so in the brochure)
 
Yes you can.

Be aware of two things though:

1) the HVX doesn't supply power to the hard drive, so you'll have to have a self-powered drive.

2) the HVX needs to format the drive before it can copy footage to it. So only use a drive you can dedicate to this purpose (i.e., don't use a drive that has other stuff on it, as all that other stuff will be erased).
 
Does the HVX format the whole drive every time, or just for the first offload and the next offloads can use the free space next to the first offload?


Could you use a partition for each offload, can you choose the partition when offloading from HVX?
 
When you offload directly to a firewire drive hooked to the hvx, it will make a partition the size of the card for each card you offload. Please not that you are limited to 15 parititions when using this method. So, if you shoot on a 16 gig card but only use 2 gigs, the HDD will still create a 16 gig partition and you will lose the remaining 14gigs of space on that partition. So, it's best to fill the card before offloading when using this method.

Another option for direct offload (without using a laptop) to a HDD is to use a self powered USB on the Go drive. It will not create partitions with each card offload and you will be able to use the maximum size of the drive.

Later,
Jason
 
FW:
The HVX creates automatically the second partition next to the first, the third next to the second etc?

How long does this formatting and offloading take?

What if there is already a partion before the first offload? Does the HVX format the whole HDD or only one partition? If so, can the partition be chosen?


USB:
What is a "Go" drive?
Is it possible to offload via USB to any ext. USB2 HDD, without formatting?

How long does this take?
 
A drive that's used by an HVX for offloading will be only useful for that purpose. The HVX formats it specifically and specially, you will not be using that drive for any other purpose (until you re-format it).

The initial format takes maybe a second. Offloading takes about 1 minute per gigabyte (2 minutes per if you turn on write verification for safety).

What is a "Go" drive?
Is it possible to offload via USB to any ext. USB2 HDD, without formatting?

How long does this take?
Click to expand...
A USB On-The-Go drive is another option. You don't need a special format for that drive, you can use any USB OTG drive and you can use the drive for other purposes as well as for offloading. All the OTG drives I've tested are about 2 minutes per gigabyte.
 
1
It is possible to offload to only 15 max separate partitions via FW?

2
Does the HDD have to be prepared in any way (if I dont care that the stuff on it will be deleted, can I leave it on the drive?) before the first offload?
Can I take any drive (even if already partitioned) and the HVX will take care of the rest?
Must I format and kill the partitions created by HVX of the ext HDD with already 15 partitions, before I use it next time?


3
What does write verification do? Is it really necessary?

4
Would you recommend offloading to ext. USB, or rather use FW HDD with write verification?
 
1. Correct.

2. The HVX will format the Firewire drive in preparation for use as an offloading drive. It can be used only for that purpose, until you reformat it and use it for another purpose. Meaning, it can not have dual functions simultaneously. It's for offloading from the HVX or not.

3. It's just a verification process that makes sure everything was properly transferred and there were no errors with the footage transfer, etc.

4. Depends on your needs. I can't give a recommendation one way or the other, as I dont' use either of those options. I just use a laptop when necessary.

The advantage of USB is that you can use it for other purposes and are not limited to 15 card size partitions. The advantage of the fw method would be speed. Beyond that, I have nothing to add.

Later,
Jason
 
daktulus said:
1
It is possible to offload to only 15 max separate partitions via FW?
Click to expand...
15 partitions is the limit.

2
Does the HDD have to be prepared in any way (if I dont care that the stuff on it will be deleted, can I leave it on the drive?) before the first offload?
Click to expand...
No, the HVX will format the drive so whatever was on it, is now gone.

Can I take any drive (even if already partitioned) and the HVX will take care of the rest?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Must I format and kill the partitions created by HVX of the ext HDD with already 15 partitions, before I use it next time?
Click to expand...
No, you could use it as a 15-partition hard disk as-is if you wanted.


3
What does write verification do? Is it really necessary?
Click to expand...
Does a binary comparison to make sure that what got copied on the hard disk is bit-for-bit identical to what's on the card. Is it necessary? No, but if you like that extra measure of assurance you might like to use it.

4
Would you recommend offloading to ext. USB, or rather use FW HDD with write verification?
Click to expand...
The firewire method is better in most every way than the USB On-The-Go method, assuming you have a hard disk with a power supply. Battery-powered USB-OTG drives are plentiful and cheap, battery-powered firewire enclosures are nearly nonexistent -- the only one I've found that's worthy of considering is the Nexto 2525.
 
1a
I don´t need to format the (once by HVX filled) ext. HDD with 15 partitions, because the HVX uses the 15 partitions again or the HVX repartitions the drive to 1 partition and recreates 15 partitions?
1b
Never with HVX used HDDs with e.g. 3 partitions will be repartitioned to one partition by HVX before first use? (I want to make sure, because formatting is easy, but I find it curious that the HVX can unite seperate partitons to one)

2
Is the Nexto 2525 reliable, have you or anybody else used it on the road?

3
Can I use the camera viewfinder etc. and set up the next shot while offloading P2 from camera (USB and FW)?
 
BTW
Thank you very much for all the great answers and tips.
Sorry, for not thanking in every post, but I find this rather unpractical.
:dankk2::beer:
 
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