Best way to erase clips after Log and Transfer? Best way to backup/archive??

R

raven13mb

Member
Hello all,

This forum has been very helpful for me with my transition from tape to SDHC cards... thanks! The HMC-40 is wonderful... btw. Love at first sight... or use I should say! Just finished my first wedding using HMC-40's exclusively... I'm blown away with the footage.

Anyway, to re-use the cards... after I'm finished with the Log and Transfer in FCP, what's the best way to clear the cards for my next project? Can I just move a particular folder on the card to the trash and perform an 'Empty Trash' command? Should I move all the folders to the trash?

What do you guys do?

Finally... one more question... what's the best way to archive my footage (can't work on it now, but need to clear the cards for another project)? For my first project I just did a Log and Transfer then copied all the files to a backup drive. But that takes up a TON of space. Can I just copy all the files from the card to a backup drive then Log and Capture from the backup when I'm ready to edit?

If that's the case, I'll be sure to backup to two different backup sources... just to be safe.

Any feedback on these two queries would be great!
 
If you delete the files from the card on your PC, the next time you put the card in the camera it's going to think the files are still there, but damaged. You'll have to 'repair' them one by one, then delete the empty files. Best way to delete is to do it in the camera. There's an option to delete all of them at once.

I'm confused as to your second question. Did you mean to ask if you can copy the files to a 2nd card, then log and capture from that? I don't see why that wouldn't work. You can put the files on pretty much any kind of storage and use them later. Keep in mind you aren't 'capturing'. You're just copying files, just like you would any other computer files. Put them on SDHC cards, flash drives, hard drives, or even burn them to DVDs. It's all the same.

Hope that helps.
 
I think you got my idea. Ideally, just to test it out, I made a folder for each card that had footage on it after the shoot. Then I copied each of the folders from each card to the individual folders for each card (still with me? Lol) onto an external hard drive. Then, I ejected the cards themselves, and tried to log and transfer from the external drive 'copies' I made of each card.

Success!

I'm relived there because I thought I had to log and transfer, then save the files. Basically 16 GB's from one card turns into 60 that way. So it's good to know I can just copy the raw data that will allow me to save space when archiving the files for editing later.

Thanks for the advice!
 
2 things,

I would use the in camera format card function, instead of the delete clips... This starts everything fresh and has been proven good practice.

When backing up (for fcp), capture the entire directory structure when backing up (private folder and on). This way you can log and transfer anytime in the future. Most other NLE's just need the mts files in the stream folder.
 
Perfect! Yea, I've done two events now and have just duplicated each card in their own folder on external drives and that does the trick! Good advice about just formatting the card instead of deleting clips. I'll do that from now on!
 
MadHMC150 said:
When backing up (for fcp), capture the entire directory structure when backing up (private folder and on). This way you can log and transfer anytime in the future. Most other NLE's just need the mts files in the stream folder.
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Hi, just a quick follow up question to this. When I move my Private folder onto my external drive and then go to Log and Transfer in FCP, all my footage does indeed show up. But what about adding footage that is shot at a later date? I try and drag the "new" Private folder onto the external drive and it just wants to take the place of the old folder and overwrite all my pre-existing footage with the new footage. What I'm saying is it seems like FCP will only recognize the folder called "Private" and you can't have two folders with the same name on the same drive. I can't manually transfer the new mts. files from the SD card reader into the Private folder already on my hard drive. Is there a way to do this?? Thanks!
 
VicVega said:
Hi, just a quick follow up question to this. When I move my Private folder onto my external drive and then go to Log and Transfer in FCP, all my footage does indeed show up. But what about adding footage that is shot at a later date? I try and drag the "new" Private folder onto the external drive and it just wants to take the place of the old folder and overwrite all my pre-existing footage with the new footage. What I'm saying is it seems like FCP will only recognize the folder called "Private" and you can't have two folders with the same name on the same drive. I can't manually transfer the new mts. files from the SD card reader into the Private folder already on my hard drive. Is there a way to do this?? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sure, it's pretty easy. Just create an empty folder for the footage on the external drive. Name that whatever you want (IE- Jane Doe's wedding). Then, drag and drop the private folder to that folder.

In FCP, just navigate to the private folder from within the folder you created.
 
If you were to just copy new streams (*.mts files) into the "Private" folder, I believe your metadata will be goofed (the stuff in the other folders - aside from the *.jpg files, if you shoot stills with the cam due to lack of even a point-and-shoot camera or something, I suppose). You really need a "clone" of the entire card contents if you want to have everything just right. (Personally, I don't care for my own use, since I don't use the metadata.) If you have not reformatted the card, and add more footage, overwrite everything on the copy on your computer (or better yet, just delete it and copy fresh). If you have reformatted your card, make a new folder for copying the entire contents of the card.
 
WARNING, THIS IS A RANT!

These goofy-ass, overly bizarre, methods for storing footage recorded by camcorders are just ridiculous.

First off, the files should just be in a format that has the metadata within the container for the video and audio streams - at least on a pro cam (maybe imitating the Blu-Ray structure does make at least some sense on consumer cams).

Second, file names should, by default, include the date and time of the first frame in the clip. Gawd that would make life easier.

Third, NTFS should be the file format (I don't care what the SDHC spec says. There's nothing to prevent using NTSF for pro camcorder purposes. Cards should be formatted in-camera, as it currently is anyway, so there's just no serious issue.) - sorry Mac users, but PCs do constitute the vast majority of computers on desktops, and NTFS is defacto the dominant standard for a file system that accommodates large files (and it's not that big a deal to get a driver, to be able to read NTFS for transfer to your Mac). It's absurd to use FAT-32 for recording HD video in a pro cam.
 
Actually, there's no reason that camcorder manufacturers couldn't make the firmware capable of formatting SDHC cards with your choice of FAT-32, NTFS, and whatever Macs use natively - might add a whole whopping couple hours to writing the firmware at most (assuming any competence).
 
Barry_Green said:
No. The HMC40 is the only hybrid still/video cam in the Panasonic lineup.

The closest you could get with the HMC150 would be to put it in progressive mode and then extract a frame grab.
Click to expand...

Actually, with the HMC40, I don't know that frame grabs are notably worse than stills (might even be better!). I only tried shooting a couple stills with the HMC40, to see if they were any good at all, and unless I did something terribly wrong, my old little 4 megapixel pocket Sony point-and-shoot is probably better for shooting stills.
 
file names should, by default, include the date and time of the first frame in the clip. Gawd that would make life easier.

The Date and Time is always there in all file based system the file name you see can be changed in Metadata using AVCCAM VIEWER and little planning it has simillar metadata as P2
Third, NTFS should be the file format (I don't care what the SDHC spec says. There's nothing to prevent using NTSF for pro camcorder purposes. Cards should be formatted in-camera, as it currently is anyway, so there's just no serious issue.) - sorry Mac users, but PCs do constitute the vast majority of computers on desktops, and NTFS is defacto the dominant standard for a file system that accommodates large files (and it's not that big a deal to get a driver, to be able to read NTFS for transfer to your Mac). It's absurd to use FAT-32 for recording HD video in a pro cam.

FAT-32 Is free and camera are close system and it works well with Memory cell unlike NTFS designed for HDD circular disc. If you have NTFS all the MAC lover will have fit because they have to buy a software to read the PC files. With FAT 32 Both mac AND pc are happy.
 
P2metoo said:
...With FAT 32 Both mac AND pc are happy.
Click to expand...

Uh-huh. I'm just giddy about having to stitch together fragmented clips.

Heck, I'd rather have clips all in one piece (one file per clip), even if they used Mac's filing system and I had to download a driver (no big deal) to read the cards. Fragmented clips are for the birds.
 
Read support is nothing, you need write along with it.

Fat 32 just sucks and is way outdated.

You know I was always about the NTSF until a recent issue. My Windows Vista can READ and WRITE Mac OS files.... so why wouldn't everyone use the Mac OS format for storage...? Seems PC and Mac can use this storage, no more file size limits and defragging.

I found out after a bad HD crash where it was no longer readable in a mac (wouldn't mount), but worked like a charm in the PC. I copied all to a new hard drive via PC, stuck it back in the mac and it actually friggin worked.
 
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I think the problem is always $$$. Both Mac and NTFS have their perspective owners with their own interests.

No doubt there will be an 'open source' file format that becomes popular one day - till then... fat 32 will be around... It isn't till recently any consumer equipment was able to produce a file larger then 4gb.
 
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