Harddrive solution

Hans Moleman

Hans Moleman

Carbonite Member
I'm trying to work out my workflow for my HVX before it arrives. I'll have 2 4gb P2 cards, and I'm thinking that for unloading in the field, I can use my laptop with an external hard drive via a firewire. I'm considering the WD MyBook 500gb here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136030

Anybody have experience with it? Does the workflow sound efficient? I went with the firewire version because I'm under the impression it will outperform just the USB port; is this correct?
 
I am in exactly the same situation as you Hans as I work out new workflows demanded by the HVX (and particularly P2 - mxf files)

I have a single 8gb P2 card plus a FS100 plus DVRack (HD Recorder in laptop) plus a Sony DV deck plus an external drive (F/W & USB). - plenty of options.

Your idea is how I will work on occassion (and F/W will be faster than USB).

The tricky bit starts about now. What /when/ how do you convert the mxf files and where to and then, where do you archive anything? What have you worked out for this?

I intend to use DVCPROHD (serious Magic) and Cinform AspectHD for these tasks.

BTW - I assume you have a PCMCIA slot in your laptop and P2 Viewer installed?

I am adding one to my Desktop as a further option / complication / facility...

It never ends! DV was so simple.
 
I figure I'll store all the MXF files on the hard drive, then take em to my editting suite at home and convert with cineform. The laptop just enables me to dump the cards in the field without needing a cineporter, and the portable hard drive is great because I can just hook it to my desktop. niether computer fills up, no danger of burning the HVX's fw jack, everything sounds good.
 
There are many available choices. A lot of people seem to like the G-TECH G-RAIDS . . . I have two of the 500 gig drives and love 'em.

It does not look like the WD drive you mentioned faired all that well -- read the "cons" statements by the people who rated it highly (doesn't make sense actually). Part of the item description is "For all-out, high-speed performance, FireWire 400 is the interface of choice" That's not a good choice at all . . . as you really want a drive with the Firewire 800 connection.
 
FW800 has no 4-pin, a 4 pin connection, like that on the HVX, is FW400 only. If you connect it to a FW800 port, the port will dumb down to FW400, it's part of the built in protocol. You won't notice any difference with the camera.
 
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