P2 Four card reader (Budget priced,Build it yourself)

Tom 4

Tom 4

Well-known member
Hi Guys,

Just put up on my site-

http://www.olinevideo.com.au/page13.htm

This information may suit those who want a P2 Four card reader solution for off loading MXF files, in studio or on location, Works 100%, hardware and software is Macintosh, utilizing Four "SIIG PCI to PC" card readers.
This combination took just a couple of hours to set up and get operational the card readers are recognized by the Tiger 10.4.8 OS , plus installation of the Panasonic P2 driver and your away.

Cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
Hi Jason,

The DP800 Quicksilver I purchased from a video colleague who dismantled it from his main Media 100 editor, (He set up a new Macpro/FCP as mine) it set me back $200 AUD the 4 SIIG PC cards cost me (Imported from the US) $350AUD.
Sadly our Aussie dollar is in free fall because of the US financial debacle, so I suppose if your located in the US you could set this up much cheaper than what I had to pay.
If you write the MXF files from each card to it's own HDD the write speed is very nice. ( BUT, do your own tests).

Cheers from downunder
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
Has this been tested in Leopard?

And will it work with a MacPro?

I'm certain of either reading your great article.
 
David S. said:
Has this been tested in Leopard?

And will it work with a MacPro?

I'm certain of either reading your great article.
Click to expand...

Hello David,

No, This will Not work with leopard, (I've tried it) Leopard I believe has been designed for Expresscard technology, PC card (PCMCIA) is considered by Mac OLD technology these days, in the days when Mac's had PC card readers in the Lappies the OS worked well with the PC slot.
I've been discussing this issue with Mac ADC and have made some in-roads with them as to why they still have their standard PC card reader Extension in the current Leopard OS but, it does not work.
I tried networking the Quicksilver to my Macpro but network does not recognize "Removable Media", so, it's a case of Off loading to HDD's and then connect those drives to your Macpro and edit away.
You could edit on the Quicksilver in an earlier version of FCP but that is too slow these days, I just set it up as a Four card reader solution.
Being an expendable low cost set-up it's no hassel to take it in the field and capture media.
I supopose with some engineering creativity you could re hash the Mac casing and build a very smart card 4 reader.

PS, My Modified extension file for the Single (Amtron) card reader in the Macpro does work well, but some issues we've found in testing I believe come down to the Panasonic P2 Driver, Apple ADC tell me the driver has a limitation of 4 gig of installed Ram in the Macpro. maybe Panasonic will modify it to a greater limit of ram in the computer soon.
I'm speculating they assumed it would only be used on a laptop with that ammount of installed Ram.

Cheers
Tom K
http://www.olinevideo.com.au/page13.htm
 
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