Taking the Media "Off" Cards

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Phil vG

Well-known member
I was just wondering what most peoples choice is when it comes to taking the Video and such off the Memory Cards.

Do you copy off the cards, then delete the items?
Cut everything off the cards leaving nothing left?
Copy off the card then do a format so everything is gone?
Take the cards out of the Camera and put them in the Computer?
Do you use a program to do your choices or just go directly to the media on the card?

I've been copying off the card using Panasonic's default program, then doing a format just through the camera, do you think that's a bad move (not good for the Cards) and I should just delete it instead?
I can take the Cards out and put them in the Laptop, but that is slower.

Edit: Do you like to fill up a card before you wipe it, or do it when you get the chance?
 
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Phil vG said:
I was just wondering what most peoples choice is when it comes to taking the Video and such off the Memory Cards.

Do you copy off the cards, then delete the items?
Cut everything off the cards leaving nothing left?
Copy off the card then do a format so everything is gone?
Take the cards out of the Camera and put them in the Computer?
Do you use a program to do your choices or just go directly to the media on the card?

I've been copying off the card using Panasonic's default program, then doing a format just through the camera, do you think that's a bad move (not good for the Cards) and I should just delete it instead?
I can take the Cards out and put them in the Laptop, but that is slower.
Click to expand...

For me:

(1) take the card out of the cam

(2) put the card into a card reader

(3) attach reader to computer /OR/ in case the computer has a built-in card-reading slot, just stick the card into it

(4) copy the files onto a folder - often on an external drive /OR/ ingest the files through an NLE to preserve file structure

(5) take out the card from the card reader / computer

(6) stick the card back into the camera and FORMAT in the camera to reuse soon /OR/ sometimes put the card away as backup of the files on it

(7) leave the formatted card in the camera (if I have not used the card for backup), /OR/ take the formatted card out of the card reader/computer and put it together with other formatted cards as fresh media to be used on a project

Everyone has their system, this one is mine. YMMV.
 
Deleting files from the card in the computer is bad for some file structures (SxS comes to mind.) If you need to wipe the card, do it in-camera.
 
I always make a backup of the card first thing to a second location.

Then I copy the card to my edit drive, and then transcode the files to my preferred edit codec.

I then format the card in-camera, and return it to a Pelican card case for further use.
 
If you do a format from your computer (when possible), keep in mind that you often need to have drivers so that your OS will do a proper format of that particular type -- as in, give you a clean but intact folder structure. A generic format won't do it.
 
I once did a "cut" instead of "copy" and pasted my clips into a folder and then accidentally undid my selection and did something else which left me with zero clips because I couldn't revert my selections. ALWAYS COPY AND PASTE. If you **** something up in the process, you at least have the original file and not have it hanging in limbo when you "cut" it.
 
No, if you're going to do the transfer using only the files -- and you shouldn't; you should use a file transfer program -- then don't copy/paste. Move the folders as a whole from the card to your computer.
 
David Jimerson said:
- then don't copy/paste.
Click to expand...
I've never been a cut/paste person, It will be both good and bad when computers get fast enough that a copy/paste is as fast as a copy/paste shortcut. :badputer: (maybe Mac's are, I will never know)
That is something I've done before, but I've noticed because of the speed.

I do tend to copy a lot (not the video off the camera the first time) because I'm moving a lot of files (other than video) around.
Doing a drag/drop of Internet shortcuts is a lot faster too (but they are easy enough to get another one.
 
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My procedure is:

1) Make a folder with the name of the project- "______ footage"
2) Plug media card into a USB card reader , click on it when it mounts
3) Media folder on card is displayed. Drag and drop it into footage folder. Back up critical footage on a second drive.
4) Check footage in Catalyst Browse to make sure file is not corrupt
5) Format card IN CAMERA.
 
Do you find much of a speed difference between getting it off the card with a reader as apposed to getting it directly off the camera?

I know there is the added advantage of being able to use the camera while doing it with a reader, but still.
 
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