P2/Avid File easier?

[Gedy]

Anybody know of an easy way to get file video onto a p2 card from avid? I know they come into Avid off the card but I've had no sucess getting File from ghosts of stories past onto the card by clicking and dragging back onto the cards themselves... So people put them into quicktimes but you would think there would be an easier way to do things.... so if anybody knows of a way.. Please let me know... (for laptops in the field that you cant hook up to media manager with isis back at the station?

thanks in advance... and happy shooting.

Gedy

[Cambot Mk. II]

It's my understanding, (please correct me if I'm wrong) that P2 cards are a one-way street... It can move from the camera to the editor but not the other way around.

That said, you may be able to use the camera to record clips to the cards.

If you're using the Avid Mojo, you might be able to McGuyver it to the audio and video in ports using XLR/RCA/BNC cables and adapters.

Given the trouble involved and the relatively low storage capacity of the cards vs. hard drives, DVDs or tapes, I think you're better off going with the path of least resistance and using the Quicktime compression and saving to an external hard drive (But not a P2 store since those only handle P2 Media.)

[svp]

The only way to do it is load the video you want into an avid timeline and connect the laptop to your p2 cam via firewire. change the cam to vtr mode and play the video in the timeline while recording in your camera. its actually not that difficult.

Another option is to export from avid to an uncompressed quicktime file and save that file on the p2 card. remember, the p2 card is nothing more than a mini hard drive and can store files just like any other hard drive. just slide the card in the slot on the laptop and save it to that drive.

[Cambot Mk. II]

Well, there we go... :cool:

When I was still working in news, we connected our p2 cards to Avid using the P2 Store. I never was able to copy files onto the card directly. Now we know it can be done!

Ya learn something new everyday! :D

[Gedy]

It's my understanding, (please correct me if I'm wrong) that P2 cards are a one-way street... It can move from the camera to the editor but not the other way around.

That said, you may be able to use the camera to record clips to the cards.

If you're using the Avid Mojo, you might be able to McGuyver it to the audio and video in ports using XLR/RCA/BNC cables and adapters.

Given the trouble involved and the relatively low storage capacity of the cards vs. hard drives, DVDs or tapes, I think you're better off going with the path of least resistance and using the Quicktime compression and saving to an external hard drive (But not a P2 store since those only handle P2 Media.)


We do this but you would think with all the technology advancements that there would be an easier way to get and store File video (other then real time dubbing to the cards)... I guess Im just hoping there is a way out there that will make life as easy as the P2 cams..
Thanks again..

[rexreed]

With Canopus you can save your files as a p2 clip directly to the card in the camera or wherever. No need to firewire from the computer into the camera. Surely Avid has a similar feature? I mean, the firewire method may work but why wouldn't Avid have something the lower priced products have?

[indyphotog13]

AVID has a slew of export settings. highlight what you want to export from the bin. Go to File>export. In the export dialogue box, choose the correct settings(will vary according to your needs), and hit export.

After export, minimize AVID and open my computer. The computer recognizes each card as a removable drive(just like a flash or thumb drive). Open one of the card drives and drag and drop to copy.

When you get into the field(or where ever you're taking the file video), do the reverse. Put the card in the slot, open AVID, go to file>import, choose the file you want to import from the card and Viola! File pops into your bin.

Make sure when you export, you choose DV stream. This will keep the compression to a minimum.

This is actually how we archived at my old shop. We exported .DV files and copied them to DVDs as files.

If the comp wil do SDI out, you can do that also. Just choose SDI in the record mode menu.

[Baltimore Shooter]

It's my understanding, (please correct me if I'm wrong) that P2 cards are a one-way street... It can move from the camera to the editor but not the other way around.
Just another reason why XDCam is a better format.

Warren

[rexreed]

I must have magic p2 cards because they are not like the previously described "one way" cards.

[shootist]

I must have magic p2 cards because they are not like the previously described "one way" cards.

cool...can you describe the workflow you use to move avid files from editing to a card?

[Kaiser]

When the P2 records, it creates several different files in several directories. AVID consolidates these different files into one file when it ingests video. Is it possible to re-split a file back into its components so that the P2 can recognize it? Sounds plausible, but will it take more time to uncompress than would just to do a realtime firewire recording?

[Grangeway]

Just another reason why XDCam is a better format.

Warren

Actually, Warren, in this case it's indicative of the sorriness of Avid. Sometimes, I think that company has just about had it because of some of their executives' idiotic decisions, i.e. no NAB this year. Way to get that sales prevention force in mid-season form!

Panasonic worked in lockstep with Apple to develop the way Final Cut recognizes the P2 cards and transfers files. Avid's is kluged together almost as an afterthought. You have to know both the Masonic handshake and the Order of the Arrow handshake to make it work. Avid has that old IBM attitude of "We're Avid. You'll take what we give you and you'll have to like it." Sometimes, I think Sony reps also have that attitude also. I'm not slagging XDCAM. I think it's a very good product but in the end, it's only a tool for creative people.

[fisheye]

turn your clip(s) into a quicktime and then export to your card in the reader.

I usually just record into camera directly however.

[amp]

Grangeway has it right. Love my P2, love Apple but I HATE Avid.

[alldayeveryday]

I hate avid. That being said, we use these special panasonic p2 decks and hook up a firewire into the computer. This deck will allow you to dump video that is in an avid sequence back onto a p2 card. Also with a dvcpro deck you can go straight from dvc to p2. It records real time onto the cards though. Don't ask me how much those fancy decks cost though.