EX-1 and FAT32 drives

Neither the EX1 nor Clip Browser are capable of creating files larger than 4 GB so you should be fine. Long records on the cards are chopped into 'spanned' files that are less than 4 GB each and CB will not concatenate them. It will only copy them. Where you will run into trouble is if you or the editor try and use the same drive with FCP and XDCAM Transfer (or XDCAM Browser or Log and Transfer). When Transfer imports a spanned clip made up of multiple <4GB files it creates a single .mov and once that file reaches around 4 GB the import will fail with an "insufficient disk space" error.

Paragon Software's NTFS for Mac allows you to read and write to any NTFS formatted HD, making the worry about copying files to a FAT32 formatted drive irrelevant.

For PC users, your solution is called MacDrive.

- Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Robin Probyn] "What alternatives would they have at the other end,if I say sorry its a mac formatted drive.. "

If you give them an NTSF formatted drive with your XDCAM files they'll have to either buy NTFS for Mac or find someone at their end who can transfer from their windows machine to a Mac OS Extended (HFS+) hard drive.

FAT32 formatting exists so that both Mac and Windows platforms can read and write to the drive without extra software. The downside is that there's a 4G file size limit with FAT32. I'm pretty sure Clip Browser can prepare XDCAM EX files for export to a FAT32 device. I would suspect that it would treat UDF files in the same manner. Research is needed to be sure.

Your situation has nothing to with NLEs, it's a platform issue.

If you continue to cater to Mac platform customers then you should really treat them the same as Windows platform customers and offer them a complete service. Buy some memory sticks from an office supply store then find someone you know locally with a Mac. Get that person to format your sticks in Mac OS Extended. Then you can write to those sticks with your Windows platform with MacDrive. If you want look after your Mac-based clients the path outlined above is simply the cost of doing business.

- Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Robin Probyn] "Some confusion maybe.. Im only using mac.. always have done.. it was more the other way round.. "

No Confusion. You're forgetting that the OP asked about PC to Mac advice. I was addressing both scenarios.

- Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

Thanks Ian

So am I right in the following

Do not down load UDF SXS cards to a FAT formatted ext HDD.. (to be sent to clients) .

Recording in FAT mode its ok to down load to a FAT format drive (as its FAT anyway)

Does that mean that all PDW700/800 users never use FAT formatted drives.. as they are UDF files..

If Im shooting UDF and I'm asked to supply a windows formatted drive.. the only path is to use the software that Don mentioned..

Thanks again both of you for your time..

if you have to provide an NTFS drive that's just the way it is and you should think of it as an operating expense or bill them for it.

Hi Ian

Thanks.. sorry to be thick .. but ..so how would I provide a NTFS formatted drive..? can I format a new drive in the mac to NTFS.. with disk utility.. ? and then its ok to down load the UDF files to a NTFS drive..

Thanks again for your time.. loving the PMW500 BTW..

[Robin Probyn] "Thats correct is it not..?"

It's correct. I use Paragon Software's NTSF for Mac constantly and It works as advertised. It's only 20 bucks.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

- Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

You could format as exFat.

Bob

It is a format without the 4 gig limit that is supported by PC and Mac.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT

Bob

[Robin Probyn] "wonder why neither Ian or Don mentioned it ? "

Because there are a number of limitations and disadvantages that makes exFAT unsuitable for widespread use at this time. Just have a look at all the issues with using exFAT in the same Wiki article. The biggest ones are that support is non-existent with anything other than the most recent operating systems as well as not being adopted by any of the flash drive manufacturers. Even Vista can't read exFAT without a service pack plug in.

Remember that Sony SxS memory is formatted with FAT32 for a reason. If exFAT was a common format it would most likely be in widespread use because of the absence of a file size restriction.

- Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

I received an exfat formatted drive with EX files from an out of state company that uses Mac. I'm on PC and my Win 7 laptop had no problems with it. I can see that it's not very backward compatible though.

Bob

Hi Laura

Did you chose ex FAT because you are not shooting in FAT.. and the 4GB file size restriction of FAT32 is a problem.. ?