Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 9, 2011 at 4:56:06 am

Can one record proxy files to a SD card on the 2700? is there a additional board needed for this?
or is the only way to record proxy files is to use the Panasonic AJ-YAX800G P2 Proxy File Encoder Card?
On page 140 of the manual it talks a little about the use of SD cards and proxy's but does not go into enough detail.
Any help would be appreciated.

thanks.

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

by Brian Young

on Dec 11, 2011 at 6:48:49 pm

Hi Phil,
Yes - you can record proxies to an SD card on the 2700 but yes - you do need the Proxy File Encoder Card in order to do it.

The card fits in the "hump" to the rear of the handle - just in front of the wireless slot.

When installed, it allows you to record proxies on: the P2 Card OR the P2 Card AND the SD card. I do wish you could record them to just the SD card, but that's not the case. You also have 3 choices of recording resolution and with/without timecode window. (1.5 Mbps, 768 kbps and 196 kbps)

you can download the manual for the card here:
http://www.panasonic.ru/upload/iblock/c38/AJ-YAX800.pdf

Brian Young
Los Angeles
http://www.FlacaProductions.com

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 12, 2011 at 5:18:33 pm

Brian,
Thanks for the info. Guess I'll have to invest in a proxy card.
Thanks again for the help.

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 12, 2011 at 11:05:08 pm

The thing to be aware of with this Proxy card is that there is no embedded time code that matches back to the main clips, only burn in time code. Each clip starts at 00:00:00:00.
I found an elaborate work around in final cut to get the offline process going, but it is very clumsy. If you have the time, something like Proxy Mill is easier to work with in a complete edit sense.

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 12, 2011 at 11:11:08 pm

Matthew, thanks for the info. that is a very important info for me. seems like the time code would match, almost defeats the purpose of the proxies if the TC doesn't match the master clips.

thanks!

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 12, 2011 at 11:35:22 pm

Yeah, that's what I thought when I got the card. When we bought it we had to commit sight unseen, and then couldn't believe that it was engineered that way with no firmware upgrade possible to remedy the problem.
The Dark Side kicks P2's rear end all over town in this area.

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 12, 2011 at 11:45:52 pm

Does Panasonic know this is a short coming?! Guess I will go with proxy mill and save a thousand dollars or so. THANKS!

"Dark Side"? oh do you mean the "S" word?!

Thanks.

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 13, 2011 at 12:04:07 am

Shhh, can't say that here......
I jest.
It's unfortunate that this is the case.
My HPX 3000 would be fantastic rather than just great if there was embedded timecode based proxy support.

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 13, 2011 at 2:41:21 am

Well, I think the 3000 and the entire line of Professional Panasonic cameras are fantastic primarily due to the recording CODEC.

I have been testing the demo of Proxy Mill, do you find that the burned in time code of the proxy does not match the master clip perfectly?

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 13, 2011 at 6:02:02 am

To be honest, I don't use it anymore (for various bug issues). I use compressor to H.264 after log and transfer to FCP to create proxies when I need them, which isn't often any more. The individual clips have matching time code embedded, you just have to careful when re conforming as the H.264 files are a mix down of all 4 audio channels into 2, so there are some setting changes in sequence control to be aware of. Or you could just Transcode the P2 files minus ch 3+4 both for the offline and online.
I agree with you about the AVC Intra codec, and the look I can achieve from the HPX 3000.

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 13, 2011 at 2:39:29 pm

Thanks again for the good info and the tips. This gives me something to think about, I'll probably stick with compressor for proxy files for now. hopefully Imagine products (makers of proxy mill) will be able to work out the bugs and maybe Panasonic will be able to create TC matching proxies with their proxy card then I will take a look at these products again.
Thanks.

PHIL

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

on Dec 13, 2011 at 7:46:37 pm

I'm going to use Compressor for Proxy files with burned in TC as I already own it and after a quick test compressor does the job for me. Could not get the Demo from Proxy Mill (Imagine Products) to work properly (Time code from Proxies did not match master clip) might be me not getting the proper setting in Proxy Mill. Anyone out there have any success with Proxy Mill?

Now, will Panasonic come out with a firmware or software upgrade where the proxies TC from the Panasonic Proxy card match the main/master clip.

PHIL YUNKER
Vanguard Media & Entertainment
http://www.philyunker.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/philyunker

Re: Proxy files on 2700 VariCam

by Helmut Kobler

on Dec 15, 2011 at 2:31:31 am

I have the proxy board for the 2700 and I use it to send dailies of interviews to transcribers. That's about all I use it for, but when I do have interviews to transcribe, I'm always happy I have the proxy board, because it saves so much time vs. creating proxies in Compressor or ProxyMill.

But if any of you consider switching cameras to Panny's HPX3100, you can get a much better proxy board that creates proxies as .mov files and embeds timecode into the movies as well. And the proxy videos can be set for very high resolution, which makes them great to give to clients at the end of the day.

http://library.creativecow.net/kobler_helmut/Panasonic-AJ-HPX3100-Camera-Re...

-------------------
Documentary Camera in Los Angeles
http://www.lacameraman.com