Re: [Avid-L2] Offloading disks, could use some input.

Tim,
This is possible to make, and i've already done so for Sony EX stuff. (But
never made it public, and it's kinda obsolete now AMA is out)
BUT:
Although the source code for all this is open (at least for PAL), it is a
hell of a job to make something universal that will work for each and
everyone.
Cost of support alone would be way more than a few hundred bucks.

Unattended offloading is no problem, but for the rest i would have a look at
already commercial available products.

Bouke

VideoToolShed
van Oldenbarneveltstraat 33
6512 AS NIJMEGEN
The Netherlands
+31 24 3553311
www.videotoolshed.com
For large files:
http://dropbox.yousendit.com/BoukeVahl998172

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Selander" <selander@tkf.att.ne.jp>
To: <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 3:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Avid-L2] Offloading disks, could use some input.

> Hi Bouke,
>
> We're using 64GB P2 cards, and 32GB SDHC cards (AVCHD). These
> cards hold enough that we are not trying to download and reformat
> cards on location, so we don't need a laptop/under-pressure solution.
>
> What I /would/ like and pay pretty good money for, is software
> that, as you describe,
> 1) Let you load up as many cards as your computer can handle
> (e.g., two P2 cards on a laptop, four SDHC cards via USB card
> readers on 4 USB ports), pick two target drives (one local, one
> network/backup), and have your copy magic do its thing after we
> turn out the lights and go home.
>
> 2) Once the copy was finished, automatically begin
> conversion/transcoding to the Avid DNxHD flavor of my choice,
> putting the results in the Avid MediaFiles folder on the local
> drive, each file/clip prefaced with a short name of my choosing
> so that I can easily find the clips in the Media Tool and pull
> them into my project.
>
> And this would run on OSX and use all 8 cores to get the
> transcoding done as quickly as possible. Actually, under number
> 2, if you let me transcode to a drive over the network, I could
> set up a fast computer, PC or Mac, just to copy and transcode,
> leaving the Avids free to edit. I would transcode the material in
> a seperate folder on the Avid's RAID over the network, to be
> manually put in the Avid MediaFiles folder at the editor's
> convenience.
>
> Don't know if it's possible, but I'd pay a few hundred dollars
> for that convenience/time savings.
>
> MainConcept/Panasonic's AVCHD convertor is only Windows, only
> runs on two cores under VMWare on OSX, and only converts to
> DVCProHD, not DnxHD. And is not an automated solution.
>
> Tim Selander
> Tokyo, Japan
>
>
>
> Bouke wrote:
>> People,
>> I'm currently making a piece of software that can be used to offload
>> discs
>> from a shoot.
>> I could use some input how to improve it.
>> I'm not a shooter myself, but have a client that is using an Ikegami GF
>> cam,
>> and she needs something like this.
>> But the principle is the same for almost every camera that shoots on
>> removable storage, so it's easy to make this app. to be universal usable.
>>
>> So please do read the general outline below, and give me as much as
>> feedback
>> / suggestions as possible.
>> But do keep in mind that the end product must be SIMPLE to use, too much
>> bells and whistles probably will cause more trouble than it's worth!
>>
>> The idea:
>> An application intended to offload removable storage from video cameras,
>> digital still cameras and audio recorders.
>> Why is this needed in the first place? It seems so easy, just drag the
>> content from one location to another.
>> What could go wrong?
>> Well, i've seen everything go wrong, from strange file paths, partly
>> copied
>> material to empty directories, thus no longer existing footage...
>> If you have the Operating system do the copying, you'll get the option to
>> 'cancel'.
>> So you can't leave your computer for a second, cause someone else could
>> cancel the process.
>> Checking if everything is there can be a pain.
>> And of course, these jobs always are either while under the stress of
>> shooting,
>> or late at night after you get home from a long day.
>> Being tired does not make you more accurate, and a simple mistake could
>> wipe
>> out an entire day of work.
>>
>> Now what this thing does:
>> It copies the contents of removable storage to a selected location on one
>> or
>> two harddisks.
>> If you like, it can make a subfolder per source (up numbering). Of course
>> needed for most video systems, but not always needed for still cams.
>> If you like, it can make a subdirectory per day. (So material gets
>> organized
>> by day and by order of offloading)
>> It will only 'see' removable media, so you don't have to worry that your
>> local storage suddenly will be copied.
>> You can customize it so only certain types of disks will be offloaded.
>> (based on a pathname or file that must be present in order to be
>> recognized
>> as a drive that needs offloading)
>> It can erase the removable disk for immediately re-use.
>> It can back up to two different locations for extra safety.
>> It can run unattended, offloading every new disk that is attached to the
>> computer, and eject it when done.
>> It will keep track of disks and warn you if a disk has already been
>> offloaded.
>> (thus, no fear to back up the same disk twice while forgetting the second
>> disk...)
>> You can of course override the warning if you like.
>> After offloading, it will check the amount of files copied, and compare
>> file
>> size / date for each file.
>> If there has been a copy problem, you will be warned that something went
>> wrong.
>> You can make multiple projects for fast switching between jobs /
>> customers.
>> A "Project" means, the settings used. Thus, the kind of sources, the
>> location where it has to be copied to, etc.
>> Each project has it's own database, containing the disks already copied.
>> and last,
>> it will NEVER overwrite files already on the target disk, but it WILL
>> warn
>> you if you try to do so!
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>>
>> Bouke
>>
>> VideoToolShed
>> van Oldenbarneveltstraat 33
>> 6512 AS NIJMEGEN
>> The Netherlands
>> +31 24 3553311
>> www.videotoolshed.com
>> For large files:
>> http://dropbox.yousendit.com/BoukeVahl998172
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
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>> http://archives.bengrosser.com/avid/
>>
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>> http://tinyurl.com/ColorCorectionforvideo Get your copy todayYahoo!
>> Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>

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