If you are experiencing the buffering problem, read/post here only at DVinfo.net

Marshall Levy · March 24th, 2010, 01:23 PM

Just spoke with Product Development with Sony.....I need to do a bunch of testing to prove consistency with the issues, which have all been documented with Sony.

For EVERYONE having this problem, post back if you have had this problem with the following (where "SDHC is either that or MemoryStick):

1> SDHC (HD) only
OR
2> SDHC (HD) AND FMU (HD)
OR
3> SDHC (HD) AND FMU (SD)
OR
4> SDHC (SD) AND FMU (HD)
OR
5> FMU ONLY (and in what format)
*>As the SDHC/MemoryStick option only allows a variety of HD -and not SD- to be recorded, note which format/framerate, etc. that is being used (HQ, FX, etc...)
*> ALSO NOTE IF YOU'RE RECORDING IN LPCM OR DOLBY FOR AUDIO

I don't care about battery, GPS, LCD, or whatever else...ONLY to the above and with that, note the Manufacturer, size, and speed of the SDHC/MemoryStick cards that you are using.

Brian Grant · March 24th, 2010, 02:24 PM

My conditions:

SDHC (HD) AND FMU128 (HD)
LPCM
Panasonic 16 GB Class 10

Brian

Adam Welz · March 24th, 2010, 02:27 PM

Marshall

I've only experienced the problems in context 2, recording HD to both an SDHC card and the FMU128.

SDHC card brands: 16 GB SanDisk Extreme Class 10 & 32 GB Kingston Class 4

Always with PCM audio -- never Dolby

Cheers

Adam

Daniel Paquin · March 24th, 2010, 09:27 PM

Marshall,

What about
4> SDHC (SD) AND FMU (HD)
5> SDHC (SD)

This is exactly how I've set up my two cameras. I would be interested in knowing if any who had this setup experienced any problems. I would hope not being the case, however, those options are valid ones and should be considered.

Unless, you or someone from Sony are absolutely sure, that any of these two setup would not cause a buffer overflow or data error.

If someone can guarantee this to me, I am in business. I no longer have to worry. In 99.9% of the cases I do not have any intention to record HD on SDHC card and SD on FUM128 flash drive.

Daniel Paquin · March 25th, 2010, 04:56 AM

Hello Marshall,

How could I send you an email?

Ryan Mason · March 25th, 2010, 05:27 AM

Mine was option 2:

SDHC (HD) AND FMU128 (HD)
Kindgston 16 gb class 4 SD Card
dolby digital audio

Fred Davis · April 3rd, 2010, 11:06 PM

Mine was option 2

SDHC (HD) and FMU (HD)

1080/30p, dolby audio, rec button set to record on both the FMU and card, slot A was in use, custom profile 2

Davis

Ryan Mason · April 5th, 2010, 10:59 AM

Has anyone heard any resolution to this yet, I am getting close to an event, and I don't want this happen again, as it will cost me money. Sounds like it is starting to happen to new people too.

Marshall Levy · April 5th, 2010, 02:26 PM

Still awaiting a resolution of sorts. I've been testing my cameras under different recording conditions and while the error has happened now 4 times, it's extremely sporadic with regards to the frequency that it takes place and the duration of recording to that of the error appearing.

I'll post back as soon as I know an update, but for the time being, just be careful when recording to both the cards and the FMU128.

Brian Grant · April 5th, 2010, 02:43 PM

Have you been able to get the error to occurr when recording a combo of SD and HD, or have you been recording HD to both SDHC and FMU?

I taped an event last week - replaced the SDHC card with memory stick and recorded SD to it with HD going to the FMU - no problems. Not ideal but hopefully safe.

Adam Welz · April 6th, 2010, 10:06 AM

Hi All

Having been buffer overflow-free for over 2 weeks now, and shooting a LOT every day, I thought I'd dodged the bullet -- I have been doing MEDIA EMPTY operations on all my media every now and then, and using a MemoryStick as my primary slot media instead of SDHC, with the understanding that buffer overflow-and-freezes only happened with SDHC cards.

Anyhow, today, less than ten seconds into a shot I got a buffer overflow while recording to a MemoryStick and the FMU128 simultaneously. I had a complete freeze and had to take the battery off the camera to get anywhere. When I powered back up again I went through the clip recovery process for the FMU and the MemoryStick, but the clip was NOT recovered.

This is bad!

My specs: Recording to FMU + Sony MemoryStick PRO-HG Duo 16GB, 25 fps prog scan FX footage to both, LPCM audio.

Adam

Matt Lawrence · April 6th, 2010, 05:44 PM

Has anyone tried checking their FMU128 for bad sectors? Since it's happening with a variety of SD cards as well as MemorySticks, the FMU128 looks more suspect. I just got my NX5U but I don't have the FMU128 yet so I'm not sure how it works, but if it's mounting as a normal USB drive on your computer then checking for bad sectors should be easy enough.

In Windows just right click on the FMU128 in My Computer and open Properties. Then under Tools choose Error Checking (be sure and select the option to scan for bad sectors).

On the Mac I think you need a third party utility like TechTool Pro (do a Surface Scan).

If it detects bad sectors then I would write zeros to the entire drive (this isn't a bad idea to do from time to time anyway on any drive you use a lot). I'm not sure if you can write zeros with Windows' built-in utilities but you can do it on a Mac using Disk Utility. Select the drive then in the Erase tab open Security Options and choose Zero out data. Choose FAT32 for the Format (you'll have to reformat again on the camera).

For those on a Mac without a way to check for bad sectors, I would just write zeros to it. But it would be good to know if anyone actually finds bad sectors.

Ron Evans · April 6th, 2010, 06:52 PM

I expect the "Media Empty" command on the camera writes to all locations to ensure no data is left for recovery by another user, as described in the manual( page 65).

Ron Evans

Matt Lawrence · April 6th, 2010, 07:21 PM

Yes, the Media Empty function probably zero outs data. Has anyone done this on their FMU128 and still had the problem?

Ryan Mason · April 7th, 2010, 05:32 AM

Well I talked to sony yesterday, got a much better response from them this time, they are looking into this, and trying to figure out what is going on, so that is good, but really have nothing to offer at this point. It was suggested that if the camera locks up, to hit the reset button on the control panel under the LCD, it is a recessed button and you need a paper clip or something to hit it. I was told this may speed up the recovery time to get us up and recording sooner. Hopefully they can get this figured out soon.

Now, I am trying to find a "safe" recording manor. I know that everyone that has had it happen had it happen when recording HD to both the FMU and SD card. Is this because that is the main way people are recording. Has anyone used the camera extensively recording in a different manor. I don't really need 2 copies of what is being recorded, so if just recording to the FMU, or to an SD card is much safer, that is the way I will do it. I just really like the idea of a back up and once I have a copy I can delete the duplicate.

Ryan

March 24th, 2010, 01:23 PM	#1
Marshall Levy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 304	If you are experiencing the buffering problem, read/post here only Just spoke with Product Development with Sony.....I need to do a bunch of testing to prove consistency with the issues, which have all been documented with Sony. For EVERYONE having this problem, post back if you have had this problem with the following (where "SDHC is either that or MemoryStick): 1> SDHC (HD) only OR 2> SDHC (HD) AND FMU (HD) OR 3> SDHC (HD) AND FMU (SD) OR 4> SDHC (SD) AND FMU (HD) OR 5> FMU ONLY (and in what format) >As the SDHC/MemoryStick option only allows a variety of HD -and not SD- to be recorded, note which format/framerate, etc. that is being used (HQ, FX, etc...) > ALSO NOTE IF YOU'RE RECORDING IN LPCM OR DOLBY FOR AUDIO I don't care about battery, GPS, LCD, or whatever else...ONLY to the above and with that, note the Manufacturer, size, and speed of the SDHC/MemoryStick cards that you are using. Last edited by Marshall Levy; March 25th, 2010 at 08:02 AM.

March 24th, 2010, 09:27 PM	#4
Daniel Paquin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 179	Marshall, What about 4> SDHC (SD) AND FMU (HD) 5> SDHC (SD) This is exactly how I've set up my two cameras. I would be interested in knowing if any who had this setup experienced any problems. I would hope not being the case, however, those options are valid ones and should be considered. Unless, you or someone from Sony are absolutely sure, that any of these two setup would not cause a buffer overflow or data error. If someone can guarantee this to me, I am in business. I no longer have to worry. In 99.9% of the cases I do not have any intention to record HD on SDHC card and SD on FUM128 flash drive. __________________ Daniel Paquin Production ZoOM vidéo

March 25th, 2010, 04:56 AM	#5
Daniel Paquin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 179	Hello Marshall, How could I send you an email? __________________ Daniel Paquin Production ZoOM vidéo

April 6th, 2010, 10:06 AM	#11
Adam Welz Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York, USA Posts: 111	buffer overflow can also happen with MemoryStick! Hi All Having been buffer overflow-free for over 2 weeks now, and shooting a LOT every day, I thought I'd dodged the bullet -- I have been doing MEDIA EMPTY operations on all my media every now and then, and using a MemoryStick as my primary slot media instead of SDHC, with the understanding that buffer overflow-and-freezes only happened with SDHC cards. Anyhow, today, less than ten seconds into a shot I got a buffer overflow while recording to a MemoryStick and the FMU128 simultaneously. I had a complete freeze and had to take the battery off the camera to get anywhere. When I powered back up again I went through the clip recovery process for the FMU and the MemoryStick, but the clip was NOT recovered. This is bad! My specs: Recording to FMU + Sony MemoryStick PRO-HG Duo 16GB, 25 fps prog scan FX footage to both, LPCM audio. Adam

March 24th, 2010, 02:24 PM	#2
Brian Grant New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 8	My conditions: SDHC (HD) AND FMU128 (HD) LPCM Panasonic 16 GB Class 10 Brian

March 24th, 2010, 02:27 PM	#3
Adam Welz Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York, USA Posts: 111	Marshall I've only experienced the problems in context 2, recording HD to both an SDHC card and the FMU128. SDHC card brands: 16 GB SanDisk Extreme Class 10 & 32 GB Kingston Class 4 Always with PCM audio -- never Dolby Cheers Adam

March 25th, 2010, 05:27 AM	#6
Ryan Mason Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Bend Indiana Posts: 34	Mine was option 2: SDHC (HD) AND FMU128 (HD) Kindgston 16 gb class 4 SD Card dolby digital audio

April 3rd, 2010, 11:06 PM	#7
Fred Davis New Boot Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 22	Mine was option 2 SDHC (HD) and FMU (HD) 1080/30p, dolby audio, rec button set to record on both the FMU and card, slot A was in use, custom profile 2 Davis

April 5th, 2010, 10:59 AM	#8
Ryan Mason Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Bend Indiana Posts: 34	Has anyone heard any resolution to this yet, I am getting close to an event, and I don't want this happen again, as it will cost me money. Sounds like it is starting to happen to new people too.

April 5th, 2010, 02:26 PM	#9
Marshall Levy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 304	Still awaiting a resolution of sorts. I've been testing my cameras under different recording conditions and while the error has happened now 4 times, it's extremely sporadic with regards to the frequency that it takes place and the duration of recording to that of the error appearing. I'll post back as soon as I know an update, but for the time being, just be careful when recording to both the cards and the FMU128.

April 5th, 2010, 02:43 PM	#10
Brian Grant New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 8	Have you been able to get the error to occurr when recording a combo of SD and HD, or have you been recording HD to both SDHC and FMU? I taped an event last week - replaced the SDHC card with memory stick and recorded SD to it with HD going to the FMU - no problems. Not ideal but hopefully safe.

April 6th, 2010, 05:44 PM	#12
Matt Lawrence Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 69	Has anyone tried checking their FMU128 for bad sectors? Since it's happening with a variety of SD cards as well as MemorySticks, the FMU128 looks more suspect. I just got my NX5U but I don't have the FMU128 yet so I'm not sure how it works, but if it's mounting as a normal USB drive on your computer then checking for bad sectors should be easy enough. In Windows just right click on the FMU128 in My Computer and open Properties. Then under Tools choose Error Checking (be sure and select the option to scan for bad sectors). On the Mac I think you need a third party utility like TechTool Pro (do a Surface Scan). If it detects bad sectors then I would write zeros to the entire drive (this isn't a bad idea to do from time to time anyway on any drive you use a lot). I'm not sure if you can write zeros with Windows' built-in utilities but you can do it on a Mac using Disk Utility. Select the drive then in the Erase tab open Security Options and choose Zero out data. Choose FAT32 for the Format (you'll have to reformat again on the camera). For those on a Mac without a way to check for bad sectors, I would just write zeros to it. But it would be good to know if anyone actually finds bad sectors.

April 6th, 2010, 06:52 PM	#13
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	I expect the "Media Empty" command on the camera writes to all locations to ensure no data is left for recovery by another user, as described in the manual( page 65). Ron Evans

April 6th, 2010, 07:21 PM	#14
Matt Lawrence Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 69	Yes, the Media Empty function probably zero outs data. Has anyone done this on their FMU128 and still had the problem?

April 7th, 2010, 05:32 AM	#15
Ryan Mason Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Bend Indiana Posts: 34	Well I talked to sony yesterday, got a much better response from them this time, they are looking into this, and trying to figure out what is going on, so that is good, but really have nothing to offer at this point. It was suggested that if the camera locks up, to hit the reset button on the control panel under the LCD, it is a recessed button and you need a paper clip or something to hit it. I was told this may speed up the recovery time to get us up and recording sooner. Hopefully they can get this figured out soon. Now, I am trying to find a "safe" recording manor. I know that everyone that has had it happen had it happen when recording HD to both the FMU and SD card. Is this because that is the main way people are recording. Has anyone used the camera extensively recording in a different manor. I don't really need 2 copies of what is being recorded, so if just recording to the FMU, or to an SD card is much safer, that is the way I will do it. I just really like the idea of a back up and once I have a copy I can delete the duplicate. Ryan