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.

My conditions:

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

Brian

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

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.

Hello Marshall,

How could I send you an email?

Mine was option 2:

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Yes I did this twice and still had problems with all of my cards including the Memory Stick that Sony sent me...So it is very frustrating to be out shooting and miss a scene due to the errors

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

I agree it did this to me in Florida while I was shooting migratory birds on their morning flight and guess what???

I missed the shot!!! I was shooting 1080/30p but decided to switch to 1080/60i to fix the problem and still had buffering issues....I am thinking of taking this camera back and going with EX-1r

I am real heated with this situation

This is being worked on by Sony as this is being typed. I'm getting new equipment from them in the next week or so to do some additional testing.

As of now, I've had the buffer issue happen five times.

Equipment being used is a combination of two cameras, two readers, 6 different SDHC cards, etc, all logged and documented with as many recording variations as possible.

The buffer issue has come up anywhere from within a few seconds of recording to several minutes so there's no found consistency as of now with this.

The primary consistent issue/setup is when recording in HD on BOTH the card and reader.

Unfortunately, I won't be at NAB next week as I have too much to do here, but will be in contact with certain people as applicable.

If anyone will be at NAB, and plan to stop by / say anything to Sony, let me know....I have some info that can be passed on...

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

Hey, Ryan. The issue is consistent when recording HD to both the cards and reader. To be "safe" - at least for now - just record to one media and not both. Since there is no consistency with the timing and frequency of this issue, there's no guessing of it actually happening until it's too late. If it was me, and with what I'm doing, I'm recording ONLY to the cards and not the reader. I have been testing these cameras for a few weeks now and have run countless hours on them and the error has happened five times thus far and the timing of when the error takes place is completely sporadic. I've gone a few days with no errors and then all of a sudden, have it happened twice within just a few hours.

Has anyone had this happen just recording to the FMU?

Ron Evans

I did a Media Empty on all media and was buffer overflow-free for about 10 days -- they had been happening more often before that.

If a bad sector or some sort of corruption is causing this, why has Sony not managed to figure it out yet? It would be fairly simple to corrupt something and check if it triggers an overflow -- but perhaps they're not even thinking down this line???

If Media Empty operations help keep one buffer overflow-free, Sony really needs to make them possible on battery power so you can do them in the field -- at the moment the operation can only be done when linked to mains power, which is LESS reliable than battery power in much of Africa!

Cheers

Adam

Has anyone had this happen just recording to the FMU?

Ron Evans

Unless I've overlooked any recent posts for whatever reason, this issue is only taking place when recording in HD to BOTH the SDHC/MemoryStick & FMU128. As for the card, it's not making much difference between Class 4, 6, or 10, or sizes amongst 16GB and 32GB.

Adam -- Why would there be any difference between using a NPF battery or AC power? The issue has been noted either/or and as long as the power is consistent it shouldn't have much to do with it. It's leaning more towards the transport of data when done simultaneously among both recording mediums/methods.

I'll report back again soon.

You can only do a Media Empty with mains power. It doesn't work with battery power.

Ron Evans

Marshall, I was referring to the MEDIA EMPTY operation, not the buffer overflow issue -- the NX5 will not allow you to do a MEDIA EMPTY when on battery power, and I think this is a problem.

Adam

I was recording HD to both FMU and 16GB Sony Memory Stick ProDuo Mark2.

Lost the current clip being recorded and also a clip from earlier in the day. Other clips on the card were not affected.

SDHC (HD) AND FMU (HD)
1080/60i FX
LPCM
Sandisk 16GB Class6

Happened about 10 seconds into recording. It went into recovery mode. After 10 minutes I turned it off. It remained in recovery mode. I pressed the reset. The camera offered to recover the clip. I said "yes". It did not recover the clip.

I formatted both cards just before this occurred. I probably don't have more than 10 hours on the camcorder, cards or FMU.

Unless Sony has a fix in the next few days, both NX5Us are going back. This is unacceptable.

Many on this forum have done a great deal of testing and many have experienced ' buffer overflow '. I have worked with AVCHD format for several years and suggest NOT using FX mode but instead use the FH mode. I won't go into detail here, but if those having problems with the NX5U and ' buffer overflow ' , please prove me wrong. Unless someone using FH mode has a problem, I feel very safe to shoot clips of my own son's upcoming wedding in May using just one camera, the NX5U.. I also welcome any good reason to shoot in FX over FH mode. I am very HAPPY with the NX5U. By the way, I shoot FH 1080/60i both to the FMU128 and Sony Pro Duo 4gb mark 2 chips. I burn the chips to dvds, dump the FMU128 to a hard drive after several recorded events, and feel everything is well backed up and protected. Yes, on long projects I do have to change out the 4gb chips, but I never shoot any clip over 25 mins. and should I need too, I still have the FMU.

Why do so many people need to record to the cards and FMU? Can't you just duplicate the clips on your editing system anyway? I am not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, I just can't find a reason why people really need to have two copies of the same clips when they could just duplicate it themselves, especially when a known problem exists.
Thanks! -Nick

Why do so many people need to record to the cards and FMU? Can't you just duplicate the clips on your editing system anyway? I am not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, I just can't find a reason why people really need to have two copies of the same clips when they could just duplicate it themselves, especially when a known problem exists.
Thanks! -Nick

I think many record to both mediums for the purposes of backup (many are still worried about not using tape). At the same time, I'm in the midst of filming a sitcom for ABC and the duplicate recording is crucial in that one copy goes immediately to editing and the other is immediately archived. It's required in this particular instance due to the required completion dates on each episode.

Getting to the fun-filled buffer issue, I'll be calling again on Monday morning and will post back accordingly. I'm supposed to get new equipment to test but we shall see.

Hi Marshall

posted elsewhere, but had a buffer overflow and freeze the other day and due to stressful circumstances I pulled the FMU off the unit instead of the battery while the screen was black with 'Recovering data.' showing -- and was amazed that a warning message to the effect that data writing to the FMU had been interrupted due to removal of the device flashed up!

So it seems the cam is not totally frozen after the buffer overflow -- there's still some part of it's stupid electronic brain active.

The clip, needless to say, was not recovered to either of the recording media in spite of going thru the motions on restart.

Adam

Hello from the UK - Purchased my Sony NXCAM last month (the first one sold by my supplier) and on first test, recording HD 1080/50i FX LCPM to both FMU and memory Stick Pro Duo 8GB I got 'buffer overflow' and the camera froze as described by others on this forum. My supplier has sold fifteen other NXCAMs and had no other reported problems but I am the only one to have purchased the FMU.
So far no word from Sony.
I need to decide whether to get a full refund or just return the FMU - I am puzzled as why everyone appears happy to keep the camera despite the obvious problem?

I am happy with my NX5U. I have never had any problem recording to both the FMU and chips. Be sure to use mark 2 Pro Duo chips. By the way, I always record HD 1080i to both the chips and FMU and use ONLY FH mode. I never use the FX mode. I am asking anyone who has experienced buffer overflow problems to change to FH mode to see if this solves their problem. I have some equipment that will not accept FX recorded clips so I don't use it and may be the reason why I have not experienced any overflow problems. I have recorded several events and have done a lot of testing as many on the forum have done.

Hello from the UK - Purchased my Sony NXCAM last month (the first one sold by my supplier) and on first test, recording HD 1080/50i FX LCPM to both FMU and memory Stick Pro Duo 8GB I got 'buffer overflow' and the camera froze as described by others on this forum. My supplier has sold fifteen other NXCAMs and had no other reported problems but I am the only one to have purchased the FMU.
So far no word from Sony.
I need to decide whether to get a full refund or just return the FMU - I am puzzled as why everyone appears happy to keep the camera despite the obvious problem?

I can't speak for everyone, but I don't have the option of returning my cams. I bought them from B&H and they give you a 14 day period to return the cams for a refund. My problems began after that period was over. I have to admit, because Sony apparently doesn't have an understanding or solution of the Buffer problem, I would return my cams for a refund if I could.

I am happy with my NX5U. I have never had any problem recording to both the FMU and chips. Be sure to use mark 2 Pro Duo chips. By the way, I always record HD 1080i to both the chips and FMU and use ONLY FH mode. I never use the FX mode. I am asking anyone who has experienced buffer overflow problems to change to FH mode to see if this solves their problem. I have some equipment that will not accept FX recorded clips so I don't use it and may be the reason why I have not experienced any overflow problems. I have recorded several events and have done a lot of testing as many on the forum have done.

The error is entirely random and the only (current) common trait is to record in tandem between both the card (SDHC or MemoryStick) and the FMU128 unit, in the max quality setting on both. No reports of this error have been experienced with any other setting and while the "workarounds" are available in the sense of using only one option to record to or just a different format altogether, it ultimately defeats the purpose of using the camera for what it's intended in the first place.

I have a call to them for Monday morning and will report accordingly.

I think Curtis was saying that he records at 17mbps rather than 24mbps and hasn't had a problem and has anyone else at this data rate. Both are 1920x1080.

Ron Evans

SDHC (HD) AND FMU (HD)
1080/60i FX
LPCM
Sandisk 16GB Class6

Happened about 10 seconds into recording. It went into recovery mode. After 10 minutes I turned it off. It remained in recovery mode. I pressed the reset. The camera offered to recover the clip. I said "yes". It did not recover the clip.

I formatted both cards just before this occurred. I probably don't have more than 10 hours on the camcorder, cards or FMU.

Unless Sony has a fix in the next few days, both NX5Us are going back. This is unacceptable.

I am with Bob this camera will be returned for the EX1R I do not have the time or patience to wait for Sony, I had this issue since Feb the first week of owning this camera. The funny part was how Sony tried to act like this was an isolated incident as if it was my problem...

The EX1R does not have redundant media recording like the NX5U that is giving you the problem. IF you are only going to record to one media then the NX5U will work just fine and the FMU will give a long record time as well. It would be interesting to find out if anyone had the problem recording to either card or FMU and the HD/SDI output to a Nanoflash etc. Is the problem just the FMU /card combination at the highest data rate. Curtis seems to infer that he has not had problems at the the FH ( 17 Mbps ) mode.
I have shot about 8 hours of combined 32G Patriot class 10 and the FMU at the FX data rate with no problems.

Ron Evans

just to chime in

so far have shot about 12 hours with my nx5 and i've never had a buffer overflow error. i shoot exclusively in 1080p24 using FX mode and record to class 4 SDHC chips and the FMU simultaneously.

are most guys shooting in 1080i when having the issues? just another variable for the mix,,,

k

I had a call from Sony today about the buffer overflow issue and he told me that the product manager told him they "are in the middle of working the problem and may have a solution soon".

I guess that's encouraging, but we'll see.

Yes, they are aware of this issue and are currently working with Japan on fixing this asap. I can't state too much via online, but I'll know a lot more mid/late next week. If you have any questions/comments, either post here or PM/call me directly.

Talked to Sony today. I was told they have found the problem with the buffer overload and a fix would be in the pipelinein in a few weeks. What I find unacceptable Sony wants me to send my camera in for evaluation for my focus issues for a unknown amount of time on a camera they never worled on or even have parts. Is there someti\hing wrong with this picture? I work 7 days a week and need my equipment. Thanks Sony.

John

Just wanted to let everyone know, I just got a call from Sony, they have a software upgrade for the camera to fix the problem. The bad thing is, it isn't a user upgradable patch, so it needs to be sent into the sony repair center. Hopefully this gets everything squared away.

Ryan

That is pretty good news that Sony has a solution for us. Any word on how all the upgrades will be done for NX5 owners? Will Sony be in contact with us or send us any notification? Or will each of us need to contact Sony directly and arrange this upgrade?

I'm going to start a new thread...but in the meantime, the cameras need to have an updated firmware....

Read the newer thread....