Format SD card with XA10 at DVinfo.net

Jeff Harper · November 22nd, 2011, 02:10 PM

Hey guys, I looked in the manual and in menu, sure I missed it, but cannot find how to format card with the XA10. I've been formatting the cards in my GH2s then moving them to the XA10 prior to use. It has worked so far, but I'd prefer to let the XA10 do it to prevent hiccups.

Richard Stone · November 22nd, 2011, 02:41 PM

Page 40 in the manual. Canon call it "initializing the memory" rather than formatting.

Jeff Harper · November 22nd, 2011, 02:44 PM

Thanks Richard. How weird is that? Initializing the memory indeed.

Mark Goodsell · November 22nd, 2011, 10:24 PM

You know what? That raises a good question: How often do you guys do a "Quick Erase" versus a "Full Formatting" of the entire card. I've been mostly doing the quick erase, but I think coming up I will do a full initializing.

Jeff Harper · November 22nd, 2011, 11:00 PM

I perform a format before each gig, but only because it just seemed to be safer to start with a formatted card each time. I have no proof that a full format is necessary.

Don Palomaki · November 23rd, 2011, 07:02 AM

Initialize is probably the better term for what goes on behind the curtain with SD cards. The storage locations are fixed by the card design. Format is arguably a legacy term from magnetic disc stroage where in the format process actually defined the storage location on the raw disc.

In theory quick erase/quick format just marks the directory entries as "free space" and allows them and the actual media space to which they point to be overwritten without any confirmation. Until it is overwritten the data remains on the media and can be read and often recovered with a bit or additional work. The underlying assumption is that the media is all good.

Full formatting usually involves a write/read of the storage to confirm the media actually works, and should clear what ever data is on the storage. This takes a lot more time, but is good if you are using storage that may develop errors over time. Any bad areas on the media are marked as unavailable for further use.

November 22nd, 2011, 02:10 PM	#1
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Format SD card with XA10 Hey guys, I looked in the manual and in menu, sure I missed it, but cannot find how to format card with the XA10. I've been formatting the cards in my GH2s then moving them to the XA10 prior to use. It has worked so far, but I'd prefer to let the XA10 do it to prevent hiccups. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

November 22nd, 2011, 02:41 PM	#2
Richard Stone New Boot Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 8	Re: Format SD card with XA10 Page 40 in the manual. Canon call it "initializing the memory" rather than formatting.

November 22nd, 2011, 02:44 PM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Format SD card with XA10 Thanks Richard. How weird is that? Initializing the memory indeed. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

November 22nd, 2011, 10:24 PM	#4
Mark Goodsell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: WI Posts: 367	Re: Format SD card with XA10 You know what? That raises a good question: How often do you guys do a "Quick Erase" versus a "Full Formatting" of the entire card. I've been mostly doing the quick erase, but I think coming up I will do a full initializing. __________________ Mark Goodsell

November 22nd, 2011, 11:00 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Format SD card with XA10 I perform a format before each gig, but only because it just seemed to be safer to start with a formatted card each time. I have no proof that a full format is necessary. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

November 23rd, 2011, 07:02 AM	#6
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Re: Format SD card with XA10 Initialize is probably the better term for what goes on behind the curtain with SD cards. The storage locations are fixed by the card design. Format is arguably a legacy term from magnetic disc stroage where in the format process actually defined the storage location on the raw disc. In theory quick erase/quick format just marks the directory entries as "free space" and allows them and the actual media space to which they point to be overwritten without any confirmation. Until it is overwritten the data remains on the media and can be read and often recovered with a bit or additional work. The underlying assumption is that the media is all good. Full formatting usually involves a write/read of the storage to confirm the media actually works, and should clear what ever data is on the storage. This takes a lot more time, but is good if you are using storage that may develop errors over time. Any bad areas on the media are marked as unavailable for further use. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com