Bigger single clip files at DVinfo.net

Paul Cronin · October 3rd, 2009, 06:26 PM

Dan is there any way we can have the options to have bigger files for single clips?

Dan Keaton · October 3rd, 2009, 07:21 PM

Dear Paul,

We wanted our system to be compatible with both Mac's and PC's. Thus, we wanted our CompactFlash cards to be readable in a wide range of operating systems.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table, with a 32 Bit word) is one way of formatting a card that allows both Mac's and PC's to read the file.

FAT32 has a limit of 4 GB for any one file.

We limit our file sizes to around 3.5 GB. If there is a technical reason why we choose 3.5, I do not know what it is.

So, we may be able to increase it from 3.5 to almost 4.0 GB.

But, I assume that you want a dramatic increase in file size, as opposed to a small incremental increase.

I spoke to Mike today about a utility to "Stitch" our files together, via a utility. This utility would merge our multiple files into one. We have this under consideration.

Please note that it does not matter how we store the data internally, if we provide a "Copy or Transfer" utility that creates one output file for your editor.

A small side benefit of us using the 3.5 GB or 4.0 GB file sizes is that they fit on a SD DVD easily, but this is not our overridding consideration.

However, we have another project in work in which the multiple files will be treated as one file in Final Cut Pro. We would like to get further along on this project before we discuss it in detail, or release when we will have it ready.

We have other projects in work which relate to our File Converter utility.

(So many projects, only 24 hours in a day!)

Paul Cronin · October 4th, 2009, 05:46 AM

Thanks Dan for your response. I thought you had a good reason to keep the files so small.

I was looking at 10GB minimum for one of my current contracts.

Stitching in FC is easy just drop the clips on the timeline together and they run fine. I'm not looking at going into FC just using MXF converter then having the client use VCL player, since Clip Browser is not very good from my experience on a PC yesterday. But this in only one client at this time.

Dan Keaton · October 4th, 2009, 06:38 AM

Dear Paul,

We have had excellent results with the Sony Clip Browser.

Mike and I were discussing, just yesterday, how nice it is.

What problems were you having?

Paul Cronin · October 4th, 2009, 04:06 PM

Dan I have also had excellent results on my Mac Pro. The problem is when I installed Sony Clip browser on my PC to test some MXF converted files. The resolutions was poor and the control of the video did not have frame advance which the client will need.

I will look into this more tomorrow it could be a hardware problem with the machine. Or I could have installed a older version.

Dan Keaton · October 4th, 2009, 04:18 PM

Dear Paul,

Please try the Sony Clip Browser, Version 2.30.

Denis OKeefe · October 5th, 2009, 04:43 PM

Hello Dan - I'm no FCP wizard, but I tend to put all my nanoflash clips in one folder per job, or day, whatever. When I import instead of files I do the whole folder and drag it to the timeline, and all is stitched together quite nicely.
On a related issue is it possible to rename the clip files ( or would that mess up the stitching?)
On second thought, maybe I don't want to raise the problems that might present - I'll use my SxS habit and just create a card 1, card 2 etc file.
The Nano is working very well, thanks for your help and advice.
Denis

Paul Cronin · October 5th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Danis stitching the files in FC works well.

My problem is I am not putting these files into FC. I am just converting to MXF then sending off to a PC for viewing. That was the reason for having a larger files with some of the clips 10 minutes for a research project.

Dan Keaton · October 5th, 2009, 07:04 PM

Dear Denis,

Yes, you may rename the clip files, but you loose the natural sorting order of the clips that we have created.

Denis OKeefe · October 6th, 2009, 07:52 AM

Okay, getting confused (again) here......
Skipping the mxf issue entirely, what is my best bet for handing off a drive to a producer so they can log and write, and maybe pass the drive on to the editor using a PC?

My intention was to copy the cards onto a lacie formatted FAT 32 and hope they have quicktime or download it for them.

IF I want to use Clip Browser is there a specific file structure I need? THe files I already have, nested in a "project file" are not recognized by clip browser - the folder won't open.

BEar with my folks, I'll catch up soon!

Paul Cronin · October 6th, 2009, 08:27 AM

Denis if you are shooting MXF on the Nano you just have to copy the clips onto a hard drive and send it off. If you shoot MOV just use the Convergent Designs converter and convert to MXF. This will let you have MOV and MXF on your system. This is a nice option if you ever have to send the clips to a Mac and edit on FC.

Once you send the MXF clips they can view the clips with the Sony Clip Browser on a PC. If they have to edit and are on a PC (I use Mac so some one else should correct me if I am wrong) they should be able to import MXF. I know Avid imports MXF but not sure what software your editor is using.

Hope this helps.

October 3rd, 2009, 06:26 PM	#1
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Bigger single clip files Dan is there any way we can have the options to have bigger files for single clips? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 3rd, 2009, 07:21 PM	#2
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Paul, We wanted our system to be compatible with both Mac's and PC's. Thus, we wanted our CompactFlash cards to be readable in a wide range of operating systems. FAT32 (File Allocation Table, with a 32 Bit word) is one way of formatting a card that allows both Mac's and PC's to read the file. FAT32 has a limit of 4 GB for any one file. We limit our file sizes to around 3.5 GB. If there is a technical reason why we choose 3.5, I do not know what it is. So, we may be able to increase it from 3.5 to almost 4.0 GB. But, I assume that you want a dramatic increase in file size, as opposed to a small incremental increase. I spoke to Mike today about a utility to "Stitch" our files together, via a utility. This utility would merge our multiple files into one. We have this under consideration. Please note that it does not matter how we store the data internally, if we provide a "Copy or Transfer" utility that creates one output file for your editor. A small side benefit of us using the 3.5 GB or 4.0 GB file sizes is that they fit on a SD DVD easily, but this is not our overridding consideration. However, we have another project in work in which the multiple files will be treated as one file in Final Cut Pro. We would like to get further along on this project before we discuss it in detail, or release when we will have it ready. We have other projects in work which relate to our File Converter utility. (So many projects, only 24 hours in a day!) __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 4th, 2009, 05:46 AM	#3
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Thanks Dan for your response. I thought you had a good reason to keep the files so small. I was looking at 10GB minimum for one of my current contracts. Stitching in FC is easy just drop the clips on the timeline together and they run fine. I'm not looking at going into FC just using MXF converter then having the client use VCL player, since Clip Browser is not very good from my experience on a PC yesterday. But this in only one client at this time. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 4th, 2009, 06:38 AM	#4
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Paul, We have had excellent results with the Sony Clip Browser. Mike and I were discussing, just yesterday, how nice it is. What problems were you having? __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 4th, 2009, 04:06 PM	#5
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Dan I have also had excellent results on my Mac Pro. The problem is when I installed Sony Clip browser on my PC to test some MXF converted files. The resolutions was poor and the control of the video did not have frame advance which the client will need. I will look into this more tomorrow it could be a hardware problem with the machine. Or I could have installed a older version. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 4th, 2009, 04:18 PM	#6
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Paul, Please try the Sony Clip Browser, Version 2.30. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 5th, 2009, 04:43 PM	#7
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	Hello Dan - I'm no FCP wizard, but I tend to put all my nanoflash clips in one folder per job, or day, whatever. When I import instead of files I do the whole folder and drag it to the timeline, and all is stitched together quite nicely. On a related issue is it possible to rename the clip files ( or would that mess up the stitching?) On second thought, maybe I don't want to raise the problems that might present - I'll use my SxS habit and just create a card 1, card 2 etc file. The Nano is working very well, thanks for your help and advice. Denis

October 5th, 2009, 05:22 PM	#8
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Danis stitching the files in FC works well. My problem is I am not putting these files into FC. I am just converting to MXF then sending off to a PC for viewing. That was the reason for having a larger files with some of the clips 10 minutes for a research project. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 5th, 2009, 07:04 PM	#9
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Denis, Yes, you may rename the clip files, but you loose the natural sorting order of the clips that we have created. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 6th, 2009, 07:52 AM	#10
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	Okay, getting confused (again) here...... Skipping the mxf issue entirely, what is my best bet for handing off a drive to a producer so they can log and write, and maybe pass the drive on to the editor using a PC? My intention was to copy the cards onto a lacie formatted FAT 32 and hope they have quicktime or download it for them. IF I want to use Clip Browser is there a specific file structure I need? THe files I already have, nested in a "project file" are not recognized by clip browser - the folder won't open. BEar with my folks, I'll catch up soon!

October 6th, 2009, 08:27 AM	#11
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Denis if you are shooting MXF on the Nano you just have to copy the clips onto a hard drive and send it off. If you shoot MOV just use the Convergent Designs converter and convert to MXF. This will let you have MOV and MXF on your system. This is a nice option if you ever have to send the clips to a Mac and edit on FC. Once you send the MXF clips they can view the clips with the Sony Clip Browser on a PC. If they have to edit and are on a PC (I use Mac so some one else should correct me if I am wrong) they should be able to import MXF. I know Avid imports MXF but not sure what software your editor is using. Hope this helps. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com