PDW-U1 mac write back

[Uli Mors]

HD1500 already can store "anydata" on the disk (23gb or 50gb) - U1 not (not yet).

Regards

ULi

[Andy Shipsides]

Thanks ULi

Jim Venturi lent me a U1 to try this out, thanks Jim. I confirmed that as well. I was able to copy MXF files to the Clips directory and export from FCP directly to the disc. The UserData directory does not show up when the U1 is attached. So data cannot be read or written with the U1.

Andy

[Mike Watson]

It seems that you can delete clips from the middle of a disk, and while you don't get 100% of the space back, you do get a vast majority. How much seems to vary based on a number of factors that I haven't figured out yet.

It seems that when you delete the last clip on a disk via the U-1, you can no longer record on it via the F350. However, when you delete clips out of the middle of the disk, you can still record on the disk via F350.

Is anyone else playing with this?

edit: Nevermind. After upgrading the firmware on the F350, now I can't write back to any disk that has had clips deleted on it. Back to square 1.

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Mike Watson

It seems that you can delete clips from the middle of a disk, and while you don't get 100% of the space back, you do get a vast majority. How much seems to vary based on a number of factors that I haven't figured out yet.

In order to minimize disc fragmentation, the disc space will only be reclaimed in a minimum of 30 second increments. So, if you delete a 10 second clip, you won't get anything back. It has to total 30 seconds or more.

We had a discussion about this back when they introduced deleting from the middle of the disc.

-gb-

[Mike Watson]

I was unaware this was possible at all. Outside of U1, how else can you delete clips from the middle of a disk?

[Thierry Humeau]

Originally Posted by Andy Shipsides

Thanks ULi

Jim Venturi lent me a U1 to try this out, thanks Jim. I confirmed that as well. I was able to copy MXF files to the Clips directory and export from FCP directly to the disc. The UserData directory does not show up when the U1 is attached. So data cannot be read or written with the U1.

Andy

How about the "General" folder, can you see it with the U1 connected to a Mac? On PCs, you can store 500MB of user data in it.

Thierry.

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Mike Watson

I was unaware this was possible at all. Outside of U1, how else can you delete clips from the middle of a disk?

On the F350, you can do it a couple ways. But the quick shortcut is to pull up thumbnail view, and select the one you want to delete. Hold shift+reset(lcd). You will get a confirmation screen. It can be done via the clip menu in thumbnail view, but this method is faster IMO.

-gb-

[Andy Shipsides]

Posted a video on the U1 write back functions. Check it out on our blog -

PDW-U1 Write Back In Action | CineTechnica

[Jurgen Taghon]

Hi Andy can i use the pdw u1 write back function with an old apple G5 dual?
or do i need a new Mac with intel?
Greetings jurgen

[Andy Shipsides]

Here are the required specs for the new software:

Mac Requirements:
OS: OS X 10.4.10*
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1GHz or higher**
Memory: 1 GB or more recommended

So you'll need an Intel Mac for sure.

[Jeff Halperin]

Has anyone tried writing back XDCam 422 1080p24 files? I have some stuff originally shot on HDCam at 23.98 that I wanted to archive on XD disc as an MXF. Getting an error when I try to write back using that 24p timeline.

error message in U1 Utility Driver alarm log reads:

Unsupported Files (0x89000004) err=-3007 (VFAMAPI_WriteFile)

Looks like 30p will write back just fine. Wondering if anyone else has come across this?

All firmware has been updated. -
XDCam transfer - 2.9
U1 Utility - 2.10
Final Cut 6.0.5

Thanks.

[Phil Bloom]

useful video tutorial by Dennis Lennis of tapelessmadeeasy.com here

Tapeless made easy Learn to archive SxS using the PDW-U1

[Jeff Halperin]

It's a good tutorial, but it does not specify anything about a 24p timeline. Is there a block on the drive as well so that it is incapable of writing 24p files until a "key" is entered?

Thanks,

Jeff Halperin

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Jeff Halperin

It's a good tutorial, but it does not specify anything about a 24p timeline. Is there a block on the drive as well so that it is incapable of writing 24p files until a "key" is entered?

The U1 is basially a dumb drive. All the magic happens on the computer side. I'm speculating that they just didn't get that mode implemented in the software as of yet. I will ask about that issue today.

-gb-