FAT32 File System for EX at DVinfo.net

Marty Baggen · November 1st, 2007, 08:54 AM

The data is recorded by the EX as FAT32. Does this mean the dreaded 4gb file limitation is going to exist for acquisition??

It appears that the EX software will "seamlessly" span long takes that exceed 4gb (if I am interpreting correctly).... but FAT32 seems like an odd choice?

And does this mean that the EX software combines segments into single clips if a take exceeds 4gb.... which by my very rough estimate is only approx 12 minutes at HQ.

Does this mean our media drives need to be formatted to FAT32???

Bill Ravens · November 1st, 2007, 09:04 AM

FAT32 remains a legacy format, in part, because MacIntosh can read and write to this format. Macs can read NTFS but can't write to it. nNovia has a software solution that writes to the FAT32 disk, then combines all the clips and makes the drive look like NTFS and one single file to a PC.

Craig Seeman · November 1st, 2007, 09:18 AM

Marty, read through the Clip Browser manual in the download. It explains how it displays and handles/spans takes more that 4GB (about 12:30 in 35mbps mode and 17:30 in 25mbps).

They do warn against copying clips in Mac or Windows "desktops" for such reason. The Clip Browser will keep the linked association.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Baggen

The data is recorded by the EX as FAT32. Does this mean the dreaded 4gb file limitation is going to exist for acquisition??

It appears that the EX software will "seamlessly" span long takes that exceed 4gb (if I am interpreting correctly).... but FAT32 seems like an odd choice?

And does this mean that the EX software combines segments into single clips if a take exceeds 4gb.... which by my very rough estimate is only approx 12 minutes at HQ.

Does this mean our media drives need to be formatted to FAT32???

Marty Baggen · November 1st, 2007, 09:21 AM

Craig... I just happened across that part. Good catch, thanks.

Seems to make sense. It just seemed odd to see FAT32 as the format.

Piotr Wozniacki · November 1st, 2007, 09:27 AM

For the very same reason (i.e. Mac compatibility), also the DR60 drive is FAT32. It can be pain in the ass really to put the 4GB together on timeline, and the automated software (Vegas for instance) not always gets it quite right....

Craig Seeman · November 1st, 2007, 09:36 AM

You'd think NTFS would have been ok since Macs can read that and the transfer is happening in the clip browser rather than desktop. I can only guess they ran into some workflow issues with NTFS (or other formats).

It looks like they have the clip spanning worked out in the Clip Browser.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Baggen

Craig... I just happened across that part. Good catch, thanks.

Seems to make sense. It just seemed odd to see FAT32 as the format.

Marty Baggen · November 1st, 2007, 09:46 AM

It's going to be very interesting to see what the NLE situation is going to be once the camera is released.

I'm taking a good look at Vegas 8. I've used version 6 for years for sound work, but now it may have an edge over Premiere in my mind. Premiere has become so unwieldy and unstable since CS2. As much as I enjoy the integration with AE and Photoshop, it may be time to consider a move.

Sort of unrelated to the FAT32 topic of this thread, but it is part of the larger scope of how EX data is going to make its way to a finished edit.

Piotr Wozniacki · November 1st, 2007, 10:00 AM

As much as I like Vegas, and only speaking of my experince with DR60 drive and its FAT32-related problems: Vegas is supposed to import files from it and combine those created by the 4GB limit into a single file, which it fails to do correctly sometimes. On the other hand, there is a utility from Sony for doing just that, and it does it perfectly well all the time - so, one could conclude the clip browser to accompany the EX1 will do it right, as well...

Ray Bell · November 1st, 2007, 10:00 AM

As to NLE.... I have a feeling that Cineform is going to be very important with the EX as to workflow...

Craig Seeman · November 1st, 2007, 10:02 AM

Of course one would expect Sony NLE support for a Sony format would be good.

I use FCP. Apple support should happen quickly. Note that there's already a Mac version of the ClipBrowser and Drivers.

I think people will be watching where Adobe and Avid are in their readiness.

The interesting thing is that Sony chose .mp4 rather than .mxf for this XDCAM. I'm curious about the reasoning in that too. I'd "heard" that it would help in the NLE support department but I'd like to hear the tech details on that.

November 1st, 2007, 08:54 AM	#1
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	FAT32 File System for EX The data is recorded by the EX as FAT32. Does this mean the dreaded 4gb file limitation is going to exist for acquisition?? It appears that the EX software will "seamlessly" span long takes that exceed 4gb (if I am interpreting correctly).... but FAT32 seems like an odd choice? And does this mean that the EX software combines segments into single clips if a take exceeds 4gb.... which by my very rough estimate is only approx 12 minutes at HQ. Does this mean our media drives need to be formatted to FAT32???

November 1st, 2007, 09:27 AM	#5
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	For the very same reason (i.e. Mac compatibility), also the DR60 drive is FAT32. It can be pain in the ass really to put the 4GB together on timeline, and the automated software (Vegas for instance) not always gets it quite right.... __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

November 1st, 2007, 10:00 AM	#8
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	As much as I like Vegas, and only speaking of my experince with DR60 drive and its FAT32-related problems: Vegas is supposed to import files from it and combine those created by the 4GB limit into a single file, which it fails to do correctly sometimes. On the other hand, there is a utility from Sony for doing just that, and it does it perfectly well all the time - so, one could conclude the clip browser to accompany the EX1 will do it right, as well... __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

November 1st, 2007, 09:04 AM	#2
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	FAT32 remains a legacy format, in part, because MacIntosh can read and write to this format. Macs can read NTFS but can't write to it. nNovia has a software solution that writes to the FAT32 disk, then combines all the clips and makes the drive look like NTFS and one single file to a PC.

November 1st, 2007, 09:21 AM	#4
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	Craig... I just happened across that part. Good catch, thanks. Seems to make sense. It just seemed odd to see FAT32 as the format.

November 1st, 2007, 09:46 AM	#7
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	It's going to be very interesting to see what the NLE situation is going to be once the camera is released. I'm taking a good look at Vegas 8. I've used version 6 for years for sound work, but now it may have an edge over Premiere in my mind. Premiere has become so unwieldy and unstable since CS2. As much as I enjoy the integration with AE and Photoshop, it may be time to consider a move. Sort of unrelated to the FAT32 topic of this thread, but it is part of the larger scope of how EX data is going to make its way to a finished edit.

November 1st, 2007, 10:00 AM	#9
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	As to NLE.... I have a feeling that Cineform is going to be very important with the EX as to workflow...

November 1st, 2007, 10:02 AM	#10
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Of course one would expect Sony NLE support for a Sony format would be good. I use FCP. Apple support should happen quickly. Note that there's already a Mac version of the ClipBrowser and Drivers. I think people will be watching where Adobe and Avid are in their readiness. The interesting thing is that Sony chose .mp4 rather than .mxf for this XDCAM. I'm curious about the reasoning in that too. I'd "heard" that it would help in the NLE support department but I'd like to hear the tech details on that.