Q about ExpressCard & Mac Pro at DVinfo.net

Jim McQuaid · January 23rd, 2008, 02:57 PM

If I'm editing on a Mac Pro, what is the path from the Expresscard? I am assuming I would want the Sony USB card reader. Is there a plug-in for the Mac Pro that can directly read these cards?

(I understand that in the field, I would want something as well, ideally a notebook and large disk, but I'm trying to understand this piece first)

Andrew Wilson · January 23rd, 2008, 03:11 PM

The camera has a USB port on it so you can plug the camera right into the computer if you want. Although the port is in the hardest possible to reach location.

Also, you would need to make sure the camera is either plugged in or has enough battery to download all the footage without going dead.

Craig Seeman · January 23rd, 2008, 04:11 PM

Curious about this
http://www.synchrotech.com/products-...-drive_03.html

It MIGHT work but someone would have to experiment. The description implies it might work on non Windows boxes and at the bottom they link to SxS drivers comment stating it's untested.

Joshua Fleetwood · February 10th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I am willing to believe that since the SxS cards theoretically work on the pci-e bus capability that this adapter should work. I also believe that this adapter should work on the mac pro. The os knows how to handle expresscard by default due to the Macbook Pro and since on the Macbook Pro the expresscard 34 runs through a pci-e bus, it is a relatively safe bet that the Mac Pro would handshake pretty well with this device. My BIG fear from this thread is that the SxS does not speak the same language as either the expresscard usb ssd or pci-e ssd. Those two run without any driver on osx. The sony driver makes me believe that they are running on some custom headers. Does that eliminate the possibility of 3rd party (excluding sandisk) ssd working with the EX or does it just mean that the formating of the cards is specific to the EX?

I Will test all of these things together as soon as I get my EX (around a month). Hopefully someone else does before me.

Jim McQuaid · February 10th, 2008, 03:45 PM

I've seen a post on the FCP board from someone who reports that the PCIe adapter card for the Mac Pro works fine with the SxS cards for import.

George Kroonder · February 10th, 2008, 04:31 PM

Ben reports having trouble swapping cards in this thread op the board. The Synchrotech's device doesn't explicity support Mac Pro's, but should work in principle. Not sure about hot-plugability though.

Be sure to add the Sony SxS drivers listed at the bottom of your specs page. That may be crucial for the hot-pluggable problem.

I'll drop a post in Benjamins thread about the drivers, might actually solve his problem.

George/

January 23rd, 2008, 02:57 PM	#1
Jim McQuaid Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Durham, North Carolina Posts: 61	Q about ExpressCard & Mac Pro If I'm editing on a Mac Pro, what is the path from the Expresscard? I am assuming I would want the Sony USB card reader. Is there a plug-in for the Mac Pro that can directly read these cards? (I understand that in the field, I would want something as well, ideally a notebook and large disk, but I'm trying to understand this piece first)

February 10th, 2008, 03:45 PM	#5
Jim McQuaid Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Durham, North Carolina Posts: 61	PCIe card for Expresscard reading on Mac I've seen a post on the FCP board from someone who reports that the PCIe adapter card for the Mac Pro works fine with the SxS cards for import. __________________ Check out Turnip Films www.turnipfilms.com

January 23rd, 2008, 03:11 PM	#2
Andrew Wilson Tourist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 123	The camera has a USB port on it so you can plug the camera right into the computer if you want. Although the port is in the hardest possible to reach location. Also, you would need to make sure the camera is either plugged in or has enough battery to download all the footage without going dead.

January 23rd, 2008, 04:11 PM	#3
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Curious about this http://www.synchrotech.com/products-...-drive_03.html It MIGHT work but someone would have to experiment. The description implies it might work on non Windows boxes and at the bottom they link to SxS drivers comment stating it's untested.

February 10th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#4
Joshua Fleetwood Tourist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 4	I am willing to believe that since the SxS cards theoretically work on the pci-e bus capability that this adapter should work. I also believe that this adapter should work on the mac pro. The os knows how to handle expresscard by default due to the Macbook Pro and since on the Macbook Pro the expresscard 34 runs through a pci-e bus, it is a relatively safe bet that the Mac Pro would handshake pretty well with this device. My BIG fear from this thread is that the SxS does not speak the same language as either the expresscard usb ssd or pci-e ssd. Those two run without any driver on osx. The sony driver makes me believe that they are running on some custom headers. Does that eliminate the possibility of 3rd party (excluding sandisk) ssd working with the EX or does it just mean that the formating of the cards is specific to the EX? I Will test all of these things together as soon as I get my EX (around a month). Hopefully someone else does before me.

February 10th, 2008, 04:31 PM	#6
George Kroonder Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Utrecht, NL \| Europe 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 612	Ben reports having trouble swapping cards in this thread op the board. The Synchrotech's device doesn't explicity support Mac Pro's, but should work in principle. Not sure about hot-plugability though. Be sure to add the Sony SxS drivers listed at the bottom of your specs page. That may be crucial for the hot-pluggable problem. I'll drop a post in Benjamins thread about the drivers, might actually solve his problem. George/