MxR + Sandisk 16Gb failure. Crucial footage lost

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Steve Shovlar

Could multiple, simultanious camera flashes overload the camera's recording capabilities to cause this to happen, or was it just a coincidence?

I'd put a lot of money on coincidence.

Out of interest, had he used this card much before, or was it a new one? There have certainly been tales of new cards being unreliable right from day one, but generally once they've shown themselves to be reliable, they tend to carry on being so. Hence the advice of never, ever using a new card for real work before properly testing it.

[Perrone Ford]

No offense to your friend, or anyone else out there doing this, but anyone who records 1-time footage with a single camera, and a single recording system with no safety net, is flying by the seat of their pants.

I hope your friend takes this opportunity to go out and purchase a redundant recording system, whether it be a Firestore with solid state recording, or a Convergent NanoFlash, which would be my FIRST choice. Better quality, redundant in it's own right, and relatively inexpensive compared to a lawsuit. If this is really a "business" it should be able to be deducted or amortized as a necessary business expense.

I just don't understand how someone can set themselves up in a business shooting unrepeatable events, and not have ANY backup plan.

[Steve Shovlar]

Originally Posted by David Heath

I'd put a lot of money on coincidence.

Out of interest, had he used this card much before, or was it a new one? There have certainly been tales of new cards being unreliable right from day one, but generally once they've shown themselves to be reliable, they tend to carry on being so. Hence the advice of never, ever using a new card for real work before properly testing it.

It was a brand new card. He had used it on one other job.

[Steve Shovlar]

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

No offense to your friend, or anyone else out there doing this, but anyone who records 1-time footage with a single camera, and a single recording system with no safety net, is flying by the seat of their pants.

I hope your friend takes this opportunity to go out and purchase a redundant recording system, whether it be a Firestore with solid state recording, or a Convergent NanoFlash, which would be my FIRST choice. Better quality, redundant in it's own right, and relatively inexpensive compared to a lawsuit. If this is really a "business" it should be able to be deducted or amortized as a necessary business expense.

I just don't understand how someone can set themselves up in a business shooting unrepeatable events, and not have ANY backup plan.

Have to agree. I have mentioned the Nanoflash to him several times but he said it was far too expensive for him to consider. Interestingly, he has a Canon XHA1 which is now gathering dust since he purchased the EX1. And, he is shooting 1080i with the EX1 so he could easily use both cameras and have no conflict when it comes to editing.

I have told him on numerous occassions he is sailing close to the wind with a single camera but it has so far fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps after this shock to his system, he will use the Canon as second camera.

I myself always use two cams, and can sleep at night not having to worry about what I will have to tell disappointed and angry newlyweds the folling day.

[Lance Librandi]

Hi Guys,

I have an EX 3 with a redundant recording system it's called SxS cards, the primary recorder is a Convergent NanoFlash which gives better quality than the SxS. One of the things to remember with the NanoFlash or any other add on recorders mostly by default they operate from the embedded timecode from the SDI signal. Should the camera stop to recording to it’s cards the NanoFlash will also stop. The NanoFlash is equipped with a remote port and I would recommend that you use the optional remote control switch with inbuilt tally light. The remote can be mount anywhere on your camera that you comfortable with. I leave mine permanently connected above the NanoFlash and the cable rolled up under the mounting plate held with velcro so it’s ready for use at anytime.

Where critical work is involved like weddings, I would set the NanoFlash to operate from it's own internal timecode and use the remote control switch to activate it separately, in case of camera stops recording. This way the Nanoflash will still continue to record and you will be saved. The other thing that I have learnt is that the compact flash cards are a lot more robust than the SD cards and very few reports of problems. You can buy them at most photographic stores where ever you are. With the release of the Sandisk 64gb pro compact flash card which I found I can now buy at about half the price of SxS 32gb will make long form work a lot easier. This is a fantastic system I can highly recommend the NanoFlash. I have attached a picture of my setup.

[Damian Heffernan]

did your friend ever try the card in a reader or any of the other possible fixes or did he just give it to someone? interested to know.

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Steve Shovlar

It was a brand new card. He had used it on one other job.

I think that's where the problem lies. There have certainly been other cases of cards not up to spec right from the start, and hence the golden advice to always, always test new cards before use.

Not simply make a straightforward recording, but see how long it will overcrank for at various framerates in overcrank mode. It will fail - but seeing how long before that happens gives a good idea of how much headroom the card has.

I'd be quite happy to use a tried and tested SDHC card on a paying job, but certainly not one straight out of the packet.

[Steve Shovlar]

Originally Posted by Damian Heffernan

did your friend ever try the card in a reader or any of the other possible fixes or did he just give it to someone? interested to know.

He tried it in a dedicated SDHC card reader but to no avail. It just froze at a certain point and that was that. The guy that fixed it did a good job as the footage is now safely in Vegas and the bride happy with the phone call telling her all is now well. He is now investing in a couple of SxS cards.

I did tell him to buy SxS for critical work and to use the SDHC for less important stuff. Guess he learned the hard way.

[Anthony McErlean]

Just out of curiosity, what would it cost to get setup with a NanoFlash?

[Perrone Ford]

I think they are $2995, and you buy compactflash cards for them. Not sure if the price includes the short HDSDI cable or not (though it should). I'd buy one right now if I had the money. Darn good solution at a fair price.

[Anthony McErlean]

Sometime again I might look into it more. It would be nice to have one.

[Graham King]

You also need this clause in your contract so you can't be sued for an amount beyond what the client paid you.

If [your company] fails to perform as scheduled for any reason, the amount of damages paid to or suffered by [your client] will be limited to the amount(s) paid to [your company] (i.e. refund of deposit or total paid to date) and not to exceed the agreed upon amount of this contract. [your client] agrees to forfeit all punitive damages. No other warranty is expressed or implied.

[Richard Cassar]

Hi I am new to this forum, I was reading steve shovlar's thread and I wish to have some help from him, I am currently suffering from a same card corruption, sent to uk( Recovery Company)for recovery but still I am pending. the card is in my hands.Can someone help me to recover these important XDcam files?

[Richard Cassar]

Hi I am new to this forum, I was reading steve shovlar's thread and I wish to have some help from him, I am currently suffering from a same card corruption, sent to uk( Recovery Company)for recovery but still I am pending. the card is in my hands.Can someone help me to recover these important XDcam files?

[John Peterson]

Originally Posted by Richard Cassar

Hi I am new to this forum, I was reading steve shovlar's thread and I wish to have some help from him, I am currently suffering from a same card corruption, sent to uk( Recovery Company)for recovery but still I am pending. the card is in my hands.Can someone help me to recover these important XDcam files?

There were some suggestions earlier in this thread, but moreover, you need to state exactly which card caused the problem so we can all know.
I am not having much luck with newer cards. My older ones NEVER fail. The problems don't always show up right away either. Third recording caused a "media restore" error on the last Sandisk card I returned for a refund.

John