EX1R to laptop to desktop computer

[Robert Bobson]

I need to shoot all day - so I'll be transferring the video from the SXS cards to a laptop. then later I'll need to get that video onto my desktop for editing.

what's the easiest way to get it from laptop to desktop? i just read that I can't just run a USB cable between them - it would need to be a special USB cable with a "hub"(?) in the middle?

are there any other connections that are quick and inexpensive? I'd like to be able to see the laptop as a resource on my desktop's "my computer" screen...

I'll be using the file transfer program that came with the EX1R.

thank you!

[Dave Morrison]

It always helps us to answer these types of questions if you tell us what platform you're running.

[Doug Jensen]

The best solution is to get enough cards so you that don't have to make any transfers in the field. Having only a single copy of your footage, sitting on a laptop, is taking a risk that I would not take. Buy more cards.

On the other hand. for about two years I've been using a PXU-MS240 for making immediate backups in the field (even if I don't have to erase the card) and it has proven to be a 100% reliable and excellent machine. I clone every card that comes out of the camera, and then I can ingest to my desktop computer from the MS240.

But many people simply don't want to spend the money. It is my insurance policy. Even a single lost clip could be enough to cost me 10 times what the MS240 cost me. Everything hinges on how much risk you are willing to take.

[Les Wilson]

1) Restart the laptop holding the "t" key down. That starts it up in "Target Firewire Disk" mode. Then hook up your laptop to your desktop via a Firewire cable. The laptop appears like an external drive.

2) If you don't have a Mac laptop, use your external USB drive to copy the files from your Laptop and then to your desktop using the Sony utility.

3) If you don't have a USB drive, mount the laptop on your desktop over the network and use the Sony utility.

[Kevin Spahr]

You know, if you're using a Mac you don't need to restart anything to transfer at FireWire speed.
Plug you FireWire cable between your Macs, go to network prefs and set it up as a network. You'll only have to do that setup once btw.

[Kevin Spahr]

You should be able to do the same with Thunderbolt if you have two new Macs - that would be really fast.

[Olof Ekbergh]

I have sometimes had to do this when shooting all day interviews.

I put all cards to be copied in a bag labeled "Transfer". I transfer those to my MBP to 2 FW800 drives and check them. I then move them to a bag labeled "Format and use".

This way it is easy to keep track of what cards are at what stage. And by using 2 drives you guard against someone dropping a drive or other calamity that can destroy the data.

I sometimes FEDEX one of the drives back to the studio as they fill up, keeping one with me on location.

The transfer to MP is simple I just hook the FW800 drive to my MP and rewrap and transcode the files I need to use to my RAIDs on the desktop. I always keep 2 HD copies of the original files and I also burn a BluRay of all the footage. And I have a searchable database program that keeps track of all the video files.

I plan to start using SSD drives in the near future for added ruggedness.

[Les Wilson]

OT:
@Olof - What database program do you use? Does it scan the drive and populate the entry with file information? Is it Mac based?

[Robert Bobson]

Sorry I didn't mention they're both win7 64bit computers.
so far for me it looks like the special USB cable will be the easiest.

or maybe I should take an external mirrored hard-drive with me in the field and transfer from the card directly to that. then I can hook it up to my desk computer later and transfer the footage to the desk computer's external drives.

[Attila Cser]

If you have to offload on the location use a software which can put things to multiple locations (e.g.Shot put)
I always transfer things to at least two separate disks
Then just use the external hard drive later with your desktop PC

[Olof Ekbergh]

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

OT:
@Olof - What database program do you use? Does it scan the drive and populate the entry with file information? Is it Mac based?

Les, I use a program I wrote myself in FMP. You have to populate the fields yourself. Including the thumbnails.

I have a stand alone version of this program I give away. If you write me an email I will send you FTP info.

Here is a screen shot of the DB.

Robert, another great solution are the Nexto Drives. No Laptop necessary. My workflow would work fine on a PC as well. FW800 or ESATA drives are much faster than USB in real life.