Maybe, but it could be extremely expensive. About 7 or 8 years ago we had someone's drive fail at work and sent it out. This was back when drives were a lot smaller.

They charged per megabyte recovered. I can't recall the size of the drive, but it was certainly no larger than a few gigabytes and they salvaged a few hundred meg. I think the cost was in the $500-$1000 range.

It is my understanding that the PDW U1 uses File Access Mode (FAM)similar to the XDCAM HD cameras to read and write files. It does not record video. The unit would always have to be connected to a computer via software to play back files.

Am I assuming correctly that these discs are re-writable?

Also, are we limited to the amount of data (with respect to the actual media) we can put on the disk? I've read other places where you could put data in a specific folder on the disk, but it was only a certain amount of data.

Yes, rewritable. I think Sony claims 10,000 cycles and a 50 year life.

The new firmware eliminates the 500MB storage limit for general files, and allows you to use nearly all of the 23GB or 50GB disk for any type of files that you want to burn onto the disc.

Thanks Doug.

I'm about ready to purchase one of these. I'm assuming I'll be able to put 6 8GB cards on one 50GB disc.

I have one project that contains 79 cards. That's going to cost me over $800 just to back the project up, OUCH!

Makes me think twice about just putting it all on DL DVDs for about 1/10th the cost.

Well, from now on, I will build in a budget for the 50GB discs for each project so it can be archived with confidence and the client will foot the bill for the discs.

Are there any storage devices (shelves, cabinets) that hold the XDCam discs? What about labeling?

Thanks,

Jim

Hi Jim,

I think backing up footage on the 50GB discs will be a good solution until something better comes along. Just to be clear, though, I don't currently backup on those discs because the Mac firmware won't allow it yet. So I'm just speaking on "theory" until Sony releases the new software and I have a chance to see how it works in real life. I've already had a PDW-U1 for a couple of years because I also own a PDW-F350 and I use to import clips that were shot with that camera.

Each of the XDCAM discs comes with a couple of labels and it's own plastic case that stack nicely on a bookshelf. The clam shell case is a lot like a plastic Betacam case -- except a lot thinner.

We use MediaFiler to number our discs and keep track of what is on each disc. Vortex Media: VIDEO & PHOTO Tools and Training Unfortunately it doesn't run on a Mac.

Doug

Hmm, I'm a bit confused as I thought Phil just announced that Sony has the firmware which should be released any day now.

Can someone enlighten me on this?

There's nothing to be confused about.
"released any day now" is not the same thing as being released and already tried and tested.
Sony has been talking about this update for almost a year.

I'm on two week road trip so it could be out right now, but it wasn't as of a few days ago.
I'm not going to say what it does or how easy it is to do it until I test it for myself.
Not even Phil claims to have actually used it yet.

checking in
 

Wow, not here yet, just Wow. I have given up.

2.2.1
 

I have just downloaded it and it appears and works as advertised. Now I need to get my Nano Flash files on that disk. Still testing. Stay tuned. Dropping 100Mb CD files into U1 clip folder, not cutting it yet. Ill try 50 Mb. This could be the sweet spot for EX 3/1/Nano.

Curious to know why the 100Mbps files aren't working.

It may be a Sony directory issue. When I say clip folder, I mean the root clip folder within the Sony Disk Directory. Issues may include the fact that when clips are added to the Sony optical disk, meta data and proxies are generated. By just dropping a clip from the nano flash into the clip folder of the optical disk may need these additional components or a work around.

I deleted this post because I spoke too soon.
BPAV folders and EX clips are completely compatible with both Clip Browser and XDCAM Transfer

Doug,
I have been able to view the BPAV folders that were dragged to the optical disk user data via the Clip Browser. Try again

Did you up the firmware on the U1?