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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Forged Weapon killing mags on power up

I got a guy in my neck of the woods thats having mag issues with his new weapon. Yeah truly terrifying.
 
v6.2.51 is up on RED.com, folks. This thread's topic is addressed within.
The download link for the new Weapon MG firmware on red.com is not working. I submitted a support ticket.
 
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I would also like to know what this issue comes down to. I haven't seen this yet with our MG Weapon, and I hope it never happens.

So far, every case seems to have been on CF Weapon with 512 mags (and Im guessing an older build).

Ive seen no reports yet of this happening on 240s, or MG or Scarlet-W or Raven.
 
I have now had this issue twice on my MG Weapon.


Ben Wolf
Topiary Productions, Inc.
 
So it seems like that this issue always happens with a battery change.

So to be safe, should we back up cards every time we change batteries before switching the camera back on? Seems like a pain, but much better than losing data.

Also, has anyone been able to recover the Data after the mishap? I have a real shoot for my main client next Wednesday on my new S-W. Would be so scared if this happened.
 
I don't understand how this conditions happens if standard practices are followed, at least this is the stuff that has been drilled into my brain:

1) The fallback battery module / power conditioner (XL module for RED) always handles any power interuptions as I run with a primary power - primary batteries (gold mounts for me) or on AC;

2) Before I power down the camera I remove the medium via a unmount (mini-mag) as it goes to the DIT and a new mini goes in after power up (which then is relabeled through a format, I've seen some debates on who should reformat, for RED metadata it makes sense to me that the camera AC does the reformat and not the DIT).

[classic screwup is reformatting the mini-mag because you thought it had gone to the DIT, also with low budget film set problems like general power and/or some random environmental thing, people can switch camera's and do all sorts of things that can create unexpected problems - anyway this is a reason not to veer from this standard practice so people don't get confused].

3)Reformatting media (mini-mags) after module changes and camera software upgrades(i.e. all media is reformatted to the new build, no media is inserted into the camera that was formatted on a previous build and/or module).
 
I have now had this issue twice on my MG Weapon.


Ben Wolf
Topiary Productions, Inc.

What size mags did you have?

What type of batteries?

And what firmware were you on?

Has it happened since latest firmware?

Has RED given any feedback yet on what this could be?

We'll be moving to Weapon later this year...and would love to know what these variables are ahead of time.

Maybe it's a non approved 3rd party battery?

Seems like for now...mags should be PULLED before powering down...
 
3)Reformatting media (mini-mags) after module changes and camera software upgrades(i.e. all media is reformatted to the new build, no media is inserted into the camera that was formatted on a previous build and/or module).

This is an interesting suggestion - never thought of this!
 
I had this exact error moving the side SSD module & media between old epics and new epic dragons when the camera's were on hugely different versions.

This is very interesting.

So it could simply be the MEDIA is formatted on the wrong build. For upgraders, this would be an understandable pitfall.

Your mini mags are formatted for EPIC DRAGON.

You get a WEAPON.

You stick in the cards.

And because they formatted for wildly different builds - you get an issue.

Is this what you're thinking?

So upon receiving a WEAPON, looks like best practices is to upgrade to latest build, and format all mags at THIS BUILD.

And then...proceed....

Thanks Patrick, and the very least - this is good to keep in mind...
 
This is very interesting.

So it could simply be the MEDIA is formatted on the wrong build. For upgraders, this would be an understandable pitfall.

Your mini mags are formatted for EPIC DRAGON.

You get a WEAPON.

You stick in the cards.

And because they formatted for wildly different builds - you get an issue.

Is this what you're thinking?

So upon receiving a WEAPON, looks like best practices is to upgrade to latest build, and format all mags at THIS BUILD.

And then...proceed....

Thanks Patrick, and the very least - this is good to keep in mind...
Well that is what happened between ancient monochrome epic and a recent epic dragon. My view is more general practice problem many redusers have, people should reformat the cards as they are mounted into the weapon, then before powering down should unmount and send to dit. My personal viewpoint is that many people treat the cards as if they were fixed medium like a digital camera's (i.e. the data medium is fixed in the camera and you usb to your disk drives), when they should be using standard Film management practices with RED. Also the first few hundred camera's really should be viewed as beta builds no matter what anyone says, and in beta this type of thing is mandatory.
 
I had this problem yesterday for the second time (happened once before, a month ago) -- MG Weapon won't start with 512GB mag. If I switch mags, camera starts fine. I can then reformat the problematic mag & all is well.

Using the current firmware & PAG V-mount batteries.


Ben Wolf
Topiary Productions, Inc.
 
I had this problem yesterday for the second time (happened once before, a month ago) -- MG Weapon won't start with 512GB mag. If I switch mags, camera starts fine. I can then reformat the problematic mag & all is well.

Using the current firmware & PAG V-mount batteries.


Ben Wolf
Topiary Productions, Inc.

Hi Ben, can you please save a camera log file and send it to us by submitting a support ticket here.
 
F! I'm about to start a feature with my magnesium and another rental. Man if I lose footage I'm going to be livid. RED, just to give us some peace of mind, what do yall do when this happens to a customer?
 
F! I'm about to start a feature with my magnesium and another rental. Man if I lose footage I'm going to be livid. RED, just to give us some peace of mind, what do yall do when this happens to a customer?

I am not sure Ben is saying he lost footage. He is saying his camera won't start with a mag. Two very different things and we are asking for a log file to see what is going on underneath the hood.
 
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