Older Red Station SSD reader questions

[Nick_Brown]

Soon-to-be R1 MX owner here. I'm trying to understand the older ecosystem of this camera. I've done some research on my own but I've hit a dead end. I was hoping that someone with knowledge of this system could help me out a little.

It seems that there was more than one Red Station SSD reader.

Variation #1 has fewer slots: "SS" (USB 2?), 2x Firewire 800, a power switch, and a 5V DC input.

Variation #2 has more: two power "slots", eSATA, 2x Firewire 800, USB 2.0, a power switch, and a 5V DC input.

I suspect that Variation #2 was designed to be daisychained to a Red Base and CF reader, whereas Variation #1 was standalone. Is there any reason that #2 can't be used as a standalone? eSATA might be a faster way to offload footage, using a cable adapter like this. Right?

And lastly, my understanding is that Red Mini-Mags are the newer, more compact versions of these cards available for the DSMC 2 bodies. But, I see a lot of people referring to the older 1.8 SSDs as Mini Mags. Which is correct?

 

[Terry VerHaar]

Pretty sure the standard jargon for the older, larger recording media was "Redmags" and not mini-mags. The newer, smaller version, are indeed, called "Mini-Mags."

As for the readers you show above, I have both and use them interchangeably depending only on what cables and connectors are available. Of course, these connectors are old types as far as modern computer connections are concerned; i.e. to my knowledge Apple hasn't manufactured a computer with Firewire in several years.

 

[Nick_Brown]

Thanks for the info, Terry. That is helpful. You're right, I haven't used anything with FW800 in 5+ years. I'm going to go the eSATA route for my purposes.

 

[Michael Winokur]

There is another USB 3.0 version which I find more useful. I have the one you call v2 if you are looking to buy.

 

[Nick_Brown]

There is another USB 3.0 version which I find more useful. I have the one you call v2 if you are looking to buy.

Interesting. I just pulled the trigger on the second variation, but the 3.0 would have been nice to have. What did the connector/port look like on that one?

 

[Michael Winokur]

It's actually the photo you call v1 (which is actually the later version). Where it says SS that's usb 3.0, I didn't catch that when I first read your post.

 

[Alex Lubensky]

The first one is a USB 3.0 version, while the second one is USB 2.0/E-SATA. I don't know anyone actually using firewire nowadays, but I have them both and usually go with the #1 for on-set purposes (it's much smaller and lighter), while a have multiple #2 on my workstation - to offload media at home. E-Sata is as fast, as USB 3.0 (bottleneck is in the drives anyways), the #1 are harder to find, the #2 are an easy buy.

#1 powers through USB, while #2 also powers through usb, but when you're using E-sata you have to power it through DC-in. It does come with plenty of options to power though (DC-in to usb power cable, power input, cables to daisy-chain power and so on). Talk to seller on cables on #2.

 

[Nick_Brown]

E-Sata is as fast, as USB 3.0 (bottleneck is in the drives anyways)

That's a relief. The unit I purchased comes with a power cord. Good info!