Technical Overview

[Tommy]

This is kind of an elaboration on my last post... These are the camera, sound, and storage specs for an upcoming shoot I'm working on. I would appreciate any comments on my plan particularly in terms of terminology, clarity, and redundancy. Also, am I missing anything? Thanks, Tommy

CAMERA
• Shooting on the Red One Camera.
• Frame size is 4K 2:1 (Finishing 2.35:1)
• Camera Firmware Build 18
• Redcode 36
• Shooting at 23.98fps non-drop frame (NDF)
• Select Time of Day (TOD) timecode as the primary timecode track.
• Cross jam/jam sync with audio recorder timecode (using timecode generators).
• Make sure the Incremental Reel option is checked and properly configured so that each reel has a unique name. Start with reel number 001.
• Media will be backed up on set using 2x Caldigit VR 2TB External Hard Drive Arrays.

PRODUCTION SOUND
• Record 24bit 48kHz Broadcast Wave Files (BWF)
• Record a mono mixed track and iso tracks. (Feed the mono mixed track to the camera if possible.)
• Scene, take, and track numbers are to be embedded into the filename (Example: 27A-2-T2.BWF)
• Use 29.97 non-drop frame (NDF) Time of Day (TOD) timecode. (Use 23.98 if possible)
• Cross jam/jam sync with camera timecode (using timecode generators).
• Include R3D filenames in sound log and keep the sound roll number consistent with camera reel number.
• Media will be backed up on set using 2x Caldigit VR 2TB External Hard Drive Arrays.

STORAGE & BACKUP
• There will be 3x Caldigit VR 2TB External Hard Drive Arrays in use during production (additional drives will be purchased if necessary).
o 2x Caldigit VRs for backing up media on set. At the end of each shooting day the editor will copy the media onto their drive.
o 1x Caldigit VR for the editor.
• Based on a 7:1 shooting ratio the total amount of drive space to be used is as follows.
o Camera (R3D): 720 minutes (12 hours) at 127GB/hour = 1524GB
o Sound (BWF): 720 minutes (12 hours) at 494MB/hour = 6GB (per track)
o Caldigit VR 2TB (1800GB Usable) 10% Free Space (180GB) = 1620GB
• All media will be backed up onto LTO-3 tape at the end of the shoot.

 

[James Press]

Looks good Tommy. I'd be trying to back up to LTO3 regularly, as soon as you've got enough footage to fill a tape (ie ~400GB), rather than waiting until the end of the shoot and doing it then....drives do die...

 

[Jeff Brown]

Try and make sure you've got at least one Raid 5 in there somewhere (editor's drive maybe?) . Also make sure that you are always surge protected on set if going to multiple locations. Ideally try and run your own power (battery/inverter or genny).


Jeff Brown

 

[substrata]

Looks very well planned.

Now for the most important part....

Have faith in your preparation and empty your mind.

Concentrate completely on telling a good story.

And remember to always always have fun!

 

[Sam Roberts]

Hope you already have those Caldigit VR's in hand. I ordered mine back in November and still haven't received it.