Using Mac on location and then PC to edit - file systems?

[Jamie Havill]

Hi guys,

Quick question I can't seem to find an answer to. I'm using a Mac Book Pro on location during a shoot to process the R3D's. We're then using a Windows based Avid system to edit. If we format the external storage drives in FAT32, am I correct in thinking we shouldn't have any issues with this?

 

[MichaelP]

I use NTFS for Mac OSX on my Mac and I have MacDrive on my PC - this way I don't have to think about what, where, and limitations. I can read and write both OS on both systems without any of the limitations of FAT32.

Michael

 

[John Tissavary]

Hi guys,

Quick question I can't seem to find an answer to. I'm using a Mac Book Pro on location during a shoot to process the R3D's. We're then using a Windows based Avid system to edit. If we format the external storage drives in FAT32, am I correct in thinking we shouldn't have any issues with this?

FAT32 is terrible, don't do it. This is an old, slow, and restrictive filesystem.

Either get NTFS-3G for the mac (free ntfs read/write) or Macdrive ($60) to mount HFS drives (mac) on the PC.

regards,

John T.

 

[Paul Leeming]

Jamie, if you format as FAT32 you won't have any issues going between operating systems.

Sure, FAT32 isn't the world's best file system these days, but since your RedDrives are using it as well I'd say you'll be ok with it for a while yet.

HTH

Paul

 

[Jamie Havill]

Cheers guys. I'll look into all the suggestions you've had.

Surely if I did go FAT32 (not saying I am definitely going to yet), the fact that the Red drives use it and that as soon as I transfer the footage to my PC (NTFS raid setup) it should be at least a viable option with not that many cons?

 

[Noah Kadner]

Get this plugin for NTFS on Mac- makes life easy.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

As said above- Do Not Format your own drives as FAT-32- you will hate life. NTFS on Mac is a fine way to go if you're in a PC/Mac environment.

Noah

 

[John Tissavary]

NTFS-3G is also an option - it's open-source, plus now there is a commercial, high performance version (I only use the open source version, and it seems plenty fast to me). Info here: http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/

Anyway, there's absolutely no point in formatting to FAT32, period. If you have the tools, why bother with a compromised filesystem?