Panasonic P2 Handheld Camcorder Understanding P2 Workflow: Matrox Axio Systems - Page 4

As example of the Axio/P2 workflow, most AG-HVX200 users will naturally be inclined to shoot 720/24pN footage. Figure 1 shows the available project settings for 23.976 frame rates. This is the correct Axio project setting for using 720/24pN (native MXF) footage from P2 cameras. Matrox includes the DVCPro HD codec with Axio, making it an automatic "first choice" for P2 editors. Footage from multiple codec choices may exist on the same timeline, provided frame rate and video raster size match the project settings. Mixing different frame rates and raster sizes will usually force a conforming render. Acquisition in the Field Field acquisition to P2 requires a small amount of advanced planning. Similar to the daily tape needs of a tape-based camera on any given shoot, the P2 shooter needs to have either 1) a combination of the correct amount and size of P2 cards for immediate shooting needs, or 2) a combination of multiple P2 cards and a P2 card data storage device. Use of multiple P2 cards allows the user to offload P2 data while shooting or to begin editing immediately direct from the P2 camera or P2 storage device. It takes approximately 1 minute per GB to offload/transfer the P2 card data into a P2 Store (for example). If you're shooting 1080 mode footage, you'll get approximately 1 minute of footage per GB of P2 card space. In 720/24pN mode, the ratio is approximately 2.5 minutes per GB of P2 card space. Depending on your P2 camera and its number of P2 card slots, plan your workflow to accommodate the P2 card being offloaded. If yours is a two-slot camcorder and you were shooting 1080 mode continuous footage, where offload time roughly equals acquisition time, three P2 cards would afford you a 16-minute window in which to accomplish the offload. Having enough properly charged batteries for the camera and external storage device is CRITICAL! Shooting P2 footage in 720/24pN mode allows 20 minutes of footage to write to an 8GB P2 card (10 min per 4GB card), so the download window of time (8 minutes offload time to 20 mins shooting time) is wider and more relaxed. The advance planning continues as you match your particular P2 workflow to your choice of P2 field storage device. The P2 Store, for example, can hold 60GB of data. If you are working with 8GB P2 cards, you could plan on storing the contents of seven P2 cards (7x8GB = 56GB) on the P2 Store. Coupled with three 8GB P2 cards, at 20-minutes per 8GB P2 card if you were shooting 720/24pN footage, you would have the capacity for 200 minutes of continuous shooting! Most shooters don't shoot continuously, but the example of a continuous shoot illustrates the most rigorous needs of P2 data management. Owners of P2 cameras should immediately Figure 2. Yellow indicates P2 card currently being written to familiarize themselves with important camera functions such as recognizing indications of which P2 card is actively being written to (Figure 2) and electronic view finder (EVF) indications of time remaining per each card. Persons new to the P2 workflow should spend time practicing with their camera, practicing with the new workflow of offloading P2 cards and should rehearse the entire workflow from acquisition to edit. This will bring a valued confidence to the workflow allowing the joys of working in a tapeless environment to be fully realized. Acquisition in the Field: Offloading/Archiving P2 Cards in the Field In the P2 workflow, offloading and archiving of P2 cards in the field is part of the acquisition process. Some production entities have added a data management person to the crew. This person oversees P2 card transfers and backups to laptops or other storage devices, basically "logging" the cards much like a film crew would manage film canisters.