Duplicating AVCHD Camera Archives onto extra drives?

Another still guy/video newbie inquiry.

I'm shooting a project this week on AVCHD cameras, and I won't have time to start editing, I just want to back up my cards until I can create an event and start working. I know that you can't just import the .MTS files, that you have to copy the whole card structure or create a camera archive.

But, I always like to back up my stuff to two other drives, and I don't see a way, within FCPX, to duplicate a camera archive. I know with Events, for instance, that you're not supposed to just drag and drop to another drive, that you have to copy an event from within FCP X.

But what about Camera Archives? Do you have to do it the same way (i.e. from within FCPX)? If so, where do you find that command?

I'm assuming too that creating a camera archive is a better way to do it than just copying the PRIVATE folder from the SD card coming out of an AVCHD camera?

I detest this AVCHD format, but I love some of the cameras that shoot it. And, as a secondary and just slightly off topic question, what the hell were Sony and Panasonic thinking when they cooked up this codec anyway? Could there be a less Mac-friendly format?

Thanks in advance. Bob Krist

Hello Bob

Best thing to do would be to create a disk image of your cards as you go using Disk Utility. Then all files and paths (mts file structure) are available to FCPX as if you had the original card mounted.

Regards

Krzysztof

I use Toast to create disc image file of all my shoot.

Disk Utility works too but you have to find out how big the files are before assigning the size of the image volume. Toast doesn't need this extra step.

When the camera is connected to the Mac you will see a disc mounted on desktop. Just drag that whole thing to Toast. Pick "Save as Disc Image".....and that's it

pollux wrote: Disk Utility works too but you have to find out how big the files are before assigning the size of the image volume.

You only need to know your media card's size, then select sparse bundle disk image as the format. It will then only be as large as needed. It's easy and Disk Utility is free. No need to purchase expensive software to accomplish the same task.

I just drag and drop my card icon onto the disk utility dock icon, then a window prompt me to create the disk image. I just have to choose if I want it to be compressed, read/write, or read only...
Size is automatically set.

You also can use my free copyCard application. It makes it easy to backup cards.

Download here:
www.spherico.com/filmtools/copyCards/copyCards.dmg
There are some instructions in the help menu.

-Andreas

Krzysztof wrote: Hello Bob

Best thing to do would be to create a disk image of your cards as you go using Disk Utility. Then all files and paths (mts file structure) are available to FCPX as if you had the original card mounted.

Regards

Krzysztof

This would be the rout I would also do unless you want some customization.

Scrubelicious wrote:

Krzysztof wrote: Hello Bob

Best thing to do would be to create a disk image of your cards as you go using Disk Utility. Then all files and paths (mts file structure) are available to FCPX as if you had the original card mounted.

Regards

Krzysztof

This would be the rout I would also do unless you want some customization.

That's why I said he could try my app.
It does exactly the same thing as Disk Utility does (since both use the same Unix code).
But it needs less clicks, does a secure verification of the copy (which Disk Utility doesn't do automatically) and can create an .iso image which is a "real" copy of the card that can be read on any OS and the camera.

-Andreas

Thanks All. Looks like creating Camera Archives is not the way to go. I appreciate the info!

BobKrist wrote: Thanks All. Looks like creating Camera Archives is not the way to go. I appreciate the info!

Maybe you misunderstood the replies. Archiving the cam's cards is the only way to go - regardless how you do it.

-Andreas

Andreas: No, I understood, I think.

I had been using the "Create Camera Archive" command within FCP X , but everybody here is advising me to use Disk Utility to create the archive instead. Sorry for the confusion.

Well, I suggested that because I have toast to do all my backups....