Camera archive versus copying the card

may I ask what is the difference between simply making a copy of the memory card and creating a camera archive?

I usually just right click on the card on my desk top copy then paste into a folder on an external drive, then rename the folder to reflect the content of the card.

I have watched several videos of creating an archive and don't see any advantage.

It depends on the format you're working in. There are two advantages the archive might have. One, it's a closed bundle so it's more secure, files can get inadvertently moved. Two is when having to reimport from camera. The application will recognize the archive as the media source and immediately relink to the matching archive files.

I was not in the Camera Archive camp. Seemed like too much work for little benefit.
But then I discovered things like this....

Create an archive of a GoPro and you will get time of day code.
Import from a copied disk and every clip starts at 00.00.00.00

So that in itself is enough of a reason for me to start using it.

I think it's the best way to go in using FCPX as your DIT from now on.

Hi Michael, welcome to the forums.
I have been a convert to making camera archives vs import clips.
First you can save the archive wherever you want and Apple recommends it be on a drive separate from your media drive.
Archive is a bit for bit image of the camera card structure, therefore it saves all of the meta-data of the card and each device has it's own file format/structure. A camera archive is just like inserting the card from the camera into the computer and FCPX will make a copy when importing files and will not touch the archive. In case you somehow mess up the media files, you can always go back to the archive to recover and re-import.
There are some other reasons to use camera archive and MacBreak Studios made a video about why to use them, Mark is a big believer…


Hope this helps, Greg

Think of a Camera Archive as a Disk Image, as opposed to just a plain folder with junk in it.

Greg,

Thanbks for taking the trouble to reply, I have a better understanding now, I had watched the video before.

Doesn't making a camera archive do a check sum as well?

Hi DS,
AFAIK there is no check sum involved. CS is mostly used for internet transmission to make sure the same bits are received as sent. The Mac OS would check the integrity of the copy, but I think this is different and more involved than a simple CS.

Archive vs import is mainly that when you archive a camera card the archive is a bit for bit copy that preserves all of the structure of the data including the architecture of the card, proprietary data, hidden files, etc…
When you import clips instead, the Mac strips off lots of the card info, changes the underlying software and imports the video and only some of the data according to Mac OS programming. The camera would not be able to read a Mac imported file, but if you copied an camera archive back onto the camera card, the camera would see it as a native format and would be able to apply any of the camera's software to the data.

Finally as mentioned, FCPX & OS would isolate the archive and any media import is a copy of the clip data contained in that archive. If you trash the clip in FCP you do not affect an archive file.

Hope I got all of this right

Hope this helps, Greg