Storing the Story (MMM #27)

Hello all,

Madeline here with the 27th entry in The Movie Minute.

Every time a photo or video is taken, it is usually stored somewhere on the camera or device for safekeeping.

Since our gear is all digital equipment, our footage is stored in digital format. Video files are usually in MP4 or MOV format, as well as WAV for uncompressed audio recordings. Each camera supports one or two specific formats of storage media, and storage size plus read-write speed are important as well. We often shoot footage in 4K resolution with a 150 or more bitrate, so we require storage that has adequate storage space and speeds. Here are the most common formats we utilize at Poor Bear Stories.

SD cards are the most common storage media we use. It is used on the Panasonic GH5 and Canon EOS cameras, and is also an option on the Sony Alpha cameras (A7S3, A7IV, FX30, etc.) They are available from a wide variety of manufacturers, but SanDisk is the one we often use the most. These cards can come in a variety of sizes, from 64 GB to 1 TB and beyond. In order to be as efficient as possible with storage, we often go for 128 GB or higher, and make sure we get the version that has a good read/write speed as well. Some cameras take just one SD card, while many of ours such as the GH5 can store two, and even use a “relay mode” where if the first card gets full while recording, the recording will roll over to the second card, and both pieces can be put together in editing software. This feature can be found on the A7IV as well as many other modern digital cameras. Many laptops and editing computers have an SD card slot built in, but if not, a USB reader will be essential for viewing and transferring footage.

microSD cards are a variant of SD cards in a smaller form factor. This medium is commonly used on DJI devices such as the DJI Mavic drones, GoPro action camera and the Osmo pocket camera. They use a similar technology but a different form factor to accommodate the limited space in smaller devices. Although there are USB readers for microSD cards, the cards themselves often come with adapters that allow them to be read in regular SD card slots.

CFexpress is quite a different format, which is also used on the Sony Alpha cameras. Compared to SD cards, while type A (used by Sony, while others use the larger type B) CFexpress cards are of similar size. The CFexpress cards also have a much faster read/write speed, allowing for faster file transfers during DIT work. These cards usually require their own readers as CFexpress slots are not common on editing computers themselves.

XQD, a predecessor to CFexpress, is used solely for the FS7. These cards tend to be larger in size and not as efficient as the former, but are still adequate for the footage that we usually record with it, such as sit down interviews. These require lots of space, as the FS7 tends to shoot in higher bitrates (in MXF format instead of MP4). Much like the GH5 and A7IV, the FS7 also utilizes a relay mode feature to have a recording roll over to the second card when the first gets full.

In addition, some of our footage is also stored on the devices themselves, an example being the RODE Wireless Pro mics. Both transmitters have built-in flash storage that the recordings are stored in, and the included charging case is also used to transfer those files to storage drives.

After each shoot day, we transfer all our footage into portable storage drives, most commonly solid state drives (SSDs). Compared to traditional HDDs (both portable and desktop), these often have faster read and write speeds, and are more durable and less vulnerable to damage or failure due to a lack of moving parts (though they should still be handled with care). After transferring, we ensure that all the footage is backed up and copied onto multiple drives before formatting the cards for the next shoot day. Our processes ensure every crew member has access to the footage and it can be backed up to our NAS system for archival purposes. It’s also essential that all of our storage devices are well organized so that they won’t get lost; since terabytes upon terabytes of data can easily be misplaced.

So what exactly is a NAS system? Short for “network attached storage”, it’s a device that contains several hard drives that work together and are connected to a network. It allows us to back up all our footage safely and even lets us access the files remotely from different locations. As a plus, the drives can be replaced if any of them fail, and modern NAS systems even manage to do so without loss of data.

Overall, storage media is an essential part of our work in making the best stories possible, and choosing the right cards and drives helps ensure that our productions are smooth, efficient, and effective.

That’s all for this week’s entry in The Movie Minute. Wishing you all the best, and see y’all in 2 for a very special Movie Minute about my first Amtrak journey! -Madeline

We at Poor Bear Stories are passionate about your story. Creating media that makes a difference is our craft and life’s work. With over 35 years of industry experience, we bring a host of solutions to your brand and media endeavors.

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