One of the most important processes to establish on a RED camera shoot and workflow is how to go about formatting media and overall digital media management practices. There needs to be a clear thread of OK’s through the chain of command so that the 1st AC can format a CF card or RED drive without erasing footage that hasn’t been downloaded yet.
A typical folder of RED footage is compiled of the R3D files, Quicktime proxies, and digital magazine profiles and looks like this:
Simply trash the two profiles labeled “digital.magazine.profile” and “digital.magdynamic.profile” after the footage has been downloaded, checked, etc. When this is done and the media is reconnected to the camera, the RED will prompt that the magazine must be formatted instead of simply remounting the media with the old clips still there.
This can be an excellent way to signal an AC from the data loader/D.I.T. that the media is OK to format since the prompt appeared. I’m all about establishing simple and clear workflows on RED shoots, especially when there can be much more to worry about.
Special thanks to my friend and colleague Greg Almond for sharing this with me.
