NTFS vs FAT32 on external HD for capture

tazman1911 wrote on 6/2/2003, 9:10 AM
I'm getting an external HD to use for capture with Vegas 4.0 . Is the 4G file size limitation of FAT32 a problem for video capture purposes? Also, even though I don't have a Mac right now I'd like to be able to use the external disk with a Mac (and probably be able to use captured video on the Mac with iMovie or FCP). I know Macs can see FAT32 and not NTFS. However, I know there are utilities available to allow a Mac formatted disk to be seen by Windows - would that be a better way to go than either FAT32 or NTFS?

Comments

Former user wrote on 6/2/2003, 9:14 AM
The 4gig file size limitation affects any file on FAT32, video or data. No file can be larger than 4gig.

I would use a windows formatted disk. If you format it as a Mac disk, if software will allow, then you have to use software to access all information on the disk. Since video depends upon realtime access and speed, I would be hesitant to be limited by software. IMHO

Since you don't have a Mac, I would cross that bridge when you come to it. Stick with Windows for now.

Dave T2
tazman1911 wrote on 6/7/2003, 1:27 PM
>> Stick with Windows for now.

OK. But if I stick with a Windows format, will I see any problems if I use FAT32? In other words, Does the 4GB file size limitation of FAT32 cause anything noticable to happen when viewing the final product or does Vegas put together however many 4GB files you may have in a seamless / transparent fashion?
riredale wrote on 6/7/2003, 11:56 PM
One of the really cool things about Vegas is that the 4GB file size limitation is totally transparent to the user. On capture the splits are done automatically, and when you butt the files together on the timeline there is no gap. The only possible drawback is that you are now dealing with multiple 4GB files rather than one huge file. Big deal.

I use both FAT32 and NTFS disks and both work fine.
farss wrote on 6/8/2003, 3:23 AM
NTFS is a better file system than FAT32 and although VV handles the 4G limit it still makes me a little nervous having one asset split into multiple files.

However if you really want to be able to open the files on a Mac then as far as I know you are stuck with FAT32.