How does P2 record?
P2 cards record the same way that digital still cameras record onto memory cards — they store the footage as pre-digitized computer files. Instead of recording the video as “video data,” they record the footage as computer data files. These files are instantly editable and can be transferred to other computer storage media directly, without the restrictions of needing proprietary video decks or having to wait for real-time transfers. In fact, you can edit footage directly from a P2 card, without having to transfer to a computer at all. Because P2 cards record in universally interchangeable MXF data files, they are immediately usable by properly configured Windows and Macintosh computers. The P2 cards eliminate the need for VTRs, eliminate the need for proprietary video hardware to read or transfer their contents, and eliminate the need to “capture” or “digitize” your footage. As for the actual recordings themselves, P2 cards record footage in the MXF (Material eXchange Format), a SMPTE
