Review: Raw4Pro Backup Champion for Simplified Media Offloading

Backup Champion

The secret sauce for me is the Backup Champion part of Raw4Pro. It is the first, and currently only, such app that I have found to run on the WinBook’s limited 32-bit OS. Because the WinBook doesn’t have a lot of RAM, Microsoft apparently didn’t feel the need to put in a 64-bit version of Windows. Plus the 32-bit OS cost less to integrate which makes the tablet more affordable.

Other apps, such as Red Giant’s Offload and ShotPut Pro (Mac/Win), all require a 64-bit OS. But a 64-bit OS is not actually necessary to copy files from one media to another. I even corresponded with the author of one of the other apps and he flat out told me that 32-bit Windows wouldn’t support USB 3.0. But the proof is in the pudding. It works.

Backup Champion can be made to launch automatically when Raw4Pro is launched (Figure 3, below).

Figure 3. Select the check box shown above to make Backup Champion start when Raw4Pro is loaded.

It will automatically look for any connected media and show it all in a large, easy-to-read (and, more importantly, easy to touch) list. You touch your source, and touch the source button. Touch your first destination, touch the destination button. If you have a second destination, touch it, and then the second destination button. Then touch Start Backup. You can see how simple this is in the video below:

The app then proceeds to copy your media with verification from source to destination. It does this one media destination at a time. So it will re-read directly your source for the second copy. It also shows a “reverse” progress bar (Figure 4, below). I also put this question to the creator of the app, who said it was more akin to a gas gauge, showing how much there is left to copy.

Figure 4. Copying from source to backup targets in Backup Champion

When the copy is done, Backup Champion beeps and puts a green bar on the screen, making it easy to see when it’s done (Figure 5, below). You don’t have to guess. There is no automatic media erasure. You can choose to do that as an extra step outside of Backup Champion, or do it in the camera. There are various "standards" for how this is done- use the one that suits your needs best.

Figure 5. Files backed up and verified in Backup Champion

Conclusion

I’ve used Backup Champion on several productions and it makes the entire process very simple--especially when it's the end of a long day and the client is standing there waiting for their hard drive to be filled with the footage from today. It’s nice to have a simple interface--source and destination--that makes it easy to get it right.

I think this software is well worth it and you can use it on any Windows machine, or on your Mac Laptop if you have VMware. The makers of Raw4Pro have offered readers a discount if you go to BackupChamp.com, and use the code “IEBA-BACKUPCHAMP.” That will get you $25 off a Solo or Duo license.

As of now, this offer is due to remain in effect until October 21. After that, it goes back to the regular price, but I think it’s worth it either way, especially if you can also make use of the Raw4Pro side for timelapses, RAW or CinemaDNG sequences, and so on. Then you really get the most bang for your buck.