P2 is the video format recorded onto a P2 card by Panasonic P2 cameras. A P2 card is a PCMCIA flash memory card that’s inserted in the camera for recording or into a PCMCIA slot in a workstation. Although Adobe Premiere Pro can read and edit directly from the P2 card, it’s recommended that you copy the contents of the card to your local hard drive for best performance.
P2 cameras also have USB ports that allow the video to be transferred to an editing workstation via USB.
Notice that whether you move the files via the P2 card or transfer them via USB, the video doesn’t need to be captured serially. It’s transferred to the editing workstation at the speed allowed by the transfer I/O.
Several variants of the P2 format specify different frame sizes and frame rates. Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the standard P2 variants.
A typical workflow for P2 media is as follows:
- Shoot onto the P2 card in the camera.
- Move the P2 card to your workstation, and copy the files to your local hard drive.
- Edit the files natively in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Export the project to Blu-ray disc, to DVD, to the Web, or even back to the P2 native format.