-
archive EX to XDCAM HD
Hi
We’re considering complementing our XDCAM HD cameras with an EX3, and trying to best incorporate this into our post workflow. We acquire most of our footage in HD, but have to deliver to the broadcaster in 4:3 SD on BetacamSP.. We use the PDW-HD1500 to downconvert when capturing on AVID, which really delivers excellent results – far better than transcoding in AVID. To utilise the EX3 in a similar way, we’d like to transfer the EX media onto an XDCAM HD disc – anyone know if this is possible? I see the XDCAM EX clip browser exports MXF for XDCAM HD – can one write these MXF files to XDCAM HD using the PDW-U1, to simulate a shoot disk, with the correct folder structure, etc?
Thanks
-
3 Replies
-
[Paul van Deventer] “can one write these MXF files to XDCAM HD using the PDW-U1, to simulate a shoot disk, with the correct folder structure, etc?”
Although I don’t have a PDW-U1 I am thinking of getting one for the same reason as yourself. Here is the description of the functionality of the ‘new’ software for the U1 from the Sony web site:
“This new utility allows the affordable PDW-U1 drive to both read and record XDCAM MXF SD and HD files with XDCAM Prodisc media from/to either Windows or Mac platforms, as well as, providing general utility functions for the PDW-U1. The PDW-U1 directly supports all codecs, resolutions and frame rates available in the Sony XDCAM Optical Disc family including SD DVCAM 25 Mbps, SD MPEG IMX 30, 40, 50Mbps, HD 420 25Mbps, HD 420 35Mbps and HD 422 50Mbps.”
I think the software upgrade you’re looking for (for the U1) is at the bottom of this page:
https://support.sonybiz.ca/esupport/eSupportHome.asp
– Don
-
Thanks. Unfortunately that software is the U1 utility used for formatting discs & upgrading the firmware, etc.
“This new utility allows the affordable PDW-U1 drive to both read and record XDCAM MXF SD and HD files with XDCAM Prodisc media from/to either Windows or Mac platforms, as well as, providing general utility functions for the PDW-U1. The PDW-U1 directly supports all codecs, resolutions and frame rates available in the Sony XDCAM Optical Disc family including SD DVCAM 25 Mbps, SD MPEG IMX 30, 40, 50Mbps, HD 420 25Mbps, HD 420 35Mbps and HD 422 50Mbps.”
Perhaps they mean is that the newer version enables writing to disc from NLE platforms. One can also now write data to the “general” folder on the xdcam disc.
-
Sadly you can’t write HQ EX3 files to a U1 as video clips simply by converting them to MXF with clip browser as there is no support for 1920×1080 @ 35Mb/s within the XDCAM HD standard. You can write SP clips (1440×1080 @ 25Mb/s).
You would be better off with an EX1R if this is your workflow as the EX1R (and PMW-350) both have the new 1440×1080 35Mb/s mode which is directly backwards compatible with the old 1/2″ XDCAM HD cameras. You can take these files and save them as MXF’s on the optical discs. You can write them to a camera, deck or U1 via clip browser.
Alister Chapman
http://www.xdcam-user.com
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up