can’t import EX-1 material from folder

[Craig Seeman]

Create Folder called “name of job” or whatever.
Drop BPAV folder in THAT.
Point XDCAM transfer tool at the parent folder.

[Zak Mussig]

Craig’s procedure is the correct one. Copy the contents of the card into a folder, and use the name of that folder to organize the clips rather than renaming the BPAV folder.

FCp won’t accept the footage because the EX footage is in a .mp4 file container. The transfer software unwraps this file and rewraps it in a standard QT .mov file container which FCP then imports. The codec is the same, but FCP only supports EX footage in the QT format.

Zak

[Dale Larsen]

does this mean I have lost the footage I renamed?
or can I trick FCP, rename the BPAV folders back to BPAV.

I have “imported” a couple shots from this material, which the clip browser does see. FCP does not.

what am I doing wrong?

[Zak Mussig]

Dale,

I think your issue may be that you don’t have the right piece of helper software installed, but this could also be a simple miscommunication. The EX1 comes with a piece of software called clip browser or some such thing… is this what you say works with your clips? I don’t have this installed on my machine. The only Sony app I have is called XDCAM transfer (available here). This is the app that will open and play the clips, but also export them as FCP compatible .mov files. This is the unwrapping / rewrapping process I mentioned earlier. You can use the transfer software with SxS cards or add a folder which you’ve copied from a card to the source list.

I’ve only done a brief test with dumping the cards to hard drive, but my method was to copy the entire contents of the card to a folder. My file structure was SxS Card Dumps > Project Name > Card 1 >… Then your clips are organized by project and recording iteration of a card. You would add the Card 1, Card 2, Card 3, Card x, etc. folders as sources in the transfer software and everything from them on just works.

Hope that helps… let us know if you’re still having trouble.
Zak

[Dale Larsen]

this is working just great guys, thanks.\
new question is about “incomplete clips”
Xdcam transfer software does not want to import it. it sees it and plays it but will not let the IMPORT button activate.

I had the same problem with a couple clips i moved onto my array today.
for example: I moved over a BVAP folder with 6 clips in it.
the XDCAM viewer saw and played all 6 clips but only 3 of them would “IMPORT”

I then went back to the external drive I brought them into the edit bay on and found the same six clips, all of which I was able to import.

Any ideas on that weirdness?

I also experienced several “frozen” raid array/Mac Pro issues if FCP was open at the same time.

Comments please

[Zak Mussig]

Dale,

I honestly haven’t dealt with any clips getting spanned across two SxS cards (I’m assuming that’s what you’re talking about so please correct me if you meant something else). I would like to do some testing with this and how it affects the process of dumping cards off to disk.

As far as FCP freezes go… are you launching the transfer software via FCP? (File > Import > Sony XDCAM) I would imagine this would help out with the stability of FCP in the background, but there is a bug with the part of the software that adds the clips to your FCP bin which will add duplicate files. Importing with the regular FCP command after the transfer avoids this issue. Those are definitely bad things that are happening to you, but I would just suggest quitting FCP before you use the transfer software, although I have to say I haven’t had any issues with this. I’m not transferring to a RAID though, just a lowly firewire drive.

Not a lot of great information there, but maybe that will help move things forward a bit.

Zak

[Dale Larsen]

Zak,
It did seem that FCP was the issue and since I stopped letting XDCAM transfer open it, (setting in prefferences)the freezing stopped.
new craziness though, after a freeze occured, some files become “invisable” to the XDCAM software.
I also have some files that are not mp4 but SMI.
XDCAM does not see them either.
any thought on this?

[Don Greening]

Dale,

Please see my workflow suggestions in response to your recent post in the Sony CineAlta – XDCAM forum.

– Don

[Wojtek Targosz]

I have also purchased an EX1 and am having trouble importing into final cut. I have put all of the BPAV files in folders organnized as you suggessted onto my hard drive. when i try to import directly with xdcam transfer it says there is no media. Also when I import directly from the sxs card plugged into my mac book pro it shows the thumbnails but say their is no media???? I know their is footage because VLC can play them fine, Please help I have an entire project that I cant get started on!!!!!!

[Dale Larsen]

ok here is what you do.
You have the XDcam transfer tool correct. (purple icon)

Do not open FCP at all.

with XDcam open, click on the ADD button on the bottom.
direct yourself to the drive/folders with the BPAV in it.

XDcam only recognizes the BPAV folder. The BPAV can be inside as many other folders as like, but “BPAV” must be the one XDcam sees.

don’t foget to set the XDcam prefferences so you know where your material is.

just highlight the clips and click import.

files that end in SMI need special attention.

go to lower right box and check all the boxes. then it will import.

good luck
Dale