-
Direct Copying of SxS Media
I have been using P2 media for a long time now and have always just copied the Contents and .txt files for import in NLE’s (AVID and FCP) into a new folder (MAC) without a hitch.
Now while I have shot with the EX1 and EX3, I have never had to offload the media.
I have a gig coming up that will require offloading, so my question is how many Cameramen out there have just copied the contents of a SxS card (Presumably to a new folder as with P2 Media) to a external hard drive with success? Is this a procedure you do all the time, or do you go the clip browser copy route? and if so WHY? Panasonic recommends this route with their equivalent of Sony’s tools – but it has proved total a waste of time. It seems that Sony also recommends the Clip Browser route – why isn’t this a waste of my time in the field? Especially if you can open the NLE app and check footage import?
So I guess my basic question is “Do you have to use BOTH the Clip browser and Transfer tool to Copy???? Or can you just copy the Card contents?” Seems to be a lot of confusing info out there.
-
17 Replies
-
ClipBrowser with CRC On to copy so you know your copy matches the source.
I recommend that you get enough cards that you DO NOT have to copy during a shoot. Human error is probably the most common source of damaged masters, accidental erase, lost clips.
If you can’t afford enough SxS cards than you should make sure your camera has current firmware and consider getting SDHC adaptors and Sandisk Class 10 cards.
XDCAM Transfer is Mac only to wrap to .mov for FCP. I can’t see a reason this is critical for field work during a shoot.
-
You recommended CRC on – I saw that in researching earlier posts about using the clip browser.
Perhaps I was not clear, WHY do I even need to use the clip browser as it seems an unnecessary step in this process? Can’t I just copy the entire contents of the SxS card as I do with P2 Cards?
BTW, I always copy media at the end of a shoot day and NOT during.
Lawrence S. Young
Best Shot Productions
Maine•New York•Colombia
421 Paradise Road
PO Box 110
Bethel, ME 04217
Home: 207-824-3119
Cell: 508-494-3111
Email: lsyoung@megalink.net
Link to work: https://my.media-match.com/lawrence.young1 -
[Lawrence Young] “Perhaps I was not clear, WHY do I even need to use the clip browser as it seems an unnecessary step in this process?”
Why do you wear seat belts in a car? They are an “unnecessary” process. Why would keeping masters safe be “unnecessary?”
[Lawrence Young] “BTW, I always copy media at the end of a shoot day and NOT during.”
That decreases human error immensely. Good workflow. You still need to make sure your copy is “data perfect” and it’s why ClipBrowser has CRC as well as ShotPut.
-
I think I still may not be clear – I check media in a NLE (AVID) that is loaded on my laptop – so that I know the media is secure.
Having used NLE’s sine 1998, I certainly understand the need NOT to have corrupted media.
I am asking a different question entirely – WHY use the clip browser at all – seems to be making a Cameraman jump through hoops, when indeed the Data written the the SxS cards is just that – data.
Seems to me that it would be similar to copying (backing up if you will) your media from one drive to another. This why I brought up the example about how I handle P2 media – Panasonic says different but at least 80% of editors and Cameramen out there just copy the data off the flash cards to hard drives.
As SxS cards are Flash memory I am wondering about the same work flow. That is why I am asking to see how other cameramen handle this in the field.
Lawrence S. Young
Best Shot Productions
Maine•New York•Colombia
421 Paradise Road
PO Box 110
Bethel, ME 04217
Home: 207-824-3119
Cell: 508-494-3111
Email: lsyoung@megalink.net
Link to work: https://my.media-match.com/lawrence.young1 -
Hi Lawrence,
It is reasonably safe to simply copy the BPAVs from the cards to folders on an external drive but we strongly recommend using Clip Browser to CRC check the files. It will add a bit of time to the offload but it’s the safest way to go.
Clip Browser is for copying and managing the cards. XDCAM Transfer is the import plug-in. There is a bit of overlap in terms of their logging functions but they should be thought of as separate tools.
Best,
Ian
Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company -
Thanks Ian
The extra time at the end of a long day is what I am trying to avoid.
As Media Composer doesn’t re-wrap the files (I.E, it is MXF Native), I can very quickly open the clips and spot check them – I make multiple copies of the data of course.
Not having recorded card in front of me – I see you Mention the BPAV’s – is that the folder/Structure that when opening a card I will see? Much like the Panasonic Contents and .txt file? Is there more than one file I need to be aware of on the SxS card when copying to a Folder on a hard drive? Or is the a white paper that gives me a breakdown on the file structure of an SxS Card – if their isn’t a simple explanation.
Lawrence S. Young
Best Shot Productions
Maine•New York•Colombia
421 Paradise Road
PO Box 110
Bethel, ME 04217
Home: 207-824-3119
Cell: 508-494-3111
Email: lsyoung@megalink.net
Link to work: https://my.media-match.com/lawrence.young1 -
Yes, copy the BPAV (root folder) to another folder and give the parent folder a unique name. Do not modify anything below BPAV. If you follow this rule and your copies go as planned you should have no issues.
Also know that the Avid AMA module (or any other NLE, for that matter) can sometimes have issues with media files for reasons that might have nothing to do with the integrity of the files themselves. This is another reason to use a dedicated app like CB or ShotPut to QC your files.
One last thing…XDCAM optical is .mxf with MPEG-2 video. XDCAM EX uses an .mp4 wrapper. Workflow via AMA is the same but the .mp4s cannot be File–>Imported the way .mxfs can.
Cheers and good luck,
Ian
-
Thanks for the clarification on the MXF vs .mp4 files – Guess I am just used to shooting 700 and F800’s – it’s a pleasure to just hand off the disks at the end of a day!
Lawrence S. Young
Best Shot Productions
New England•New York•Colombia
Email: lsyoung@megalink.net
Link to Work: http://www.vimeo.com/lawrencesyoung -
[Lawrence Young] “I think I still may not be clear – I check media in a NLE (AVID) that is loaded on my laptop – so that I know the media is secure.”
Every clip end to end? Clips can be corrupt at any point. That’s why data checks like CRC are good additional security.
[Lawrence Young] “I am asking a different question entirely – WHY use the clip browser at all – seems to be making a Cameraman jump through hoops, when indeed the Data written the the SxS cards is just that – data. “
I’m being redundant just like CRC. A seat belt is not a hoop. It’s a life saver. What part of that is hard to understand. CRC assures a data parity match. You can not do that efficiently by eye for shots that would take real time to play otherwise to eye check.
A cameraman jumping through hoops is having to do a reshoot without pay because of a bad clip.
This is a SIMPLE concept. Be safe or risk an accident.
Data occasionally gets corrupted on copy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclic_redundancy_check
CRCs are specifically designed to protect against common types of errors on communication channels, where they can provide quick and reasonable assurance of the integrity of messages delivered. -
[Lawrence Young] “As Media Composer doesn’t re-wrap the files (I.E, it is MXF Native),”
EX cameras recording to SxS are using BPAV (with .mp4), not MXF. ClipBrowser also can wrap to MXF.
Only the new PMW-500 allows MXF recording on SxS (formatted to UDF rather than FAT32) at this point.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up