EX1 transfer procedure to FCP 6

[Craig Seeman]

Make sure you have Sony Clip Browser 2. Sony XDCAM Transfer Tool 2.7. FCP 6.0.2 or up.

If you’re coming from the camera you’d use USB2.
If you have a MacBookPro it would be by ExpressPort in laptop. Make sure you install the driver first.
If you bought the Express card to USB reader for desktop it would be from that.

I would suggest copy using ClipBrowser to hard drive and then backup to DL-DVD R+
Then use XDCAM Transfer Tool to access the BPAV parent folders and rewrap to MOV.

If you confirm the versions I mention above and provide more detail I can provide more details.

[Neil Rubino]

Isn’t it true that if you are using FCP and the Mac (of course}, then there is no need to use the Sony Clip Browser 2 software? I think that all of the Sony Clip Browser 2 functions are duplicated in the XDCAM Transfer Tool, which can be run from within FCP, or as a standalone program on the Mac.

Neil Rubino

shooter/editor/producer

MCPS Instructional TV

[Craig Seeman]

[Neil Rubino] “then there is no need to use the Sony Clip Browser 2 software?”
Absolutely NOT true.

[Neil Rubino] “Sony Clip Browser 2 functions are duplicated in the XDCAM Transfer Tool, “
Not TRUE AT ALL.

Have you downloaded the software and read the PDF manuals?

Do you HAVE to use Sony Clip Browser? No.
You don’t HAVE to use seat belts when you get into a car either (laws might say otherwise though)
Do you have any archival or back up plan?
How are going to back up 16GB BPAV folders?
How are you going to verify that the copies are good before you erase the cards?

I can’t even begin to count the posts by people with problems who tried to copy and organize BPAV folders by hand.

[Stephen May]

Neil,

I’ve got one for you guys… (now COW will know how much I don’t know!) Here it is:
My process now is that I ingest my SxS media via XDCAM Transfer, and I’ve named a location, HD Scatch, and after I’m finished with labeling my clips, notes, “good/Keep” etc. I select import, and check my folder.

They’re always in an ‘Untitled’ folder, (did they ever fix that? I can’t name my SxS card) and I rename the untitled folder or I make a new folder, and drop them in accordingly, and then I duplicate that entire folder to an external RAID as a backup.

When I begin a project in FCP6 I name and save my project and then, in the browser, I ‘import >files’ and select from my HD Scratch what I need. By doing it this way, my notes never come into my browser with the XDCAM clips. I remember when I did my first XDCAM edit in FCP6 I actually selected IMPORT>XDCAM, but that option is not there anymore. I’ve been so busy, I just kinda went, “oh..” and I keep going, without my notes showing. What happened? What am I doing wrong? If this has been answered over and over, please let me know where to look.

thanks for your help. -s

Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer

[Stephen May]

I’m working out of the office today on my macbook pro, and just realized something obvious! I have Leopard on my laptop and still running Tiger on the mac pro at the office – and that’s why I can’t see the Import XDCAM option at work.

The first cut I did with the EX1 was from home on my laptop. But still don’t get why my notes don;t come in with my clips when I right-click in the Browser / Import > Files.

Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer

[Don Greening]

[Stephen May] “I have Leopard on my laptop and still running Tiger on the mac pro at the office – and that’s why I can’t see the Import XDCAM option at work. “

I’m running FCP 6.0.2 with Tiger 10.4.11 on a Mac Pro here and I can use the “Import XDCAM” option just fine. There must be something that’s different between your machine and mine.

– Don

[Craig Seeman]

I remember there being some odd issue with 10.4.11 and a specific version of QT that might result in something like this (or did it simply show missing media).

Just in case, What version Quicktime are you using?
Have you tried creating a new user with admin status and trying from there?

[Stephen May]

That brings up a good question: I run Software Update once in a while, and have become a little paranoid about upgrading anything that Apple says needs to be upgrades. Lately, it is often a large file patch that enables the latest software which is centered around all the new hardware/iPod/iPhone stuff.

My main concern is FCP stability, so if software update says “Strongly recommended update” for “Security reasons” but then goes on to basically say that the update enables you to rent movies, or sync with the wireless hard drive – or whatever for the iPhone/cloud synchronicity… well, I just get worried that either it will effect my Quicktime Pro software or who knows what? So once I’m stable, I become very clingy to what I have and slow to update.

All that said, I’m probably pretty behind in my Quicktime Updates. I’m on 7.3.1 for example on my macbook pro. And at work, probably even older. What advice do you have regarding Quicktime Updates for Quicktime Pro users that are not interested in iTunes/iPhone compatibility but serious about FCS2 stability?

Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer

[Don Greening]

[Stephen May] “All that said, I’m probably pretty behind in my Quicktime Updates.”

You’re not alone. I’m also using QT 7.3.1 because of its stability with the rest of my FCS2 suite. My past practice is to not update anything unless a piece of software critical to my work will not run because something else needs updating. When I do need to update I never, ever do it in the middle of a project.

Alternatively, a lot of users will, or should, clone their startup drive to a bootable external hard disc (firewire 400 minimum) if they feel compelled to try the latest and greatest software updates. If it doesn’t work out they can always boot up using the external drive and carry on like nothing happened. Programs like Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper are designed for this. With Leopard and its Time Machine software you can do the same thing as long as you have a dedicated drive set aside for this one purpose and it’s always connected and running.

– Don

[Stephen May]

Don,

Check this out:

https://www.digitalrebellion.net/blog/posts/recommended_quicktime_and_mac_os_configurations_for_final_cut_pro.html

pretty useful chart comparing FCP versions with OSX versions and QT versions that play well together.

What do you think? -s

Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer