i want my XDcam Transfer back please

[Ian Cook]

https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-software-model-PDZKP1.aspx

Browser is meant to be the first step in consolidating several different apps with different feature sets (not just for EX but for XDCAM Optical) We’re aware of its shortcomings and are working with the developers to improve it.

Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company

[Dave Johnson]

Thanks, Ian. Sorry for the rant about your employer … since our format switch, we’ve met with various issues that costs us time and money so it’s just frustrating to find yet another at every turn.

To clarify, does your answer mean that XDcam Transfer is in fact going away completely (meaning no future development or support) and, therefore, the only choice is or will be to use XDcam Browser?

Thanks for the link too. Is there a for-dummies type key to the cryptic descriptions anywhere … all dozen links are identified as version 2.12.0 and described as some flavor of “XDCAM XFER”, but several also include higher version numbers (2.7.1, 2.9, etc.). We just need the latest version of XDcam Transfer (and Browser if Transfer is going away) to use with PDW-U1s that are shuttled between Macs with O/S 10.6.6 and PCs with Win 7 64-bit.

[Craig Seeman]

12 is higher than 7 and 9 unless something has changed in the world on numbers. I think by and large most people using XDCAM are using XDCAM Transfer over the currently woefully inadequate XDCAM Browser. My hunch is that development resources are predominantly going into getting Browser up to speed.

The concern I would have for Transfer will be Mac OS Lion compatibility coming later this year because I can’t imagine Browser being feature competitive to Transfer yet by that point.

[Ian Cook]

Sorry– grab the first one in the list, v 2.12

No offense taken. Transfer has been a workhorse and we’re sad to see it go. There will be no further development on XDCAM Transfer, PDZ-1 or Clip Browser. They are all still running strong but eventually there will be an OS or other update that ‘breaks’ them, and after that we will be limited to XDCAM Browser. We hope to have more of the legacy features (background processing, standalone import et al) implemented by then.

[Dave Johnson]

Thanks for the clarification … that’s exactly what I wanted to know.

I hastily misread 2.7.1 as 2.70.10, rather than 2.07.01.

[Greg Ondera]

I can see the logic of getting all workflow features into one software offering. I hope those XDCam Transfer features will find their way into XDCam Browser. Today I have also heard that Final Cut is coming up with a big change this Spring. So maybe and hopefully FCP might have mp4 editing without having to purchase Calibrated. Although I do like the feature of fusing spanned SxS cards, since I let that camera run mostly.

https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/23/report_says_dramatic_ambitious_final_cut_pro_update_coming_in_spring_2011.html

Now that I have the ear of someone at Sony, I do want to complain about the workflow marketing and instruction availability for XDCam from Sony. I learned my stuff early through Doug Jenson’s DVD and greatly appreciate that. But looking at the panic posts on this site from so many people who are just plain lost over the subject of XDCam workflow–what a mess! I’m sure Craig can attest to holding many hands, and anyone who responds may as well copy and paste workflow recommendations from Notes, for all the same problems that arise on this site. And I can see people get into odd habits and work-arounds that aren’t always thoughtful. So I recommend that Sony establish a powerful instructional workflow page for Mac Final Cut Pro users and videographers. And people need to know how to think about the workflow, not just go through the steps. It seems that Sony could even sell a few more cameras if they did so.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[Brent Dunn]

Easy, Squeezy, Japaneezee

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Craig Seeman]

Greg, I’m obviously sympathetic. In fact if you look at their FCP workflow it scares me about the bad habits I think it promotes. It may be the same for the other NLEs as well. Also given what happened with slow Snow Leopard compatibility I am deeply troubled about how they will handle Lion. Sorry but telling people not to update the OS doesn’t fly when one may need to do it for compatibility with other apps.

[Greg Ondera]

Thanks! I agree completely.

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[David Johnson]

Well said, Greg. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who thinks the XD format has been inadequately supported for real-world scenarios. Perhaps, as a technology company, Sony just isn’t very good at that part and ought to consider some consult.