i want my XDcam Transfer back please

[Bob Tompkins]

I agree completely that the workflow training is inadequate. I really had to learn it myself by trial and error and with the great help of the people here and the FCP Apple discussions. I bought my EX1r’s through a reputable dealer who provided no basic training either. I had this discussion with my Sony rep and he poo pooed like it wasn’t a problem and pointed me towards the indecipherable Sony web site. They should acknowledge the problem and address it.

[Craig Seeman]

Sony’s NLE workflows on their site are inadequate, at least as far as FCP is concerned and I suspect other NLEs as well.

It damages the reputation of their camera reliability for camera operators and their clients when clips are lost because people have to muddle through workflows. That has to hurt camera sales at some level. It can certainly make our clients gun shy after they’ve had bad experiences with someone who is still learning the workflow.

I truly hope Ian is listening and can have some impact at Sony. If they can’t create proper “conservative” training material so a newbie can get up and running they should hire someone.

[Don Greening]

[Bob Tompkins] “I really had to learn it myself by trial and error and with the great help of the people here and the FCP Apple discussions.”

Back in December 2007 Craig and I were the early adopters of the EX1 and we had to learn not only the camera but the initial workflow practices and then report on our findings to this forum. I believe that not too long ago one learned about A/V gear not so much by reading operation manuals but by the older guy or gal that had been at the production facility a lot longer that you. Information was handed down from the old to the new during the apprenticeship process. I think Sony’s way of instruction is still stuck in those times.

– Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Greg Ondera]

Yes, and in the beginning, to download XDCam Transfer, Browser, and Drivers, I was referred to a Canadian Sony site in order to get those items–if I remember correctly, from Doug Jenson’s DVD. What is that? I think neglect actually! That Sony didn’t package a website reference or CD or something with each camera just says, “Here. You bought this. Thank you very much. Now you figure this out.”

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

[Greg Ondera]

Right on, Craig! I just wanted to pitch Doug Jensen’s DVD (I’ve been spelling his name wrong earlier) from Vortex Media, titled “Mastering the Sony PMW-EX3” as the source that taught me. However Sony should be shouting out the information that is within that DVD. Actually, they should contract out portions of that DVD and post it on their site and send an email out to all XDCam users to go look at the site.

Here is the URL: https://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_EX3.html

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

[Michael Slowe]

What a relief to be in such great company in not understanding the way Sony behave. Quite extraordinary,I don’t envy Ian having to explain to Japan what we are all bleating about. Agreed, their cameras are ace, I wouldn’t dream of using any other brand but the information provided with new codecs is pathetic.

A good start would be for Sony to provide, free of charge, a copy of Doug Jensen’s fantastic Vortex Media DVD, with EVERY camera sold. I’m sure they could come to a satisfactory arrangement with Vortex. I, in fact, did get a complimentary copy with my EX 1 from my seller and very welcome it was too – It saved weeks of experimentation and trouble.

We obviously can expect problems now with Transfer, it is so nice and simple to use and links so well with my edit suite, Media 100. Why can’t things be left alone? It’s not always progress you know.

Michael Slowe

[David Johnson]

[Don Greening]
“one learned about A/V gear not so much by reading operation manuals but by the older guy or gal that had been at the production facility a lot longer that you. Information was handed down from the old to the new during the apprenticeship process. I think Sony’s way of instruction is still stuck in those times.”

I think Don nailed the core issue there. What the “pro” equipment manufacturers seem to have missed as they’ve redirected their focus to the consumer market is that, in today’s production world, those old guys at the shop have either been replaced by college students who only know all the ins and outs of YouTube or they’ve been left alone via staff reductions and there simply aren’t enough hours in the days for them to figure out alone how to apply their years of experience to this week’s technology. In other words, we in the field have been forced to adapt to a new business model and the manufacturers just haven’t kept up.

By the way, just so it’s not left out if this issue does make its back to Sony and is addressed in a meaningful way, as my original post states, the same issues apply to the XDcamHD format, not just EX.

Also, at least as far as the XDcamHD cameras go, Sony did package discs with each camera, but as is always the case with equipment and software discs, the software and info on the discs is outdated by the time you get it so you’re left with obsolete software and info or the indecipherable Sony web site. Just take a look at the download page, if you can find it … every version of the software is listed as version “2.12” in one column, yet has the correct version number hidden in the description. And such cryptic descriptions they are … why not just call the software “XDcam Transfer”, “PDW-U1 driver”, etc. instead of PZD1WXZX270UXYZ212!!??

[Richard Boghosian]

My neighbor Doug Jensen-Vortex Media, has some added insight on this FWIW:

https://www.vortexmedia.com/XDCAM_UPDATES.html

Richard Boghosian
Bogh AV Productions

FCP 7.03 MacPro 8Gb ram Matrox MXO 2 Max

[David Johnson]

The next time you speak to Doug, please thank him for me … until I read his article (and similar viewpoints from others here on the COW) I was feeling a little like an old dog on a rant because I just didn’t want to change with the times. Now, I just feel like an old dog with a legitimate gripe. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take Sony too long to release Browser v2 with fixes for all the things Doug outlined and the foreground processing issue, which is a biggie.