Importing media from an XDCAM PDW1 Drive

[Rafal Szermanowicz – grupa #13]

Check out this web site

https://xdcam.com.au

http://www.grupa13.com

[Andy Mees]

Seems like you may need the Flip4Mac MXF Import Component https://www.flip4mac.com/mxf.htm

Their component will support the PDW-V1. You can follow the instrucitons in the MXF Import Documentation with the following notations: the PDW-V1 has the same slider switch as the PDW-1500 (remote/local/network). In order to FTP from the device, the switch must be in the “Network” position. Also before you log in, the deck must be in STOP mode. If the deck is in STILL mode, you will not be able to log in… To eliminate this problem before logging in, just press the STOP button on the deck.

[Frank Palma]

Our Drive is a PDW D1, it does not have any swicth you only can setting it up using a PC utility that comes with it but it is just for windows and you only can setup the equipment while is connected to a windows PC

[Frank Palma]

Andy

I have a PDW-D1, and I need to connected it to I Macintosh in or der to
import media to FCP.

What I Have done so far.

Connect the drive to a Wintel PC run the software PC Utility, set the
equipment to AV/C mode.
After that we can connect the PDW-1 to Windows PC computer a check the
media using movie maker.

But when we connect the equipment to a Macintosh it recognize the PDW-D1
connected via Firewire, we setup the FCP to Firewire DV but it does not
control, nor import or visualize media from the drive (PDW)

Could you help us?

Could you let us know what we have to do?

[Andy Mees]

Hi Frank

Sorry for the basic questions …

Is the unit switched to “on” or “standby” when you try to access
In the PC Utility, have you set Login to “Inhibit” to disable FAM (which doesn’t work on a mac anyway)
Did you setup the DV Audio Output Select to CH1/CH2
and the DV Out Audio Mode to 2ch (48kHz/16bit)

In FCP have you tried using both “Firewire” and “Firewire Basic” for Device Control ?

Cheers
Andy

[Frank Palma]

i Frank

Sorry for the basic questions …

Is the unit switched to “on” or “standby” when you try to access

(Is on actually I can ingest from a PC)

In the PC Utility, have you set Login to “Inhibit” to disable FAM (which doesn’t work on a mac anyway)

(it is we cando playback, stop and ingest using movie maker)

Did you setup the DV Audio Output Select to CH1/CH2
Yes
and the DV Out Audio Mode to 2ch (48kHz/16bit)
yes

In FCP have you tried using both “Firewire” and “Firewire Basic” for Device Control ?
Yes but none of them work FCP can not control or ingest media from the disk

is there any other thing we can do?

Cheers
Andy

[Frank Palma]

another thing in Audio/video Setting /capture preset/ capture preset editor/ input the FCP recognize the PDW-D1

[Andy Mees]

and without transport controls, obviously you can’t even just press “play” and record in fcp using “non-controllable device” setting

kind of grasping now…
have you tried accessing the device through iMovie or any other Mac-based NLE?
you could try to using Avid FreeDV, ZS4, or HyperEngine-AV

[caveat: I’ve never used any of the above, so can’t predict results, its just something I might try … also, I’m not aware if installing any of the above could cause potential conflicts with your core FCP system]

sorry I couldn’t be more help

Andy

[Frank Palma]

Andy, do you know anyother person who can help me, i will try to with the software you recomended it, but definitevely I need to use it with FCP, I believe is a problem with Macintosh computer eventhougt they recognize the device for some reason the can’t control it.
we try with 3 diferent Macintosh
PM G5 dual core
PM G5 dual 2.7
PB G4

and with all of them the result have bee the same

[Andy Mees]

Frank

sadly I don’t know anyone with this unit. my own experience is only with the PDW-1500. (works fine)
it may be likely we will be using these units (or whatever will be the XDCAM HD version) in the field by our ENG crews, but that would be on a PC laptop with Canopus and/or Avid rather than FCP … if/when we get one of these I will certainly test it with FCP, but I don’t expect that to be soon enough to be helpful to you.

i do know that the direct FCP import solution from Flip4Mac is reported as working with the PDW-D1, but it is a costly addition. however, if you must use FCP and cannot resolve the issue otherwise, then it may be a necessary purchase.

it seems extremely likely that the next revision of FCP will have direct support for XDCAM based media, or so the Sony reps would have us beleive … unfortunately although we have independent reports of this support being added, we have no conclusive proof, nor any idea of a timeframe for the release of such an update. could be as soon as NAB, or much much later … either way, basing purchase decisions, or delaying them, due to unsubstantiated rumuor is usually an unwise business decision.

if you haven’t done so already, you should follow Rafal’s advice, and post on the XDCAM forum at https://xdcam.com.au/ … it may be someone there has knowledge of this problem, a workaround or a solution that might help you

sorry I couldn’t be more help
Andy