Importing XDCAM footage into Adobe premiere

[Chris Detjen]

Have only worked with XDCAM EX in Premiere and had few issues. BPAV could end up being the most efficient way since Premiere is set to handle Sony’s various cameras and codecs with ease. If you’re sending video files that were transcoded on a Mac then perhaps the client doesn’t have the appropriate codec installed, assuming the recipient in on a PC.

[Nel Shelby]

Thanks so much. Client is on a Mac. Did you need to download any specific drivers? Thx

[Tim Kolb]

Are you running log and transfer on the footage? That re-wrap process makes a file that only works in FCP unless you have a utility like Calibrated Software…

If you’re not rewrapping the files, CS5 should read them as long as the files haven’t been removed from their original file structure.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

Adobe Certified Instructor

[Chris Detjen]

I am not sure if it still holds true today, but when I worked exclusively with FCP 7 I do recall having to install Sony drivers before being able to use the log & transfer tool with XDCAM EX footage.

Did a quick online search and found a 2006 Sony white paper on XDCAM workflow:
“Before you can successfully connect an XDCAM HD device to your Mac, you must install the Sony drivers and XDCAM Transfer software (PDZK-P1). The software can be downloaded at https://www.sony.com/xdcamhd.”

[Nel Shelby]

Yes I’m using XDCAM transfer then importing into FCP. Just had my client download trial of Callibrated software.
I think I may just give them BPAV folders and log and transfer on site on their computer using Adobe premiere.thanks for your help!

[Tom Daigon]

From my experience, once youve rewrapped the footage using FCP you will not be able to use it in PrP.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com

[Tim Kolb]

[Nel Shelby] “I think I may just give them BPAV folders and log and transfer on site on their computer using Adobe premiere.thanks for your help!”

Premiere Pro requires no conversion…you just use the media the way it is from the camera. The issue comes in when it gets rewrapped for FCP use…Apple doesn’t share that codec, so if you’re not on a Mac, or don’t have Motion or FCP, you don’t have the QuickTime codec.

My recommendation if you need to “log”…the Sony Content Browser should show you footage and timecode…then just give the PPro user the camera media and be done with it.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

Adobe Certified Instructor

[Ryan Holmes]

Either transcode the footage to a .mov with a standard codec like ProRes or DNxHD for them to use or just give them the BPAV folder. CS5 reads the contents natively without any problem. It would certainly be the fastest way to move material around.

As everyone has mentioned, Log & Transfer makes a XDCAM file specifically that FCP7 can read, not PPro.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Jeff Meyer]

Log and Transfer rewraps the XDCAM data into a Quicktime container with Apple’s proprietary XDCAM implementation. The remaining options (ranked best to worst) are:

• If you kept the original media (a good practice) Premiere should be able to relink to that media.
• Installing Final Cut Studio on the Premiere machine will install the Quicktime Codecs onto that machine and allow use of QT XDCAM media. I believe a $50 purchase of Compressor 4 off of the App Store would unlock these codecs, but I haven’t made the purchase myself, so I can’t confirm the validity of this statement.
• Transcode to a format Premiere will read. Media Manager would be your friend.

[Nel Shelby]

Thanks everyone! I think it’s easiest to give them BPAV folders. I religiously keep those folders. We tried it yesterday and worked beautifully.
Thank you!!!