ingesting video into Avid

[Richard Sanchez]

Do you just have the MP4 files? You need the whole card structure in order to properly bring in that footage if it came from an SxS card.

Also, since you’re on MC 3.5. You really should consider upgrading, since the AMA features of MC 4 and above will make this footage much easier to bring in and transcode.

This link describes a method of bringing the footage in without AMA, since you don’t have it on version 3.5

https://blog.davidesp.com/archives/278

Richard Sanchez
Los Angeles, CA

“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks

[Lor Porter]

Hi Richard – I do have all the information… it’s all things in each clip folder – I have the mp4, SMI, PPN, XML and BIM.

I know about upgrading… I just don’t have the funds right now…

BUT – it’s not from an XD cam – I have no problems using the AMA with XD cam – I use that all the time. I do have it that feature.

[Michael Phillips]

Does Resolve Lite play the files? If so, you can transcode to native MXF wrapped DNxHD and take it from there.

Michael

[Richard Sanchez]

You mentioned cards and the SxS driver. That sounds like XDCAM EX, which usually comes from an EX1 or EX3 camera (As opposed to the XDCAM Optical Discs) Is this correct?

Richard Sanchez
Los Angeles, CA

“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks

[Lor Porter]

Yes Richard, Sorry – I got confused. It’s the XDCAM-EX intraframe codec.PMW-EX1, the PMW-EX3 – yes.

[Lor Porter]

Thank you Michael – I’ll try that too.

[Michael Phillips]

You may also be able to use the Sony Content Browser software and rewrap as MXF if needed.
https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/resource.downloads.bbsccms-assets-micro-xdcam-downloads-XDCAMSoftwareDownload.shtml#apps

Michael

[Brendan Charles]

MPEG Streamclip has yielded pretty good results when converting MP4 files for me. You could try converting to .MOV with the Animation codec, or ProResHQ for minimal loss of quality. The files will be much larger, but at least you will have an easier time ingesting them into AVID and with not much loss of quality.

[Lor Porter]

Thank you Brendan,

I converted them all to mov clips – in movavi converter. I just don’t know if it “chaged” the video – since I’m not sure what the original looked like. I took FOREVER to bring into the avid (there is a lot of video) – but the ingest was a little over 24 hours.

I just downloaded MPEG Stream clip – just in case I need to go back and do that for the producer.

Thanks everyone for your help!
Lori

[Brendan Charles]

Not sure what your workflow is like- but in the future couldn’t you just AMA link the clip, then transcode your sequence so you really only import/transode only what you use of that file, instead of importing the whole thing.