Massive Amounts of XD Cam files

[David Roth weiss]

Tom,

XDCAM HD at 35mbps is only 15.31Gb per hour and at 25mbps it’s only 11Gb per hour. That’s great looking HD but at DV file sizes, and you can fit about 100 hours per terrabyte. That’s nothing.

I don’t know why you would even consider trading in your time for hard drive space at that kind of miniscule data rate?

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

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[Tom Daigon]

I think the data rate they will be shooting at is 50mbps, but your point is well taken. I just want to know what contingencies I have if other large projects materialize. After buying both bays the owner will definatley not spring for more storage so its good to know what options I do and dont have with
the files.

[Walter Biscardi]

One big issue we just found with XDCAM is that the camera simply repeats file names at the start of each disc. Hopefully your camera operators will be better about setting up the file structure, but we got 14 discs that all started with clip C0001 so even if we did want to work in some sort of off line / online workflow, it wouldn’t work with those discs since we have 14 C0001 clips.

That’s one place where I find that P2 works very nicely in that even with the raw file names, it never repeats on the same camera.

As for your archiving / backup, there’s a new replacement for DLT tape that’s much faster. We’re going to be starting a new series with either the EX-1 or EX-3 and before we even start the edit, all material will be backed up to this format.

By the way, the XDCAM discs were shot at DV50 (SD) and we put all 14 discs on our system (8TB) and it’s just 185GB total.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Don Greening]

[walter biscardi] “We’re going to be starting a new series with either the EX-1 or EX-3 and before we even start the edit, all material will be backed up to this format. “

Walter, just so you’re aware. the EX1/3 cameras all have their own unique serial number as part of each clip name, so determining which clips go together should be a lot easier to keep track of in post.

– Don

[Shane Ross]

Yeah, this is one issue with the tapeless formats. No way to import as low res. Gotta bring it in full resolution. We have an odd struggle with this too. Complicated by the fact that we are mixing with HDCAM and MULTICLIPPING the files.

Don’t ask.

Shane

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[Rafael Amador]

Hi Tom,
I guess that may be a possibility to capture the clips at 18Mbps and then recapture at 50Mbps.
But, as David says, about starage is the same that if you would be working with DV50.

[walter biscardi] “One big issue we just found with XDCAM is that the camera simply repeats file names at the start of each disc. Hopefully your camera operators will be better about setting up the file structure, but we got 14 discs that all started with clip C0001 so even if we did want to work in some sort of off line / online workflow, it wouldn’t work with those discs since we have 14 C0001 clips. “
With the EX-1 this don’t happens.
You start with number like that: XYZ_0000 so you have to shoot 9.999 clips to go again to XYZ_0000.
Then you can change the values of the three first figures. You can shoot 9.999.999 clips without repeating clip number.
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Tom Daigon]

Thanks alot everybody. I guess I’ve stumbled into the Achilles heal of video file technology. I am rather surprised and dismayed that such an effective method (low ress/ high res) cant be implimented when needed with the XDCAM format , although it sounds like P2 is doable.

[Bob Flood]

hey Walter

you said:

“As for your archiving / backup, there’s a new replacement for DLT tape that’s much faster.”

a new tape format? oooh oooh!!! tell us more! please?

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Andy Mees]

its not that it can’t be done effectively Tom, its just that FCP doesn’t offer free and easy access to such a workflow. this is a choice by Apple, who promote instead the full resolution online only workflow

that said, there are options (i posted a couple on your same question on another board)

if you’re not tied to FCP but are tied to the format and workflow then the online/offline workflow using XDCAM proxies to edit with final conform to full res at a later stage works an absolute treat with other NLE’s … GVG EDIUS and Sony Vegas both offer exemplary XDCAM proxy to full res workflows

[Tom Daigon]

Thanks Andy. Unfortunately after purchaseing 2 FCP bays recently, we are tied to FCP. Sad that Apple has chosen a path that short changes
the options we sometimes need to use. Thanks for the info.