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New PDZK-LT2 plugin for FCPX; XDCAM Browser 2.1 + 3.0 Preview
The new Import From Camera plugin for FCP X will be on the US XDCAM site within the next couple days. Model name is PDZK-LT2 and it requires FCP 10.0.4.
LT2 is a background add-on (no separate tool or workspace) and allows for native import and archiving from EX sources, including stored card images. It supports all the EX formats including SD. It does not support XDCAM optical Disc formats at this time (see below for new optical ingest workflow). As with Browser, XDCAM Transfer and Log and Transfer, LT2 is a re-wrapper and does not transcode on import to ProRes or any other codec (even if the user selects the option to ‘Create Optimized Media’ in the Import wincdow).
The new version of XDCAM Browser (2.1) has plug-in integration with FCP X and can be used for both EX and optical XDCAM. FCP X will not have the ‘Import–>Sony XDCAM’ command we had in 7, but otherwise the workflow is similar; files sent from Browser 2.1 will be sent to X and attached to a new event in the current project. If X is not running there’s a preference to have it launch when you send files to it. Currently all imports have to go to a ‘new’ event; we currently don’t support selecting existing events. This may change going forward.
While the Import From Camera workflow is native, some users with more metadata-intensive EX ingest workflows may prefer to use XDCAM Browser 2.1, as there is currently very little pre-logging support in X’s Import From Camera window. For example if you need to add title metadata, or comments, or create subclips, you cannot do this in the IFC area.
The next version of Browser, v 3.0, will have added NXCAM support via a chargeable add-on. This will add the ability to export back to AVCHD card images/media; direct Blu-ray burning and additional export/output options for the Sony NXCAM format.
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21 Replies
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Thanks for the update Ian.
Your comment “It does not support XDCAM optical Disc formats at this time” suggests that there could be future traction in that area … are you able to say whether direct support for XDCAM optical media with the PDZK-LT plugin is actively being developed but just not yet sucessfully implemented? Or is this more a “we may or may not consider it after which we may or may not develop it” kind of thing? As someone working with the optical media format, am just trying to read more clearly between those lines 😉
Cheers
Andy -
One minor correction– sub-clipping on import is supported with IFC and EX.
It’s unlikely that optical XDCAM will be supported but it’s still being investigated. There are pretty solid technical reasons on both sides for the difficulty involved in the development. At any rate the Browser workflow is in many ways preferable to IFC, especially if any logging or clip/disc management is required.
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One more clarification which I don’t think I made clear earlier– Browser is only required for MXF on optical disc. For MXF on SxS (from PMW-500, PDW-HR1/MK2, XDCAM Station) you can use Import From Camera to reward the XDCAM .mxfs to .movs.
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Ian, has the new SW been posted?
Unless I’m looking in the wrong place, I don’t see it.
Thanks.
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LT2 and XDB2.1 is available here Kevin :
https://support.sonybiz.ca/esupport/Navigation.do?filetype=Software -
I was looking in the wrong place.
This link is Sony’s CA site, correct?
For some reason it’s not on their US site yet.
Either way, thanks.
Kevin
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FWIW this has been an ongoing history. Sony USA seems to always be days if not weeks behind XDCAM software updates. Since this has been the case for a number of years, it seems the bureaucracy at whatever dept. handles Sony support website in USA is inherently slow.
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Those are not the US downloads.
For the record, anyone who’s used the new XDCAM downloads site will see that serious, tangible improvements have been made wrt having a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate and up-to-date download page. Since we’ve moved away from hosting everything on the Software Plus site, there is zero bureaucracy; it’s quite literally the product manager, one web services person and myself doing all of it and taking on the work precisely because of all the bottlenecks we had to deal with in the past.
The reason– and I’ve addressed this before– the US site is sometimes a bit late when posting XDCAM-related updates is that we test the software and often redo the documentation. Most of the smaller international Sony Sales companies around the world just take what they get from Japan and upload it. Believe me, it’s in everybody’s best interest that we do this.
I will have LT2 uploaded to our site shortly.
Thanks
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This is not working for me at all, I have installed it and when I try to “import camera archive” I get the “unsupported media” message when I point it at the BPAV folder. Am I doing something wrong?
Steve Connor
“FCPX Professional”
Adrenalin Television -
It works for me on two systems, directly from the SXS cards, anyway. Either they automatically open when inserted in the card reader with FCPX running, or if I select import from camera. And it’s the non US version but it’s been fine so far.
Best,
John
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