New XDCAM Browser

[Craig Seeman]

At this point it should be out “any day now.” The problem is that Sony’s Pro sites around the world are far from in sync and the USA site seems to often be weeks behind other sites such as Sony Europe and Sony Canada. Let’s hope Ian lets us know as soon as it hits “somewhere” otherwise one of us will stumble across it as Sony seems to be far too quiet about informing us of software updates.

[Ian Cook]

Hi Jay,

Yes, XDCAM Browser, which should be released this week, will replace XDCAM Transfer, Clip Browser and PDZ-1 (optical XDCAM software). See here for more info:

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/142/872926#872951

Cheers,

Ian

Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company

[Jay Gladwell]

Thank you, Craig and Ian!

I will be keeping an eye open for this.

[Ian Cook]

Unfortunately Craig is correct in that the releases could be better coordinated between the Sony sales companies around the world. It’s something we’re working to improve. Also worth mentioning, however, is that in the states we run all the XD software and documentation through a last round of internal QA before posting (as opposed to just taking a zip file that’s been handed to us and posting it).

As soon as we get the production version of the software online I’ll post a link.

Cheers,

Ian

Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company

[Michael Palmer]

Good to hear Ian,

Thanks

[Jay Gladwell]

Most excellent news, Ian. Many thanks!

[Dave Johnson]

Ian,

I shoot XD-CamHD (not EX) with PDW-F355L cams and, although we have a PDW-F75, I end up using a PDW-U1 most often to import to Final Cut Pro. Being that my entire workflow is centered around XD-Cam Transfer and I’ll now need to replace it with this new XD-Cam Browser software, is there someplace I can get details about the new software before I have to switch?

For example, I’d like to know specifically what the various versions are, what the differences between them are and the cost of each (a simple feature comparison chart would be nice). I’m not familiar with XD-Cam Clip Browser so comparisons to it don’t help much.

Lastly, FCP is my primary editor, but I also use Premiere, After Effects, Vegas, etc. on Windows … can you help me understand why I’d have to buy third-party software like Calibrated Software’s XD Decode Windows to access XD-CamHD footage on Windows machines and still would only have decode capability? What if I wanted to bring an XD-CamHD edit onto a Windows box for some additional work and export it back out without transcoding to another codec? Perhaps I’ve missed part of the whole XD-CamHD rationale or is the format intended to only be used with FCP (and not even with Sony’s own Windows-based Vegas)?

By the way, if you have any influence on making the Sony professional website and product documentation as user-friendly as the equipment itself, I would be eternally grateful.

[Craig Seeman]

Ian can probably explain in more detail (baring NDA) but the new XDCAM Browser will be a single tool with both Mac and Windows versions. Apparently it can be used instead of the current combination of ClipBrowser and XDCAM Transfer on the Mac for example.

Calibrated Software makes several plugins so it really depends on what your situation is whether you would need them and then which ones.

If you’re using XDCAM HD files and your NLE handles MXF than you wouldn’t need a plugin.

MXF import allows such files to be used in Quicktime based apps (may need additional decode codecs for Windows).
MP4 Import allows such files to be used in Quicktime based apps.
XD Decode allows one to view and use XDCAM HD and EX MOV wrapped files.

The above warrant more detailed explanation since the particulars may depend on Mac and Windows, your NLE, your playback needs.
https://www.calibratedsoftware.com/

[Pat Murray]

I cant seam to shut down my clip browser…it just spins and spins the icon that is. Any help?? Using EX3 and Mac book pro

cheers

[David Johnson]

Thanks Craig. I use XDCAM Transfer every day, but I’m not sure I even know what ClipBrowser is … I browse and ingest my clips with XD-Cam Transfer so perhaps it’s a similar tool for EX cards.

I was referring specifically to Calibrated Software’s “XD Decode Windows” to access XD-CamHD footage on Windows machines”, which seems the one that does half of what it seems to me a third-party plugin shouldn’t be necessary for … read and write MOV wrapped XD-CamHD files on a Windows machine.

I’m simply looking for a way to work with my native XD-CamHD footage in a cross-platform environment without the extra time, expense, data loss and general hassle of transcoding.