Questions regarding converting SD .avi to SD .mov files for FCP7

[Russ Carlin]

Check this thread out mate:

https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/200/894107

Carrrrrrr Carrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Ian Cook]

You can use XDCAM Browser or the Sony Log and Transfer add-in to convert DV .AVIs to DV .MOVs.

XDCAM Browser needs to be run in plugin mode to do MOV conversions. Launch it from within FCP by selecting File–>Import–>Sony XDCAM Browser. Select the clips you want to import and and then click the ‘Register for Final Cut Pro’ button under the monitor or File–>Register… This will rewrap the files; they’ll be stored in the location you select in Browser’s preferences and automatically mapped to the currently open FCP project.

The Log and Transfer add-in enables Log and Transfer to handle EX files (rewrap only– they will not be transcoded).

[Michael Moser]

Thanks Ian and Russ-
When I searched it, I didn’t get that recent link…
I was making the conversion outside FCP, so I’ll try it in plug-in mode as well.
Best,
Mike

[Michael Moser]

Ian-
There is no problem with re-wrapping the .avi files, correct? There’s no loss in quality or functionality in FCP, right?

[Ian Cook]

No, there shouldn’t be any loss in quality or functionality. You can leave them in AVI format if you are concerned; FCP will warn you that they’re “not optimized” but it will take them. It’s best to convert to MOV for both performance reasons and also because FCP’s Media Manager has limitations when managing non-MOV files.

[Michael Moser]

Ian-
I’ve had no problem with the workflow for HD files.

However, with these SD files, when I try to import them within FCP using the log and transfer plug-in as well as opening the transfer program, they show up as unsupported files. When I try to open the transfer program within FCP, XDCam Transfer (v2.12.01) opens, not XDCam Browser (v1.2.0.193) which is also installed on the computer.
Is there a plug-in or path for Browser not there that I need to add?
If so, do you know where in the library it needs to go?

As I said, BPAV files containing HD footage transfer with no problem, but I’ve had to add SD footage to the workflow and this has been a problem getting straight…It seems that we don’t need the BPAV structure for SD, only the files stored in the CLPR folder, which can be pre-converted or re-wrapped and imported without the use of log and transfer or the Browser programs. Am I correct here or am I missing something?
Thanks…
Michael

[Ian Cook]

You need to use XDCAM Browser, not XDCAM Transfer. They’re different applications. (XDCAM Browser will eventually replace both XDCAM Transfer and XDCAM EX Clip Browser.) Transfer unfortunately does not support SD-AVI files.

If you have both XDCAM Transfer and XDCAM Browser on the same Mac, you’ll see two different Import–>XDCAM options in the FILE menu, “Import Sony XDCAM” and “Import Sony XDCAM Browser.” Select the latter.

Log and Transfer is part of FCP. For it to recognize EX files you have to install our Log and Transfer extension. This adds EX support. You can’t import EX files without this add-on.

The XDCAM Browser plugin can be downloaded at sony.com/xdcam-downloads. The Log and Transfer add-on is currently not posted but I can get it to you if you need it.

Hope that clears things up…

Cheers

[Michael Moser]

I guess this is a problem for the FCP forum, but the only relevant choice under the File/Import menu is “Sony XDCam…” which then opens XDcam Transfer. There must be a way to manually register Browser with Final Cut Pro so both choices are recognized. Apparently it didn’t happen when I installed Browser on this computer.
-Mike

[Ian Cook]

Try trashing your FCP preferences (user/library/preferences) if you have not already. If you are using any version of Browser with FCP 7 you should see the “Import–> Sony XDCAM Browser” option. Also make sure FCP lives in the default directory (/Applications).

[David Gudaitis]

If you have installed Log and Transfer Utility for Apple FCP Version 1.2, you can directly transfer the AVI files into your project. Version 1.0 will not recognize the folder, 1.2 will.