Sony XDCAM Transfer and Snow Leopard

[Toby Heslop]

Same problem here,

MacbookPro (latest)
XDCAM transfer 2.10
Snow Leopard
FCS3
media on SDHC card through internal SD card reader

[Maria Natur]

Hey Andy and Craig,
we’ve bought a completely new macpro. The company where we bought, installed all components to start editing on the spot. So I think it is a clean install of the system and the components.

So we got the newest FinalCutPro. With a PDW-U1 Unit and XDCAM Transfer Software we can log and import the .mxf and .xml to FCP without problems. But our client works with Avid, that’s why we just want to rename the clips and give comment and save those changes directly at the disc (or when we copie the /clip and /sub folder on an external hard drive, we want to save the changes there). But it doesn’t work. It says that the files/ disc is just read only.

So although we’ve got a clean install, we’ve got problems with the PDW-U1 unit to write back with XDCAM Transfer.

Cheers
Maria

[Craig Seeman]

OS is Leopard or Snow Leopard?
I believe there’s a firmware update that opens the full size of the PDW-U1 for data backup which is needed if the files came from EX. You may need to install that.

[Maria Natur]

Oh I forgot. We installed SnowLeopard. And I got now 2 answer of Sony and a support company, which works for Sony and they confirmed both, that XDCAM Transfer has Problems, so they advice to do not upgrade to SnowLeopard. Very smart, because the people buying a nex mac already have SnowLeopard. Maybe we get 30 Dollars from Sony when we downgrade SnowLeopard to Leopard??? 😉 Good night.
We are working now with windumb and PDZ-1 as solution until a update will come in the next 2 years.

[Tony Tang]

I was able to resolve the thumbnail error in Snow Leopard by installing Sony XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1. I was not able to find the 2.8 installer like some others were able to try on this thread.

After I installed 2.5.1 and saw that it worked, I then tried to upgrade to version 2.10 but got the thumbnail error. I had to trash the following items to reinstall 2.5.1 and make it work again:

1. /Applications/XDCAM Transfer
2. ~/Library/Application Support/Sony XDCAM Transfer

After trashing the above two items and reinstalling XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1, the thumbnail error went away and everything seemed to work on Snow Leopard.

I am also using the latest SxS card driver version 1.0.4 from Sony.

Here are the download locations for the software I installed:

1. Sony XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1 – https://www.sony.ca/xdcamex/software.htm
2. Sony SxS Drivers 1.0.4 – https://www.sony.ca/promedia/drivers.htm

Hopefully others will have the same luck that I did after trashing the files/folders above and installing these versions of the software.

Tony

[Johnny Amiri]

Hey Everyone!

To completely sidestep the thumbnail issue or any incompatibilities in the Sony Clip Browser, I always use Final Cut Pro’s Log and Transfer utility, and I can CONFIRM THAT USING THE FOLLOWING STEPS, IT WILL WORK IN SNOW LEOPARD WITH SXS CARDS!

This applies to anyone using Snow Leopard to capture from Sony SxS cards through the express card slot on their MacBook Pro.

Here’s how I did it:

Uninstall any previous drivers you have on your Mac for Sony XDCAM.
Download and install these drivers from Sony’s site: https://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=PMW-EX1&site=biz_en_EU&category=XDCAMCamcorders&contentId=1193315621889&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true

Restart your computer and reset PRAM (hold Command, Option, P, R as machine is booting) to ensure driver installation succeeds (this is just a precaution).

Then download and install this: https://support.sonybiz.net/software/detail.aspx?id=BPE-SS-03AD&model=PMW-EX1

This install does not require a restart. Once complete, insert your SxS card and BLAM! NO KERNAL PANIC.

Launch FCP and choose File–Log and Transfer and VOILA! ALL GOOD!

I’ve included a video showing the workflow of importing the clips once the drivers have been installed that you can watch here: https://gallery.me.com/amirij/100120

If anyone has any questions, reply to this post.

[Tony Tang]

Johnny,

Good point, however, some people may need the extra functionality provided by Sony’s XDCAM Transfer software that is not provided in the Final Cut Log and Transfer plug-in.

For instance, I have found that my Shot Markers don’t show up in my video clips when I use Final Cut’s Log and Transfer feature. That’s why I personally need to use XDCAM Transfer.

Here are some other notes provided by Sony:

NOTE: XDCAM Transfer has the following advantages over Log and Transfer
Support both XDCAM EX & XDCAM Disc
Handles XDCAM EX and XDCAM Disc clips
mounting SxS & PD media at the same time
MXF export capability
Can write edited material back to Professional Disc in MXF files
Standalone browser/viewer
Browsing/viewing are possible without running Final Cut Pro

Other benefits
Full-screen playback
Cache functionThumbnail information available even after ejecting the media
Can create multiple sub clips by Mark In/Out

Log and Transfer has the advantage of working directly within the standard Log and Transfer interface within FCP

[Bill Parker]

OK, so I upgraded everything and I still don’t see the thumbnails and Log & Transfer doesn’t recognize my SxS cards. The one thing I didn’t do is uninstall my previous drivers for XDCAM Transfer. Stupid question – how do I do that?

Thanks.

[Craig Seeman]

[Bill Parker] ” I upgraded everything “
Too vague to respond to.
Post all specs and EXACT version numbers and maybe someone can say what’s wrong.

[Bill Parker]

Sorry:

XDCAM EX Log and Transfer Plug-in V1.0 (Mac).
XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1.
I’m running Snow Leopard on a 2 x 2.26 GHZ Quad-Core Intel Xenon.
I’ve upgraded to FCP 7.0.

I just didn’t uninstall XDCAM Transfer because I can’t figure out how to.

Thanks.