XDCAM EX import

[Todd Kopriva]

Here are the details of exactly what is supported with regard to importing XDCAM EX files:

“After Effects can import Sony XDCAM EX assets stored as essence files with the .mp4 filename extension in a BPAV directory.” (from “Supported import formats”)

Are all of the conditions in that sentence met?

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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
putting the ‘T’ back in ‘RTFM’ : After Effects Help on the Web
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[Arjen Abbestee]

Dear Todd,

Yes, that is exactly what I’m trying to import. The file directory is as follows:
BPAV->CLPR->Filename.mp4,Filename.SMI.FilenameI01.PPN,FilenameM01.XML,FilenameR01.BIM.
Like I said, AE does import the files but they show up as solid green.

Regards,

Arjen

[Arjen Abbestee]

Hi Dave,

Yes, I’m aware of the fact that AE is not very happy with any MPEG or other interframe compression files. The fact that my files show up a solid green however, is IMHO not to do with this problem.
The reason I wanted the XDCAM files to import directly into AE is that I assumed these files are 10 bit YUV. When I imported them into Final Cut and tried to export them to another file format there were only 8-bit fileformats available. Whether this means the XDCAM EX is 8-bit to begin with is something I could not figure out or find on the Sony website.
I now converted the files to Apple Pro-res. But everything is shot against a white background with a very subtle gradient making any color correction in AE result in banding. If the XDCAM material is 8-bit there is of course nothing to be gained, but if it is indeed 10bit YUV the results could be much better I think…

Regards,

Arjen

[Jesse Ellert]

Hey Dave,

My editors are working in XDCam Ex in final Cut when they export it as EXfootage it won’t import into AE. What would be the best workflow between FinalCut Studio2(Mac) into After EffectsCS3(PC).

Thanks a bunch.

[Jesse Ellert]

If you could suggest both workflows that would be very helpful because:

(on some episodes)I’m doing Color Correction & effects work for a 30 second spot.

(on other episodes) I’m doing 20 min+ of color correction.

Thx
~J

[Jesse Ellert]

-We have a transfer drive over the internet(being in the same building) so i think that might solve a few of the problems.

-I did a 30 second intro(color correction) givin to me in h264(hd1920x1080) but when I started correcting the footage it completly fell apart with banding and grain especially in the darks. (I exported in a Tiff secquence)

I tried the Quicktime PNG method and it worked really well and the footage held up after color correction. The only problem was there seemed to be extreme render times in FCP output to be given to me.

I don’t think it would be a big deal for a 30 second spot. but for anything longer it would be a big issue.

So the big question is what would be the best output from FCP to AE
then from AE to FCP?