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XDCAM EX Quicktime Movies Not Viewable on PCs??
I have been working with XDCAM EX footage in FCP 6.0.4. Everything looks great… until I go to output. Actually, it still looks great for me, but when any of my clients are viewing any of these Quicktime files, they see nothing. Only an error message that wants them to locate a codec. All kinds of codecs have been loaded on to their PC machines, but nothing seems to work.
I’m a bit concerned (after having done some research) that because the files were imported via a Mac and FCP that now the XDCAM footage cannot be viewed by any PC users, regardless of how new the Quicktime version they have. Something to do with the codec and how the files are bundled..?
I want full resolution so have been exporting using the Quicktime Conversion and the XDCAM EX 1080p30 codec. When I export an h.264 compression, everyone is able to see the results. However, this will not suffice as I’ll need a higher resolution than what that codec offers.
Any suggestions? Does SONY have some sort of codec download that anyone using a Quicktime needs to have in order to view these files? Why can’t I simply export using the XDCAM EX 1080p30 codec and have these movies be viewable by all Quicktime users?
In advance, thank you for any insight into this issue!!
Director, Editor
http://www.BarangFilms.com -
25 Replies
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From what I understand, the XDCAM codec comes with FCP6. PCs don’t have it. My PC friends tell me that their XDCAM projects look great in Windows Media. so I’m considering getting the HD version of Flip4Mac so I can do that.
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For PC and Macs without Final Cut Pro
I’ve posted this in the forum 2 or 3 times already. I wish it wasn’t so hard to find. BTW it’s hard to find using Google too. The company needs a marketing manager me thinks. Gosh they should buy ads in targeted forums like this.
calibratedsoftware.com -
Thanks Craig. I checked this out and I’m unclear as to whether we apply this to the clip on our end or if this is something the client has to purchase in order to view our clips. If it’s the latter, I would think that Windows Media might be the better option.
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The client would have to apply it. It works on Windows and on Macs WITHOUT FCP. They warn quite specifically do NOT use on systems with FCP otherwise it’ll conflict with Sony’s FCP EX codec.
In fact every client who you handed such files to would have to buy it. I’ve been thinking about the business model for using it on the post side of things. Maybe buy it for the client and bury the cost? It’s an extra $79 expense per client.
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An alternative would be to encode the EX files to QT H.264 and keep the native frame size. Then all the PC user has to have to view the clips is the free Quicktime Player for WIndows. I did this recently for a client and they were very happy with the H.264 quality. I’m not sure if Windows Media Player supports QT H.264. It means more time encoding, though.
– Don
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Hi Chris,
There’s nothing to apply on your end per se – its’ a QuickTime Codec that can decode XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, and HDV QuickTime .MOV files. So if you used XDCAM Transfer to create .MOV files from XDCAM HD MXF or XDCAM EX MP4 files then this QuickTime Codec would enable you to use the XDCAM HD/EX/HDV .MOV files with applications that support QuickTime on PC or Mac computers without FCP.
And it’s not only for client review – with the codec you can now hand off XDCAM HD/EX/HDV QuickTime Movies to other people in your post-production pipeline that don’t have FCP.
You can also use the codec with my Calibrated{Q} MXF Import plugin to turn QuickTime Player into a viewer for XDCAM HD MXF files.
Cheers,
Greg -
Is this my answer to get already-ingested XDCam EX1 footage out of FCP, and into the Avid down the street?
There will be times when I need to bring footage over to an Avid Nitris. I never thought it would be so complex.
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Hi Robert,
Yes this should work – let me know if you ahve any issues. Try the demo out (just has watermarks).
Cheers,
Greg -
Greg, I have quite a few questions- could we chat on the phone?
Email your # to semis57@gmail.com, or if you prefer email only, shoot me a note to the noted account and I’ll get you my work account.
Thanks,
Rob Semeniuk
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Hey Greg,
I’m doing exactly what you are talking about in this thread. I have someone who shot with the EX3 and has XDCAM native footage. I need to get a “same as source” type of file to composite with. How do you make the clips work both on the Mac and for my PC? Is that an option in the XDCAM transfer software?
-Jason
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