XDCAM Folder Structure / FCP Import / MOV Rewrap

[Greg Ondera]

My goodness! This is not directed at solving this problem so much as to asking if you tried Calibrated Software https://www.calibratedsoftware.com/MP4EXImport_Mac.asp as an alternative to getting the footage without rewrapping?

Greg Ondera
http://www.Plexus.tv
http://www.SurgeonToday.org

[Craig Seeman]

Sigh, I can feel my fellow forum members cringing already. I held off answering this because I have tendency to be brutal and was thinking a kinder gentler person would respond.

The time to ask about seat belts is before the head on collision. There will be no pain killers administered with my assistance.

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “XDCAM Transfer 2.9.0”
[Rodrigo Silvestri] “Day 1 was copied from SxS to drive with the complete folder structure. XDCAM Transfer loads clips and shows this error “The clip thumbnail could not be saved to the cache as it was an unrecognised format””
[Rodrigo Silvestri] “I tried with older versions too (Transfer 2.12,”

By first grade I had learned that 12 was a higher number than 9. Had you used this version you’d averted the above issue.

Copying files should be done with ClipBrowser with CRC ON to verify the copy.

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “Days 2 and 3: They only copied the clips folders. I don’t have the complete structure/files. No files missing inside each clip folder, only the XMLs that would be inside BPAV are not there (because there is no BPAV, just DAY2/originalfolderperclip/files).”

If you had shot with MiniDV or Betacam would you have smashed the cassette and torn out the tape? Why did you think Sony’s camera created the BPAV folder? Did you think Sony designed the camera to create unnecessary files for you to toss? Sorry but I no longer buy “newbie” as an excuse. In late 2007, despite nearly 30 years experience in video, I too was a newbie to file based workflows. Common sense dictated that if the camera created the file equivalent of a cassette then I should save it.

You can import the orphaned MP4 files into ClipBrowser and create new BPAV folders which will function in XDCAM Transfer. You can also import the orphaned MP4 into XDCAM Transfer.

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “Some mentioned Importing the files to XDCAM Clip Browser, positioning the browser in the destination folder and using the File > Import function.”

Import the MP4 only. You can create destination destination folder in the 2nd window lower left and drag the MP4s there. Within that folder will be the new BPAV.

[Ian Cook]

It sounds like the main issue is that your Mac is running Snow Leopard with an unsupported version of Transfer. The slow operation and thumbnail errors are to be expected with older versions and SL.

Also, 2.12 can read ‘orphaned’ mp4 files in a source folder. It’s always better to rebuild in CB but if you need to import from just the .mp4 files 2.12 is capable of doing this. The Log and Transfer plug-in req’s an intact BPAV.

So hopefully 2.12 will solve both issues. If I’m way off the mark here as far as what you’re doing, let me know..

Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company

[Rodrigo Silvestri]

I work as a DIT an already know all the things you told me. It happens that as I normally work in a professional environment, I knew about these problems but I wasn’t ever in charge of resolving it.
I received this project after it was edited, to do the color grading and mastering.

Sony’s version numbering is totally confusing. 2.12 would be next to 2.1 (2.10). They should have numbered it 2.01 and then the 2.12 would be correct to be considered the newest.

Another company that does this is Apple, with OSX, but their release info is somehow more accessible 😉

I did create a folder with Clip Browser. No way to drag the files inside the ClipBrowser windows. Please explain me how you’d do it 😉

XDCAM Transfer (2.12) opens the folder but shows 0 clips in it.

Thanks everyone!
Rodrigo

—
Following the rules often gives perfect results without actually learning.
twitter.com/rsilves
http://www.rsilves.com

[Rodrigo Silvestri]

How can I do this with 2.12?
I haven’t found a way yet. XDCam Transfer recognizes the folder but not the clips inside it.

Thank you.
Rodrigo.

—
Following the rules often gives perfect results without actually learning.
twitter.com/rsilves
http://www.rsilves.com

[Ian Cook]

The clips need to be on the root of the folder. If it’s a folder you’ve already viewed as a source delete it from the list and add it again. If the clips still do not show up you’ll need to use CB to file–>import them into a new BPAV.

[Craig Seeman]

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “I received this project after it was edited, to do the color grading and mastering.”

You should certainly charge for any work that this creates for you and explain to your client that the DIT apparently did not know how to handle the files.

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “Sony’s version numbering is totally confusing. 2.12 would be next to 2.1 (2.10). They should have numbered it 2.01 and then the 2.12 would be correct to be considered the newest.”

… and if you open XDCAM ClipBrowser and select About XDCAM Clip Browser, the popup says Sony XDCAM ClipBrowser 2.6
Version 2.06.00

Ian are you listening? Do you see how much confusion the versioning creates?

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “I did create a folder with Clip Browser. No way to drag the files inside the ClipBrowser windows. Please explain me how you’d do it ;)”

In ClipBrowser
File>Import…
import the MP4
it will appear in the top left window.
In the bottom left window direct to the area you want to be in and click on the Folder icon (first icon on the top left of that window.
Name the folder and make sure it’s selected
Drag your MP4 from the top window to the bottom

If you were to then look at the folder on your hard drive you would find it has created
MyFolder>BPAV>(all the stuff it needs)

[Rodrigo Silvestri]

Ian and Craig:

I already did those steps and explained what happens in my first post 🙁
It doens’t surprise me that when I try again, the same happens.

Thank anyway.

—
Following the rules often gives perfect results without actually learning.
twitter.com/rsilves
http://www.rsilves.com

[Craig Seeman]

This part?

[Rodrigo Silvestri] “Some mentioned Importing the files to XDCAM Clip Browser, positioning the browser in the destination folder and using the File > Import function. I choose the clip, it takes some seconds to load (and shows the progress bar), then shows this error “Failed to import the clip. Clip name: 159_(…)”.
It even creates the BPAV folder if you watch the destination folder in the Finder, but it disappears as soon as the error appears.”

So it fails on import. UhOh, could it be a corrupted .MP4?
Get the backup BPAV folder and . . . oh right, the DIT destroyed the masters. Did they at least backup the incomplete folders someplace?

Next test. Download the current version of VLC
https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
and see if it’ll play the raw MP4. It’s been the one reliable EX MP4 Player. It doesn’t even need or use the component installed with FCP. If the file is playable VLC should play it.

[Ian Cook]

If you are getting a ‘Failed to Import the Clip’ error on an EX .mp4 it usually means there is data missing (often from bad copies).

As a last resort, try downloading the Cinemon.mp4 trial. It’s a plug-in that allows direct editing of EX .mp4s without having to rewrap. The trial version has no limitations (watermarks, limits on clip length etc). See if, with Cinemon installed, the clips play in FCP and/or QuickTime. If they do, you have until the trial period ends to transcode the files or purchase the software. If you get a beach ball or error when you try to bring these into FCP with Cinemon installed, there is definitely a problem with the source clip(s).

https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-datastorage/resource.latest.bbsccms-assets-cat-datastorage-solutions-cinemonmp4.shtml