[Craig Seeman]

See this Cow post with links

[Craig Seeman]

[Don Greening] “Now I remember that I’d downloaded the Sony Transfer Tool before my EX1 had showed up. I guess I never actually looked on the Sony CD to see if it was there but just assumed it was. My mistake. I’ll give myself ten lashes for that. Now I’m wondering why Sony wouldn’t include such an integral piece of software with their camera. “

Give Sony 100 lashes then. Bad enough it’s not on the CD. Worse is that it’s nearly impossible to find on their USA website. BTW, especially for you Don, the ony Canada Site Doesn’t even have the EX1 listed let alone the software!

[Craig Seeman]

[zhuang mu] “Few more defects, most owners’ SDI cover will be lost in 48 hours”
After losing and finding it in the house, I put a piece of black gaffers tape on it.

[zhuang mu] “if you are not careful enough; the paint on the body’s function marks will go from white to black in a speed you never expect”
SEL/SET on my jog wheel is about gone on mine.

Neither of these a deal breakers but the SDI cap really needs to be rethought. One doesn’t want to run into a situation where the metal connector gets bent.

[Craig Seeman]

You do NOT need an Intel Mac to use the Sony Transfer Tool.
You WILL need SxS driver which works on both Intel and G5.

Sony Transfer Tool is NOT on the CD. It is nearly impossible to find on the USA Sony site and I’ve complained to them about this.

Link to USA site. You’ll need version 2.1 which is 2nd from top. Talk about POOR web design!

Link to UK site Much easier to figure out! Downloads on the lower right.

Sony Clip Browser is Intel ONLY.
On Mac, Clip Browser is only for viewing and copying files from card.
It does not require FCP 6.0.2

Sony Transfer Tool runs on my G5 just fine.
Sony Transfer Tool allows one to view files (with codec installed if you have 6.0.2) and rewraps the .mp4 to .mov (for use in FCP 6.0.2 or viewing in QuickTime).
Sony Transfer Tool can be used as a Stand Alone App or as plugin in FCP 6.0.2.
I suspect Sony Transfer Tool will work without FCP 6.0.2 (XDCAM EX codec) installed but that might limit you to rewrapping without clip viewing.

XDCAM codec at 35mbps VBR is a bit more demanding than HDV 25mbps CBR but any computer that can handle HDV can probably handle XDCAM. My aging Dual 2.3GHz G5 can edit XDCAM without issue (cuts and dissolves) so your iMac should certainly handle it.

[Craig Seeman]

Sony Transfer Tool works on G5 just fine.
The Clip Browser requires Intel.

I’m using Sony Transfer Tool and FCP 6.0.2 on G5 and they work FINE.

[Michael Palmer] “Sarah
You need an Intel Mac to run the XD Cam Transfer software for use in Final Cut. You can’t transfer these files any other way.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer “

[Craig Seeman]

You do NOT need an Intel Mac to use the Sony Transfer Tool.
You WILL need SxS driver which works on both Intel and G5.

Sony Clip Browser is Intel ONLY.
On Mac, Clip Browser is only for viewing and copying files from card.
It does not require FCP 6.0.2

Sony Transfer Tool runs on my G5 just fine.
Sony Transfer Tool allows one to view files (with codec installed if you have 6.0.2) and rewraps the .mp4 to .mov (for use in FCP 6.0.2 or viewing in QuickTime).
Sony Transfer Tool can be used as a Stand Alone App or as plugin in FCP 6.0.2.
I suspect Sony Transfer Tool will work without FCP 6.0.2 (XDCAM EX codec) installed but that might limit you to rewrapping without clip viewing.

XDCAM codec at 35mbps VBR is a bit more demanding than HDV 25mbps CBR but any computer that can handle HDV can probably handle XDCAM. My aging Dual 2.3GHz G5 can edit XDCAM without issue (cuts and dissolves) so your iMac should certainly handle it.

[Craig Seeman]

My 2¢

I have been just archiving the .mov versions but it really makes more sense to back up the original file structure for long term compatibility.

As link above indicates, there’s much debate on archive. I’m thinking DL-DVD might be workable. At 8GB an 8GB card fits nicely and a 16GB card can be split using clip browser.

On location a laptop can ingest to hard drive and burn to 8GB so you have immediate back up. You can even burn 2 discs so client can walk with one if need be.

I don’t think 50GB Blu-ray is unreasonably expensive. Burners are under $600 now. Heck, that’s cheaper than the $1500 I payed for my Sony DSR-11 DV/DVCAM deck. While the price of discs might seem high (and they’re dropping). BD-50GB is in the $30-$40 price range (60-80¢ per GigaByte) which is in the same ballpark as some HDV tapes and lots less then DVCProHD and HDCAM tapes.

People will argue over Optical disc vs Hard Drive, vs LTO type tape but I lean towards optical for various reasons.

[Craig Seeman]

After seeing the same video training, I set to clock. I shoot 1080p30 though.

What oddity I’m finding is that the time code reports NDF when it should be DF. When jogging frame by frame you can see it’s DF but Quicktime and Final Cut Pro both report it as NDF. I suspect there’s a “flag” issue.

I’ve shot 720p24 and haven’t noted the issue you report.

I do think the fact we’re getting issues and some people are/aren’t seeing them might indicate any of the following:

Software getting scrambled when it loads into the camera on boot.
There are different firmware versions of the camera (change during manufacturing?).

In any case I really do hope Sony has a firmware update ASAP.

[Craig Seeman]

From memory, I was shooting time lapse at 1080p30 with shutter off (1/30). I believe the rate was 1 frame every 1 second.

[Craig Seeman]

I’d thought I’d mention Episode is up to version 4.4.1.

I beta test both apps. Squeeze is easier to use for some but Episode is incredibly feature rich and flexible.