[Don Greening]

[Batuhan Ozturk] “I put the firewire cable in and out and nothing is happening what should I do?”

You can’t transfer files from the EX series cameras to a computer via the iLINK port (firewire) but only by USB. Take the camera’s USB cable out of the box and connect that to your camera and to the computer. Then turn on the camera. In the viewfinder window you’ll be prompted to execute the connection. Once that’s done the camera’s solid state memory card will show up on the desktop like any other attached device.

– Don

[Don Greening]

So I decide to Google “Freaky Beats and Eats Film Catering’ to find out more about it and on the first search page towards the bottom is Craig’s post from 4 pm local time. Hilarious.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[Michael Palmer] “please email me your schedule for the film you are working on and I’ll do my best to get you a Flash XDR or Nano to work with. “

Thanks, Michael. I’m very grateful to you for your generous offer. As soon as I know more about the shooting schedule I’ll be in touch.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Thanks for posting this, Michael.

I never felt qualified to comment on the SDHC alternative like you just did because I don’t use them. For example, I knew there was a recording lag time with SDHC before the slot light went from red to green but I didn’t realize that it was ten seconds. That’s a lot. No wonder folks are having issues with missing media if they’re yanking the cards before recording is finished.

What you have written should be required reading for all owners of EX cameras using SDHC media, almost like a FAQ at the top of the page.

– Don

[Don Greening]

There’s a .pdf version about halfway down this page:

https://www.sony.ca/xdcamex/support.htm

– Don

[Don Greening]

One of our forum leaders that uses Macs had to recover files from an SDHC card by using a friend’s windows-based file salvage program. It might have been a SanDisk program (which is Windows only) but I’m not sure. I think he was initially not able to get his problem card to appear on the desktop with the EX card adapter and the Macbook Pro’s Express 34 slot but when he put the SDHC card into a USB reader it did subsequently appear on his Mac’s desktop. I think.

There’s also this program for Macs:

https://www.subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1

[Don Greening]

[John Woodman] “Quicktime keeps on telling me I have to install an extra codec. When I check this, I see the 1,4 codec is installed.”

Try trashing the preferences for QT Player. It should work if you have v.7.3.1 or better. No other codecs are needed if you already have Final Cut Pro v.6.0.2 or better. I can view XDCAM EX clips in the stand alone Quicktime Player just fine as long as the files have been previously converted to the Quicktime .mov format from the native .mp4 format by Sony’s Transfer Tool app.

– Don

Addition: Sometimes QT Player will not initially “see” the FCP codecs after an upgrade. That’s why I suggested the preference trashing. Try running FCP and Quicktime Player at the same time and see if you can now play EX clips within QT Player.

[Don Greening]

What Craig said plus:

[Daniel Levy] “Do I need to format the SDHC card first in my computer?”

No. Let the camera do it. Both Sony SxS Pro and SDHC memory cards require FAT32 formatting. I tried to format one of my cards using a Macbook Pro once and I guess the camera didn’t like that particular flavour of FAT32 because it just wanted to format the card again anyway.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[Baz Leffler] “How do others handle shooting for 3rd parties?”

I will find out exactly what that 3rd party needs to edit the XDCAM EX footage I’m providing. Depending on the editing platform I will give them the copied BPAV folders on a small hard drive formatted in either NTFS or Mac OS Extended
or
USB flash drives if the total amount of storage required is small enough. Since I’m a Mac user I can even provide the re-wrapped MOV files if the client wishes it.

I don’t use SDHC cards but if I did I’d bring my own and hand them over at the end of the day. Minimal charge as long as I got them back later. There are knock-off SDHC cards out there and I don’t trust that the 3rd party showing up with cards in their pocket will have reliable ones. My camera – my media. It’s like someone who’s bankrolling a film showing up on set with cans of 35mm bought from Joe’s Film Store and Hot Dog Stand because they were cheap.

Work everything out with the 3rd party before the shooting day to avoid a repeat of your scenario. Editing XDCAM EX footage is not as ground breaking today as it was a few months ago but it’s still pretty new. Make sure your 3rd party is aware a of all the requirements.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Minimum requirements for editing XDCAM EX footage in Final Cut Pro and for viewing in Quicktime Player:

• Mac OS v.10.4.11 or better
• Final Cut Pro v.6.0.2 or better
• Quicktime v.7.3.1 or better
• Sony Transfer Tool – any Mac version
• Sony FAM driver – any Mac version

– Don