Don Greening
Forum Replies Created
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[Paul Miller] “‘m just curious how everyone delivers ex footage. I’m doing occasional reality TV work and for now the solution has been for them to ship hard drive, I transfer and ship back. Any better solutions?”
That’s what I’m doing too. Hard drive to client with EX files converted to whatever they need to import directly into the particular NLE that client is using. We include the cost of the hard drive (usually small USB) in our quote. Most of the time the client keeps the hard drive because it’s not worth the cost of shipping it back if they reside in another city (or country).
– Don
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[Justin Gaar] “so I guess my best option is to wait for the firmware update in April-ish.”
The PDW-U1 firmware update was just announced the other day and is available now:
https://www.sony.ca/xdcamex/support.htm
Look for this download link at the bottom of the page:
PDW-U1 Utility Version 2.1 For Windows and Mac
[Justin Gaar] “From what I understand, it will allow for any file to be written to the disc, correct?”
Correct. Before the update there was a 500 Mbyte limit for writing files to an XDCAM disc that were not XDCAM-type files. With the new update you can (apparently) use the whole disc as a repository for any file type: text files, graphics files, etc. This is huge for those who wish to use XDCAM discs to archive media for an entire project using the PDW-U1 reader/writer.
A word of caution: the quote below is from the sony web site description of what XDCAM formats are supported by the new firmware update:
“The PDW-U1 directly supports all codecs, resolutions and frame rates available in the Sony XDCAM Optical Disc family including SD DVCAM 25 Mbps, SD MPEG IMX 30, 40, 50Mbps, HD 420 25Mbps, HD 420 35Mbps and HD 422 50Mbps.”
The XDCAM EX formats don’t seem to be listed, I’m assuming because they are not part of the XDCAM Optical Disc family. Therefore it still may be required that the EX HQ square pixel 1920×1080 recording formats need to be converted to the Anamorphic 1440×1080 frame size before the files can be written to XDCAM disc, which means a resolution loss that can’t be regained after the fact.
I’m not sure if this is still the case but you would be well advised to research this before spending $3000.00 plus dollars USD on the PDW-U1.
– Don
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Hi Richard,
The EX will output an audio reference signal along with the colour bars but you have to turn it on first. Go to the Audio Set menu and turn on the “1kHz Tone” function. Then go back and press the “Bars/Cam” button under the handle. Now you should be outputting bars and tone. When you’re done don’t forget to go back to the Audio Set menu and turn the tone output off.
– Don
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[David Battle] “On the other hand I know that most broadcasters are moving to Panasonic.”
Sony might have something to say to the contrary about that statement. There’s no denying that the new Panasonic HPX300 is a benchmark camera with a very impressive list of attributes. It sets a new standard in the “most bang for the buck” category. A pro shoulder mount camcorder for less than eleven grand USD tends to get people’s attention in a hurry.
What will keep me away from it however, and remain solidly in the EX camp are a few things:
- 1/2″ imagers as opposed to the 300’s 1/3′ 3MOS chips.
- still very expensive P2 media with shorter record times as opposed to the Sony SxS solution.
- very inexpensive SDHC media availability for Sony if you want to go that route.
The new HPX300 may just hasten a new similar model from Sony.
The EX series cameras record 4:2:0 colour space to the cards in all modes but if you have your heart set on 4:2:2 recording then you can get that through the HD-SDI port. Trust me, there’s so much resolution from the EX CMOS chips that you needn’t be concerned about the 4:2:0 thing.
– Don
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It would seem that Adam Wilt’s recommendation for reducing line twitter with a Final Cut Pro HD to SD down convert is to use the motion blur filter with a sample setting of 1 (one). This apparently makes FCP do a much better job during the down conversion process. He also suggests experimenting with varying amounts of the flicker filter.
– Don
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[Baz Leffler] “what puzzles me is how does a firmware update fix grounding issues?”
It doesn’t, but that’s what Sony’s original official explanation was with regard to the AT4073A mic. Trouble is, all the other mics myself and the tech guy tested with my camera that day, regardless of the trim settings, resulted in the same issues. The broadcast supply place also had a rental EX1. When they dragged that one out and tested it they discovered that it had the same issues with external mics. We tried several different XLR cables too. They were not amused.
As a footnote, the tech guy at the local Sony repair depot was also aware of my audio issues. Several months ago he listened to my AT4073A/EX1 combo and had no explanation for the poor audio. It was after he sent an inquiry to Sony North America that they came back with the “grounding issue” response.
Anyway, the firmware update seems to have fixed it.
– Don
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[Olly Lawer] “the image looks good (before it goes to compressor that is and apart from the aliasing) although unfortunately it changes the aspect when I view it (even tho I haven’t selected 4:3) and squashes the image. “
If you’ve selected 720×480 Anamorphic then it will be squished when you view it in Quicktime Player and before you send it to Compressor. If you exported from FCP as a square pixel 854X480 self-contained movie then Quicktime Player will display the movie correctly.
When you use Compressor to encode your Anamorphic movie just make sure you’ve selected Anamorphic (16:9) in the encoder tab when you’re setting everything up.
– Don
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This new source looks interesting. I’ve always been partial to MxM’s so I hope they can be ordered in different flavors. I like the red ones best (I think).
– Don
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Since I haven’t down converted anything else other than EX footage I have no frame of reference with regard to cameras like the Z1U. I have a friend with a the Sony Z7U that continues to have down convert and line twitter issues using Premiere Pro on a Windows machine.
My down converts are a lot better than they used to be with only a trace of line twitter and only once in a while. My next experiment will be to turn the edge detail all the way down to nothing and do another test. Right now it’s set at minus 20. The last project was combining footage from the EX and my XL2 for DVD. The result was that the viewer will be hard pressed see a quality difference.
Keep in mind that if you stay in HD there’s no line twitter from the EX.
– Don
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[john sharaf] “My experience has been they last a day longer than their warranty in regular use. “
Well said.
– Don