[Ian Cook]

if you only see the PRo AV and GENERAL folders the driver is not working. Make sure you are using 4.01. You need v 4 for Windows 8 support. Also check if any antivirus is installed. This can interfere with the driver.

[Ian Cook]

When shooting in FAT (EX) mode:

-using camera as reader or using external USB card reader = no drivers required

-using express card slot on computer = SxS device driver required

When shooting in UDF (XDCAM/HD422) mode:

-using camera as reader or using external USB card reader = SxS UDF Driver is required

-using express card slot on computer = SxS device driver and SxS UDF driver are required

Because the UDF driver is a file system driver, it is always required for UDF formatted cards. The SxS Device driver is a hardware driver which is only required when you use the built in express card slot on a laptop to mount the SxS card.

If you transfer files by any means you are transferring the full resolution clips. It’s not really possible to do otherwise. It’s recommended that you use Content Browser to do verified copies/transfers rather than just OS drag-and-drop copying. When evaluating the image quality, try and use CB or an editing program as opposed to VLC or 3rd party players. If you think you are seeing noise/artifacts, connect one of the HD outputs of the camera directly to a monitor to check the image quality.

[Ian Cook]

Are you selecting ‘Export Proxy Movie to File/folder’ or ‘Export Clip(s) to File/Folder’? The latter is the one to use and will not export the proxy. Please check this. I just tested it again using Transfer 2.13 and a ProAV folder and it works fine.

[Ian Cook]

i need more info if this is in response to the ProAV issue you reported. please try those steps if you haven’t already. XDCAM Transfer only loads the Proxy, but will transfer/export the full res

[Ian Cook]

Basically you copied the wrong set of files. The PDW-U1 will mount and show a different file structure if the VFAM driver is not installed. The files you are seeing are the raw, non-interleaved .mxf files. These get ‘virtualized’ into a neater, simpler file/folder structure by the driver (or by internal software on the camcorders and decks).

There is really only one way to recover the files. You will need access to a Mac with FCP 7 and our XDCAM Transfer application.

Because XDCAM Transfer was released before our VFAM driver for Mac was ready, we put VFAM components into the application. This means it can read the raw files and multiplex them into single-essence (one file for V, A) .mxf files.

Assuming all the files (including the XMLs) are intact, you can add this archive as a source in XDCAM Transfer (File–>Add Source or click the ADD button in the SOURCE column in the left side of the main application window). Transfer will show you what look like normal, single-essence files. If you can get this far, control click on the clip(s) and select ‘Export Clip To File’ or ‘Export Clips to Folder.’ The copied files will be proper XDCAM .mxfs that you can bring into Vegas or another NLE. See below:

1. Place ProAV into a new parent folder and give the parent folder a name (here it’s called ‘proav archive’).

2. Add this new folder as a Source (‘ADD’ button or File–>Add Source)

3. After you do this Transfer will multiplex the raw files and display a ‘normal’ disc archive with valid clips:

4. To convert all the clips in one pass, press Cmd + A to select all and then control-click in the highlighted area and select Export–>Clips to Folder. Use the ‘New Folder’ button to create a new folder called, for example, ‘Recovered Clips.'(You can also select individual clips and choose Export–>Clip to File.)

5. After the export/conversion is complete you can check the files by adding the new/recovery folder as a source. Below you’ll see the ‘Recovered Clips’ folder showing a newly converted .mxf. (I cheated a bit and did not do the whole folder in the interest of time.)

These files can be imported into any NLE (Vegas, FCP, Avid, Edius, Aurora etc) or copied back to disc if necessary.

This is an undocumented ‘easter egg’ kind of fix that exploits two unrelated features in Transfer– the VFAM capability and the quick copy functionality. There is no other way to do this recovery so if you don’t have a Mac with FCP and XDCAM Transfer you’ll need to arrange to get access to one for an hour or two. You can download XDCAM Transfer at https://www.sony.com/xdcam-downloads under ‘Applications, Plugins and Device Drivers’ –> Legacy Applications.

Good luck..

[Ian Cook]

I’m guessing since you said ‘4 channels’ that you are working in FAT (EX/.mp4) mode? I don’t see this on any of my systems here. What format/frame rate are you using and when you import is it via the Media Browser or File–>Import?

[Ian Cook]

where is Craig S when we need him to drive home the point of doing verified copies?

[Ian Cook]

You can do it in Finder and in all probability you’ll be fine, but I have to tell you that you are taking a bit of a risk doing unverified backups. It’s very easy to do in CB.

-in Preferences–>EDIT set ‘Priority in Move’ to ‘Date Protection’ and, under ‘Copy’, check ‘perform CRC check after copy.’

-when a card is mounted, control click on it and select Copy All

(or)

-drag thumbnails from the source (top explorer window) to any destination folder/drive (bottom explorer window)

[Ian Cook]

[Rafael Valdeavellano] ”
QUESTION 1: Is it OK to backup each UDF card by just DRAGGING the contents from the finder onto each USB external drive? (I will not loose any data?)”

It is better to use Content Browser to perform verified backups.

[Rafael Valdeavellano] “QUESTION 2: Is the workflow for UDF into Avid MC different?”

You have an old version of Media Composer and while it may support the 50 Mb files it may not recognize an XDCAM optical disc file structure on an SxS card. Try doing a ‘Link to Files’ on the .mxfs in /CLIP instead of a Link to Volume on the whole card/archive

[Ian Cook]

yes, correct, there is really no other way to do it without voluntarily selecting to transcode and going through a lengthy process.