[Ian Cook]

the ‘master clip’ when you have spanned files is a .SMI file in the TAKR directory. think of it as an EDL document that tells Final Cut how to assemble the master clip from the sub clips. if this file is moved or deleted L+T will only see the sub clips (if it sees anything at all). i’d check this and then make sure you’re running v 1.2 of the L+T plugin.

[Ian Cook]

EX devices utilize the Fat32 file system, which has a 4 GB file size limit. long recordings are segmented into 4 GB blocks (12-13 mins). when the XDCAM Transfer, XDCAM Browser and Log and Transfer plugins see these ‘spanned’ clips and stitch them back together on import.

XDCAM Transfer has the added capability to import only selected sub clips. this is done in the ‘Logging’ area. for a clip made up of 4 sub clips the Logging area will show 5 entries, the master clip plus all the individual segments. by default the master clip (e.g. “Clip 1”) is checked and the sub clips (e.g. “Clip 1, pt 1” “Clip 1 pt 2” etc) are not. if you de-select the master clip and select individual sub clips you will end up with a multi-clip import instead of just getting your one long master clip as one file. also, pressing the Shift button when you import will automatically only bring in any checked sub clips. so perhaps you accidentally brought in only the subs?

[Ian Cook]

re Clip Browser if the card is mounted as a drive you should be able to browse to it. try ejecting and re-mounting. unless the card has a virus or is badly corrupted, that doesn’t make sense.

if XDCAM Transfer sees the file and will import it you should import it and then re-export as a new .mp4 or .mxf

[Ian Cook]

If it’s crashing FCP there is likely an issue with the data itself. Any luck importing into Clip Browser (again, using the above file–>import method, not just browsing to the source)?

[Ian Cook]

There’s nothing to do in Cinemon. It runs in the background as a QuickTime component. When it’s installed you can simply click on an EX .mp4 and open it like you would any supported file. Likewise you can then drag it into FCP with no required conversion as if it were an .mov.

Let me know..

[Ian Cook]

Clip Browser may not ‘see it’ but what I want to do is try to manually import it. It’s a slightly different process. Point the top Explorer window to a location (‘Desktop,’ for example), select File–>Import, browse to the .mp4 and try to import it. If this works it will create a new BPAV folder containing the rebuilt clip in the specified location. If it doesn’t you will get an error…

If the above does not work please try importing via Cinemon.

Most of the file issues reported to our tech group involve SD cards and other non-SxS media. I’m not telling you not to use them nor am I looking to start a big COW debate on SxS vs SD…

Let me know..

[Ian Cook]

Bob,

Are you using v 2.12 of XDCAM Transfer?

Can you try manually importing the .mp4 using Clip Browser? This rebuilds the clip and BPAV metadata. If it’s only the metadata that’s compromised this process may bring the clip back.

If you need CB you can download v 2.6 here:

https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-software-model-XDZP1.aspx

If, going forward, the file refuses to import or play, you should try installing the free trial version of the Cinemon plugin. This allows for native support of .mp4s in FCP and QuickTime with no re-wrap/conversion. You may be able to drag the file directly into FCP. If this is successful you have until the end of the 60 day trial period to transcode the clip to another format.

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

I’d also be curious to see if VLC Player can play the file..

What camera are you using? Do you know the firmware version?

-Ian

Ian Cook
Sony Broadcast and Professional Company

[Ian Cook]

you just need to upgrade XDCAM Transfer to 2.12 for Snow Leopard compatibility. the thumbnail errors are normal for versions <2.12 and OS 10.6.

[Ian Cook]

You’re getting a system ‘kernel panic’ because you have the wrong version of the driver installed. Install v 1.05 of the SxS device driver, which you can find here: https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-software-model-SXSDRIVERS.aspx

Use the supplied uninstaller to remove the old one first..

[Ian Cook]

The card keeps track of read/write cycles and automatically triggers a warning when you start reaching EOL