[Ian Lynn]

Anyone else having a problem ingesting AVCHD from a Panasonic Lumix into FCP 7 using Log and Transfer?

All info I can find says this is the correct method, with the proviso that the indicated clip durations will not be accurate and preview will only play clips forward at 100% speed. However I have no preview at all, and if I do try and select one of the clips, it will not import/transcode.

On both my computers Log and Transfer happily copes with EX3, and with FS700 (AVCHD) files, but the Panasonic TZ30 camera files appear only as basic clip numbers (Clip #1, Clip #2 etc), with no thumbnail, and duration of 00.00 for all clips. At least it does know how many clips there are, so it is seeing something.

MacPro and MBP are both Intel machines, and I have selected AVCHD to ProRes in the preferences.

The same files import perfectly in FCP X via ‘Camera Archive’ (X’s version of Log and Transfer) so I can work around by getting my footage from there, but that is not very efficient or convenient. Any suggestions please?

Thanks, Ian

[Ian Lynn]

Thanks again Bob. I’m sure it’s not the BPAV folder itself, because XDCAM Transfer and XDCAM Browser see it fine right away on MBP.

After further reading, I realise that from inside FCP I can use File > Import > XDCAM Transfer, then browse / mark in & Out / import all EX files, which is just as easy as using Log and Transfer. This includes recognising the BPAV it didn’t like in Log and Transfer.

It’s only one command different and it works, but I’m still curious! Now I still have to figure out a way to Log and Transfer Canon video files from a 600D, where they changed the format since the 60D (no thumbnails). Still, at least I’m not having to use Final Cut X,,,

Best regards

[Ian Lynn]

Additional info to above. I was able to read the BPAV file perfectly from XDCAM transfer and browser software on the MacBook. The file is obviously fine, so something must to be missing in FCP.

When I open XDCAM Transfer app, it says the XDCAM Drive software, S x S Driver and FAM driver were missing.

I downloaded and installed the FAM driver, but this has made no difference.
I don’t write to SxS so I don’t think this would help.
I can’t find a separate XDCAM Driver at the Sony site anyway.
Sony say it is installed with XDCAM Transfer, but this appears not to be the case.

However, they also state that Mac OS 10.4.7 onwards is capable of reading the files without this driver anyway.

[Ian Lynn]

Thanks for that Bob. I will investigate the Sony clip browser, however, I have just done a quick test and I am certain that drag and drop is not the problem in this instance.

To clarify, when using FCP on the MacBook Pro, the file giving the problem is stored on the internal drive. It was copied with simple drag and drop from the directly inserted SDHC card.

Now, I just opened FCP on the Mac Pro and it read this file perfectly from the MacBook Pro over my domestic network. To me that means the file is okay.

On the other hand, FCP on the MacBook Pro gives the same error trying to read any other of my working EX BPAV files on my network – so I’m convinced the fault is somewhere in the MacBook Pro / Lion / FCP setup.

Recap: Brand new MBP with Lion, full FCS installed, XDCAM_Transfer_2_13_0 installed, all running well except in log and transfer, it says the (BPAV) file “contains unsupported media…” etc..

Any thoughts welcome!

[Ian Lynn]

Hi All

I have been successfully using log and transfer with FCP on my Mac Pro with Snow Leopard for a couple of years, having installed the Sony plug in.

I just bought a MacBook Pro which comes with Lion. I installed FCP and it is working well, but I need to use log and transfer to import some EX files. I installed the plug in, but I am also getting the message

“BPAV” contains unsupported media or has an invalid directory structure. Please choose a folder whose directory structure matches supported media.

I’ve installed the latest version of the plug in (which supports Lion) but it still refuses to work.

For info, I always drag and drop my BPAV folders and have never had a problem. I dragged the same folder into the Mac Pro and it worked immediately. Anyone got any ideas please?

[Ian Lynn]

I also have a problem with 600D footage in FCP Log and Transfer. I think this is because the Canon plugin for FCP is looking for pairs of files, one .mov and one .thm for each clip. Problem is that, unlike earlier Canons, the 600D does not create thumbnail files, so FCP cannot see the movie files.