[Jason Lelchuk]

Thank you both for your thoughts! Very helpful.

[Jason Lelchuk]

oopsin previous post – I meant to type PDW-U1 not PMW-U1.

Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

Thanks Arnie,

You are right – I need to get more information. I am in the process of getting the contact info that I need and am just doing a little leg work.

As I said, I am using Transfer 2.7.1 to bring files into FCP 6.0.4 running on OS X 10.5.5. I also have XDCAM Log and Transfer Plugin installed. With this configuration exporting MFX is an option. I am not sure of it is a tool that comes with Transfer or Log and Transfer – but it shows up under Export as a selection Export to SONY XDCAM – which creates an MXF file – unopenable by quicktime.

Does anybody have experience working with the PMW-U1 with SONY XDCAM MXF files created in FCP. I know that until the new driver is released (from what I have read – rumored to be this month) the drive can not be mounted to and played out to real time from FCP. How are people using the read / write drive with FCP when writing? I’m interested if MXF files made in FCP burned to professional disk with this drive, will play in other XDCAM decks?

Thanks,
Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

Thanks Michael

Best,
Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

Thanks Don.

I will install clip browser on all machines.

Our NAS is attached to a network that is not so fast. We are using it more as a data repository, and for a back up of footage. Media will not stream over it, so files to be used will need to be moved across the network, and then used locally. In that scenario, I’m thinking it may be better to move the full res mp4s to fire wire drives and give them out – for time sake.

Which leads me to my question – does the EX3 make proxy files, but they do not enter the FCP environment, but do exist somewhere (and may be accessible in a non-fcp environment)? Or does the EX3 not make proxy files – just full res mp4’s?

Thanks!
Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

Thanks Arnie,

We actually finished the first show 1080i – and DV letterbox was our offline format. This new project was an after thought / add on – piggybacking on the footage we shot for the other project, and since the offline material is still on the raid that’s why we are proceeding this way.

Even if we had started with anamorphic material, would the Boris Plug in Scale appropriately / automatically ? Or would there be some figuring to do?

Best,
Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

sure thing:
4x 2.5 GHz PowerPC G5
3 GB DDR2 SDRAM
OS X 10.4.9
Quick Time 7.1.6

[Jason Lelchuk]

I should have also stated that I’m using the edit to tape function – inserting. When I drag and drop over the insert box the project will play out with the problems listed previously. If i highlight a timeline in the browser and press the insert button I get a warning that it was expecting a different format and something about try nesting the timeline in another? Also if I try to use the mastering feature the deck roles – but no video is played out – and insert on the deck doesn’t seemed to be controlled by FCP

[Jason Lelchuk]

[David Smith] “The newer models do include Firewire 800. I was wondering why Apple returned to it, until AJA announced their new ioHD box. I think that ‘splains it.

Yes that makes sense – unfortunately I have the first generation.

You might want to take a look at the Firmtek enclosures. Direct to backplate design and a fan with three speed settings. Mine’s been working great.”

Thanks for the recommendation. For me – the value of the tough tech is that it also has firewire 800 in addition to esata. This makes the transfer of the media from our G5 that we use for digitizing cheap and easy as it already supports firewire 800. I think I would need to get either a controller or card for the G5 if the external drive only has an esata connection. But I will keep the Firmtek and Caldigit enclosures in mind as we move forward. Thanks

best,
Jason

[Jason Lelchuk]

Thanks for the info!

The 15″ doesn’t come with firewire 800, only 400 – so I figure if I am going to get a card, might as well get the express card and go esata.

In terms of RT effects – will the bottlenecks occur because of constraints of media drive throughput, or the processing speed of the Mac Book Pro.

I’m leaning towards starting with a single drive and seeing if that meets my needs before investing in a RAID. I’m thinking of going with a 750GB drive in a wiebetech ToughTech XE enclosure. Price, unfortunately is a concern. This is for a trial of using a transportable offline system. Original material will be on an xserve raid at the office so I feel I can be less cautious about having a backup of the laptop media.

Anyone have experience using the ToughTech enclosure for a media drive – especially related to heat? I know it deosn’t have a fan, but it is made of all aluminum.

Thanks,
Jason