This workflow works well, posting it to help others - but is there any way to avoid the duplication of media?

1. open FCP 6.0.4

2. Designate Scratch disk / capture folder: System Settings (I designate same one as contains source media: I add subfolder 'FCP'

3. file > import > sony xdcam

4. this opens Sony XDCAM Transfer 2.5.1

5. In SXT set Import location: Preferences > Import > Choose : I use same one as in 2 above

6. If required source media not apparent in SXT, click Add

7. Locate root folders containing all info, if copied from SxS cards using Sony Clip Browser, these will be called eg 20080818110056 (time/date of copy)

8. Select clip/s in SXT, hit Import - clips arrive in FCP

Mark that is the same workflow I use except I go through each clip in Transfer 2.5.1 to cut out what is not needed for the project.

But recently I have been having a Transfer lock up. No pattern to the problem an it can happen on 15 sec or 4 min clips. It just stops at some point in the transfer. I am able to save FC and quit but can not even force quit Transfer. So I have to hard reboot. Some times I can do three 16GB cards an no problem some times in one 8GB card it happens 5 times.

FC 6.0.4, Quicktime 7.5.5, Tiger.

There's no way to completely avoid a duplicate set, but imho that's what you want. You want the original SxS as your backup- consider that your original negative. In fact I even go as far as another back up of the SxS structure just in case something happens with the first. We show the whole concept for FCP from pre-production planning to final archiving here:

Call Box Sony EX1 Training DVD (http://www.callboxlive.com/store/sony-guidebook-p-39.html)

Noah

I agree Noah on back up. I first put all BPAV on a DL DVD, then put the clips on the RAID through FC, then back up the RAID on a external HD. So two backups at different locations prior to erasing the S&S cards.

Good point on the backup - we too also make a copy of the originals imported from the sxs cards.

Paul - maybe Leopard upgrade to solve your lockups? I have no info why but just a sense that things are developing fast so best to keep each element up to date.

Mark agree Tiger could be the problem.

But I am in the middle of two projects that will go out in the next two weeks. After these projects and before the next I will switch. I did switch on the Macbook Pro and all went smooth with an archive an install after a full back up.

At least I am able to upload the footage with out a problem.

maybe Leopard upgrade to solve your lockups?

Or simply a clean re-install of the OS (Tiger or Leopard).

I was using Tiger earlier this year and had issues with imports failing with an obscure QuickTime error (something about atoms) - clips would eventually import but it would take a couple or more stabs at it. Record was 32 attempts, followed by 28 attempts. Average 4 attempts. This would happen on a pretty random basis.

It was fixed when I switched to Leopard. But when I had to restore from an old backup, the problem came back. Had to reinstall again. Not had a glitch since.

my workflow is the same, except I am having trouble renaming all the clips prior to transfer.
for example, wehn I shoot a wedding, I want my prep stuff to be prep1, prep2, etc..
I find I have to rename all my clips in Adobe Bridge, then reimport them into FCP so I can sort them in the appropriate bins. Is there a way to rename them with the transfer tool?

I have to rename all my clips in Adobe Bridge, then reimport them into FCP so I can sort them in the appropriate bins. Is there a way to rename them with the transfer tool?

Adobe Bridge?! Crumbs!

FWIW, I use the Sony XDCAM Transfer tool separately, which can block name whole swathes of clips, set clips to flag as Good/Keep/NG (and NG clips can conveniently 'disappear' before importing), crop out bits from long takes. So a little bit of administrivia, then click the import button, it does its stuff by converting the clips to QuickTime movies in a designated folder. I can then drag that folder (or the clips therein) straight into FCP.

No duplicates, all clips nicely named and flagged, all dross removed.

Or simply a clean re-install of the OS (Tiger or Leopard).

I was using Tiger earlier this year and had issues with imports failing with an obscure QuickTime error (something about atoms) - clips would eventually import but it would take a couple or more stabs at it. Record was 32 attempts, followed by 28 attempts. Average 4 attempts. This would happen on a pretty random basis.

It was fixed when I switched to Leopard. But when I had to restore from an old backup, the problem came back. Had to reinstall again. Not had a glitch since.

Matt,

I had a similar problem awhile back, but it was slow import and thumbnails not showing up in XDCAM Transfer. This was with optical media, not the cards. In an attempt to get it working, did a complete reinstall of Tiger and all was well. Sound familiar? But unlike you, I didn't restore from an old backup to have it break again. I started reinstalling extra software one at a time and checking XDCAM Transfer. All was well until I re-installed 3IVX codec package. Bam.. problem came back. Uninstalled 3IVX and all was well. So there was a conflict with QT somewhere and it caused excruciatingly slow import of my clips.

Just food for thought... watch out for other software that may cause a conflict.

regards,

-gb-

Adobe Bridge?! Crumbs!

FWIW, I use the Sony XDCAM Transfer tool separately, which can block name whole swathes of clips, .

Matt--how are you block naming? I've been singly naming, but it would be great if XDCT could name sequentially like Log & Capture in FCP (smith_1, smith_2, etc), once you've picked your re-name of the clip.

For re-accessing clips in case something goes wrong, I've also been writing in the original clip name in the comment section. Any shortcuts there?

I'm very interested in re-naming multiple clips as well.

I use the clip browser to back-up the SxS card and then use XDCAM transfer to encode the clips into something FCP can use. I would like to be able to apply a naming convention to the first clip - Cam1_01 and then have the subsequent clips named accordingly - Cam1_02 etc..

Is there a way to do this?

Matt--how are you block naming? Any shortcuts there?

I'm very interested in re-naming multiple clips as well.

I will try and knock up a screencast on Sunday, as this might be clearer than describing it. Thanks to Paul Keller for the inspiration!

hi folks, I m a FCP convert to be. I was under the impression there has to be some conversion in the import process to FCP. Hence the file size would double. So how much disk space is required exactly for an offload from a 16Gb SxS?

I need a fast workflow for wedding SDE. Trying to work it out soon. Thanks!

Hence the file size would double. So how much disk space is required exactly for an offload from a 16Gb SxS?

There needs to be some empty scratch space, but funnily enough, the finished QT movies are slightly smaller than the card. A 16 GB card would equate to about 14 GB of movies. I'd have a couple of gig free on your scratch disk, but certainly not double.

IIRC I once dumped an 8 gig card's contents onto the internal disk (by mistake) that had about 9-10 gig free. Worked fine. Just wondered where my footage went...

Can't give you absolutes, but here are some 'accurate' figures...

A 16 GB SD card in a Kensington adaptor, full enough for the camera to switch cards, reports 14.49 GB in use (15,560,409,088 bytes).

Transfer took 20 minutes using 17" MBP on batteries onto a LaCie Rugged (bus powered) on FW800. I'd expect half that time (10 mins) with SxS cards - bear that in mind for weddings and fast turnaround.

The destination QT folder was 14.13 GB (15,173,293,401 bytes). Slightly smaller due, probably, to less metadata.

The Mac I did it on currently has 5.7 GB free out of 232 GB (there's a lot of kipple in there).

I will try and knock up a screencast on Sunday, as this might be clearer than describing it. Thanks to Paul Keller for the inspiration!

Hi Matt, I'm not sure what a screencast is but if it helps explain the process for the batch re-naming of files I'd like to see it.

Still plan on doing one?

Thanks

Oops - dupe post - see below

Still plan on doing one?

Absolutely. However, got a call on Sunday to do some editing work and that's spilling over to today too.

To get you going though...



Launch XDCAM Transfer

Ensure your view is in 'List' mode (View --> List)

At this point, I have the 'OK', 'Keep', 'No Status' buttons lit, and the 'NG' button off. I find bad clips and set their status to NG by control clicking and selecting off the pop-up. Those clips effectively disappear from view.

You may also want to sort the list by start code to force a chronological order of clips (not always so if you don't). That becomes handy in a moment.

Ensure you select the Logging tab, not the Information tab in the bottom right window

Select multiple clips (expressed as lines in the table)

Enter a clip title in the Title field

Hit tab and all selected clips will get that title. The first clip will have the title. The second clip will have the title and '- 1' at the end. The second, '-2' and so on. That's why it's handy to have a chronological order.


I like to do this wrangling myself, in a quiet and still pocket of air rather than the hullabaloo of a shoot. If you don't have enough cards to last you, then this is where something like ShotPut Express could be handy - dump the whole SxS image somewhere, then use XDCAM Transfer on the image rather than the card.

I tend to use a naming structure that helps me break rushes down into separate folders by name, then just throw all the folders into FCP and get on with it. It's revolutionised the early part of my editing - oh, the joy of neatly labelled rushes!

BTW, another cool thing is that you can paste comments into the Logging field (and multiple clips get the same comment), so it's great for recording 'Tummy Tag' info (lower thirds stuff) or that kind of stuff you write down and then file away, so when you're editing at 3:00 AM, away from the paperwork, the info is *part of the clip*. Joy.

This is great, Matt, can't wait to try it.

I've been putting the original file name in the Comments section by hand after re-naming the clip title. Is there an auto way of re-finding original clip name? I know that Log & Transfer keeps it, but didn't see it anywhere in FCP once the clip title had been changed. You might reveal it from Modify/ rename/clip to match file, but sometimes that hasn't worked and it's nice to have it in the logging notes column.

Matt, thank for the great explanation. After a couple of attempts it worked like a charm. This makes a big difference.

Thanks again for the help.

if it helps explain the process for the batch re-naming of files I'd like to see it. Still plan on doing one?

Here's the first go at an XDCAM workflow screencast...

Batch naming clips in XDCAM Transfer (http://www.mdma.tv/screencasts/)

Here's the first go at an XDCAM workflow screencast...

Batch naming clips in XDCAM Transfer (http://www.mdma.tv/screencasts/)

Nice video - thanks for the list view hint. I felt like an idiot.

For what its worth, I preferred the vimeo version, but I can understand wanting people to visit your site. Although I think with the new Vimeo Plus you can embed HD on your site?

Here's the first go at an XDCAM workflow screencast...

Batch naming clips in XDCAM Transfer (http://www.mdma.tv/screencasts/)

Hi Matt,

I very much enjoyed your screencast, well done.

Of coarse no sooner did you answer my question than raise a couple more. I take it from your presentation that you like Shot Put Express? I really like the EX3 and in some ways the SxS cards. However, I'm an editor not a system admin and it scares the crap out of me knowing there's a real possibility that I forget to transfer or misplaced an important clip.

So I'm really looking for utilities or tools that will help me "easily" archive, encode and distribute data for editing. On your recommendation I'm checking out Shot Put Express, thanks.

The SxS cards really put us in more of an IT workflow than a the more familiar Post Production workflow which is something I'm not that comfortable with on the Mac.

Thanks again for your generous help.

no sooner did you answer my question than raise a couple more. I take it from your presentation that you like Shot Put Express?

Well, it's early days - I only stumped up the cash for it when faced with doing the screencast. But I think I am now a converted user.

As I mentioned, it seems to be quick on copying files from SxS to hard disk(s), as there's no conversion going on. It can also be pretty automated, thus you bang in the cards, and you just wait for the 'bing' that signals an empty, renamed card and two byte checked copies on separate drives (I think you can set up to three locations).

The crunch here is that you can empty cards on site WITHOUT having to do the file naming trick through XDCAM Transfer.

The fewer cards you have, the more important ShotPut becomes.

Once I've got a few more jobs underway with ShotPut, I'll do another screencast. FWIW, I find I can learn a lot more by turning it around into a teaching experience.

I really like the EX3 and in some ways the SxS cards. However, I'm an editor not a system admin and it scares the crap out of me knowing there's a real possibility that I forget to transfer or misplaced an important clip.

All the more reason to use ShotPut, I guess.

All this technology in editing reminds me of the fable of 'the factory of tomorrow', in that the whole operation is run by one man and a dog. The man's job is to feed the dog, and the dog's job is to make sure the man doesn't touch anything.

But I prefer all this to the dreaded changing bag and neg cutting. And the bloody Eclair NPR and its 'will it work, will it won't' film loop.

sorry to bring this back up, but i experience a few problems trying to follow this workflow...

when i import from multiple sources, the clips get mixed in the renaming, as xct will start importing from multiple sources simultaneously. so byebye chronological order.

when you import from one source at a time, you keep the chronological order, but then xct gets confused with the existing files, and instead of just following the last number, he just starts from 1 again, but with (1) and (2) added to the filename...

there must be a way to import 'm chronologically right?

thanks in advance for your advice!

If you use Time Of Day code whilst shooting, you can sort the clips chronologically in FCP by sorting by 'Media Start'.

If you import cards in order (rather than batching them up) you can get 'chronological order' - in the order you choose, because it steps through.

But the addition of (1) and (2) is a bit of a bother for those of us with OCD (no bad thing IMHO), so I'd recommend something like Renamer4Mac, which is a batch renamer that can remove the stray typographical fluff, replace, add or concatinate other data and have them named sequentially again.

I'll reiterate that this is an OCD thing, as once it's all in bins in FCP, you can sort by Media Start - and I really like TOD code over standard TC - roll numbers and striping tapes are a bit 'old school' for TC, and does anyone really want to go back to offlining with XDCAM?