I don't believe I saw mention of this plugin here, but Calibrated Software have made plugins for FCP that allow native editing of the MP4 files from XDCAM EX within FCP
Calibrated{Q} MP4-EX Import for OSX (http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/MP4EXImport_Mac.asp)

They also have one for P2 and XDCAM HD MXF files too. So there is no need to use the XDCAM Transfer software. For EX users this will be useful because we won't effectively have to import twice anymore, once with the EX Clip Browser to ensure a solid transfer to the HDD, and then again with the XDCAM Transfer tool to rewrap to .mov.

The tool also has a built in image flip for footage taken with 35mm adaptors.

Has anyone tried this?

Are there any drawbacks to using this?

It works seamlessly. You can even edit directly off the cards, no need to copy anything. The only downside at the moment is that if you choose "Import" "Folder" all the files in the folder get imported so you end up with the MP4's and XML's etc in the bin. This is down to the way FCP works and I think Calibrated are looking at writing their own importer. It's great to have the ability to see thumbnails in Finder to! I am converted to Calibrated-Q. It makes sharing projects with PC users so much easier and if you expert your project as a MP4 you can then re-import it without having to make it in to a .mov first.

i prefer the log and transfer plugin for FCP. just seems to work best for my workflow! but cool to know that this software is out there as well.

It's nice that you don't have to store two sets of data, but how do you go about browsing your clips? It's not exactly efficient when you have to open every CLPR/CLIP FOLDER to see the single shot that's stored inside.

What is the main benefit of working with the raw clips again?

What is the main benefit of working with the raw clips again?

You don't have to take the time or space to 'wrap' the native EX files in a Quicktime or MXF wrapper.

Previously, in order to use EX footage, I had to use the EX Transfer utility to take the raw files and then essentially make a compatible copy so that Final Cut Pro could utilize them, it couldn't read the native Ex files directly. The EX Transfer utility doesn't do much other than put a little data at the beginning and end of the EX .MP4 files (it's just an extension, the codec really is MPEG2) to make it a '.MOV' But the file itself is the same data.

Now I can 'import' a folder from my EX BPAV archive and it then just works and references the original .MP4 file. No copying, no unnecessary duplication of files, saving hard drive space and the time to make the initial 'wrapping/copying.' This will save $$$ over time, less hard drive space use (1/2 to be precise) and less time to log and transfer or Transfer utility.

So far it works well. THere is a slight inconvenience of having to go into the nested structure but it takes about 10 seconds to use FCP 'Find' feature to pull out all the MP4s from all the BPAV structures and put them wherever you want. You can then discard the empty, useless BPAV folders. (this is all FCP technique, not sure about other NLEs).

If you are doing news or something requiring a very quick turn around you can even edit directly off the cards in the camera.

Here is a slight inconvenience of having to go into the nested structure but it takes about 10 seconds to use FCP 'Find' feature to pull out all the MP4s from all the BPAV structures

The trouble with this is if you need to organise things if you have imported two different SxS cards. If you use the find feature you end up finding all of the MP4 files and not just the ones in the clip bin that you want. So it makes sorting things very difficult. Especially if you have a project where you have already imported files and then add to it at a later date. The find feature makes it impossible to distinguish between the MP4 files that you have already moved from the MP4 files that are in the newly imported BPAV folder.

The trouble with this is if you need to organise things if you have imported two different SxS cards. If you use the find feature you end up finding all of the MP4 files and not just the ones in the clip bin that you want.

True, Simon, you will find all the mp4's, but if you highlight the bin you've just imported , it will highlight the mp4 find results in that bin, making them easy to identify.

I think the bigger problem is renaming clips, which you can do in bulk in XDCAm transfer. Is there a way to bulk re-name clips in fcp?

but if you highlight the bin you've just imported , it will highlight the mp4 find results in that bin, making them easy to identify.

That didn't happen for me. It still highlighted all the MP4's.

Hmm. I wonder why. I highlight the bin, go to find, click all media, name: mp4 and the list of all mp4's comes up, but only the ones on the bin I highlighted are highlighted. Happens every time.

I have another way. Go to the Finder, highlight the CLPR folder that you want to search and type mp4 into the search bar. This will show all the mp4's on that hard drive. However at the top of the list you will see next to "Search: This Mac" that you can also select to show only the results from the CLPR folder. You can then highlight all the files and drag them to the required bin in FCP.

There's also one other rather huge drawback to this plugin. You can't grade your sequences with Color because it won't read the MP4 files.

Maybe this question is too dumb not to get a "read the manual" response, but, I'm at present archiving using shot put pro (missed out on the free sp express). Importing files for editing fcp using ex transfer which gives me .mov's. What, if anything are these .mov files lacking quality wise compared to the original mpeg 4's? I find the BPAV's a pain because of everyone of them having the same name and I have to create a new folder each time to import them in order to be able to tell them apart - or am I doing something wrong? If I discard the rest of the BPAV folder what am I losing, or can't the mpeg 4s be used without this stuff? And therefor where does the calibrated software fit in to all this to help me? Point me at the relevant source of answers please if this is too basic to answer.

I always import the clips from the ex1 directly with xdcam transfer. What's the benefit of keeping the bpav-folders? If I really would need the mp4-files again, I could get those with FCP through export->SonyXDCAM.

I always import the clips from the ex1 directly with xdcam transfer. What's the benefit of keeping the bpav-folders?

It is always best to import with the XDCAM EX Clip Browsing software because it can be set to verify the data. This means a slower transfer, but it is much safer. The XDCAM Transfer software does not do this.

The benefit of keeping the BPAV structure is that it means you are safer to transfer between computers and systems. For example I have an edit that i made on Vegas a couple of years ago that I would like to transfer to FCP. But FCP cannot take MXF files directly so everything is a bit of a mess. But one of these plugins allows me to read MXF files directly onto the FCP timeline.

Now with the BPAV structure you will be more easily able to transfer your edits to a different machine at a later date. But also because transferring with the clip browser before you use the XDCAM transfer software is safer it saves you from having double your hard drive space taken up.

You can keep on using XDCAM Transfer alone, but as others here have found it is much safer to use the verified transfer from the Clip Browser first.

Dave--If you're using xdcam transfer, you can rename the clips in its logging window .

Simon: Can you rundown that alternative find method--I can get it to find everything on the drive, but not within the CLPR folder. I was able to find anything in the clpr folder using "name" and the find function, but sounds like your way could be simpler. This could also be a way to rename using automator, before ingesting into fcp, but it would depend on whether or not moving all the mp4's to a folder created dupes (in which case the whole point of the plugin is defeated) .

Would be much easier if there's a way to bulk rename in fcp.

I can see where the Color issue would be big if that were part of your workflow. Altho, I guess you could do a conform and go back to your original movs before going to Color, but only, I'm guessing, if you kept your original file names!

I can get it to find everything on the drive, but not within the CLPR folder. I was able to find anything in the clpr folder using "name" and the find function, but sounds like your way could be simpler.

Yeah. Open the Finder in OS X and highlight the CLPR folder or parent folder of the CLPR folder. Now type "mp4" without the quotation marks into the search field at the top of the Finder window.

This will now list all the mp4 files on that drive. However if you look at the top of the search results you will see "Search: This Mac "MyFolder"" (with MyFolder being the name of the folder that you highlighted before you did the search). simply click on "MyFolder" and the search results will list only the MP4 files in your chosen folder. You can now highlight them and drag them into the FCP bin.

Would be much easier if there's a way to bulk rename in fcp.


Mike,

If you have FCP, then you must have Photoshop. If you have Photoshop, then you must have Adobe Bridge. Bridge is one of the most under rated software programs there is. I always have Brdige open while I'm editing and use it to browse/organize all my clips.

One thing Bridge does very well is to rename files. It's really easy, offers lots of options, and it's fast.

Try using Bridge to rename your clips.

Thanks guys! So, I imagine, if I am using shot put and backing up the full bpav folder to another drive I am protected. Which brings me back to media quality. The .mov files I have created with ex transfer and am using in fcp are as good as what left my sxs card?

The big problem I'm having, having only just licensed it, is that even though I have rebooted FCP still only allows me 30 sec clips.

The email I got when I bought the license states to look for "READM-CalibratedQuickRefresh.pdf" for instructions on how to solve this, but there is no such file anywhere on my hard drive.

Anyone know how I can do this refresh?

even though I have rebooted FCP still only allows me 30 sec clips.

Simon--Calibrated is packaging the QuickRefresh with the download of the mp4 plugin now, but maybe you got it before they started doing it. The alternative method they suggest is:

"...still only show 30 seconds of duration. This is due to the fact that FCP will "remember " the duration of an imported file ...To correct this, you will need to remove the MXF and/or MP4 Files from your FCP project and then save and close your FCP project, and then re-strart FCP and then re-import the MXF and/or MP4 Files into a new FCP Project."

Guess that's why they started handing out the Refresher.

Haven't got to trying out the find function yet, but will get back to you.

One thing Bridge does very well is to rename files. It's really easy, offers lots of options, and it's fast.Try using Bridge to rename your clips.

I am definitely going to look into this,Doug. Use of it might definitely be worth a tutorial to add to your ex3 biz--I'd get one. Always looking for ways to make organizing more streamlined and was intrigued by your earlier remarks on it.

What I love about this forum is I'm getting help from two guys who don't even like this plugin.

Thanks Mike. I will download the newer version and give that go.

I agree with Doug about Adobe Bridge. It is an astoundingly cool way to catalogue clips, add metadata etc.

Thanks guys! So, I imagine, if I am using shot put and backing up the full bpav folder to another drive I am protected. Which brings me back to media quality. The .mov files I have created with ex transfer and am using in fcp are as good as what left my sxs card?


In short, Dave, yes, but I'll leave it to the more technically knowledgeable to tell you why. Here's a graf that Craig wrote a while back on it.

Joe, I think you're a bit confused about the technology and your workflow.

The EX records the files in MP4. On Mac you can rewrap them to MOV for Final Cut Pro in XDCAM Transfer Tool. Many other NLEs use MXF and ClipBrowser can rewrap to MXF for NLEs. In addition some NLEs can use the MP4 directly.

Those MP4 files can be used in any NLE as long as you rewrap them to whatever the NLE needs. There is no encoding. It's simply a rewrap.

If you need to move an editing sequence from FCP to an NLE that does not handle MOV, FCP can save your timeline as MP4. Again it's just a wrapper. That MP4 can be moved to an MXF based NLE by using ClipBrowser to rewrap.

Those MP4 camera masters are just that, camera masters. You can use those, with the appropriate wrapper in multiple NLEs. MOV, MXF, native MP4, as required by the NLE.

In short, SAME FILE, DIFFERENT WRAPPER.

Hmm. I've tried the refresh but it doesn't appear to be working.

Did you try the alt method of #7 (vs 4,5,6)?

And I've got a "hmm" back at you.

When I'm doing the find, it says Search This Mac , but no folder is given. There's a folder icon before Search this Mac, but clicking on it does nothing. It doesn't say CLPR or anything,and doesn't change no matter which folder on the tree I highlight.

Below Search This Mac on a different pane, I can switch between This Mac and my Hard Drive and between Contents vs. File Name, and then in yet another pane below that, I can choose on a pulldown menu between Kind, Last Opened, etc including Others, where there are a whole host of options, but Folder isn't one of them .

Any suggestions? (OSX 10.5.6)

When I'm doing the find, it says Search This Mac , but no folder is given.

Did you make sure to highlight the folder first? In the attached image I highlighted my root folder for the card (named "Fordhall Farm"). The BPAV and CLPR folders are contained within this folder.

I managed to sort my issue out. Although I have encountered another drawback of this plugin. When exporting a reference .mov for compressor, because FCP doesn't really natively handle mp4 files it has to render the whole timeline even if you uncheck "Make movie standalone".

Hi Simon,

You shouldnt have to export a QT Ref for Compressor - our plugin should allow you to use the MP4 files in Compressor too. Is it not?

Cheers,
Greg

Greg, when I have edited a video and want to make the final output I need to create a reference quicktime file of the edit to import into Compressor.

Outputting to Compressor directly from FCP is not a good idea because it means that FCP cannot be used while the compression is taking place, and also if you output to Compressor from within FCP you cannot take advantage of Qmaster for multi-core rendering.

Did you make sure to highlight the folder first? .

I have no idea what I'm doing differently from you. No matter which folder I highlight, it always only gives me back the contents of the drive. In your example, it would be showing Video 1 as the only option, not the folders within it.

How did you make that screenshot?

Can you make me a screenshot? To take mine I pressed shift+Command+4 and then pressed space (the cursor changes to a camera icon). Go over the window you want to take the screen shot of and click the mouse.

I'm on OSX 10.5.7.

Figured it out. You have to be in column view, not list view, in order for it to work. Very cool.

Any dangers you can see in renaming the clips here? One that I can see is that I took these folders off my archive drive and there's a blu-ray backup as well. If I ever had to go back to those folders for reconnection, the names wouldn't match. That's not the case if I rename in FCP. Maybe Bridge is the answer--unless it needs to rename in the finder and not in the fcp bin.

And just out of curiosity, where did that screenshot go when I clicked the camera?

Got it. They were on the desktop. Even though they both show list view, one was created in list, the other in column, same folder highlighted. Vive la difference.

Maybe Bridge is the answer--unless it needs to rename in the finder and not in the fcp bin.

Neither. Bridge renames files from inside Bridge -- not in the Finder or FCP.

But is it renaming the files in the fcp bin or the original files they came from?

I'd check myself, but turns out my Bridge is on my Dreamweaver cs3 PC version.

Also, Doug, have you found an online tutorial/article that outlines using Bridge with FCP. I've googled and come up with stuff that's close, but not quite. thanks.

But is it renaming the files in the fcp bin or the original files they came from?

I'd check myself, but turns out my Bridge is on my Dreamweaver cs3 PC version.

Also, Doug, have you found an online tutorial/article that outlines using Bridge with FCP. I've googled and come up with stuff that's close, but not quite. thanks.

Bridge is used to rename the actual files stored on your hard drive and it is running entirely separate from FCP. You'd rename your files before bringing them into your bin. You might be able to rename the original files after they are in your bin, and then reconnect to the new name, but I've never had any reason to try that.

Bridge is so simple and easy to use that I've never searched for a tutorial or read the manual, but I suppose there might be something out there.

You know, all of this hassle can be avoided by just using XDCAM Transfer the way it was designed to make the workflow run smoothly. After reading this thread, I'm even more convinced that using native files is of no interest to me. I still see no major advantage and plenty of disadvantages.

My original intent of posting on this thread was just to suggest that Bridge might be a good way of batch renaming files. I use it all the time to rename every kind of file on my computer.

I spent a day playing around with both workflows (Q & XDCAM Transfer), and I have to agree with Simon and Doug, I think the XDCT is a better way to go. I did find a way to rename files within fcp, using xml, which involves not too many mouseclicks, but you still can't get close to what you can do in terms of organizing with XDCT, such as making sub-clips, deleting ng's, selecting groups of related shots and renaming them, etc.

As for the extra time it takes, I found I could start work on organizing as soon as the first clip came into fcp, viewing the take, making log notes, etc. As for using up more disk space, I think it's a trade-off I'm going to live with for the extra benefits, especially for something like a long-form doc.

Since I'm using an EX1 and a JVC HM100 on the same timeline, it seems that the HM100 would natively have the same problems as the Calibrated-decoded EX clips would have. Since I'll be dealing with both these on the same timeline I'm going to try to use the Calibrated method, using the original EX MP4s, to deal with the clips.

Since I'm using FCP, I'd rather keep as much of it in FCP and it's database as possible, rather than using the XDCT first, then FCP later.

I guess I'm a purist in that I would rather not have a lot of duplicates of the same material around if I don't have to. I'm think I'm going to use 'sub clips' to further identify and work with the native source material. I don't necessarily want to rename the original clips.

I also thought of XML, like Mike, as a way of quickly manipulating the clip properties, through a script. I also thought of creating aliases to the original MP4s, which can be imported to FCP, but when you then import the aliases, they then turn into the original file name.

However, for now, for me the Calibrated route is better. Back before Calibrated, I was wishing I could import EX natively in FCP, so I got what I wanted, and I believe that most people would use FCP in this manner if it worked with native files out of the box.

Using subclips would be a way to get more detailed descriptions/names and still avoid renaming original files. For some unfathomable reason, though, I hate using subclips (it's either something from fcp's early days--or mine!).

Using subclips would be a way to get more detailed descriptions/names and still avoid renaming original files. For some unfathomable reason, though, I hate using subclips (it's either something from fcp's early days--or mine!).

The subclip icons are kind of ugly, with those jagged edges, like they have been unceremoniously ripped from the original clip...

But, in keeping with the rule (mine) to only have one copy of the source (which has been safely backed up) and keeping the source with it's original name and location (in the BPAV structure) --subclips are very convenient for organizing media in FCP. And you can do a lot with them, even create 'real' clips from them with media manager if you want. Kind of what some have suggested to use the XDCAM Transfer Utility for... making selections from the original media, identification with naming and logging, references to the original media, and keeping organized, except without the duplication of media.

With not too much cutting and pasting, Log & Transfer seems to offer the best of both worlds. If you add "Original Name" to the columns and change "Name" to the clip name you want, pasting it into all the Name slots, you can then use the little +box to incrementally add numerals to the new names.

When the shots come into fcp, you've got your new name with numerically ascending suffixes, plus the original file name showing up in the "Log Note" column. It's not a perfect system, as the renaming is not fully automated and L&T is slower by about a third than XDCTransfer, but at least it's a solution.

It works seamlessly. You can even edit directly off the cards, no need to copy anything. The only downside at the moment is that if you choose "Import" "Folder" all the files in the folder get imported so you end up with the MP4's and XML's etc in the bin. This is down to the way FCP works and I think Calibrated are looking at writing their own importer. It's great to have the ability to see thumbnails in Finder to! I am converted to Calibrated-Q. It makes sharing projects with PC users so much easier and if you expert your project as a MP4 you can then re-import it without having to make it in to a .mov first.

Hello:
I hate to sound like a complete dimwit but I installed the demo version of Calibrated Q MP4EX on a Mac 8 core running Tiger 10.4.11 and FCP 6.05 and cannot seem to figure out how to import clips either from the BPAV folder on my memory card or from the same folder copied to the MAX OSX desktop. There is no help file available nor is there any user info on the developer's web site. I don't know if the installation process should have installed a plugin to FCP 6.05 but there is no evidence for Cal Q when opening the import drop down list in FCP. Can you assist?
Thank you in advance,
Ron

Hello:
I hate to sound like a complete dimwit but I installed the demo version of Calibrated Q MP4EX on a Mac 8 core running Tiger 10.4.11 and FCP 6.05 and cannot seem to figure out how to import clips either from the BPAV folder on my memory card or from the same folder copied to the MAX OSX desktop. There is no help file available nor is there any user info on the developer's web site. I don't know if the installation process should have installed a plugin to FCP 6.05 but there is no evidence for Cal Q when opening the import drop down list in FCP. Can you assist?
Thank you in advance,
Ron

You need to use the FCP "Import" or the "Import Folder" file/menu or the control/right click menu in the browser. Then navigate to the .MP4 files for individual imports or the folder containing the .MP4 files.

You can also just go to the files and drag them in.

You need to use the FCP "Import" or the "Import Folder" file/menu or the control/right click menu in the browser. Then navigate to the .MP4 files for individual imports or the folder containing the .MP4 files.

Thank you for your suggestion but I tried that and when I inserted the file into the timeline and hit play, I received an error message similar to the one you might get if a clip required rendering, although, the usual colored (un-rendered) bar was absent. This response caused me to suspect that Calibrated Q was not working properly.

There are quite a few variables to troubleshoot.

The Calibrated plugin is a quicktime plugin, and if it's installed it's in /Library/Quicktime/CalibratedMP4EXQ.component (and there's another one as well, I think 2 calibrated components are installed there.)

If those components are there (you could try restarting your computer if they are)

If you use Quicktime Player to try to play the .MP4 file (the demo version truncates any clip to 30 seconds) what happens? If it plays in QT then just try playing the clip in FCP's viewer, rather from a sequence. If that plays fine then it could be that your sequence isn't set up the same as your clip.

Hope this helps.