I have a clip from an sdhc card that is failing to convert using xdcam transfer. All the cards from the shoot were copied (with crc) with clip browser 2.05.01, and then those folders have been imported using xdcam transfer 2.10.0. Everything has imported fine (and I've shot with these cards many times without a problem), except one file. It copies fine with clip browser, I can preview the copied file with clip browser, and the clip plays back fine in the camera. I haven't cleared the card yet. I've attached screen grabs below of the error message (using two different ways to import the clip). Any help would be much appreciated.

Andy,

I hate to hear these stories.
Have you tried copying the clip without clip browser, just using the finder? Its a different situation but I once had a clip that clip browser would not see at all but it copied fine through the finder and then imported fine.
I assume you've tried importing directly from the SxS card right? ( sorry had to ask at least.) Also - tried copying the clip in camera to another card? I would first try every possible way of copying or importing the cards. Are you in FCP - there's Log and Transfer now also.
Also get the newest clip browser because I think they made some changes after my experience. Can't hurt.

I have a client who has a clip I shot on an SxS card that is corrupted. It imports but won't play in FCP more than a few seconds. I gave them duplicate harddrives with 2 different downloads of the same card but they erased one and the other may have a bad sector. That's why i always duplicate, but that doesn't sound like your issue here

Good luck, Wish I had something more helpful to say.

Thanks, Leonard. Some good troubleshooting ideas in there, but none of them worked. Tried copying the clip from card to card in camera, copying using finder and then importing, and importing using fcp log and transfer. The first two yielded the same error messages as before, but the fcp method yielded a new error message, attached below, indicating an invalid directory structure. I don't understand why copying the clip in camera wouldn't build a new directory.

Hmm... So does that mean that the directory structure on your clip n the camera is bad? Is so why should it play?

Have you tried anything like downrezzing the footage through the camera as an export? Or better, if it plays in the camera finding someone who can capture the SDI out? Nanoflash would do it.

You're in Brooklyn so you could try even going to a rental house or a sales place like Abel Cine or B&H with your laptop and ask to try out Nanoflash.

Its a thought.

Yeah, last resort is finding someone that can take the SDI feed. But it seems like there should be a way to import it if I can play it.

Is there a format I should try using for exporting from clip browser? It seemed to export an mxf fine, but I'm not sure if I can do anything with it after that (I use FCP).

Isn't MFX the same format the SxS card uses? Can you open that with Clip browser?

Maybe I'm wrong about mfx I cant keep all those acronyms straight.

It seemed to export an mxf fine, but I'm not sure if I can do anything with it after that (I use FCP).

Have a go with the demo version of this:

Calibrated Software (http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/)

It's helped a couple of colleagues out in their time of need, and seems to specialise in rescuing things when the 'Magic Smoke' of the directory structure gets fried. If you will excuse the mixing of metaphors.

Thanks, Matt. Doing some traveling tonight, but hope to give it a shot tomorrow